Came here a bit ago, and we're still talking about it whenever we think of Barcelona. Chef Artal's creations introduced us to a different take on Catalan cuisine and we are forever grateful. Each dish came with a detailed and thoughtful description card. Each dish was likewise crafted to perfection. The restaurant itself was spacious and unpretentious. Overall a wonderful experience. read more

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I've glanced at the reviews where people seem to share a variety of negative and positive opinions. I will add my voice to this huge chorus and share my perspective and also the baggage : - O that I bring to the table. I'm American and have been blessed to eat in a number of fine dining restaurants in the Americas and Europe. From an American perspective, Cinq Sentits is superior in price and quality in comparison to other US 2 Michelin star restaurants. For those of you that complain about the cost of the production value or trying too hard, I hear you. I've reached an age where I'm more into the dinner (the gastronomy) than the show, but at this price point, I'm afraid putting on a show is the price of admission to play in this arena, so we have to accept some theatrics. The theatrics at Cinq Sentits is frankly more refrained than others, and I found the complexity and originality of the gastronomy enjoyable. We had the complete tasting menu and each had a wine pairing. I will not waste time going over the many courses. After reviewing my notes, I was mostly impressed with the harmony between the food and wine. There were a couple of daring choices. We do like to be surprised, so I appreciate the stretch. One I thought was spot on. One I thought was a reach too far, but this is highly personal. Service is impeccable. It is clear staff are well rehearsed and make the dinner very polished. I really appreciated their precision. While the space of the room is designed with a minimalist sensibility, the dining room's grand space and distance between tables gave it a wonderful sense of opulence because of the privacy granted each table. Of course, price is not cheap, but for what you get, I consider this good value (considering my general disappointment with the price to quality disparity at most American Michelin star restaurants). Total price for the complete tasting experience, two wine pairings, two bottles of water, and an added 10% gratuity was 728.20 Euros. Fine dining is our biggest hobby, and it was well worth the experience. read more

Absolutely delicious menu, with creative takes on dishes from the owner's childhood. However, they advised a full tasting menu would take 2.5 hours, and 4 hours later it was was not finished. I did not want to be rude but I had to ask to hurry the bill so I did not miss another engagement. Make sure you book this for your only event for the rest of the afternoon/evening. read more

Cinc Sentits is easily one of the best Michelin-starred restaurants I've experienced. The space is simple, modern, and welcoming. Upon arrival, you're treated to a snack and cocktail prepared right in front of you. I love the attention to detail--they provide a card with each course, explaining where the ingredients are sourced and what's in the dish. The sommelier was exceptional. I did the wine pairing, and each selection was flawlessly matched to the dishes--it was truly impressive! One wine even completely neutralized the fish aftertaste. The saffron curd dessert left a lasting impression--hands down the best dessert I've ever had. I highly recommend visiting; it's absolutely worth the experience. LOVE!!! read more

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Cinc Sentits is an enjoyable experience. You start by having a quick introductory course in a hallway where they explain the concept of the restaurant and show you all the fermentation at work. I enjoyed their artistic approach to representing an aerial view of an olive grove on the walls in the introductory hallway. As you finish the intro you are guided to your table where the true fun begins. This restaurant is small with only a handful of tables. The service was excellent and each dish was explained extremely well. I enjoyed that the chef took inspiration from his childhood growing up in Canada and his Spanish background. The bread served here is amazing and it keeps coming if you want more bread. I enjoyed their take on asparagus with an asparagus sorbet/yogurt. That dish was creative and hit the mark. The fish and the duck served here were an excellent presentation of the chefs culinary genius. I also enjoyed the acorn made out of duck. Finally, the maple syrup shot was out of this world followed up by delicious desserts. This place is a must visit in Barcelona and the service was around 2 hours. read more

