Tag Archives: Costa Brava

The Lucas Fox guide to… Luxury dining in the Costa Brava

Catalunya has a well deserved reputation for being home to some outstanding restaurants. In fact, the region has the highest concentration of Michelin starred restaurants in the whole of Spain. Fourteen restaurants have amassed twenty Michelin stars between them, while the chef Joan Roca, of El Celler de Can Roca, has been singled out for his exceptional cullinary talent. Many of Spain’s finest modern chefs (including of course Ferran Adria) have been trained in Catalan schools and restaurants, and numerous exciting and unique dishes have been created in a Costa Brava restaurant. The region’s gastronomy, inextricably linked to the local cuisine and geography, is a powerful engine of the local economy and tourism industry. Indeed, gastronomy now represents one of the reasons tourists choose to holiday in the Costa Brava.

For any ‘foodie’, or for those holidaying in the area, there is a wealth of gastronomic delights to discover. Some typical local speciality dishes include:

Pa amb tomàquet – Bread brushed with tomato and olive oil –this is pretty much a staple at any meal.

Allioli – this garlic-and-olive-oil mayonnaise style accompaniment is found in restaurants around the world, but you must taste the real thing handmade in Catalunya.

Crema Catalana – similar to the French crème brulee and sometimes with a twist such as cinnamon or orange.

Suquet – a fish stew dish. Delicious.

Escalivada – onion, red pepper and aubergine grilled and often served with bread or paired with a meat or seafood dish.

There are countless excellent restaurants in the region.. here are some of our favourites:

El Cellar de Can Roca Can
Sunyer 48,17007, Girona
Tel: 0034 972 222 157
restaurant@cellarcanroca.com
www.cellercanroca.com

This 3 starred Michelin restaurant is a must. Run by 3 brothers who combine to create truly spectacular food. They call themselves a free-style restaurant, committed to the avant-garde, but still faithful to the memory of different generations of the family’s ancestors dedicated to feeding people.

Bo Tic
Ctra. C-66 Girona, Palamós, Km 11,5 – 17121 CORÇÀ (Girona)
Tel: 0034 972 63 08 69
restaurant@bo-tic.com
www.bo-tic.com

Since  2007 the owners of this one Michelin Starred restaurant, Albert Sastregener i Surroca and Cristina Torrent i Cos, have displayed an enviable professional know-how despite their youth, and have been shaping the idea of this interesting new gastronomic project. It is a creative, innovative and involving design cuisine project, inspired by the essence of traditional Empordanese cuisine.

Ca L’Arpa
Passeig Indústria 5, 17820, Banyoles
Tel: 0034 972 57 23 53
calarpa@calarpa.com
www.lescols.com

A modern and beautifully styled restaurant with two Michelin Stars serving up simply amazing food.

Miramar
Passeig Marítim, 7, 17490, Llançà, Girona
Tel: 0034 972 380 132
www.restaurantmiramar.com

Miramar was first opened in 1939 by the Serra Family. During many years it was a tavern. Nowadays, the fourth generation are running the show and since 1997 have been in charge of re-creating a Miramar as Gourmet Restaurant. After 75 years of history, the Miramar restaurant, now has 2 Michelin Stars, given in 2006 and 2010 to Chef Paco Perez.

Els Tinars
Ctra. de St. Feliu a Girona, km 7,2, 1724, Llagostera, GIRONA
Tel. 972 830 626
tinars@tinars.com
www.elstinars.com

Their cuisine is and always has been based on traditional Catalan cooking and the finest seasonal local produce. They take advantage of new techniques to bring traditional dishes constantly up to date.

Director of Lucas Fox Costa Brava Tom Maidment believes lovers of good Spanish cuisine will be spoilt for choice when visiting the region
“The Costa Brava, in particular the region of Empordà is blessed with fine dining, but a great meal doesn`t always have to bore a whole in your pocket.  Before tourism reached Costa Brava, incomes relied on the fishing trade, olive farming and wine, and these staples remain part of the area’s gastronomy. You can find yourself having memorable introductions to Catalan gastronomy in restaurants such as Tragamar in Canadell, Platillos Can Climent in Begur or Hostal Sa Tuna in Sa Tuna.

