Ají
Ají
Michelin SelectedSelected by the Michelin Guide inspectors as a restaurant offering good cooking.Ají is a Michelin-selected Nikkei restaurant in la Barceloneta, beneath the Casino de Barcelona. Chef Luis Miguel Garcia Vilchez delivers Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, ceviches, tiraditos, nigiris, and makis, from a kitchen that has earned continuous Michelin recognition since 2018.
Background
About Ají
The Story
Ají has been a Michelin Guide selection every year from 2018 through 2025, building its reputation as Barcelona's leading address for Nikkei cuisine. Located beneath the Casino de Barcelona in la Barceloneta, the restaurant was conceived as a creative expression of the Nikkei tradition, the culinary fusion born from Japanese migration to Peru in the late 19th century. The name captures the concept precisely: 'aji' means chilli pepper in Peruvian Spanish, and 'taste' in Japanese.
The Cuisine
The cuisine at Ají is rooted in the Nikkei tradition, blending Japanese cutting technique and precision with the bold, vibrant ingredients of Peru. The menu spans ceviches (Clasico, Nikkei, and Carretillero, a seafood ceviche with yellow chilli tiger's milk and fried calamari), tiraditos, causas, makis, nigiris, and sashimis alongside lomo saltado and pulpo. Michelin inspectors single out the spicy scallops and the three ceviches as kitchen highlights.
The Team
The kitchen at Ají is led by chef Luis Miguel Garcia Vilchez, born in Lima and trained at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary school there. His international career across Peru, the United States, and Spain brought him to Ají, where he has steered the kitchen through continuous Michelin selection since 2018. users award a 9.4 rating from over 2,300 reviews.
Highlights
What Diners Say
Consensus
Ají Ratings & Reviews
Professional Ratings
Selected
Diner Ratings
4.5
675 reviews
TheFork
9.4
2,305 reviews
Yelp
4.4
9 reviews
Professional recognition includes Michelin Selected and Macarfi food 7.5/10. Diners rate it 4.5/5 on Google (675 reviews), 9.4/10 on TheFork (2,305 reviews), and 4.4/5 on Yelp (9 reviews).
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Reservations
How to Book Ají
Booking
Ají is open Tuesday through Saturday for both lunch (13:00–15:30) and dinner (21:00–23:30). The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Reservations are required and can be made through the restaurant website. Booking a few days in advance is recommended, especially for weekend dinner service.
Reserve
Experience
Ají Dining Experience
Ají is set in a sleek, warm-toned space with a bar, round tables suited to groups, and a terrace that is notably calm for its Port Olimpic location. The outdoor terrace offers a welcome retreat from the busier stretches of the waterfront.
Navigate
Ají Location & Neighbourhood
Getting There
Ají is located at Marina, 19 in la Barceloneta, tucked beneath the Casino de Barcelona near the Port Olimpic marina. The restaurant sits on Barcelona's waterfront, a short walk from the beach promenade and easily reached from central Barcelona.
Nearby
La Barceloneta is one of Barcelona's most iconic seaside neighbourhoods, known for its narrow streets, beach access, and lively waterfront dining scene. The Port Olimpic area where Ají sits was developed for the 1992 Olympic Games and now hosts a cluster of restaurants and entertainment venues. Enoteca Paco Perez, with 2 Michelin stars, is just 64 metres away.
Nearby Restaurants
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Ten's
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Cal Pep
Seafood Tapas
Seafood tapas bar from chef Pep Manubens where daily market offerings set the menu.
Details
Ají Reservations, Hours & Contact
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 13:00–15:30 & 21:00–23:30 |
| Wednesday | 13:00–15:30 & 21:00–23:30 |
| Thursday | 13:00–15:30 & 21:00–23:30 |
| Friday | 13:00–15:30 & 21:00–23:30 |
| Saturday | 13:00–15:30 & 21:00–23:30 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Ají hours verified 2026-03-01. Contact the restaurant to confirm.
Contact
Required. Bookings available through the restaurant website.