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My first 2 star experience and a relaxing and cozy one. During this trip to Barcelona, we ran through a gamut of cuisines, first focusing on traditional tapas before venturing out into some fusion. Tasting elevated Catalan classics was a great cap to the trip. To begin, we were ushered into a welcoming area with wooden stands that served as the furniture for presenting the welcome course, a series of bites showcasing the molecular gastronomy prowess of the chef and a nouveau experience of the flavors of Spain. 1) For our welcome course, our three bites were: Faifo olive, tomato sofrito with parsley jelly and san Filippo anchovy, and crispy chicken skin with pine nut emulsion + chicken liver parfait + prune macerated in vi ranci. The welcome house literally is presented so that each bite is a smooth olive-shaped object that consists of all of these ingredients mixed into 3 separate bites. At the end, we got to have the I think was either the vi ranci or vinho verde (green wine) in a glass and it was absolutely the best mix of fresh and sweet like an alcoholic green grape. The bread was delicious and the olive oil they produce is phenomenal. I would buy a bottle of that stuff. For drinks I ordered the Most Flor from Llopart, basically an elevated non-alcoholic grape juice. This is by far the best grape juice I've ever had in my life. 2) Porrusalda was delicious with the crispy string potatoes and smoked trout roe being the star. The leek and potato foam made the whole thing so smooth and it was also nice to see it served in an eggshell 3) The prawn dish wasn't super special, just a nice cured prawn tail with some crunchy elements in the crisp and croquette 4) It was nice to see the chestnut represented in several ways as a mimetic chestnut that was actually made of candy shell and chestnut paste as well as the savory chestnut element served with a fried quail egg. The taste wasn't the most eye opening but it was very visually appealing 5) Scallop - again not super special but an opportunity to taste the famed Iberian ham in chip form 6) Medieval beef - definitely the most boring dish here. braised oxtail with wine sauce is a flavor that's super common and then the nixtamalized squash was just basically eating semi-soft versions of these vegetables. I'm not really sure what the nixtamalization did as I was hoping it would strengthen the flavor. 7) Trout - also kind of diasappointing in that the texture of this was slimy. I'm not sure if I liked gently warmed trout although I will say the aged sherry sauce and grilled pepper emulsion were by far the best sauce accompaniments of the night 8) Pork from sagas - solid tenderloin of pork, not much to write home about Now we get into the trio of desserts 9) Tangerine and Saffron - I absolutely love sorbet so I'm probably a little biased but the meal definitely needed something refreshing and this was it 10) Fig - also a lovely dessert with presentation of two types of fig to have both the sweet caramel flavor from one fig and a fresh, herbaceous flavor from the other. What made this one super cool was they used liquid nitrogen to make frozen fig leaf cream that they ladled like dippin dots onto the dish 11) Last Temptations - a trio of mini desserts in the form of lemon tart, creama catalana, and chocolate + olive oil + bread. Overall, I don't remember too much of this one but I think they were solid molecular gastronomy representations of these desserts. Finally they sent you home with a tube that contains a squeezable form of hot chocolate and cookies. A cool concept and a nice souvenir to take home. Rest assured I only waited until the next day when I flew home to enjoy and it was an experience. Overall this was a cool experience of the flavors of the Catalan country and I felt that the quality of food and service was enough to warrant this as a lovely experience. Make reservations in advance, of course. I believe I had to reserve 2 months in advance. read more

Look, normally I would write a long review for any restaurant to give the full experience, but I don't want to ruin this one. If you enjoy fine dining, superb food, and a wonderful, hash it out for a few hours type of experience at a Michelin-(two)starred restaurant, you CAN'T NOT get a reservation here. I loved it all, even the dishes that contained things I'm not generally a big fan of. The whole experience was superb from the welcome and entry area pre-meal tasting to the whole dinner, we left feeling fulfilled and full. I posted a few pics of some of the dishes and the general area, but beyond that, this is a place best experienced rather than read about. So go get a reservation (and get them early)... read more

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Overall, this was a 5/5 experience even though some of the dishes didn't deliver a 5/5. Let me say that the person who welcomed us, the sommelier, and Carolina were FANTASTIC--absolutely great service, friendly, knowledgeable, and personable. As for the food--every course felt inventive, creative, and intentional. Again, the chef nailed it in most instances. The highlights of the experience include journeying from the countryside to the city of Barcelona, the freshness of ingredients, the commitment to local producers, and the marriage of flavors. The one lowlight was the last dish which offered a chocolate bite with too much salt and a lemon bite with too much sugar. Otherwise I thought the chef and team delivered a wonderful commitment to Catalan-inspired and commuted dishes. The wine pairing was fantastic. Again, the sommelier was such a fun and knowledgeable person. Loved it! read more

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5+ stars. I still dream about the saffron ice cream from this dinner. Definitely a rare treat, everything from the food and the service was truly a gem. This was one of our last dinners in Barcelona and it really marked the end of a wonderful trip. The master chefs here match unconventional flavors together and create flavor profiles that you won't find anywhere else. read more

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I try to do one Michelin restaurant (if they have one) or at least one fine dining restaurant everywhere I go. For Barcelona, I've chosen this place based on the reviews. I was not disappointed. This was easily in my top 5 most favorite Michelin restaurants. The service from the entrance all the way to the end was quintessential and unequaled. We chose the tasting menu not the light one for the full experience. Each course seemed to get better and better and it's honestly hard to pick a favorite dish. 189 e for the tasting and 159 e for the light menu without the wine pairing. Highly recommend if you're in the area. We got a goodie bag to take home. read more

