Part 1: Penedès
When you’re staying in Sitges, lunch is the perfect excuse to explore the region’s culinary treasures. This is where people come not only to drink excellent wines but also to experience fine dining Catalonia style. Catalan food tradition runs deep, blending recipes handed down through generations with modern culinary innovation that preserves the soul and passion of the cuisine.
Millions of acres of farmland and tens of thousands of farmers inspire a new wave of Catalan chefs — more than 50 of whom have been recognised by Michelin. This is the first part of our guide to the best restaurants Catalonia offers for a gourmet lunch — combining recognised Michelin restaurants in Catalonia with established favourites and rising stars.
Penedès: food and wine country
Penedes brings you to the heart of this cultural love of food and introduces you to some of the top gourmet food destinations Catalonia has to offer. Vineyard towns with kitchens that cook what’s grown, caught and raised nearby. The Chef’s here understand their assignment and relish bringing their skills and techniques to grace the treasures from land and sea at their disposal.
Strained, sautéed, grilled, baked, pureed and whisked to perfection. These are flavours to pique your curiosity and satisfy your taste buds. New experiences amid familiar combinations that help regain a connection to real food. Clean, clear tastes and dazzling bites.
Top restaurants of Penedès
Casa Nova (Sant Martí Sarroca) — Restaurante Casa Nova
A rural masia set amongst the vineyards of Penedès. This sustainability-led kitchen is committed to using produce from its own gardens and small neighbouring producers.
Vilagut (Vilafranca del Penedès) — Vilagut Restaurant
Vilagut delivers modern cuisine rooted in seasonal, local km0 produce, with clean, balanced flavours. Served in a calm space designed for an unhurried lunch in Catalonia, it pairs a strong regional wine list with attentive, adaptable service.
El Cigró d’Or (Vilafranca del Penedès) — El Cigró d’Or
Located above Vilafranca’s Mercat de la Carn in the old town, El Cigró d’Or showcases modern Catalan cuisine rooted in seasonal produce. With Penedès wines and flavours at its core, it balances tradition and innovation with authenticity and flair.
La Fàbrica (Vilafranca del Penedès) — Restaurant La Fàbrica
A Catalan–Japanese fusion restaurant where fresh ingredients and meticulous preparation define a carefully curated menu. Stylish yet welcoming, it delivers creative, unpretentious cuisine. Now guided by the second generation, it continues to evolve, blending tradition with originality in a distinctive dining experience.
Cal Blay Orígens (Sant Sadurní d’Anoia) — calblay.com
Housed in a beautifully restored modernista winery, Cal Blay Orígens offers Mediterranean and Catalan cuisine rooted in seasonal, local produce. With deep respect for tradition, craftsmanship, and Penedès wines, it delivers an authentic and warmly memorable dining experience.
La Cava d’en Sergi (Sant Sadurní d’Anoia) — lacavadensergi.com
La Cava d’en Sergi serves market-fresh Catalan cuisine with creative flair in the heart of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. Known for rice, risotto, and seasonal dishes, it pairs refined cooking with an excellent cava selection and the warmth of loyal hospitality.
Cal Pere del Maset (Sant Pau d’Ordal / Subirats) — Cal Pere del Maset
Cal Pere del Maset offers seasonal market cuisine uniting traditional family recipes with contemporary creativity. Each dish is crafted with local ingredients and artistic precision, delivering an elegant yet welcoming dining experience.
Cal Xim (Sant Pau d’Ordal / Subirats) — restaurantcalxim.com Cal Xim is renowned for its elevated level of Catalan grill, serving seasonal meats, vegetables, and traditional dishes with precision and soul. Known for bold flavours and genuine hospitality, it offers an authentic dining experience that captures the essence of gourmet lunch in Catalonia.
Why Penedès belongs on every gourmet map
The deep-rooted culinary tradition, the variety and quality of the produce, and the multitude of talented chefs firmly place the Penedès selection among the best fine dining lunch spots in Catalonia. This is a region where authenticity, creativity, and terroir are inseparable.
Menus evolve with the seasons, and the most desirable tables fill quickly at weekends — making reservations, and punctuality, worthwhile. In Catalonia, a gourmet lunch is never just an interlude; it is the main event. Time slows, dishes unfold at a natural rhythm, and dining becomes an experience in itself — slow, easy, and deeply delicious.
