Another Michelin starred restaurant checked off my list! The decor is very minimalistic and modern, which I loved. Very clean, intentional, and extremely aesthetically pleasing. The space even smells like a luxe hotel lobby. The soft grey color palette is beautiful, and when you walk in, you're greeted by the kitchen team and servers, which sets the tone right away. Enigma literally means "puzzle" in Spanish, and the concept really leans into that. I opted out of seeing the menu, so I had to guess the dishes/ingredients as they came out. Honestly, it made the experience more fun and interactive! Our server was warm, attentive, and explained everything effortlessly. Menu highlights: - The Parmesan cheese air waffle was light, crispy, and addictive. - The smoked eel was layered, incredibly tender, and very umami. One of my favorites of the night! - The foie gras flan completely blew my mind and was hands down my favorite dish. Just WOW! You don't understand until you try it! A lot of the menu plays with textures and flavor contrasts. It's a very INTERESTING concept with real depth. While a few dishes felt slightly underwhelming, the overall execution was top tier and the experience was memorable. read more

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When you missed out on el bulli and will forever regret you go to enigma to feel better. Run by the famous bro Albert Adria the place lives up to its legacy. You question everything when you enter. Is this really a restaurant? A museum? A showroom. It's all of those. The staff greet you warmly and give you a tour of the place including meeting the chef before you sit down. Wont ruin everything for you - but every course is thought out. The progression was meticulously planned. Some courses are served with spectacle and drama. Others are presented so simply on the plate and then explode with flavors. Overall the best dining experience we had in Spain-which included other 3 Michelin star restaurants. Highly highly recommend. read more

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Was fortunate enough to dine here a couple months before they landed among the Top 50 restaurants in the World The various dishes were extremely creative and bursting with flavor. Multiple servers ensured that the dishes were presented properly and additional details for the preparation of many of the dishes were welcome. The decor upon entering and the dining area were simply remarkable They give you two options to either have the dishes explained prior to tasting or, the option I chose, to have the dishes served and tasted before any information is provided. That makes each dish truly an enigma Also worth noting is the menu apparently changes often, so no two visits may be the same. This makes me want to visit every time I'm in Barcelona, assuming of course I'd be able to secure a reservation. After landing in the World's Top 50, the latter may no longer be an easy task read more

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I was excited to try a creative gastronomy restaurant where they experiment and push culinary limits. The introduction to this restaurant when you first walk in is phenomenal but the rest of the evening didn't seem to match the experience or expectations set forth in the introduction to the restaurant and staff. The decor is interesting as they make the room blend in nicely and transform you into the clouds. The meal was a little too long in my opinion running around 3 hours. The dishes were okay but nothing the was rememberable. I think some of the dishes fell short like the bean and the chicken flan. Although I did enjoy the life cycle of prawn where they prepare three different age prawns differently. The mushroom cloud was also delicious but it started getting difficult to piece together the meal as time went on. Also, they would present a large dish of what you ate after then take it away which was strange. Nonetheless, it was an interesting experience and maybe their other seasonal menus are better but this one missed the mark for me. read more

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Creative molecular gastronomy if that is your thing (ex El Bulli). Extra points for playing the (original) Blade Runner soundtrack in the bathroom, how cool is that. I particularly enjoyed the conceptually clever dishes which were memorable and absolutely delightful: - deconstructed soup - sea cucumber dish - life cycle of the prawn - salad greens with breaking ice - Sopressata imitation tartare - truffle ravioli - mochi cocktail made in front of you - foie gras flan with soy sauce glaze Others that were very tasty - mussel jelly - coconut jelly with caviar - four kinds of squid dish - mushroom cracker dish that was beautiful There was a bit of confusion with our waiter around the cocktails that were part of the prix fixe - I didn't want to order alcohol so staff mistakenly assumed I wouldn't want to try the bite sized cocktails that were part of the menu. It was a bummer I missed those as the virgin versions I got were surely not nearly as good. Overall, almost surely better than a Michelin one star and also better than some of the low effort two stars I've tried (NYC sampling). Price point was a bit higher given local area prices but it's acceptable for not having to WAIT A YEAR (what the heck, Disfrutar and DiverXO). Worth a visit for sure. They overhaul their menu once a year so I might try again next time I'm in Barcelona! read more