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Cinc Sentits means "five senses" in Catalan, and this Michelin-starred restaurant seeks to engage each of the five senses through its dining experience with a menu featuring local Catalan ingredients! The adventure started with a visit to the "countryside," a room with a dark decor and tables resembling tree stumps. There, we started with a few welcome bites: an "olive" which exploded in the mouth; a cherry tomato made to look like a stone; crispy chicken skin topped with mushrooms; and a drink of house vermouth. The meal then continued in the brightly lit dining room, meant to represent the "city." The "light tasting menu" consisted of 2 appetizers, 3 mains, and 3 desserts, and little cards with text described each of the dishes as they were presented to us. The meal started with a fried artichoke plated at the top of a ceramic vase; and prawn croquettes topped with the prawn tail and a prawn crisp. The housemade bread came with two different local olive oils, butter, and salt. The mains included smoked eel served over brioche; grilled turbot served with peppery salsify and a creamy cava sauce; and my favorite, a plate of grilled pork tenderloin and pulled pork ribs, served with sides of pickled apple & celery and a salad of apple and radish. For dessert, we started with a palate cleanser of tangerine sorbet served next to a creamy saffron curd, and the two components of this dish contrasted each other perfectly. The "Saint Madeleine's Trail" garden-inspired dessert included components like violet, rose, and jasmine pastry creams, wild strawberries, and orange blossom cream frozen in nitrogen. And for our "Last Temptations," we ended the meal with bites of a lemon tart; crema catalana (flavored with cinnamon, caramel, and orange) topped with a biscuit; and chocolate topped with crispy bread, salt, and pearls of olive oil. Finally, as we were celebrating a birthday, we were brought a complementary dessert: a ball of light, airy maple caramel cheesecake with flakes of edible gold on the outside! Overall, this was an absolutely incredible dining experience with impeccable, attentive, coordinated service, and every dish was executed with care, plated beautifully, and explained to us in detail. Many of the dishes seemed to tell the story of the owner's Catalan roots, and at the end of our meal, we received a booklet to take home with a list of the local purveyors used and a list of the menu items we had just tried! read more

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Very elegant lunch, outstanding service, delicious food. We had a great experience here. They have an option for a lighter meal but the full experience was outstanding. Highly recommend this restaurant for its service and food read more

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The only question I have is how does Cinc Sentits only have one Michelin star?? Add that the chef is self taught and wow what an even more impressive restaurant. It was an amazing experience from start to finish. From the food to the service to the ambience, we loved it! We started by coming into a space that is supposed to depict the earth and enjoyed 3 bite-size appetizers and a glass of vermouth in a more casual environment. All delicious. Then we were escorted to the dining room for the tasting menu. I loved that they brought cards listing what we were about to eat. Such a small but unique touch. I loved all of the dishes! They were beautifully presented and so delicious. I loved that we were to focus on our 5 senses to enjoy each course. It's worth every penny to come here when you're in Barcelona, it was one of my favorite meals ever! read more

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The most amazing culinary experience I've ever had. Expensive but worth the money. Service was impeccable & food exceeded all expectations.