Lucas Fox has numerous luxury properties close to some of Europe’s best restaurants including

Luxury, newly constructed, Costa Brava properties to buy in Aigua Blava, one of the most exclusive areas of the Costa Brava – 24-hour security, gated community, sea views, 1km from the beach

Semi-detached, golf property to buy on the prestigious PGA de Catalunya golf resort – near Girona city and the beaches of the Costa Brava

Lovely 5-bedroom Costa Brava villa to buy just a 5-minute walk from the stunning bay of Tamariu

Superb luxury Begur villa for sale in an exclusive residential estate overlooking Aiguablava with private pool and lovely sea views. Walking distance to the beach

For more information on the above properties or any other property for sale or rent on the Costa Brava, please contact Tom Maidment Tom@LucasFox.com or +34 648092334

 

Superb luxury villa to buy on the exclusive PGA de Catalunya golf resort LFCB575

Superb luxury villa to buy on the exclusive PGA de Catalunya golf resort, one of Europe’s finest golf courses. Exquisite design and quality of finish; views to the golf course; large plot with private pool and garden

This exquisite luxury golf property to buy is located on Spain’s premier residential golf resort, PGA de Catalunya, just 10 km from the lovely city of Girona and only 20 minutes from some of the best beaches of the Costa Brava.

Designed by Lagula, the celebrated Barcelona architects, this superb 4-bedroom property is situated amongst mature pines with views overlooking the 9th hole on the Tour Course.

Photoset:
night view - luxury villa to buy on the exclusive PGA de Catalunya golf resort

forntal view - luxury villa to buy on the exclusive PGA de Catalunya golf resort

pool - luxury villa to buy on the exclusive PGA de Catalunya golf resort

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Lucas Fox International Properties Today Announce The Appointment Of A New Sales Executive To Their Costa Brava Office

Lucas Fox International Properties today announces the appointment of Aurea Farzam as a sales executive in their Costa Brava office. This expansion of the Lucas Fox Costa Brava operation reflects the continued interest and demand for high-end property in this beautiful, sought-after region of Northern Spain. Farzam brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in luxury property sales, having worked most recently as a Sales Executive for Sotheby’s in the Costa Brava. She has extensive, in-depth experience of the luxury property market and a proven track record of securing high-end residential deals.

Commenting on her recent appointment, Farzam stated, “Although an English native, I have lived in Spain for ten years and I’m a fluent Spanish, Catalan and French speaker. This should certainly prove beneficial to Lucas Fox’s international clientele who have come to expect the highest levels of service from the Lucas Fox team. My extensive knowledge and experience of the Costa Brava also means that I can offer clients essential, informed advice about the local real estate market.“

Tom Maidment, the Director of Lucas Fox Costa Brava commented, “We are very pleased to welcome Aurea on board and are confident that her input and industry experience will further increase the success of our operation in the Costa Brava and inland Girona.”

He further stated: “Lucas Fox has seen a consistent demand for high-end residential properties in the Costa Brava region. In line with the expansion of our other offices in Spain and the Balearics we are highly motivated to build on our success in the area and strengthen our service offering to both international and national clients.”

Alexander Vaughan, Director of Lucas Fox commented “This hire shows our commitment to expansion in this highly sought-after area close to Barcelona. We are sure that Aurea’s expertise will prove invaluable to our Costa Brava operation.”

Lucas Fox International Properties anuncia hoy el nombramiento de una nueva ejecutiva de ventas para su oficina de la Costa Brava

Lucas Fox International Properties anuncia hoy el nombramiento de Aurea Farzam como ejecutiva de ventas para su oficina de la Costa Brava. Esta expansión de las operaciones de Lucas Fox en la Costa Brava refleja el continuo interés y la demanda creciente de propiedades de gama alta en esta región tan hermosa y codiciada del norte de España. Farzam aporta una riqueza de conocimiento y experiencia en ventas de propiedades de lujo, ya que ha trabajado recientemente como ejecutiva de ventas en Sotheby’s, en la Costa Brava. Tiene una amplia y profunda experiencia en el mercado inmobiliario de lujo y un historial probado de transacciones de propiedades residenciales de alta calidad.