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We booked several Michelin star restaurants for our honeymoon to Spain/Portugal. I hate to say this, but from our disappointing experience, I do not think Enigma is deserving of its Michelin star. We did not feel that the 240 euro price tag was worth it. Let's start with the positives. The service is exceptional. They explain each component of the tasting menu in detail, and we got the wine pairing which was a good experience. They also let us tour the kitchen after our dinner and surprised us with complementary champagne and a cocktail since we were celebrating. The décor gives off a very futuristic and cold ambiance with glass partitions that look like waterfalls and furnishings resembling ice. There were a few bites that we thought were very unique and tasty, including the omelette with uni, mushroom and avocado, the artichoke flower, and the bread. However, a few good bites cannot carry the whole menu. They utilize a lot of molecular gastronomy in their food. Yes, the dishes are absolutely creative and innovative. However, food still comes down to taste and texture. They use SO. MUCH. ASPIC. Almost every dish has an element of gelatin. At one point during the dinner, I started gagging because I couldn't swallow another slimy, gelatinous bite. I had to wash it down with water. There was one bitter bite (persimmon with hibiscus flower) that immediately induced astringency; my mouth went dry, and my tongue went completely numb. It was such an unpleasant sensation. If you're looking for a daring, unconventional, and mind-blowing experience, Enigma Concept might be a fit for you. Sadly, it just wasn't for me. read more

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TLDR; This is an embarrassment of fine dining, Michelin, 50 best, etc. To exist, and charge this kind of money is unconscionable. This is another example of an establishment that should receive 0 stars; but that is not possible. I have read many other reviews that have hit on many of the negatives we experienced but I have a few of my own: 1. We were served duck that could not be cut and eaten with the cutlery provided. To be honest, this was poorly butchered and prepared. I don't really have the words for this one.... 2. Our reservation was at 6:30pm, and we arrived *right* at 6:30pm. However, the door was locked and the attendant just stared at us through the door as we waved at them. They were confused and unwelcoming that we would *dare* to arrive at the restaurant for our reservation, at the time of our reservation. It really just kicked off an evening of disdainful service. 3. My wife had to walk past a gentlemen releaving himself in one of the bathrooms with the door open. To his defense, the building and bathrooms are disconcerting, and he probably thought he was led to the men's shared bathroom, and not the accessible bathroom in the hallway of bathrooms. Either way, egregious for such an establishment. Overall the food was slimy, tasteless, and sometimes downright revolting. The staff were cold. And when it was obvious that we did not like the food, they did not even bother to ask us about it, and were going to continue to bring courses; as if we would want to be waterboarded by their menu. This is the part where I add the obligatory: I'm not just a dumb American with no taste or experience. My only hobby is to travel the world and goto top restaurants, of which this is not one! I have learned a valuable lesson here. I should absolutely read the reviews of a place before booking. read more

Our dining experience at Enigma was incredible, 30 different bites paired with Spanish wines The experience began the moment we stepped foot inside the restaurant. The decor, the staff, the service, the food, the wine, all incredible. Nitro cloud with mezcal cream, basil air waffle with pistachio cream, earl grey ravioli, prawns 4 ways, melon sashimi and a variety of desserts The ambience of Enigma is note worthy. Dim lighting and soft background music. Make sure to add this to the top of your Barcelona list. read more

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We canceled our reservation at Cocina Hermanos Torres to dine at Enigma based on their better ranking in the most recent San Pellegrino top 50 list. Unfortunately, we regret making the change. The regret stems entirely from the food itself. The space was unique and memorable and the service was top notch, but the food itself left us wanting. There wasn't a single memorable dish in terms of aesthetics or taste. It is odd that Enigma made the San Pellegrino top 50 list above Cocina Hermanos Torres, but only received one Michelin star while Cocina Hermanos Torres received three Michelin stars. I suspect that "enigma" can be explained by the Adria/El Bulli connection. Will not be back. read more

Really a cool place. It's a little goofy & obviously very expensive, but the service alone makes it worth a visit. Monica and Salvatore were both so incredibly pleasant, and Monica is VERY accommodating of allergens. The food is so interesting, the venue is very unique, definitely visit if you have the budget. Didn't take many photos of the meal, but I promise you'll be surprised. read more

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AMAZING EXPERIENCE and absolutely wonderful staff... well done to the entire team!!!!! Food was so fun and delicious

I had the great experience of dining at Enigma in October 2023. The service was outstanding, your time with them starts with a tour of the restaurant and you are greeted by the chefs before finding your seat to find. The ambiance is second to none, this restaurant is stunning, looks and feels like a dream. The dining experience consists of about 30 dishes that showcase an expansive creative process and provide a unique bite of ingredients that I haven't had together before. The standouts for me were the basil air waffle and pistachio cream, coconut jelly with Califlower and caviar ponzu sauce, and a coconut Iberian ham. The coconut that tasted just like Iberian ham was outstanding and my favorite bite in Barcelona. This is a must visit destination. Would highly recommend. read more