This is one of the best meals I've ever eaten- possibly the best. I have to say, I think this place is better than the French Laundry- not to disparage the French Laundry whatsoever, they are wonderful- but this place was heavenly. Everything was perfection, and the service was equally perfect. The meal progression was superbly coordinated, and I fell in love with the Picual olive oil. Just wonderful. We went for the 1:30 lunch- because we're more awake during the day, and we really wanted to enjoy every bite. Our meal began with a fabulous "shot" of maple syrup, cream, cava sabayon and sea salt. This was AMAZING. One of the best tastes I've ever had. Next- tiny tapas. We had arbequina olives on a bed of rosemary, grilled vegetables on a flatbread "cracker" with olive oil caviar (and that was tasty tasty tasty!), Iberian jamon de bellota ham (that acorn fed ham that's so amazing) that you put on a toasted tiny flatbread toast with tomato dust and olive oil gel, freshly shucked baby clams with "secret sauce", salt baked potato with carrot and green bean puree inside and a bit of bonito tuna belly on top. And finally, an anchovy stuffed with anchovy emulsion and a roasted red pepper. But wait- there's more! Bread. Amazing bread. Served with whipped brown butter, and also two dishes of olive oil- one arbequina, and one picual (which is amazing, and which I must buy, because I love it.) Next- they made a substitution for me, as we were having the 6 course and the foie (which is one of my favorite foods) was on the 4 course. So I had foie gras with a caramelized sugar shell, braised leeks and chives. It was WONDERFUL. My husband had langoustine topped with caviar and next to it a razor clam topped with octopus, oyster plant and smoked eel. I'm not a fish person- but he is- so I was happy he could have that and I could have my foie. Next- Pyrenees Trout I gave the trout to my husband- he's the fish person, and it was lovely trout- but it came swimming in the freshest, most amazing, pea soup I've ever had. This soup was essence of baby peas- with spring onions and a caper essence. wow. I could have had a rather large bowl of this, if there weren't 4 more courses plus dessert... Next- Oven roasted Maitake- 63C egg yolk (poached, in other words), Iberian ham salt, vermouth, pickled chanterelles, thyme brown butter bread crumbs. If I had to pick one course to leave out- it would be this one. It was not as much to my taste- which is not to say it wasn't good. They bring it out with a glass cover full of smoke, for you to smell- which is rather charming (see- it does involve all your senses!) My husband loves smokiness- and he felt like this had essence of "campfire"- so it's totally a taste bud issue. I liked it- but I didn't love it (the only thing I did not love) Next- Squab Rice (OMG- the pigeons where I live better watch out- I had no idea their babies were this delicious). There were slices of squab, a croquette of squab, and squab in the rice - and there were cinnamon-smoked cocoa. Such a good dish. Next- Aged "vaca vieja" beef- with smoked bone marrow, celery root, heather honey laquered baby carrots- and there were little ;potato pieces that went fabulously with the beef. I adored this. Dessert- first, in a very "cool" glass filled with chilled water- we got strawberries with ice cream and foam. Delicious! Best strawberry sundae ever (basically). Dessert II- "Drunk" spongecake with lemon verbena, pineapple ice you were supposed to eat with the spongecake, and caramel syrup (which was really good) . When you ate it all together it gave you a pineapple upside down cake vibe. Dessert III- lemon and cava mousse (superb). Orange blossom mini muffin and their version of galleta maria cookies (3 of them- teeny tiny- each the size of a 1 euro penny.) 6 course meals were 120 euro each. 4 course were 100. And they have some sort of mini meal for 55. But life is short- go for the 6 courses. We could have added wine to the 6 course for 55 euro- and there was a lot of wine, and it came with explanations. Which is nice. I think it was 25 euro to add wine to the 4 course. Cappuccinos were 5.50 and a bottle of sparkling water for 2 was 6 euros- all very fair. We could have added a cheese plate, but we were stuffed. I'm surprised to see 3 star reviews. This dinner surpassed my imagination- and I have a vivid imagination. Ambiance- great ambiance. It's a beautiful place- minimalist. The bathroom is lovely, but does not appear to be handicapped accessible (no bar to help you up). You could certainly pull a wheelchair up to their tables though- and there is only one step into the restaurant. They do an amazing ballet of folding the napkins every time you get up. This captivated my husband. They fold them with a fork and spoon- like origami done with tableware. read more

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My wife and I got the chefs table and it was literally the BEST.MEAL.OF.MY.LIFE. Full stop. The wine pairings were perfect. The execution was spot on. The creativity of the menu was on a level I've never had before. From peas, to sturgeon caviar, to hazelnuts, to pork....it was worth every penny and more. Will never forget this dinner. If you're in Barcelona and want to do one over-the-top meal, this is your best bet. read more

Made a lunch reservation in January via their website. Before going, I received an email asking whether I had any allergies, dislikes, or dietary restrictions. Was asked the same upon being seated. So, I thought that was a really nice touch before confirming with the kitchen to proceed with the order. There were four other groups that day, and I was seated near the entrance. I chose the four course menu (EUR 90) and ordered wines by the glass. The service was warm and well-balanced. As a single diner, the wait staff made me feel very comfortable and welcomed. They engaged me in conversation, and we shared a few laughs. Their explanations of the foods, the ingredients, the techniques, and the wines were very thorough, and all of my questions were answered in detail. Wines by the glass are extremely good value considering the menu. Bottom line is: I really enjoyed my lunch there. I'm not going to ruin your anticipation or sense of discovery by posting photos of the dishes. It's like telling you how a movie ends. I always feel that there should be some element of surprise for a meal like this. Let's just say that all of the dishes, stemware, utensils, etc are visually appealing and some are custom-made for particular menu items. The containers, wooden boxes, vessels, plates, and bowls are meant to be touched, held and appreciated for their aesthetic value, feeling in the hand, weight, heft, and geometry. Remember, this meal is supposed to stimulate your "five senses", so don't be afraid to touch, smell and feel. Many of the tastes and textures were unique. Savory, sweet, creamy, crispy, tender. The signature foie gras "brulée" was terrific. I also enjoyed the pea soup and the duck vertical. My fish in beurre blanc was cooked to perfection. Delicious! Menus are changed on a monthly basis, and the maitre d' handed me a small memento after my meal was over. Small touches all around lead to incredible value. For the tasting menu, a glass of sparkling rosé cava, glass of white, glass of red, and a bottle of sparkling water, the total was EUR 126. If I come back to Barcelona, I will return. read more