Al comentar sobre su reciente nombramiento, Farzam declara: “Aunque soy nativa inglesa, he vivido en España durante diez años y hablo español, catalán y francés fluidos. Esto sin duda resultará beneficioso para los clienteles internacionales de Lucas Fox que esperan un alto nivel de servicio del equipo de Lucas Fox. Mi amplio conocimiento y experiencia en la Costa Brava también significa que puedo ofrecer a los clientes un asesoramiento esencial y bien fundamentado sobre el mercado inmobiliario local.”

Tom Maidment, el director de Lucas Fox Costa Brava, comenta: “Estamos muy contentos de dar la bienvenida a Aurea y estamos seguros de que sus conocimientos y experiencia en el sector serán beneficiosos para el éxito de nuestras operaciones en la Costa Brava y en el interior de Girona.”

Además, dice: “Lucas Fox ha registrado una demanda constante de propiedades residenciales de alta gama en la región de la Costa Brava. Siguiendo la expansión de nuestras otras oficinas en España y las Islas Baleares, estamos muy motivados para potenciar nuestro éxito en estas zonas y fortalecer nuestra oferta de servicios tanto a clientes nacionales como internacionales.”

Alexander Vaughan, director de Lucas Fox comenta “Este nuevo puesto demuestra nuestro compromiso de expansión en esta zona de tan alta demanda cerca de Barcelona. Estamos seguros que la experiencia de Aurea será valiosísima para nuestras operaciones en la Costa Brava.”

Las 10 mejores entradas de nuestro blog en 2011, 1ª parte

El año pasado, el blog de Lucas Fox registró un aumento de visitas de los artículos que trataron sobre el análisis del mercado inmobiliario español y los factores de interés para los posibles compradores y vendedores y los inquilinos actuales.

En este artículo revisaremos nuestras entradas de blog más populares del año pasado. Hoy publicaremos las entradas situadas de la 10ª a la 6ª posición, y mañana terminaremos la cuenta atrás con ¡las 5 entradas más populares del año!

10. Reputación de Barcelona como marca de ciudad

En décima posición se encuentra nuestro artículo que trata sobre una encuesta hecha a empresas que consideran Barcelona como una de las mejores ciudades del mundo para los negocios, el trabajo, el mejor estilo de vida y el turismo. En ese momento, el director de Lucas Fox, Alex Vaughan, explicó por qué a todo el mundo le encanta Barcelona: “Se debe a una combinación del clima mediterráneo, de la cultura y la gastronomía españolas. Nuestros clientes también saben que Barcelona es un lugar muy seguro para vivir con un verdadero sentido de la comunidad”.

Villas in Costa Brava

Our discovery of the hidden gems of Costa Brava was one of the most popular blog posts of the year - you can see why!

 

9. Joyas ocultas de la Costa Brava, 2ª parte

Para elaborar la segunda parte de nuestra entrada sobre los tesoros ocultos de la Costa Brava, entrevistamos a varias empresas locales sobre sus lugares favoritos. Muchos de nuestros lectores tomaron nota de nuestro artículo a la hora de planificar una visita a esta zona para ver algunas de las propiedades de lujo en venta en la Costa Brava.

8. ¿Cómo de segura es Barcelona? 1ª ​​parte

¿Cómo de segura es Barcelona? 1ª ​​parte
Cualquier zona turística tiene que hacer frente a una considerable cantidad de delitos menores, y en este sentido, Barcelona no se libra, puesto que hoy día los carteristas se dedican a pescar los iPhones de Apple más nuevos (¡no os despistéis!). Pero, aparte de esto, la ciudad tiene una de las tasas de criminalidad más bajas de entre los lugares de interés turístico internacional. Para redactar nuestro artículo que consta de dos partes, tomamos un conjunto de datos más recientes sobre la seguridad y los delitos que respondían a nuestra pregunta de cómo de segura es Barcelona.

