Víctor Infantes
Chef who led CLOS Madrid to its first Michelin star in 2019, and now runs his own restaurant, Ancestral, in Pozuelo de Alarcón, near Madrid.
- Michelin stars
1- Repsol Soles
1- Restaurants
- 2
- Born
- 1992
Víctor Infantes (born Madrid, 1992) trained at the Escuela de Hostelería de Toledo, where he met future business partner Saúl González, and worked under María Marte and Eneko Atxa before becoming head chef of CLOS Madrid, leading its kitchen to a first Michelin star in 2019. He later left CLOS, now run by chef Dani Villoria, to open Ancestral with González: a restaurant built on fire, smoke, and clay-pot cooking that earned its own Michelin star in Illescas (Toledo), plus a Repsol Sol in 2024, before relocating to Pozuelo de Alarcón, in the Comunidad de Madrid, in 2025 and retaining its star in the 2026 guide.
From @victor_infantesg on Instagram
🍴Ancestral🍴(2/2)⭐️☀️ 📌 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) 💰 141€/p 🍽️ Placer-precio: ⚡️9⚡️ 📝 Cocina castellano-manchega con el fuego y la brasa como ejes de la experiencia, con un resultado fantástico en el que todo resulta familiar, con sabores reconocibles pero elevados a su máximo exponente. Tenía pendi
Víctor Infantes y Saul González son los artífices de Ancestral, un espacio gastronómico con estrella Michelin, que se ha consolidado en la capital en un entorno rodeado de naturaleza. Su cocina contemporánea de esencia manchega y de temporada, con productos silvestres, se caracteriza por el fuego,
La cocina de Ancestral se centra en el producto de temporada y la brasa, donde @victor_infantesg Infantes lleva la tradición y los sabores de siempre a una cocina actual. ¡Te esperamos! 📍 C/ Saliente 2. 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón 🕜 Horario: A mediodía de martes a domingo. Viernes y sábados también c
Biography
Early years
Infantes was born in Madrid in 1992 and trained at the Escuela de Hostelería de Toledo, where he met his future Ancestral co-founder, Saúl González, also a Madrid native.
Career
He worked in the kitchens of María Marte and Eneko Atxa, including a stint at Azurmendi's London outpost (Eneko London), before becoming head chef at CLOS Madrid, where he led the kitchen to its first Michelin star in 2019. He's since left CLOS, which is now run by chef Dani Villoria, to found Ancestral in Illescas (Toledo) with chef Saúl González. The restaurant earned a Michelin star within a few years of opening and a Repsol Sol at the March 2024 gala. In spring 2025 the pair closed Ancestral in Illescas and reopened it weeks later in Pozuelo de Alarcón, in the Comunidad de Madrid, retaining the Michelin star in the 2026 guide. Infantes has described the move as "a strategic decision," saying it was "necesario para estar en otra liga" (necessary to compete in another league), since more than 70% of Ancestral's clientele already came from Madrid.
Philosophy
At Ancestral, Infantes builds his cooking around fire, smoke, and clay-pot cooking, revisiting Manchego culinary tradition through a modern lens, with dishes such as garlic soup served in a clay pot, grilled red prawns, and charcoal-roasted squab.
Restaurants
Elsewhere
1Víctor Infantes in our guides
Editorial guides featuring Víctor Infantes’s restaurants.
Accolades
- ·Michelin star, CLOS Madrid (awarded 2019, under Infantes as head chef)
- ·Michelin star, Ancestral (first earned in Illescas within a year of opening, 2022; retained after the 2025 relocation to Pozuelo de Alarcón, 2026 guide)
- ·Repsol Sol, Ancestral (awarded March 2024)
Frequently asked
Does Víctor Infantes have a Michelin star?
Yes. As head chef, he led CLOS Madrid to its first Michelin star in 2019, and his own restaurant, Ancestral, earned a Michelin star within a few years of opening in Illescas (Toledo) and holds a star in the 2026 guide after relocating to Pozuelo de Alarcón in 2025.
Is Víctor Infantes still the chef at CLOS Madrid?
No. He left CLOS after helping it earn its Michelin star; the kitchen is now run by chef Dani Villoria following the restaurant's 2025 relaunch.
Where does Víctor Infantes cook now?
He runs Ancestral, which he founded with chef Saúl González in Illescas (Toledo) and relocated to Pozuelo de Alarcón, in the Comunidad de Madrid, in 2025.
Where did Víctor Infantes train?
At the Escuela de Hostelería de Toledo, where he met Saúl González, followed by kitchen experience under María Marte and Eneko Atxa, including Azurmendi's London outpost.
Who did Víctor Infantes found Ancestral with?
Chef Saúl González, whom he met while both were studying at the Escuela de Hostelería de Toledo.
Why did Ancestral move to Pozuelo de Alarcón?
Infantes has said it was a strategic decision to reach a wider audience, since more than 70% of Ancestral's clientele already came from Madrid.