Relais & Châteaux restaurants receive 10 suns in the Repsol Guide
After nine years, the Repsol Guide is now inaugurating a new era, recognizing the talent and prestige of almost 200 Portuguese restaurants at last night’s gala, which took place at the Convento de São Francisco, in Santarém.
Of the 70 sols awarded, ten were given to five members of Relais & Châteaux in Portugal, two of which won the guide’s highest distinction, equivalent to three sols, given to just four restaurants.
In Lisbon, the Belcanto restaurant led by chef José Avillez was the only one to win an award in this category, and the restaurant at The Yeatman, located in Vila Nova de Gaia and led by chef Ricardo Costa, was also the only one to win an award in the Porto region.
In addition to this recognition, a symbol of maximum excellence and quality, two suns were also awarded to the Vista restaurant, located at the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa, in the Algarve, under the command of João Oliveira. Those awarded a sol, which, according to the guide, share the same irreverence and innovation, also include two members of Relais & Châteaux: the fine-dining restaurant Mapa, located in L’AND Vineyards, in Montemor-o-Novo, under the responsibility of chef David Jesus, and also the gastronomic restaurant at Fortaleza do Guincho, whose impeccable offering inspired by the Atlantic is signed by chef Gil Fernandes.
For Rui Silva, Director of Relais & Châteaux for Spain and Portugal, “the Repsol Guide aims to distinguish ‘the pleasure of travelling, experiencing, stopping and enjoying a landscape, a typical dish, a unique view’ — something that could not be more aligned with the values of Relais & Châteaux. The return of the Guide to Portugal, after a hiatus of around nine years, was particularly special for the Association and for our Members in Portugal, with five of them distinguished, including two — Belcanto and The Yeatman — with the highest distinction.
In total, 194 restaurants were included in the new edition of the Guide – 70 of which were awarded one, two or three Suns, and the remaining 124 were recommended restaurants. With a view to promoting Iberian gastronomy, the Repsol Guide now returns to Portugal “revitalized and reinvigorated”, describes the Guide’s president María Ritter, seeking to follow the reality of the Portuguese gastronomic universe, in the same way that it wants to “focus on women and on many cities that are not generally referenced”.
In Portugal, Relais & Châteaux is made up of thirteen members, namely Bela Vista Hotel & Spa, Belcanto, Casa da Calçada, Casa Velha do Palheiro, Fortaleza do Guincho, Grand House, Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Quinta Nova Winery House, The Yeatman, Valverde Lisboa Hotel & Garden, Valverde Santar Hotel & Spa, L’AND Vineyards and Vermelho, the latter being the most recent entry.
About Relais & Châteaux
Founded in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an association that brings together an exceptional group of 580 hotels and restaurants around the world, managed by owners
independent. The men and women who make it up, mostly families, are deeply committed to sharing their local culture and their passion for what is good and beautiful.
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