Baeza & Rufete

An incredible experience A true theatre on the plate, yet with outstanding flavor. The restaurant is located about four kilometers from the city center and feels wonderfully intimate inside. There are only four tables, served directly by Chef Joaquin Baeza and the dining room manager — boutique, refined, and highly professional. The menu was unexpected and beautiful, with flavors that were surprisingly delicious. Each dish felt like a small gift, thoughtfully crafted to delight and surprise. Having experienced many Michelin-starred restaurants, this one will stay with us for a long time. In our opinion, two stars would not be an exaggeration. ⭐⭐

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Baeza and Rufete in Alicante, and I must say it was an absolutely delightful experience. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm and welcoming smiles from the staff. The ambiance of the restaurant was cozy and intimate, with beautiful décor and a comfortable atmosphere. The menu had a wide variety of options to choose from, ranging from classic Spanish dishes to more modern and innovative creations. The flavors were well balanced and the presentation was stunning. But the real star of the show was the service. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable, offering recommendations and explaining the dishes in detail. They made sure our experience was top-notch from start to finish. Overall, Baeza & Rufete exceeded all of our expectations. Five stars without a doubt!

We dined here today and were thoroughly impressed by the culinary offering. The kitchen delivers a masterclass in Alicante cuisine; each dish on the tasting menu was carefully prepared and beautifully presented. The chef’s creativity and playfulness were evident throughout, resulting in a meal that felt like a genuine ode to the Mediterranean- you could taste the admiration for the sea in every mouthful! We would have easily awarded five stars based on the food alone. However, the service and management did not match the caliber of the kitchen. First, the beverage service lacked transparency. We were not presented with a drinks menu but were simply asked to choose between Champagne, wine, or beer. When I requested wine(implying I wished to see a wine list) the manager(front of house) immediately poured me a vintage glass without consultation. While the wine was excellent for sure, discovering later that it was €20 per glass felt a bit presumptive. Second, the water service felt over-zealous. We requested a single bottle of still water, yet our glasses were continuously topped up without consent. We were charged for "2.6 bottles” at the end leaving us feeling somewhat forced into paying for the water consumption we hadn't asked for. Finally, despite notifying the restaurant in advance that we were celebrating my birthday, there was no acknowledgement whatsoever. As frequent diners at Michelin-starred establishments, we are very blessed to have been accustomed to a certain level of hospitality for special occasions, so this total lack of gesture was a disheartening anomaly to us. So overall, we’d say: a delightful gastronomic journey, but the management and customer care require significant refinement to meet the high standards set by the food.

Don’t judge a book by the cover. When walking in we were a bit sceptical however as soon as we sat down it changed completely. The chef came out to introduce himself and talk us through the meal we would be having. Each dish was full of flavour, presented well and left you wanting more. What made the meal however was the personal touch from the chef, he came out to explain numerous dishes and you could feel the passion he has when describing the thought process behind every dish. A must visit if you’re in the area.

Fabulous lunch. Very good quality food and service. The chef was a charm and very humble. Price for the quality was very good. We'll done

This restaurant is on the outskirts of Alicante in a somewhat dull surrounding, but that was soon forgotten when I got inside. I went there in December so there was only serving inside in a fairly small room - only 6 tables. I had the long menu with 11 servings and 11 (small) glasses of wine - you can choose less or from the winelist if you prefer that. The food was a great journey with several dishes including shrimp, monkfish, caviar, pork, lamb and beef. Everything was cooked well, the flavours interesting - especially the sauces. For my northern European tastebuds I could have used more seasoning on the meat, but I know it common in southern Europe to hold back on the salt when cooking meat. I found quality to be with good value for money and I especially enjoyed most of the wines (not a fan of sherry with food)

Me and my m8 went here for a Nice dining experience and it did not let us down ! Very pleased with the service and the food