Michelin-starred dining on the Costa Blanca: the star tables and our favourites

In 2026 the Costa Blanca counts 17 Michelin stars across 13 restaurants in Alicante province, led by three-starred Quique Dacosta in Dénia, the only three-star restaurant in the Comunitat Valenciana. Known for its beaches, the province is now discovered for its tables: a rice, fish and wine terroir that delights food lovers. Here is our guide to the Costa Blanca's exceptional restaurants, from the starred ones to the addresses only insiders know, with our favourites.

The Costa Blanca's Michelin-starred restaurants

The 2026 vintage confirms the province's place at the top of Spanish gastronomy. Here is the panorama.

And our favourites, restaurant by restaurant.

Quique Dacosta, Dénia (3 stars)

The icon. Chef Quique Dacosta delivers in Dénia one of Spain's most artistic dining experiences, an emotional journey where every dish tells the story of the Marina Alta landscape. The tasting menu runs around 275 to 320 euros, so book weeks ahead. What makes it unique: the radical creativity and the staging, to experience at least once.

BonAmb, Xàbia (2 stars)

At chef Alberto Ferruz's table, the kitchen garden and the sea meet in a precise, luminous cuisine rooted in the Xàbia terroir. One of the finest addresses on the northern coast, set in a tastefully renovated farmhouse.

L'Escaleta, Cocentaina (2 stars)

In the mountainous interior, Kiko Moya draws on sierra produce for a deeply local, technically brilliant signature cuisine. Proof that the province's fine dining isn't limited to the coastline.

Audrey's, Calpe (1 star)

Chef Rafa Soler reworks local recipes with contemporary elegance, facing the Peñón de Ifach. A refined, accessible table for a first star.

Beat, Calpe (1 star)

Aesthetics and technique in perfect balance, in the polished setting of The Cook Book hotel. Signature cuisine conceived as a show.

La Finca, Elche (1 star)

Susi Díaz, a leading figure of southern gastronomy, delivers a sensitive, elegant cuisine rooted in produce and emotion, amid the Elche palm grove.

The province has 13 starred houses in total: find the full, up-to-date list on the Michelin Guide.

Exceptional tables, beyond the stars

Talent isn't limited to macarons (the Michelin stars). The Costa Blanca is full of signature restaurants, bistronomy and view-side addresses that locals keep to themselves. In Dénia, a UNESCO-labelled creative city of gastronomy, the arrocerías (rice restaurants) and the tables built around the famous gamba roja (red prawn) are worth the detour. In Alicante, institutions such as Nou Manolín or Piripi keep alive great produce-driven cooking (rice, fish, top-tier tapas) in a timeless atmosphere. And all along the coast, from Altea to Villajoyosa, sea-terrace restaurants offer the best of signature Mediterranean cuisine.

Culinary experiences

Beyond dinner, the Costa Blanca can be tasted in other ways:

• Cooking classes: learn paella, arroz a banda or caldero from local chefs, a popular activity for entertaining at home afterwards.
• DO Alicante wines: the flagship grape is Monastrell, and the region is one of the last to produce the legendary Fondillón, a rare, historic ageing wine. The inland bodegas (around Villena, Pinoso, the Marina Alta) can be visited and tasted.
• Food routes: the gamba roja de Dénia, a jewel of the Mediterranean; turrón de Jijona and Alicante (IGP), king of festive tables; the coast's rice and fish. Enough to build a multi-day taste itinerary.

Practical tips

• Book early. The starred restaurants, especially Quique Dacosta, fill up weeks ahead: plan ahead, preferably online.
• Choose the tasting menu. It's the best way to grasp a chef's vision; budget accordingly (wine pairing is often optional).
• Follow the seasons. Gamba roja, artichokes, citrus or sierra mushrooms shape the menus: ask for the day's suggestions.
• Lunch is gentler. Some great tables offer a lunch menu that's more affordable than dinner: an ideal way in.

Frequently asked questions

How many starred restaurants does the Costa Blanca have?

Alicante province totals 17 Michelin stars across 13 restaurants in 2026, including three-starred Quique Dacosta in Dénia, the only three-star restaurant in the Comunitat Valenciana.

What's the best restaurant on the Costa Blanca?

Quique Dacosta, in Dénia, is the reference with its three Michelin stars: a unique artistic experience. BonAmb (Xàbia) and L'Escaleta (Cocentaina) follow, with two stars each.

What budget do you need for a starred dinner?

Expect roughly 110 to 320 euros for a tasting menu depending on the restaurant, excluding wine pairing. Lunch is sometimes more affordable.

What should you absolutely try on the Costa Blanca?

The gamba roja de Dénia, genuine Alicante-style rice (a banda, del senyoret, caldero), turrón de Jijona and Alicante, and a glass of Fondillón, the region's historic wine.

Sources

• Michelin Guide (restaurants in Alicante province): guide.michelin.com/us/en/comunidad-valenciana/alacant/restaurants
• Comunitat Valenciana (starred restaurants): comunitatvalenciana.com/en/culinary-tourism/michelin-starred-restaurants
• DO Alicante (wines and Fondillón): doalicante.org

Information verified in July 2026 (2026 Michelin Guide). Distinctions, chefs and prices change: always check with the restaurant before booking. The Daily Costa Blanca is an AI-assisted publication with human editorial review and responsibility.