Maralba

A family business that sums up what it has set out to do here in one punchy phrase: Manchego cuisine with glimpses of the Mediterranean.In the elegant dining area with a glass-walled wine cellar, Albacete-born chef Fran Martínez really knows how to showcase the region's cuisine and its produce; he gives his creations those modern touches that make all the difference – and at value for money that is hard to beat when it comes to signature dishes. The inclusion in the set menus of all kinds of fresh fish, even discarded fish (supplied daily by the fish market in La Vila Joiosa), and the option to add a wine pairing with labels from La Mancha or the east coast of Spain, are particularly noteworthy. The bread is, of course, also unique because they make it themselves.

What makes it distinctive

• A family-run two-star in Almansa: chef Fran Martínez in the kitchen, Cristina Díaz leading wine.
• Glass-walled wine cellar: the room is built around the bottle wall.
• Local dish names kept intact: traditional Manchego references show up explicitly, with modern technique underneath.
• Fish inside an inland tasting menu: the menus regularly include fresh fish from the Mediterranean supply chain.

Signature ingredients and dish anchors

• Manchego pantry, Mediterranean edge: the kitchen’s headline idea is La Mancha cooking, nudged toward the coast.
• Fresh fish, including daily market ‘discarded’ fish: a notable thread inside the set menus.
• Bread made in-house: treated as a signature element, not an afterthought.

Set menu

• Gran Menú de Fran Martínez: €115 per person
• Wine pairing (armonía de vinos): €60 per person

Includes welcome bites, 8 savoury passes, cocktail, and 2 desserts. Served to the whole table. Drinks not included in the menu price.