World's Best Restaurant

Q: During a visit to Barcelona later this year, I would love to be able to dine at the famous restaurant El Bulli. I have been told by friends in Spain it is impossible to get a reservation at this stage. Surely there is a way to do it? Please help - Jonathan Leicester

A: I am sorry to tell you that your chances of dining at this renowned restaurant 175km from Barcelona on the Costa Brava are virtually zero. Your only hope is to send an email to the restaurant asking for possible cancellations on a wide spread of dates, but insiders say your chances of success are one in a million. I am not exaggerating. Regularly crowned the best restaurant in the world, El Bulli is unlike any other. With only 50 seats, it boasts 42 chefs and a 32-course set menu, which will set you back at least 200 euros per head. The restaurant is only open from April until the end of September/beginning of October, Wednesday to Saturday, for dinner. It's also open for Sunday lunch in April, May, and June. The booking process is as unusual as the restaurant. Apparently, you have to send an email to the restaurant around October 15 in the preceding year with the rough dates on which you would like a reservation. In December the management allocate reservations for the entire season, and successful applicants are notified of the date and time they have been given. Basically, you take what you get - the vast majority of applications are unsuccessful. This process is not explained on the restaurant website. All it says is that that bookings for 2009 were "over-subscribed as usual" and bookings for 2010 will only be considered in December. So, my only advice is to check the website www.elbulli.com for details of this year's dates and send an email requesting a booking in the highly unlikely chance of a cancelled reservation. Alternatively, consider trying for a booking in 2010. Good luck either way. (5 July 2009) Note: This restaurant closed in 2011.