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What an amazing dining experience!! The concept was well thought out and executed with perfection. At the door, it's unassuming, then we were led to a pre-dinner "picnic" in the "olive groves". Mind-blowing amuse bouche with vermouth! Then, in the dining room, it was spacious and well-designed. We had the short tasting menu and ordered two 2 bottles Of wines, 1 cava rosado, & 1 garnatxa from the Catalan region. The sommelier was spot on and very helpful in selecting the wines. Services were flawless. I think they deserved more than 1 Michelin star! Book ahead and I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a night of extraordinary gastronomic experience of Catalan cuisine while in Barcelona. We went for the short tasting menu which had 8 courses 99€. Regular tasting menu would have 10 courses 119€. No a la carte. Reservation only. Seasonal tasting menus all sourced locally and within Spain. read more

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For my 1000th review I'm super psyched to be sharing our experience at a business I really loved: Cinc Sentits. We visited for our anniversary in September and had a very memorable time. From the communication beforehand with the staff (I don't eat red meat and that was passed along so they were properly prepared when we arrived) to the last sip of coffee, it was an unforgettable experience. I'd consider our entrees (very rare squab) to be the only slightly disappointing thing but everything else was just so stellar. Not to mention a waitstaff that treats you like royalty: Extra points for the tiny stool provided to my handbag. At Cinc Sentits you're served by a number of different waitstaff but it's such a small restaurant with only a few tables, you still get very personalized service where they go over each course and the wine pairing selected. You can choose between a 4 course or 6 course menu. We opted for the 4 course because we didn't want to feel overly full on our way out, but we did do the wine pairing with each course, which I highly recommend as it was VERY well thought out. We also were given the option for an extra cheese course following the entree which I wasn't sorry about AT ALL. Here's the deliciousness: *Welcome "shot" of maple syrup, cream, cava sabayon, and sea salt. Very amooosing to my bouche. Pica Pica (or snacks) including: *marcona almond crisp *baby clams and secret sauce #3 *grilled coca bread with Iberian jamón *potato chips with brava sauce and allioli *rosemary-smoked anchovy with roasted peppers *house marinated gordal olive with oilive brine gel and lemon peel ----Paired with: Casa Mariol Vermouth With Sifón (my newest obsession) Tapas including: Chicken with sanfaina cannelloni wild mushrooms, warm root cream and salsify razor clam, mustard, green apple, onion and herbs Line caught mediterranean fish with smoke fish broth, potato, onion, atsina ----Paired with: Reto 2015, D.O. Manchuela Foie Gras with caramelized sugar shell, braised leeks, chives ----Paired with: Nou, Massís del Garraf Squab breast with marinated beet root, mushroom terrine ----Paired with: Victorino 2007, D.O. Toro Serra del Tormo slices, foam, pinenuts, vi piment ----Paired with: Xarel-Lo Pairal 2011 D.O. Penedès Blackberry with beer crisp and vanilla foam Peach with honey ice cream, spiced crumbs, warm chocolate ----Paired with: Apasionado de José Pariente 2015, D.O. Rueda Final Temptations including: *hazelnut jaumet de sant hilari *their galleta maria cookie *rosemary, white chocolate, and lemon crisp *catània Other memorable moments included the delightful light up menus, the cylinders full of sugar options for coffee, the crazy amazing breads AND the copy of the menu they provide you to take home that includes all your courses and wine pairing selections! If you're looking for a memorable fancy meal in Barcelona that won't make you too stuffed to move afterward, I highly recommend our friends at Cinc Sentits. It's michelin star quality without being too over the top or too stuffy. Perfectly trendy and delightful. read more

An amazing experience!!! If you're in Barcelona, this is A MUST!!! From the start, this was a 5 star experience. The host greeted us by automatically opening the door (via a secret button) and took our coats. We were seated in an elegant and well appointed dining room. We had several servers assigned to our table and never went without any beverages, wine or bread. The staff communicated very well and were jovial throughout the meal. We opted for the tasting menu and it was FABULOUS... maybe one of the best I've ever had. The acorn fed duck, trout and frozen wine were memorable and absolutely outstanding. Cannot say enough good things about this place. It wasn't cheap, but was worth every penny!! Bravo to the proprietor, Jordi Artal, and staff. read more

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Cinc Sentits was the best meal we had in Barcelona and quite possibly the best we have ever had. The atmosphere is classy but relaxing. You barely notice the other diners and the noise level is rather quiet. The food is amazing! Definitely go for the larger tasting menu with wine pairings. It is very expensive but totally worth it. The staff is incredible and explain all the dishes and wine pairings so that you have background about the sourcing and the history behind the dishes/ingredients. The sommelier chose perfect wine pairings for the dishes. We were consistently surprised by each new glass. The vermouth that you start your journey with is also very delicious and I wish I could have brought a case of it back to the US. For a special occasion, Cinc Sentits is worrh every penny for an amazing journey through Catalan cuisine. read more