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And the longest tasting menu award goes to...Enigma Concept for their 40+ courses, but after 20 or so who's counting anymore? From the creative mind of Albert Adrià (of the elBarri restaurant empire and elBulli fame), Enigma Concept was a culinary journey into a futuristic dream world. On first impression, the muted grey tones of the walls, decor, and custom furniture jumped out. This, along with the purposefully wrinkled garments of the service staff and the odd, ice-looking ceiling made a loud statement - this wasn't going to be a typical dinner experience. Over 4.5 hours, we ate at six uniquely themed rooms, including two chef's tables. RYOKAN We were served a fermented yuca and pumpkin "unclarified" consume in the first room. When we asked the server how a consume could be unclarified, she wasn't sure. This response was about the average level of service we got from the wait staff. LA CAVA Here we had a series of small bites paired with a couple cocktails. The demistrawberry was an epitome of the perfect strawberry. An elderflower "ravioli" with strawberry and blackcurrant notes had a delightful cotton candy texture. BARRA The third room was all seafood and my favorite room of the night thanks to the engaging personality of Executive Chef Oliver Peña. My favorite course here was the mullet and ikura roe trio. It was a treat to watch Chef cut open a whole egg sac. DINNER The "dinner" room was where the bulk of the tasting menu was served. Here we had a reverse progression with the heavier dishes served first. The servers purposefully didn't tell us the ingredients beforehand, letting us guess what we ate along the way. A highlight was an air croissant with pigeon sauce. The pigeon sauce was a good savory pairing to the light, shattering crisp and buttery croissant. The white asparagus course had an intriguing progression of texture - from the completely cooked, almost mushy base to the raw, crunchy tip. While the technique was impressive, the actual dish wasn't as satisfying as an evenly cooked, crisp asparagus. LA PLANXA This was another chef's table. Though the food wasn't as strong, I enjoyed the interactive experience here with the chef from Peru. We sat around a large plancha grill with Japanese charcoal grills on the side. DINNER, CONTINUED After the Planxa interlude, it was back to the Dinner room with perhaps the most memorable dish of the night. We weren't told about the rabbit brain beforehand, and though it was palatable, it had an unfamiliar texture, especially compared to the walnut. The desserts were strong. The best was black sesame ice cream hidden under a fluffy yuzu yogurt cream with seaweed for texture contrast. 41° The surprise final room was a replica of the shuttered 41° bar. Here we enjoyed craft cocktails paired with small treats. SERVICE While I appreciated the process behind the courses and interacting with the chefs, the service from the wait staff left some to be desired. Small details were missed like water preferences. We were given a choice of sparkling or still, but they poured me the wrong water at first. Server knowledge of the courses was worse than expected for a restaurant of this caliber. The wine recommendation also made for a terrible pairing. The wonderful chefs did make my experience a positive one though. Chef Peña was one of the kindest and down-to-earth chefs we had the pleasure of talking to. read more

An experience from start to finish that takes you on a culinary journey. This Michelin Star meal was worth every penny. The service was impeccable. Visited for my birthday and will never forget this meal. From the moment you walk in they make you feel important, they take you to a room where they offer you the first item you taste, it was some sort of lettuce kefir, they hand you a hot moist towelette to clean your hands before entering which almost felt like a tea ceremony, then you walk through a long hallway where at the end every restaurant employee is lined up to greet you. It almost felt like a scene from the movie THE MENU. After you are seated the experience begins, there was about 25 items you tasted and a beautiful wine pairing, even my 10 year old fully enjoyed the experience as he's a foodie and the restaurant was nice to let us bring him. I recommend you try this restaurant, thank me later. Please enjoy some of the photos of our experience read more

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this place is an "experience" and it feels that way as soon as you enter the door. is it expensive? yes. is it a parade of culinary delight? also yes. the service was nearly flawless they had a dish that was a piece of succulent pork between two pieces of meringue and i SWEAR it tasted like the best mcdonalds chicken nugget ever cooked by ronald himself. blew my mind. the wine pairings were excellent as well and it was a lot of fun though we didn't leave either full OR drunk if you like fancy FANCY and delicious, Enigma delivers big time read more

