(22 Sant Elies in Barcelona, Spain)

A respected restaurant run by the Freixa family has been here for many years, but when son Ramon too...k over the kitchen, the classic Catalan cuisine was turbo-charged with new inventiveness and a buzz of excitement began about the place that has never ceased. Dark-eyed chef Friexa is now a Spanish celebrity, with telly appearances and popular cookbooks. The decor is quite traditional, perfect for romantic trysts or business meals. The creative menu includes dishes like potato and olive millefeuille with crayfish crumble, fennel ice cream and roman lettuce hearts, main courses of roasted lobster with rabbit ribs a la milanese with home-made pasta and dried fruits, and sweet -- Freixa's first love -- of an astounding Chocolate 2004.5 The Cardinal Points of four chocolate dream dishes. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. A credit card is required to secure a reservation, if there is availability - this is simply to secure your booking, absolutely no money will be charged to the card except in the case of late cancellations. Late cancellations (within 24 hours of the reservation) and no-shows will incur a charge of €30 per person Opening hours: Tues - Sat 1pm - 3:30pm & 9pm - 11pm Mon - Sun: closed all day [moreless]

(17 Alameda Mazarredo in Bilbao, Spain)

Zortziko restaurant, just a few steps from Bilbao’s iconic Guggenheim Museum, is iconic in its own w...ay. This ultra-modern kitchen is sited in an elegant, 19th century mansion and is the place for business lunches and relaxed dinners. The formality of the setting – the three dining rooms are decorated in royal French, Victorian English and a more modern style – is deflated by the helpfulness and cordiality of the DJ’ed waitstaff. Chef/owner Daniel Garcia has earned his Michelin star through refinement of flavours in a truly Basque style at once inventive and conservative. Dishes change with the season, of course, and may include dishes like starter of txangurro salad, containing crabmeat on thin spaghetti with coral dressing, main course of blue duck slow-cooked served with a sweet rioja sauce, and a tasting plate of desserts to satisfy even the most adventurous gourmet. A single table in the wine cellar, the home of more than 600 labels, is reserved weeks in advance. Celebrity-magnet Zortziko (Frank Gehry, Pierce Brosnan) is one of Bilbao’s culinary star attractions. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Tue - Sat 1:30pm - 3:30pm & 9pm - 11:30pm Mon - Sun: closed all day [moreless]