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Cinc Sentits did not live up to expectations. Maybe we caught them on a bad night, but everything just felt a bit lackluster. The service was pretty cold, and the food was largely uninspired. I'd give the restaurant a solid 3, but am docking it 1 star, because I think the 1-Michelin star was undeserved and overly-inflated expectations. This was our menu: 1) Amuse bouche: 3 layer shot of Canadian maple syrup and sea salt, cream, and cava Cabernet 2) Tapas a) Olives 2 ways - liquified in hard shell and warmed b) Baby clams with secret sauce c) Smoked anchovies d) Iberian ham e) Tuna on potato f) Roasted vegetables on toast with olive oil bubbles 3) Prawns, almonds, and fresh vegetables in peach gazpacho 4) Red mullet cooked in a special bag with lemon and thyme, served on watercress puree, fermented garlic, and carmelized onion 5) Carmelized foie gras 6) White mushroom callenoli with celery root cream and egg yolk sauce 7) Smoked steak (served strangly at slightly below room temperature - not great) and oxtail croquette and wheat cracker with tomato dust. Paired with a peeled tomato 8) White chocolate with berries 9) Pistachio cake, apricot mousse, apricot ice cream, and caramelized popcorn 10) Chantilly chocolate mousse, hazelnut truffle, and Catalan cracker read more

Cinc Sentits was supposed to be one of the best restaurants in Barcelona, and I was so disappointed... Especially after looking at the pricetag at the end of the meal. (I'd rather spend a lil bit more and eat at Alinea again, for almost the same price). We got the 8 course tasting menu. The amuse bouche was a maple syrup shot, and that was really good. Theres was a soup that was good, but it didn't wow me. The only other dish that I thought was amazing was the carmelized large piece of foie gras. I think my friends and I would all agree that the foie gras was definitely the best part of the meal. The desserts were forgettable, nothing spectacular. I heard great things about Cinc Sentits, but it just didnt cut it for me... read more

My husband and I planned our trip to Spain last minute so we didn't have enough of a timeframe to make reservations at some places we wanted to try but we were lucky enough to get reservations at Cinc Sentits and really enjoyed our (very late) dinner there. Cinc Sentits is a beautiful restaurant- elegantly appointed with the gracious hospitality that seems to be a signtature of the people of Spain. The cuisine is inventive, nuanced, and very skillfully created. We enjoyed the meal and felt it was a good choice for our "special" meal while we were in Barcelona. If you are looking to dine at a Michelin starred restaurant with excellent wine pairings and gorgeous and delicious food, I would definitely put Cinc Sentitis on your list. You might wonder why I put four stars versus five and it's simply a matter of preference. My husband and I do not seek out formal dining much anymore and though the experience was without fault, it's not the type of meal we would seek out again or recommend to someone unless they were specifically looking for that type of setting/experience/buget. The four stars is in no way a reflection of the restaurant but merely how I would rate it in terms of my preferences in dining experiences amongst the places we tried in Barcelona. read more

This is on my top 5 gastromy experiences. The whole crew that worked tonight should be commended. Great food, amazing service. Very close to Axel.... read more

Ugh, I hate to do this because it seems like everyone else loved this place. This was our really pricey meal in Barcelona. We had high hopes, but I don't think overly-high. The place was lovely and the service amazing. I thought the food was underwhelming though. I know their thing is the sweet/salty balance of senses, but some of the dishes were just too sweet. I really wasn't impressed with anything except the pea soup and the entree. The desserts were very lackluster. I felt horrible because I convinced my husband we should spend the money on this meal and afterwards I wanted to cry because it did feel like a total waste. We had much better meals at places that were much cheaper in both Barcelona and Madrid. I've spent more on meals in the US, but never felt disappointed after doing so. I wouldn't recommend it. read more

Cinc Sentits is literally my favorite restaurant in the world. It has only recently in the past few years garnered a 1 star from Michelin Guide and it works hard to keep its rating. Cinc Sentits means Five Senses. For 3 hours, we settled into a very minimalistic setting -- good because it focuses on the food and service. Maitre d speaks perfect English, Spanish and Catalonian. Good job on the hiring! They have a shorter menu called the Business Lunch .. specifically for customers who want to experience Cinc Sentits but at a lower fare and less courses. ... I think what makes this place so wonderful is that it serves dishes with a local Catalonian flare. Everything from .. to the smoked sole, parsnip foam, suckling pig, cheese plate, truffles, foie gras (hugeeeeee!!), to the amuse bouche, petit fours, desserts... everything was above and beyond any 2/3 star resturant here in the States. Reservations can be made online. BUT I highly recommend asking your hotel to make the reservation for you --- hotels can help pull strings and perks. ;) Plus -- it assures you of your reservation. ** You can easily find Cinc Sentits by hoping off the closest metro station to the University and walk less than a mile. ** total (w/ tip) was about $250 for 2 people. Worth it -- it was the only high end resturant we went to, and after going we have yet to find anything as good as this (and for the price). read more