Market reports on Barcelona real estate

Nuestros informes de mercado son cada vez más populares; próximamente publicaremos más.

 

7. Los próximos informes sobre el mercado inmobiliario español

Nuestros informes de mercado en zonas clave del sector inmobiliario español muestran categóricamente que no hay una imagen que describa este sector en conjunto en la península ibérica. No sólo el mercado inmobiliario de lujo es diferente, sino también hay factores que influyen en la demanda y la oferta en Barcelona, la ​​Costa Brava e Ibiza. El año que viene ampliaremos nuestros informes de mercado en los que incluiremos un análisis semestral de Mallorca y del mercado de propiedades comerciales de Barcelona.

6.  Las 5 mejores aplicaciones para un alquiler de corta estancia en Barcelona

Nuestro primer artículo sobre las aplicaciones para el iPhone fue una elección popular para quienes alquilaron uno de nuestros apartamentos de lujo en Barcelona. Con un mayor número de dispositivos Android en el segundo semestre de 2011, tal vez volveremos a examinar el tema el próximo año con una actualización sobra las mejores aplicaciones para Android. ¿Qué opináis nuestros lectores?

¿Cuál fue vuestra entrada de blog preferida de este año? ¿Os habéis suscrito al blog? Podéis subscribiros hoy mismo para mantenerse al día con todos nuestros nuevos artículos de este 2012.

Top 10 Blog Posts of 2011, Part 1

Last year saw an increase in our use of the Lucas Fox blog to share analysis of the Spanish property market and to describe local factors of interest to potential buyers, current renters, and possible sellers.

Here is a look back at our most popular blog posts for the year. Today, numbers 10 – 6. Tomorrow, we finish the countdown with the 5 most popular posts for the year!

10. Barcelona’s reputation as a city brand

Our review of recent business surveys that found Barcelona was considered one of the world’s finest cities for business, work, lifestyle and visiting was the tenth most popular blog we published this year. At the time, Lucas Fox Director Alex Vaughan explained why Barcelona is loved around the globe: “This comes down to a combination of the Mediterranean climate, the Spanish culture and the gastronomy. Our clients also know Barcelona is a very safe place to live with a real sense of community.”

Villas in Costa Brava

Our discovery of the hidden gems of Costa Brava was one of the most popular blog posts of the year - you can see why!

 

9. Hidden Gems of Costa Brava, Part 2

In the second part of our look at some of the secret treasures of Costa Brava, we interviewed local businesses about their special places. It was a blog post that many readers took notes from when planning their visit the area to see some of the luxury real estate in Costa Brava for sale.

8. How Safe is Barcelona, Part 1

Any tourist area has some considerable petty crime to deal with and Barcelona is no different, with pickpockets targeting the latest Apple iPhones at present (please be on your guard!). But apart from this, the city has one of the lowest crime rates amongst international tourist locations. We looked at some of the most recently available crime and safety data available in the first of our two-part analysis that asked How Safe is Barcelona?

Market reports on Barcelona real estate

Our market reports are increasingly popular, with even more analysis coming soon in 2012

 

7. Spain real estate market reports forthcoming

Our market reports on key areas of the Spanish real estate sector show categorically that there is no one picture that describes the whole of the Iberian property scene. Not only is the luxury real estate market different to the averages, there are also different factors influencing demand and supply in Barcelona, Costa Brava, and Ibiza. Next year, we will be extending our market reports to include half-yearly analyses of Mallorca and the Barcelona commercial property scene, in addition to our current releases.

6. Top 5 Barcelona Apps for a Short Stay Rental

Our first review of Barcelona iPhone apps proved a popular choice for those contemplating staying in one of our shortstay luxury apartments in Barcelona. With the growth of Android devices in the second half of 2011, perhaps we will revisit the theme next year with an update on the best property apps for the Android. What do our readers think?

What was your favorite blog post this year? Are you a subscriber? Subscribe now so you can keep up to date with all of our new articles in 2012.