Enigma Concept - vegetables on a stick - Spanish Near Me - Barcelona, B

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This place is incredible. My wife and I wife recently traveled through Italy/Spain, and this was our favorite dinner throughout the whole trip. We started with a tour of the restaurant along with a greeting from the entire kitchen staff (yes, the whole staff paused to greet each guest) before seating. Cocktails to start were delicious and inventive. We were initially wanting to do the a-la-carte menu but after our server explained we can let her know of any dishes we may want to avoid, we just went with the tasting menu. This was the best decision we could have made. The rest of the evening was full of surprising sights, smells, tastes and textures and our server Monica did such a great job guiding us through this journey. Highlights included: Vinegar glazed cherries. Melon sashimi. Tomatillo burrata salad. Smooth clam. Spaghetti with tomato consumé. Roasted chicken canapé. We will definitely come back the next time we are in Barcelona. read more

Enigma Concept - Smooth clam with narajilla mojo sauce - Spanish Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Enigma Concept was a delicious experience. We arrived a bit earlier than our 10:00 reservation, and our table was ready. After a quick tour of the restaurant, we were seated and started with some fabulous cocktails. Ordering ala carte is nice, you must order two of each item, (our waiter worked with us on some to make life easy) The sommelier was fantastic, she was super knowledgeable, but not pretentious, she helped us with Cava, and local wines to go with our dishes. read more

DO NOT GO!! I wish I could give 0 stars! Most disappointing experience I have ever had! Extremely Japanese inspired menu, flat flavors, under seasoned, redundancy in many course. SO BORING!! On top of a very underwhelming and expensive meal, my dinner guest got very sick that evening from the meal. They told me that I would need a doctors report regarding a foodborne illness and offered nothing. On vacation someone is supposed to go to the ER to be seen by a doctor apparently for the restaurant to acknowledge an issue!! Insane I'm a professional Chef, have worked and eaten all over the world and have never been treated like this. Their Website and previous reviews build Enigma up to be this cerebral and artistic experience with different rooms and secret passwords to enter, so underwhelming and lack luster! It felt like a restaurant from the 80's and food to match. Maybe back to the drawing board on this one.., read more

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A truly incomparable restaurant with a modular layout that keeps you moving throughout your entire dining experience. Under the chef/owner Albert Adriá they are aiming for the gastronomic standard of his brothers restaurant El Bulli. The experience takes you through 7 rooms that ends in their speakeasy 41 Degrees at the end of the meal. Once your reservation is secured you get a secret access code to enter the restaurant, not just anybody can walk inside. I was fortunate enough to get on a waitlist and was called the day of our meal to notify me I had made the cut. Don't be like me and rely on luck, this is a place that should be booked 60 days in advance, and even then you should be vigilant if you are aiming for an optimal dining time. Service was excellent, the staff seemed truly happy to be there and added to the whole experience. The preference of the restaurant is to have the staff tell you what you are eating after you've consumed it. This my friends, is the "Enigma"! Nothing on the menu was so exotic that it was scary, most of the time they used familiar ingredients to surprise you. On my visit pistachios were in season so they found their way on to many of the dishes I enjoyed. Each station had its own personality with their own crew of cooks and front of the house staff that you got to chat with and learn a ton about the food and the process. One had a hibachi grill and yet another was completely devoted to seafood. Not worth going into the individual dishes as they'll likely be completely different during your experience. While a meal that costs around $250 at the time of my visit can rarely be called a value, but you are served close to 40 courses that are generally come off just as much as art as it is food. By the end of the meal you'll definitely feel like you've also just attended a show where you were the star. You'll leave this place satisfied but not overly full, the pacing and amount of food is perfect. This Enigma certainly earns its Michelin Star! read more

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It's definitely more an experience than a meal. The tasting rooms/stations were a fun experience. We got 7:30 reservation which is the earliest one and we felt like the only customer in many of the rooms which was definitely a plus. They were really experimenting with flavors and textures. I was extremely pleasantly surprised by a lot of the dishes. There was a few that I didn't like, but that was a small price I was willing to pay. Overall, I highly recommend this to anyone who loves to experience new foods. read more

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Service was out of this world as the crew was extremely detailed and coordinated. Food was pretty good and innovative too.