This is hard, I don't know where to start. This was without a doubt one of our top 3 meals ever. That said, you need to be a certain kind of foodie to truly enjoy it. I can understand why there is a review that said things were too sweet. I was SHOCKED at how sweet things could be and still be savory. Cinc Sentis to me is a play on the senses, and it was delightful. Well, now that I've started let me go on... First the atmosphere and service were exceptional. This was team service and everyone we interacted with was lovely and equally as important really into the food and wine. What I loved was the pride they took in the pairings and the special finds they feature. They also go into the "why" the chef made a certain choice, which includes the heritage of the dish. Meaning... "This dish is our take on [name] Catalan dish," which also included an explanation of that dish and their take. Now, here, I have to mention that though I have had a large number of high quality modernist meals, they generally fall flat for me -- more form than function, and I dig function in my food and bev. This was without a doubt, the best modernist meal I have had. Each dish was carefully constructed, and there was only one that didn't make me think differently about the ingredients or the original dish. (If I did know the original dish.) While it was hard to choose, I think my favorite was the main which was 3 version of squab... in 3 dishes, all creatively plated. Near to that was the langostinos and pork belly, which they paired with sea urchin foam and black garlic. Loved it and I don't like sea urchin typically. If I had to choose a third dish, it would likely be the 5 (or was it 6) tapas that we started with. Oh, forgot to mention this was the gastronomic tasting menu that is only offered for lunch. Yep, 3+ hours starting at 1:30p. I have to agree with the surprise that this restaurant only has one Michelin star. Just a week ago in Nice we ate at a (also wonderful) 2-star restaurant and this was better... by just a schmidge. Really we loved both, but if I had to choose a winner, I'd have to go with Cinc Sentis for originality that works. So if you aren't really into food, or aren't in the mood to sit back and appreciate the artistry, this isn't for you. But if you are, wow, just wow. And then a few hours later, you will smile again and say, wow. read more

Probably one of the most underrated restaurants in Barcelona when I first came to visit a few years ago. Then it was just a newly opened family run restaurant and has since been receiving many accolades which are justly deserved including a Michelin star. This is fine dining in Barcelona without the all the unnecessary pretentiousness. Amazing setting, service and flavors. A modern flair on Catalan cuisine. The chef, Artal, is a Canadian! (Bonus points in my book) The foie gras "coca" with balsamic-glazed leeks, burnt-sugar crust, chives is among my all-time favorite dishes and an amazing creation in the world of cuisine. In an ode to canada, he also serves a famous L'Arpège egg dish of yolk, whipping cream, sherry vinegar, maple syrup and rock salt. If you're visiting Barcelona, plan to stop here and enjoy. read more

For the price and hype, I was very underwhelmed. We got the tasting menu with 8 course I think. The dinner started off well, some of the started were very good, like the soup (I think it was pumpkin) and the maple shot amuse. Of course the foie gras was to die for. I have a special place in my heart for foie gras and this did not disappoint. After that the meal kind of went downhill for me. The fish seemed overcooked to me, the chicken dish lacked flavor and dessert was average. I had such high hopes for Cinc but personally would not recommend. read more

Very good food and exceptional staff, but did not meet up to the expectations they built up. Fantastic dishes are mixed with rather bland dishes and the desserts are underwhelming. The atmosphere was very classy but also very somber. Not many smiles in the room. All in all a very nice food experience but you do pay a very high price (expect the check to land a bit north o 200 EUR/pp). Smalls things like water not being included and a tiny plate of a few slices of cheese costing 15 EUR, does tick you off. read more

One of the top three fine dining experiences we had in Spain, which includes surpassing meals at Alkemia in Barcelona and Ramon Freixa in Madrid. You know great things are to be expected when your palate is primed with a decadant shot of maple syrup, cream, and cava sabayon. From that point on, it was just plate after plate of clean, well articulated food with flavours that make you stop and notice. Definitely not to be missed, a dining experience I would couple with a trip to Gresca to really make your visit to Barcelona unforgettable. read more

I have been remiss in not reviewing my April dinner at this amazing restaurant. We were visiting my sister in Barcelona and on our last night there, she took our kids to the skate park and sent my wife and I to Cinc Sentits. The meal was excellent - all seven+ courses. They happily adapted the menu for my wife who is a vegetarian (but eats fish). The servers did a great job of presenting the food and the wine pairings and why they worked together. We chose the local wine menu to get the full spanish experience. You will not regret this experience. read more

