Joan Roca is the Spanish Catalan chef widely recognised as one of the defining figures in modern global gastronomy and the head chef of El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, the three-Michelin-star restaurant he runs with his brothers Josep Roca (sommelier) and Jordi Roca (pastry chef). Born 11 February 1964 in Girona, Catalonia, Spain, Joan Roca grew up in his parents’ Can Roca restaurant in the Taiala suburb of Girona. He attended the Escola d’Hosteleria de Girona for formal hospitality training and worked at multiple Catalan restaurants before opening El Celler de Can Roca with his brothers in 1986, originally as a small dining room next to their parents’ restaurant.
Joan Roca’s 2025-2026 work continues at El Celler de Can Roca, which retained its three Michelin stars and the Michelin Green Star in the 2026 Spain Michelin Guide announced at the November 2025 Michelin Gala. The restaurant has held three Michelin stars continuously since 2009, more than 16 years. The year 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the Roca brothers’ original 1986 restaurant opening, and the restaurant has twice been named No 1 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants (2013 and 2015). Joan continues as the head chef on the savoury side alongside Josep on wines and Jordi on desserts.
TL;DR
- Spanish Catalan chef born 11 February 1964 in Girona, Catalonia
- Trained at Escola d’Hosteleria de Girona
- Co-founded El Celler de Can Roca in Girona 1986 with brothers Josep and Jordi
- Three Michelin stars continuously since 2009 (16+ years)
- World’s 50 Best No 1 in 2013 and 2015
- 2026: 40th anniversary; three Michelin stars and Green Star retained 2026
Joan Roca key facts
| Born | 11 February 1964, Girona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish (Catalan) |
| Brothers | Josep Roca (sommelier), Jordi Roca (pastry chef) |
| Restaurant | El Celler de Can Roca, Girona (co-founded 1986) |
| Michelin status | Three Michelin stars continuously since 2009 + Green Star |
| World’s 50 Best | No 1 in 2013 and 2015 |
| 2026 highlight | 40th anniversary of restaurant opening |
Early life and training of Joan Roca
Joan Roca was born on 11 February 1964 in Girona, in the Catalan region of Spain, the eldest of three brothers in a family that operated the Can Roca restaurant in the Taiala suburb of Girona. The childhood in the family restaurant became the formative influence on his subsequent career, and he has spoken in multiple interviews about the bridge between Catalan family cookery and modern gastronomy that has anchored El Celler de Can Roca across more than four decades.
Joan attended the Escola d’Hosteleria de Girona for formal hospitality training in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He subsequently worked at multiple Catalan restaurants and undertook stages including at Georges Blanc in Vonnas, France, gaining classical French Nouvelle Cuisine technique. The European training period prepared him for his own restaurant opening alongside his brother Josep.
In 1986 Joan and his brother Josep Roca opened El Celler de Can Roca in a small dining room next to their parents’ Can Roca restaurant in Girona. Younger brother Jordi joined as pastry chef in 1997, completing the three-brother partnership that has anchored the restaurant ever since. The original location served the restaurant for more than two decades before the 2007 move to its current dedicated premises in Girona, where it earned its third Michelin star in 2009.
Joan Roca career timeline
- 11 February 1964: Born in Girona, Catalonia, Spain
- Late 1970s-early 1980s: Attends Escola d’Hosteleria de Girona
- Early 1980s: Stages including Georges Blanc Vonnas France
- 1986: Co-opens El Celler de Can Roca with brother Josep in Girona
- 1995: First Michelin star at El Celler de Can Roca
- 1997: Brother Jordi Roca joins as pastry chef
- 2002: Second Michelin star at El Celler de Can Roca
- 2007: Restaurant moves to dedicated premises in Girona
- 2009: Third Michelin star at El Celler de Can Roca (continuously held since)
- 2011: El Celler de Can Roca No 2 in World’s 50 Best Restaurants
- 2013: El Celler de Can Roca No 1 in World’s 50 Best Restaurants
- 2015: El Celler de Can Roca No 1 in World’s 50 Best Restaurants (second time)
- 2017: Spanish Premio Nacional de Gastronomia awarded to Joan and brothers
- 2018: Inducted into World’s 50 Best Best of the Best (after two No 1 placings)
- 2020-2022: Restaurant continues operations through Covid-19 pandemic
- 2024: Three Michelin stars and Green Star retained Spain Michelin Guide 2024
- 2025: Three Michelin stars and Green Star retained Spain Michelin Guide 2025
- November 2025 Michelin Gala: Three Michelin stars and Green Star confirmed for 2026 Spain Michelin Guide
- 2026: 40th anniversary of original restaurant opening; three Michelin stars retained
Joan Roca signature style: equilateral triangle of Catalan gastronomy
Joan Roca’s central argument, developed across more than four decades from 1986 onwards, is that traditional Catalan cookery combined with modern technique and the equilateral triangle of three-brother collaboration (savoury, wine, dessert) can anchor a sustained world-leading restaurant operation. The El Celler de Can Roca menu under Joan continuously evolves, anchored in Catalan ingredient-led cookery and modern technical precision across both classical and avant-garde formats.
