Martin Berasategui is the Spanish chef widely recognised as one of the most-decorated chefs in modern global gastronomy and the holder of more Michelin stars than any other Spanish chef. Born 27 April 1960 in San Sebastian, in the Spanish Basque Country, Berasategui inherited his family’s Bodegon Alejandro restaurant in the old town of San Sebastian at age 21 in 1981. He subsequently founded Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria near San Sebastian in 1993, which has held three Michelin stars since 2001. Across his portfolio of restaurants in Spain and worldwide he holds a total of 12 Michelin stars in 2025-2026, the highest total of any Spanish chef.
Berasategui’s 2025-2026 work continues across his global Michelin-star portfolio. Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria has retained its three Michelin stars in the 2025 and 2026 editions of the Spain Michelin Guide. Lasarte at the Monument Hotel in Barcelona, led by chef Paolo Casagrande under Berasategui’s mentorship, has retained its three Michelin stars and celebrated its 20th anniversary in April 2026. The total of 12 Michelin stars across his various restaurants worldwide makes Berasategui the most-decorated Spanish chef and one of the most-decorated chefs globally in 2025-2026.
TL;DR
- Spanish chef born 27 April 1960 in San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain
- Inherited family Bodegon Alejandro restaurant 1981 at age 21
- Founded Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria 1993
- Three Michelin stars at flagship continuously since 2001
- Lasarte Barcelona three Michelin stars (Paolo Casagrande under his mentorship)
- 2025-2026: Total 12 Michelin stars across global portfolio (highest of any Spanish chef)
Martin Berasategui key facts
| Born | 27 April 1960, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish (Basque) |
| First restaurant | Bodegon Alejandro San Sebastian (inherited 1981 at age 21) |
| Flagship | Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria (founded 1993) |
| Flagship Michelin status | Three Michelin stars continuously since 2001 (24+ years) |
| Barcelona restaurant | Lasarte at Monument Hotel (chef Paolo Casagrande under his mentorship; three Michelin stars; 20th anniversary April 2026) |
| Total Michelin stars | 12 across global portfolio in 2025-2026 (highest of any Spanish chef) |
Early life and training of Martin Berasategui
Martin Berasategui was born on 27 April 1960 in San Sebastian, in the Spanish Basque Country, into a family that operated the Bodegon Alejandro restaurant in the old town of San Sebastian. He grew up in the family restaurant and developed his culinary instincts from his earliest years, working alongside his mother and aunt in the family kitchen.
Berasategui trained at multiple French restaurants during his apprenticeship years, including extended stages at leading French restaurants in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The French training period gave him direct exposure to classical French and Nouvelle Cuisine technique, and informed his subsequent approach to combining traditional Basque cookery with modern French gastronomy across the following four decades.
In 1981 at age 21 Berasategui inherited the family Bodegon Alejandro restaurant in the old town of San Sebastian. Bodegon Alejandro under Berasategui earned its first Michelin star in 1986, the youngest Spanish chef at the time to receive a Michelin star. In 1993 he opened the new Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria, near San Sebastian, which became his flagship operation and is the restaurant that has anchored his subsequent global expansion.
Martin Berasategui career timeline
- 27 April 1960: Born in San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain
- Late 1970s-early 1980s: Apprenticeships at French restaurants
- 1981: Inherits Bodegon Alejandro at age 21
- 1986: First Michelin star at Bodegon Alejandro
- 1993: Opens Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria
- 1995: Second Michelin star at Restaurante Martin Berasategui
- 2001: Third Michelin star at Restaurante Martin Berasategui (continuously held since)
- April 2006: Opens Lasarte at Monument Hotel Barcelona with chef Paolo Casagrande
- 2010s: Expands global portfolio across Spain, Tenerife, Mexico, Dominican Republic
- 2014: Receives Spanish Premio Nacional de Gastronomia
- 2017: Lasarte Barcelona earns three Michelin stars
- 2020-2022: Continued global portfolio operations through Covid-19 pandemic
- 2024: Three Michelin stars retained at flagship and Lasarte Barcelona
- 2025: Three Michelin stars retained Spain Michelin Guide 2025
- 2025-2026: Total 12 Michelin stars across global portfolio
- 2026: Three Michelin stars retained Spain Michelin Guide 2026
- April 2026: Lasarte Barcelona celebrates 20th anniversary
Martin Berasategui signature style: Basque-inspired modern gastronomy and global Michelin portfolio
Berasategui’s central argument, developed across more than four decades from 1981 onwards, is that traditional Basque cookery combined with the technical lessons of modern French gastronomy and a multi-restaurant operational approach can anchor a sustained global three-Michelin-star portfolio. The Restaurante Martin Berasategui flagship menu has continuously evolved across more than three decades, anchored in Basque-inspired modern gastronomy, and is widely recognised as one of the most consistently inventive three-star restaurants in modern Spanish gastronomy.