What an experience! We went here for my boyfriend 30th birthday after being unable to get reservations to Tickets, but boy are we glad we did. Everything tasted great, but standout dishes were: -Stuffed squid and brutesca squid -anchovies foie -Wagyu and bone marrow -Yuba, edamame and straciatella -lobster cured in ox fat The food is both delicious and artistic, but even better is the service. The servers treat each guest like family, and even walk you through the kitchen to meet the team. For my boyfriend birthday, they arranged a special place within the restaurant for him to blow out a candle and us to celebrate. Bonus points for this. Special shout out to Matteo - the bartender in the 41 degrees room. He was incredibly friendly and helpful, and really made our last stop of the night a memorable experience. Go to Engima if you can. You won't regret it. read more

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If I could describe this experience in one word it would be PRETENTIOUS. Also, I would describe this as mediocre microwave food. We tried almost everything in the evening menu and almost all cocktails and did not care for ANYTHING!! I'm only giving 2 stars because the restaurant is very beautiful , presentation of food is ok and the service was decent. We had to tell our server we're going to leave early and not to submit the last item to the chef to prepare as we did not have any hope that it would be any good considering how sad the other stuff was . I cannot believe this is supposed to be Michelin star food . They served us lunch meat !!!! Come on . Just no. The only thing I truly enjoyed as the oysters. I hope they start doing a different concept as this one is AWFUL. I was truly prepared to spend $600 on a wonderful experience, but after a couple hundred spent on things that dint taste good , it was enough for me to decide if would never come back unless they would do things like they used to . This concept is not appetizing read more

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Arrived at 1:30 and they had no one there to greet or even open the door. We tried using the pad to call for help. We stood outside for 5 minutes before letting ourselves in. Told the waitress I can't have vegetables. She reassured only dish would have it was fried eggplant. Every dish has vegetables infused. I couldn't even separate or eat around the veggies. My throat started to itch and had to ask for the bill before taking Benadryl. Explained this to the manager and he said it was a miscommunication. I don't how we see how that is possible. Unacceptable for a restaurant that was once Michelin rated not have someone to greet the guess much less end up leaving me sick. read more

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This was a complete disappointment of a meal and very surprising that it earned a Michelin star. They earned two stars because the waitstaff was great. The wine pairings (caution: 7 full glasses of wine) were also delicious. The food was the worst we had on our entire trip. Shame for such an expensive meal. 40 courses, Japanese inspired, weird ingredients, the list goes on. My friends described it as a kid creating a menu with the strangest ingredients they could think of and charging an enormous amount for it. Brains, lettuce soup, etc. Honestly, the best food item was the broth they started out the meal with. The whole concept felt as though they were trying to hard. I left hungry, a bit grossed out, and completely upset I wasted my hard earned money. Save your €€€€'s and go eat some delicious paella elsewhere. This place is not worth it. read more

Part 1: To say the food world got a little bit excited when Albert Adria finally opened Enigma Concept earlier this year would be an understatement, he and brother Ferran's most ambitious project since El Bulli long shrouded in secrets and made all the more mysterious by an early no-photos policy and a reservation system that seemed fairly arbitrary...at least until two seats at 14h15 on a Saturday appeared while randomly browsing the website at lunch some 13 weeks prior. Divided into a series of five "Enigmas" and accessible only via gate-code provided via E-mail after booking, the sprawling space built from the ground up as a crystalline catacomb with opaque resin dividing one room from next, it was minutes after the assigned time that entry was granted after passing by the largely unmarked entrance more than once on foot in the rain, the meal's other guest found waiting in a sort of foyer with staff quick to escort both patrons to the second Enigma after a wet umbrella and jacket were checked, plus a few welcoming snacks. Seating just 24-diners at a time, the majority spaced from other tables by at least four-meters in the primary Enigma while others are intermittently escorted to two additional chambers featuring a standing Cocktail Bar called La Barra and a sit-down grill and flattop station dubbed La Plantxa, it was after settling into comfortable custom-made chairs that beverage selections were confirmed and with one opting for pairings while the other stuck with water the meal resumed, a crisp Shiso Leaf topped in frozen and fresh Grapefruit cells continuing a theme started in the lounge with the concentrated flavors of Fruit, Herbs and Flowers. Tallying 49 individual plates or glasses over the course of four hours, many less than a mouthful but all of it adding up to quite a bit of Food and Beverage served in an "eat first, discover the ingredients later" manner, it was quickly after the Leaf that an icy Wafer of Coconut was presented prior to sliced Kumquat dried between sheets of Kombu, La Barra now ready for more guests and beginning with a single drop of Vermouth concentrated 1/1000 intended to be licked off the hand and followed by three drink and bite pairings including a boozy Pink Slush made with Sake that worked particularly well with the accompanying Parmesan Sphere. Passing through the kitchen en route back to the table, a team of at least twelve working the multi-stationed area where most of the meal is prepared, it was again shortly after seating that a bowl of "Frozen Caviar" not unlike Dippin' Dots arrived, the Cube from Tickets next served as a sheet of Nori topped in Golden Fish Eggs with the palate soon brought back to neutral by un-roasted Pistachios and a slightly bitter cloud of Avocado and Daffodils served next to a cold Soup perfumed with herbal Oils. Again playing off a Tickets dish with Summer "Stew," the peeled late-season Tomatoes here given a lot more intensity by way of Mushroom Powder and vibrant Gazpacho that tasted like Fresh Peas and Basil, it was again that the flow was changed as guests were invited to La Plantxa, an area said to be a highlight for many immediately proving to be just that with the presentation of a Buckwheat Sponge piped with smoked Cream and topped by nearly two-dozen Salmon Eggs. Watching each dish created from beginning to end at the Grill, a nearly thirty-minute experience featuring mostly Shellfish including a particularly stunning sustainable young Abalone in Sherry and the Animal's Liquor, it was with Cheese cooked on the griddle and wrapped around Brioche that guests were returned once again to Enigma #2, the soup of Brazilian Roots and Nuts with tender Pumpkin Dumplings unlike anything tasted prior with up-front sweetness and a funky Cheese-like finish that was unexpected as opposed to unpleasant. ...to be continued read more