4.5 stars! Came here for a long lunch, Sept 2011. They take reservations on their website only 2 weeks prior to when you want to show up, but if you book right at the 2 week mark, I think there's no problem getting in. I write this review in sort of a comparison to Alkimia which across other food boards, appears to be the two comparison, which I feel is strange because they are such very different places!! i prefer the food preparation at Alkimia because I prefer that Alkimia is more experimental. but cinc sentits was more traditional but had wonderful highlights. The cuisine is modern take on barcelona cuisine. One mention, the service here is amazing! Worthy of a fine dining experience. They all spoke great english which was a great plus for us and every dish was explained with a true intention, as if the staff was passionate about the dish. Overall I felt it was probably less modern and more traditional, although there were several dishes that were really playful. Favorite: caramelized large piece of foie gras. probably one of my all time favorite preparations of foie!! so delicious -- please splurge for this extra supplement. overall, a great experience and great place to dine in barcelona. go for the lunch! read more

Cinc Sentits provides a very unique, fine dining experience. The restaurant itself is very clean, modern and quiet. The service is amazing- owner/maitre D', Amelia Artal, was very welcoming and down to earth. Cinc Sentits gifted me with my first experience with molecular gastronomy. We decided to do the SENSACIONS menu, which originally consisted of 10 very creative courses, but I believe they added much more. Each course was filled with so many surprises that excited all of my senses. What an incredible ride! I can't stop raving about Cinc Sentits to my friends and family- I will be back! read more

The wife & I came here for dinner back in 2010, it was an incredible experience. I can only echo what others have said, it is a small family run restaurant I believe the husband is the chef & the wife is the front of house. Stand out dishes were, suckling pig, steamed mullet in a bag, pea sorbet & chocolate mousse with olive oil. Very creative fine dining, you will have to book well in advance! read more

Probably the best lunch ever - gastronomic tasting menu that took us 3 hours. Besides the very good food, Laurena, our sommelier, made this meal a very special experience. Her wine knowledge and willingness to experiment was wonderful. White Tempranillo, smoked Cava, oh where to begin. While not all dishes were my favorite (and hence my only reason not to give it 5 stars), I was super impressed by the oyster - love oysters, but this one was just outstanding. Olive oil poached bonito paired with the smoked Cava was superb. Squab and a glass of red that was poured at the beginning of service and sitting and waiting 2 hours for the squab to arrive ;-), was wonderful. read more

I just returned from hosting customers at Cinc Sentits. Our group travels internationally, and is accustomed to fine dining. This restaurant exceeded expectations (high to begin with) in taste, pairings, presentation, variety, experience. Cinc Sintis is a family owned business, adding to the charm. We all had our iPhones out to take pictures of the food that is presented as a piece of art. And every course was exquisite. Cinc Sentits is a must for an exquisite experience. Thank you yelpers for the recommendation. read more

Michelin star, really? Disappointing on multiple accounts. We had lunch reservation at 1:30, were on time, restaurant was closed, walked around on the street for 10 minutes, knocked again, were told to walk around 5 more minutes, so got in 15 minutes late, did not feel like the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Food was not so much cooked as assembled: piece of toast sprinkled with dried tomato with a slice of ham thrown on top! Meat was a stuff of your childish gagging nightmare: you could probably chew it for half an hour and still not be able to swallow, we had to send it back. Chef readily agreed that meat was not good today and gave us scallops instead, thank you very much for ruined meal. Wait between courses was extraordinary long: 4 courses took more than 2 hours of mostly waiting for food to arrive under somber stares of waitresses that still have to manage a concept of a smile, so elected to behave like automatons full of themselves for no apparent reason. All that taking into account that there was just one other customer in the whole place - can't imagine how they manage in the evening when there are more than 3 people eating. Information about food that they force on you is simply annoying, waiter putting on white gloves to pour you water (not included with the meal, extra charge) is pretentious and empty without understanding of what is important in restaurant experience. A sight of a waitress folding your napkin multiple times with a fork and spoon pair in each hand with a deadly mask for a face really takes you back to bad horror movies. We had meals in tiny villages on Camino de Santiago that were orders of magnitude better tasting, full of friendliness from the staff and 8 times cheaper (included wine as well) than that disaster. Would not recommend it to my enemies! read more

We had the tasting menu with 4 courses for dinner (100 Euros). They offered several tapas before these courses. Food was great, portions small. 3 stars because it was not fine food. Just fine service. Presentation was good, not great. Great bread with olive oil. Palette cleanser: Maple syrup shot with flake of sea salt. Refreshing. Tapas: About 8 tiny items including olives, clam, anchovies, Marcona almonds, potato chips. Course 1: Chopped and cured Razor clam, wild mushrooms, cannelloni with chicken. Portions were tiny. Course 2: Mediterranean fish in foam soup topped with crumbs. Delicious, but not wow. Course 3: Mixed fresh vegetables. Nice and refreshing. Course 4: Pork belly with apple, onion. Food with restriction was shrimp on fiduea. Both were good. Palette cleanser: Pomegranate with sorbet and maple syrup crisp. Not as refreshing. Nothing special. Dessert: Chocolate mousse with "liquid orange" (candy truffle with liquid orange). Great chocolate. Excellent coffee (extra) read more