Maruja Limón

Self-taught chef Rafa Centeno is proof that someone without a background in the world of gastronomy can still be rewarded with a Michelin star. Before opening his restaurant in 2001, this former graduate in industrial relations had never cooked professionally but started to see cooking as a form of personal expression. Located just a few metres from Vigo’s maritime promenade and named after his mother-in-law, Maruja Limón offers guests a fun, liberating and informal dining experience that Centeno hopes will re-awaken their emotions and memories. Ably supported in the kitchen by chef Inés Abril, he conjures up two tasting menus for guests: Esencia Maruja and Maruja en Estado Puro (both with a wine-pairing option). Dishes that you are likely to find here include tartare of Galician veal with watercress, parmesan and black truffle, grilled cured hake, smoked eel with macadamia nuts, and beef rib, barbecued tree tomatoes, fermented cabbage and kale.