Good to Know
Social
From restaurantaji on Instagram
🍽️ MENÚ SEMANAL (del 24 al 27 de marzo 2026) Entre fogones, cortes frescos y guiños al Pacífico, el mediodía en #Ají se transforma en un viaje de #sabor. Una propuesta que equilibra intensidad, frescura y la esencia de la fusión #nikkei. 🍙 ENTRANTES: - Tiradito de atún con ponzu - Causa veggie - U
🍣 Del Delta del Ebro a #Japón en cada pieza. Nuestro #Maki de anguila del roset y salmón combina la intensidad de la #anguila del Delta del Ebro con la suavidad del aguacate, cubierto de #salmón y realzado con salsa teriyaki. Una #creación donde la técnica #japonesa eleva un producto de proximida
🍽️ MENÚ SEMANAL (del 17 al 20 de marzo 2026) El mediodía en #Ají se llena de matices, contrastes y mucha #fusión. Una propuesta pensada para disfrutar sin prisa, combinando lo mejor de dos culturas. 🥗 ENTRANTES: - Ceviche clásico - Ensalada de salmón ahumado - Futomaki de pesca del día - Nigiri de
🍰 Un final que despierta los sentidos. Nuestro #Pie de Maracuyá es ese equilibrio perfecto entre #dulzura y frescura que transforma el último bocado en un momento memorable. La crema de #maracuyá, intensa y aromática, se encuentra con la suavidad del #merengue italiano, mientras una base crujiente
🍽️ MENÚ SEMANAL (del 10 al 13 de marzo 2026) Una nueva semana, un nuevo #menú para disfrutar del mediodía en #Ají. #Platos pensados para una pausa diferente con opciones llenas de #sabor. 🍤 ENTRANTES: - Causa de langostinos escabechados - Causa tartar de salmón - Gunkan de vieira con kizami - Maki
✨ ¡Un reconocimiento que nos llena de orgullo! El día 04 de marzo, se entregaron las placas a los #restaurantes recomendados en la Guía Michelin, y en Restaurant #Ají tenemos el honor de formar parte de esta selección. 👨🍳 Un logro que es posible gracias al #talento y la #pasión de nuestro equipo
Questions
Ají FAQ
What exactly is Nikkei cuisine and why is it special at Ají?
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Nikkei cuisine blends Japanese cutting technique and precision with bold Peruvian ingredients, born from Japanese migration to Peru in the late 19th century. At Ají, chef Luis Miguel Garcia Vilchez creates dishes like ceviches with tiger's milk, tiraditos, and lomo saltado, earning continuous Michelin Guide selection since 2018 as Barcelona's leading Nikkei restaurant.
How do I get to Ají in la Barceloneta?
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Ají is located beneath the Casino de Barcelona at Marina, 19, near Port Olimpic. Take Metro Line 4 to Ciutadella | Vila Olímpica (8-minute walk) or Barceloneta (17-minute walk). The restaurant offers 2 hours free parking with meals Tuesday through Saturday.
What are the signature dishes Michelin inspectors recommend at Ají?
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Michelin inspectors specifically highlight the spicy scallops and Ají's three ceviches: Classic (sea bass in tiger's milk), Nikkei (red tuna with ponzu), and Carretillero (seafood with yellow chili and fried calamari). The Moriawase sharing board with 6 makis, 5 nigiris, and 5 sashimis is also popular.
How much should I expect to spend at Ají and what's included?
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Average spend is around €55 per person with sharing plates from €15. The Moriawase board costs €29, individual ceviches range €23-25, and cocktails like Pisco Sour are €12. A midweek lunch set menu offers better value than à la carte dinner pricing.
Why is Ají only open Tuesday through Saturday?
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Ají operates Tuesday-Saturday with lunch (13:00-15:30) and dinner (21:00-23:30) service, closing Sundays and Mondays.
Who is chef Luis Miguel Garcia Vilchez and what's his background?
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Chef Luis Miguel Garcia Vilchez was born in Lima and trained at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school there. His international career across Peru, the United States, and Spain led him to Ají, where he's maintained the kitchen's Michelin Guide selection every year from 2018-2025.