The second defining element is the multi-restaurant global Michelin-star portfolio. Across his various restaurants in Spain (Lasarte-Oria flagship, Lasarte Barcelona, Tenerife properties, M.B. at Abama Tenerife, and others) and worldwide (Mexico, Dominican Republic), Berasategui holds a total of 12 Michelin stars in 2025-2026, the highest total of any Spanish chef. The portfolio approach has anchored his sustained global influence across more than two decades.
The third pillar is the mentorship of subsequent generations of Spanish chefs, including Paolo Casagrande at Lasarte Barcelona and many other chefs across the global portfolio. Within the global three-Michelin-star cohort Berasategui sits alongside peers including Pedro Subijana, Elena Arzak and Joan Roca as one of the defining figures in modern Spanish gastronomy.
Notable Martin Berasategui work
Several Berasategui projects have become reference points in modern Spanish gastronomy. Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria (founded 1993) is his flagship and has held three Michelin stars continuously since 2001. Lasarte at the Monument Hotel in Barcelona (opened April 2006, chef Paolo Casagrande under his mentorship) holds three Michelin stars and celebrates its 20th anniversary in April 2026. M.B. at Abama Tenerife, Oria at Monument Hotel Barcelona, and his other global restaurants together represent the 12-Michelin-star total. The 2014 Spanish Premio Nacional de Gastronomia cement his sustained recognition.
Martin Berasategui awards and recognition
- 1981: Inherits Bodegon Alejandro at age 21
- 1986: First Michelin star at Bodegon Alejandro
- 1993: Opens Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria
- 1995: Second Michelin star at flagship
- 2001: Third Michelin star at flagship (continuously held since)
- April 2006: Opens Lasarte Barcelona with Paolo Casagrande
- 2014: Spanish Premio Nacional de Gastronomia
- 2017: Lasarte Barcelona earns three Michelin stars
- 2024: Three Michelin stars retained at flagship and Lasarte Barcelona
- 2025: Three Michelin stars retained Spain Michelin Guide 2025
- 2025-2026: Total 12 Michelin stars across global portfolio
- 2026: Three Michelin stars retained Spain Michelin Guide 2026
- April 2026: Lasarte Barcelona 20th anniversary
Martin Berasategui impact on modern Spanish gastronomy
Berasategui’s most concrete contribution is the 12-Michelin-star global portfolio in 2025-2026, the highest total of any Spanish chef. The flagship Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria has held three stars continuously since 2001, more than 24 years, and the Lasarte Barcelona operation under Paolo Casagrande’s leadership has held three stars since 2017.
The second contribution is the mentorship of subsequent generations of Spanish chefs across the global portfolio. Paolo Casagrande at Lasarte Barcelona is the most-recognised example, but many other chefs across Berasategui’s global operations have subsequently developed their own careers under his mentorship.
The third contribution is the establishment of the multi-restaurant Spanish chef-portfolio model that subsequent Spanish chefs have built on. Within the global three-Michelin-star cohort Berasategui sits alongside peers including Pedro Subijana, Elena Arzak and Joan Roca as one of the defining figures in modern Spanish gastronomy.
Martin Berasategui FAQ
How many Michelin stars does Berasategui have?
Twelve Michelin stars in 2025-2026 across his global portfolio, the highest total of any Spanish chef. Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria holds three stars (since 2001), Lasarte at Monument Hotel Barcelona holds three stars (since 2017), and additional stars are spread across his Spain, Tenerife and other global properties.
What is Lasarte Barcelona?
Lasarte at the Monument Hotel in Barcelona is Berasategui’s three-Michelin-star Barcelona restaurant, opened in April 2006 with chef Paolo Casagrande under his mentorship. The restaurant earned three Michelin stars in 2017 and celebrated its 20th anniversary in April 2026. Casagrande continues as chef under Berasategui’s mentorship.
Where is the flagship restaurant?
Restaurante Martin Berasategui is in Lasarte-Oria, a town near San Sebastian in the Spanish Basque Country. The restaurant opened in 1993 and has held three Michelin stars continuously since 2001, more than 24 years, one of the longest unbroken three-star runs in modern Spanish Michelin history.
When did Berasategui first earn three stars?
Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria earned its first Michelin star in 1993, its second Michelin star in 1995, and its third Michelin star in 2001. The flagship has held three stars continuously since 2001, more than 24 years.
Did Berasategui inherit a restaurant?
Yes. In 1981 at age 21 Berasategui inherited the family Bodegon Alejandro restaurant in the old town of San Sebastian. Bodegon Alejandro under Berasategui earned its first Michelin star in 1986, the youngest Spanish chef at the time to receive a Michelin star. He subsequently founded Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria in 1993.
What is next for Martin Berasategui
Restaurante Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria continues with three Michelin stars through 2026. Lasarte Barcelona continues with three Michelin stars under Paolo Casagrande and celebrated 20th anniversary in April 2026. The 12-Michelin-star global portfolio continues. The restaurant’s official website (martinberasategui.com) is the best source for current updates.