Go to Tickets instead!! Seriously, I'd imagine most people come here only after they failed to secure a reservation at Tickets. I suppose the concept is cool, having to move from station to station, but it just didn't enhance the dining experience much at all. The food, while thoughtful and creative, wasn't necessarily complex or tasty. There were a few strong dishes, but most were rather ho hum. Desserts were abrupt and not memorable, which was surprising. Service was great, language barrier aside, on par with 3-star restaurants, and I liked being able to interact with the chefs as well. In the end, though, the food simply fell short. Disfrutar is a much better meal for sure. And, instead of coming here, do your homework on how to get a table at Tickets!! read more

Wow. Just wow. With a name like Enigma, there is a lot of mystique and intrigue left for the mind to interpret how the evening is going to play out. I was not at all prepared for a dining experience like this. The "musical chairs" style of dining moving from room to room is a brilliant idea and kept things fresh which adds to the "enigma". I was blown away with almost every dish. The combination of everything from the textures, flavors, smells, appearance, interaction with the chefs, even temperature of the room, made for one hell of a dinner. And the service? Spot on. Enigma hands down is the best restaurant, Michelin Starred or otherwise, I've had the pleasure of dining at. I highly recommend. read more

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EXCELLENT MANAGEMENT. We made the stupid mistake of booking the wrong date for our reservation and unfortunately could not go to Enigma at all. We were extremely upset and embarrassed by this, but the management team at Enigma really helped us through it. They were surprisingly and shockingly accommodating and understanding of our accidental no-show, and for that we will be forever grateful and appreciative. Even though it was our fault, their grace in how they dealt with this unfortunate situation really speaks volumes of their level of service and their treatment of patrons. Thank you for being understanding, Enigma. We are so sorry and definitely hope to actually dine at your lovely restaurant one day! - Bramley Birrer & Kat V. read more

Enigma is the Burning Man of fining dining. Well the Burning Man of 2000. In some ways it's a further development of 41 grados/degrees which for me is probably the BEST and most unexpected fine dining meal I've ever had in my life. What I loved about 41 grados was that it was this amazing amazing food served in tiny portions in a humble setting of a dark little caven. Enigma on the other hand is all about spectacle and it doesn't always work at least not for this jaded queen. If you have been to Burning Man especially in the early 2000's you will feel like you are in someone's theme camp perhaps the Furry Futurists? Also like Burning Man of yore this is a photograph free space something that I personally LOVE. You have to be present for the experience and it keeps some of the mystery for the guests. Like 41 degrees there are dozens of dishes, some of them worked, some of the didn't. About 1/4 were forgettable. Because of the layout you move from one space to the next so some courses go quick and it's a bit more regimented than most meals. I do like a well paced meal and not waiting but at times it seemed to stress everyone a bit. It didn't have the playfulness of Tickets nor the intimacy of 41 degrees. The atmosphere was just a bit off for me. The elBarri restaurant empire is amazing and I do think the Adria brothers have pushed food into new and delightful realms. One way this place is lacking and needs to improve is the service, especially since at several stations the cooks are serving you, unfortunately there is a language barrier (I spoke in a mix of French, Spanish and English with them) or they are just shy. There were servers who introduced some of the dishes but their knowledge of them was lacking. Would it be the place I would recommend as a must go in Barcelona? NO, for the creative fun food I would suggest Tickets, for cutting edge fine dining I would suggest Disfrutar or if you can drive out of the city El Celler de Can Roca. Still if someone offered me a free meal there I would go in a heartbeat. read more

