Barcelona's Disfrutar wins the Grand Prix Exceptionnel, only the second for Spain
In 2026 the Académie Internationale de la Gastronomie awarded Barcelona's Disfrutar its Grand Prix Exceptionnel, a rare distinction that has come to Spain only twice.
At a ceremony at the Hotel Santo Mauro in Madrid held by Spain's Real Academia de Gastronomía for the Spanish winners of the Académie Internationale de la Gastronomie's 2026 awards, Barcelona's Disfrutar received its Grand Prix Exceptionnel, the top honour of the academy's 2026 awards. The distinction recognised Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas for the work developed at the helm of the restaurant.
The Grand Prix Exceptionnel is not one of the academy's yearly prizes. It is awarded only in select editions, so it carries a particular weight. This is only the second time it has come to Spain; the only earlier Spanish recipient was Benjamín Urdaín, who received it ex aequo.
Disfrutar sits on Carrer de Villarroel in the Eixample. Castro, Xatruch and Casañas all trained together at elBulli under Ferran Adrià before opening Disfrutar in December 2014, and the academy's citation points to a cooking language of their own that still carries elBulli's investigative spirit.
Location
Carrer de Villarroel, 163, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
People
Restaurants mentioned
Frequently asked questions
What award did Disfrutar win in 2026?
Disfrutar received the Grand Prix Exceptionnel at the Académie Internationale de la Gastronomie's 2026 awards, presented to the Spanish winners at a Real Academia de Gastronomía ceremony in Madrid. The prize went to its chefs Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas.
How rare is the Grand Prix Exceptionnel?
It is not one of the academy's annual prizes. It is awarded only in select editions, and Disfrutar's win is only the second time the distinction has come to Spain, after Benjamín Urdaín received it ex aequo.
Where is Disfrutar?
Disfrutar is on Carrer de Villarroel, 163, in l'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample in Barcelona. It is run by Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas, who trained together at elBulli.