30-01-2017
The view from Marea Alta, opened last November on the last floor of Torre Colón, on the Rambla in Barcelona. There’s more to the view, though: Enrique Valentí and Arthur Sotto’s are doing a great job, with a nice offer of seafood and unconventional desserts
How many times did they ask us to see the Torre Colón, reaching 110 metres at the end of the Rambla in Barcelona, to understand why it didn’t have a restaurant on the top floor? In the end, they stopped: there was clearly no categorical reason preventing it. But what once seemed impossible, has now come true. The restaurant with the best view in the country, run by chef, dining room manager and director Enrique Valentí, opened little over 3 months ago. Broadly speaking, it’s a dining room seating 110 people, with an impressive 360-degree view of the city, with a sober and tasteful decor, a marine inspiration and an eclectic cuisine mostly based on seafood. After visiting it three times, I believe I’m not mistaken when I say Marea Alta will soon be the crown jewel in Barcelona’s culinary scene, and another very important element attracting international guests. A guaranteed success.
The team is directed by French Arthur Sotto who’s worked in the kitchens at Pierre Gagnaire, Le Petit Nice (3 Michelin stars in Marseille) and La Pergola (as many in Rome). He’s supported by Japanese Hideaki Yoshioka, 8 years of Basque experience (especially at Zuberoa), where he learnt to perfectly dominate the grill. Valentí is the captain of the ship, halfway between kitchen and dining room.
Chargrilled Rodaballo (turbot), a signature dish at Marea Alta
The staff at Marea Alta posing with two famous guests: Ferran Adrià e Juan Mari Arzak
Marea Alta Avenida Drassanes, 6-8 Piso 24 +34.93.6313590 Closed on Sunday and Monday (the cocteleria is always open)
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A French graduate in Spanish Philology, for 40 years now he’s been living in Barcelona and for 20 he’s been a cook. A lover of gastronomy, he now livens up the Observación Gastronómica 2 blog