An old military fortress provides the backdrop for this Roca brothers venture, occupying the imposing Castillo de Sant Julià de Ramis, barely 10km from Girona, which they have transformed into a leading food and cultural centre. In this setting, which also features a superb hotel, everything makes an impression, from the access through the CCR exhibition explaining the creative processes of El Celler de Can Roca (CCR), to the impressive dome in the wine cellar (housing over 80 000 bottles), academy-library and the distillery that now acts as the restaurant’s R&D space. In the dining room, where the predominant materials are cement and concrete, the aim is to bring the surrounding natural landscapes into the heart of the room via the large picture windows. In terms of cuisine, the à la carte favours classic El Celler recipes, albeit with a twist that adds the eatery’s own personality. This is complemented by two highly original menus: Espíritu Salado (6 dishes and 2 desserts) and Espíritu Dulce (2 dishes and 6 desserts).