The second defining element is the three-brother equilateral-triangle partnership. Joan as head chef on the savoury side, Josep as sommelier and wine director, and Jordi as pastry chef each contribute equally to the El Celler de Can Roca operation. The model is widely cited as one of the most successful chef-family partnerships in modern global gastronomy.
The third pillar is the sustained World’s 50 Best leadership and the 16-year continuous three-Michelin-star status. Within the global three-Michelin-star cohort Joan Roca sits alongside peers including Martin Berasategui, Elena Arzak and Jordi Cruz as one of the defining figures in modern Spanish gastronomy.
Notable Joan Roca work
Several Joan Roca projects have become reference points in modern Catalan and Spanish gastronomy. El Celler de Can Roca in Girona (co-founded 1986, three Michelin stars since 2009) is his defining four-decade operation. The 2013 and 2015 World’s 50 Best Restaurants No 1 placings established El Celler de Can Roca as one of the most-recognised restaurants globally. The Roca brothers’ BBVA-sponsored international tours through the 2010s extended the restaurant’s global influence. The 2017 Spanish Premio Nacional de Gastronomia and the 2018 World’s 50 Best Best of the Best induction cement the recognition. The 2026 40th anniversary marks the four-decade milestone.
Joan Roca awards and recognition
- 1986: Co-opens El Celler de Can Roca with brother Josep
- 1995: First Michelin star at El Celler de Can Roca
- 2002: Second Michelin star at El Celler de Can Roca
- 2009: Third Michelin star at El Celler de Can Roca
- 2013: World’s 50 Best Restaurants No 1 (first time)
- 2015: World’s 50 Best Restaurants No 1 (second time)
- 2017: Spanish Premio Nacional de Gastronomia
- 2018: Inducted into World’s 50 Best Best of the Best
- 2024: Three Michelin stars and Green Star retained 2024
- 2025: Three Michelin stars and Green Star retained 2025
- November 2025 Michelin Gala: Three Michelin stars confirmed for 2026
- 2026: Three Michelin stars and Green Star retained Spain Michelin Guide 2026
- 2026: 40th anniversary of original restaurant opening
Joan Roca impact on modern global gastronomy
Joan Roca’s most concrete contribution is the 16-year continuous three-Michelin-star status at El Celler de Can Roca from 2009 onwards. The restaurant has been named No 1 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants twice (2013 and 2015), and was inducted into the World’s 50 Best Best of the Best in 2018, cement its status as one of the most-recognised restaurants globally.
The second contribution is the three-brother equilateral-triangle partnership model. The model has been cited as one of the most successful chef-family partnerships in modern global gastronomy and has anchored the restaurant’s sustained four-decade success.
The third contribution is the sustained sustainability advocacy and the Michelin Green Star recognition. Within the global three-Michelin-star cohort Joan Roca sits alongside peers including Martin Berasategui, Elena Arzak and Jordi Cruz as one of the defining figures in modern Spanish gastronomy.
Joan Roca FAQ
Does El Celler de Can Roca have three Michelin stars?
Yes. El Celler de Can Roca in Girona retained its three Michelin stars and Michelin Green Star in the 2026 Spain Michelin Guide announced at the November 2025 Michelin Gala. The restaurant has held three Michelin stars continuously since 2009, more than 16 years.
Was El Celler de Can Roca the World’s Best?
Yes, twice. El Celler de Can Roca was named No 1 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2013 and again in 2015. The restaurant was inducted into the World’s 50 Best Best of the Best in 2018, the hall of fame for restaurants that have held the No 1 placing.
Who are the Roca brothers?
Joan Roca is the eldest brother and head chef on the savoury side. Josep Roca is the middle brother and sommelier and wine director. Jordi Roca is the youngest brother and pastry chef. The three brothers run El Celler de Can Roca together as an equilateral-triangle partnership that has anchored the restaurant since 1986.
When did El Celler de Can Roca open?
El Celler de Can Roca opened in 1986 in a small dining room next to the Roca family’s Can Roca restaurant in the Taiala suburb of Girona. The restaurant moved to dedicated premises in 2007 and earned its third Michelin star in 2009. The year 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the original 1986 opening.
Where did Joan Roca train?
At the Escola d’Hosteleria de Girona in the late 1970s and early 1980s, followed by stages at multiple Catalan and European restaurants including Georges Blanc in Vonnas, France. The European training period gave him direct exposure to French Nouvelle Cuisine technique that informed his subsequent approach to modern Catalan gastronomy.
What is next for Joan Roca
El Celler de Can Roca continues with three Michelin stars and Green Star in Girona through 2026, marking the 40th anniversary of the original 1986 opening. The restaurant’s official website (cellercanroca.com) is the best source for current updates.