I cannot fathom how anyone could rate this restaurant 1 star and claim it "uninventive"... To be completely honest we almost cancelled our reservation last minute because of the reviews... I URGE you, do not do that!!! We recently visited Enigma during a little two week food tour of Europe visiting four different "World's Best" & Michelin starred restaurants (that sounds obnoxious, I know), countless, amazing hole-in-the-wall mom and pop restaurants, street food stalls, and everything in between, and Enigma was at the top of our list. The ambiance was otherworldly and the service was some of the best we've ever had. Monica was the perfect mix of professional and easy going and made our experience unforgettable. The food wasn't only inventive it was downright delicious. At some tasting menu restaurants I'll find myself having to choke down at least a few plates because the flavors aren't completely pleasing to me but I'm trying to be respectful and finish all of my food - but I never once felt that at Enigma. I happily ate up every bite. Can't wait to visit again when we return to Barcelona! read more

I have been a fan of Ferran and Albert Adria for a long time and was crushed when El Bulli closed. I was beyond thrilled when Albert Adria imagined and created a new and unique restaurant group. Our initial goal was to dine at Tickets. I sat online at 6 pm (our time) every day for a week trying for a reservation and ultimately failing. Luckily, we scored a reservation at Enigma restaurant. Over the next couple of months, I read reviews and they were either glowing or showed dislikes. My thought process for dining at Enigma was probably different from most people. I have dined at expensive restaurants and have been beyond disappointed. I love to cook and bake all the time and I'm pretty good at it. When it came to Enigma I was more interested in the skills and Avante Garde approach to food that is rare and special. To me, Enigma is a multi-sensory experience more so than just delicious food. After reserving your spot you receive a unique code and password to enter the restaurant. On the day of our reservation, we entered our code and password. Walking down the hall we were greeted by the staff, our coats were taken, and we were offered water. To me walking into Enigma felt like stepping into a cave with cool colors, ice, and texture. Our menu consisted of items we were familiar with, items we weren't familiar with and items I thought I would never try. The thoughtfulness, techniques, and flow of our meal were incredible. I also appreciated how the servers and chefs explained each dish and some of their process (some information was given after you ate the dish). There were a few dishes containing dairy and I ended up taking a few Lactaid pills throughout the evening. Ryonkan When the time came to start our experience we were welcomed with a warm drink. La Cava In La Cava, we were welcomed by staff and a sommelier to a small table for two. To accompany our meal we ordered a bottle of Kimoto Junmai Ginjo Sake. La Barra ​In La Bara, our seats were right next to the chef. La Planxa The two chefs in this area of the restaurant were particularly friendly, inviting, and informative. This portion of the meal was actually in the middle of the "Dinner" aspect of our evening. Dinner On the way to our table, we were welcomed to the restaurant by the Executive Chef. A warm and welcoming touch. We were then shown to a lovely table for two. ​The Dessert aspect of the meal was also served at the Dinner table. 41 degrees As you walk through the kitchen the staff thank you for coming, then take you through a "storage room" to 41 degrees. We had two seats at the bar which we enjoyed. One particular bite was kind of fun to experience and I will remember it even though I didn't catch a picture. I could not begin to pick out a favorite dish. The combination of textures, depth of flavors, and unique ingredients were truly special. A few standouts for me were the green mandarin Kakigori (bright and fragrant), Barnacle and codium (nice texture and slight sea taste), Pea "calcots" (fresh and true pea taste), the cured Lobster (I'm a New Englander and this was the best bite of lobster I've ever had), and the Autumn salad (who knew I would enjoy Sea Anemone). With close to 40 creations one would think we'd end up being completely full. I was happily surprised that we were content and not uncomfortable. If you are looking for wonderful service, delicious food, unique ingredients, and a new approach to dining Enigma is a must visit restaurant! read more

