Carles Abellan is one of Barcelona’s most influential chefs, a former elBulli man who revolutionised the city’s tapas scene and helped redefine modern Catalan cooking. Through restaurants such as the Michelin-starred Comerc 24 and the hugely popular Tapas 24, he brought avant-garde technique and creativity to the traditional Spanish bar, and became one of the best-known culinary names in the city.
Shaped by more than fifteen years in Ferran Adria’s elBulli universe, Abellan combines deep respect for Catalan tradition with a playful, inventive spirit that has made his restaurants enduring Barcelona institutions.
TL;DR
- Catalan chef, a leading figure of Barcelona’s dining scene
- Spent more than 15 years in Ferran Adria’s elBulli universe
- Opened the Michelin-starred Comerc 24 in 2001
- Founded the hugely popular Tapas 24 in 2006
- Known for reinventing traditional Spanish tapas
Carles Abellan key facts
| Nationality | Spanish (Catalan) |
| Based in | Barcelona |
| Background | Over 15 years at elBulli |
| Key restaurants | Comerc 24 (1 Michelin star); Tapas 24 |
| Known for | Modern Catalan tapas |
The elBulli years
Carles Abellan trained at Barcelona’s hospitality school and joined Ferran Adria’s elBulli in 1984 as a trainee – a placement meant to last two weeks that turned into six years, and part of more than fifteen years spent in the wider elBulli universe. That long immersion in the world’s most creative kitchen shaped his technique and his fearless approach to reinventing tradition.
Comerc 24
In 2001, after his years with Adria, Abellan opened his first restaurant, Comerc 24, which revolutionised the concept of tapas in Barcelona by bringing avant-garde creativity to small plates. The restaurant earned a Michelin star in 2007 and became a benchmark for modern Catalan cooking before Abellan eventually closed it to focus on other projects.
Tapas 24
In 2006 Abellan opened Tapas 24, which became his most internationally known restaurant. Paying tribute to Barcelona’s traditional tapas bars while using high-quality produce and clever technique, it welcomed millions of guests and became a model for countless other establishments. Its iconic dishes – the truffle bikini, a recipe born in elBulli’s kitchens, and its Russian salad – have become city classics, and the restaurant marked its twentieth anniversary in 2026.
Signature style
Abellan’s cooking blends respect for Catalan and Spanish tradition with the creativity and technique he absorbed at elBulli. He takes familiar dishes – tapas, bikinis, classic bar snacks – and elevates them with precision and imagination, never losing their comfort or recognisability. It is food that is both playful and deeply rooted in Barcelona.
Carles Abellan in context
Abellan is one of the leading Barcelona chefs of the elBulli generation, alongside the trio behind Disfrutar featured on Pickup Table 4 – Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch.
Follow Carles Abellan
Carles Abellan – official site
Carles Abellan FAQ
Who is Carles Abellan?
A leading Barcelona chef who modernised the city’s tapas scene.
Where did he train?
In Ferran Adria’s elBulli universe, for more than fifteen years.
What is Comerc 24?
His first restaurant, opened in 2001, which won a Michelin star in 2007.
What is Tapas 24?
His hugely popular Barcelona tapas restaurant, opened in 2006.
What kind of food does he cook?
Modern, creative Catalan tapas rooted in tradition.