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Everything about the Enigma experience from the start to finish was so cool and mysterious. From entering the restaurant, we had to type in a password on the door. As we walked inside, if you haven't already googled the pictures of this place, the decor was very interesting, with gray walls and ceiling decorated with tulle. The staff uniform, furniture, tableware and silverware all looked so futuristic. Around us, trance house music is playing. You are first presented with a welcome drink in the first room, as you await to be seated. Our hostess explains to us that throughout the dinner service, we will be moving around many rooms, as part of the dining experience. Each room is different and in it, different themes of foods will be served. As we were ushered into the next room, I waited to be presented with the tasting menu (so we can decide on our bottle of wine to pair it with). It never came. Unlike other restaurants, when you come to Engima, it is already assumed that you will be doing the tasting menu. To play it safe, we opted for a more versatile wine, a pinot noir, since we have a strong preference for red wines and aren't sure what foods we will be served this evening. Be prepared to eat ~30 different courses! When we walked passed the kitchen, which is right out in the open, the chefs were so welcoming and everybody greeted us as we walked by. As we moved from room to room, eating each course, you never know what was coming. Each course tasted delicious, but everybody who is eating at Enigma already knows, Albert Adria is culinary royalty, and is brother to the legendary Ferran Adria. Together, they ran the world famous restaurant El Bulli (closed in 2011). To add to the fun, our server engaged us in a fun game throughout dinner of guessing what each course was, and what it was made of. At first I was hoping for a mildly quiet romantic evening with my better half, but this was really fun. After we ate our dessert, we were guided into the Speakeasy portion of the restaurant (What? there's more?!), where we were made handcrafted cocktails and more sweet treats were showered upon us. The staff were extremely nice, and took very good care of us. Albert Adria surely did not disappoint. Instead of just serving you a delicious world class meal, in Enigma, he draws on playfulness and evokes curiosity of his diners, and takes them on a fun inducing, gastronomic adventure. read more

Hands down the best dining experience of my life! That being said, this was truly life changing. I will never look at restaurants or my experiences with them, without comparing them to this place and the 40+ courses I tried in the best 3 hours of food- bliss... I called heaven. read more

Enigma Concept - Menu from our dinner - Spanish Near Me - Barcelona, B

This should be much higher on the World Top 50 list, and definitely more deserving than one Michelin star. Extremely innovative cuisine and immersive dining experience, with friendly and non-pretentious service. Definitely with a visit if you're in BCN. read more

Enigma is difficult to grade in comparison to other restaurants. The experience is unique, obviously, as that is principal to their goal. Dinner is significantly more of an experience than it is a meal. It's hard to say anything negative about the restaurant. The food was unique, and not all of it I loved, but that's the point. It was a lot of fun to see and taste new things, have familiar things presented in new ways, and seeing such dedication and focus on the quality of the ingredient and cookery. The restaurant is immaculately clean. Service team is trained to the highest level of detail. The culinary staff working at the stations were immensely knowledgeable. If you don't love food this restaurant isn't for you. If you love food, an experience like this is a must. read more

Fantastic experience! Love the concept and execution. The decor was beautiful and themed in crushed/bunched fabric from the glass wall coverings, tables, chairs, ceiling covers, logo, server attire, serving mesh netting, and layout. Not your standard Michelin restaurant experience. The precision and timing was amazing for each different area that courses are served. The "frozen" area was full of sweet treats and drinks to trigger the palate (and also order your drinks for the evening). Next was the "cocktail" enigma that paired lovely drinks with tart courses. After, you are brought to your "home base" table where most of the savory courses are served. The Spanish/Japanese/French influences were amazing! Each small courses needed around 1-4 bites. Again, the presentation and timing was insane. In order to break up the main courses there was a break at the "plancha" enigma for seafood courses prepped on the hot top. These were some of my favorite courses with the squid and peas. After being taken back to the home base, we had some more Japanese inspired courses before "pre-dessert". The pre-dessert was a persimmon courses that was both savory and lighting sweet. The desserts were fantastic and just when we thought the meal was over, we are taken to the speakeasy for a few more courses and options for cocktails! Epic experience! Standout courses: -rabbit brains -rabbit cheeks -champion mushroom -caviar and pork fat -squid -peas -chocolate ganache -pigeon and fois -uni and beef -uni handheld -stuffed sea cucumber read more

We were fortunate to get in on the waitlist. It appeared that a large party must have cancelled because our time slot only had the two of us. We were fortunate to be the first ones there and the only ones being served for a time period. Definitely a unique experience- lots of small bites paired nicely with various beverages. Lots of different textures, temperatures, and mixture of clean flavors. Hard to explain it all and definitely a cool experience. Highly recommend. read more

For the half the price of any American restaurant play-acting at being the now closed El Bulli, you can go to the real thing in Barcelona. Albert Adria, the intellect behind El Bulli and brother of found Feran has done something really special. 4 hour tasting menu and a glowing space with undulating cast glass walls and cast resin furniture, you move from station to station each more amazing than the next. And because it is Spain, the staff are charming, low key, and although it is the kind of place that would seem ridiculously pretentious if not so beautifully executed. The real deal. Worth the trip, and not any more expensive that dinner at any not-special high end New York restaurant. read more