Restaurant in Ondara, Spain
Michelin star value, without the formality tax.
Casa Pepa holds a Michelin star and sits inside a renovated farmhouse in Ondara, Alicante, with Emmanuelle Baron in the kitchen and the BonAmb group's Alberto Ferruz overseeing the operation. At €€€ pricing it is the strongest fine-dining option in the Marina Alta, and the weekday lunch sitting on the farmhouse terrace is the format to target: easier to book than weekend dinner and more rewarding in daylight.
If you want a Michelin-starred meal in the Marina Alta without paying four-star prices, Casa Pepa in Ondara is the answer. The insider move here is the weekday lunch service: Wednesday through Friday, the kitchen runs a full lunch sitting from 1 PM, and the terrace — shaded by palm trees, olive trees, and a hundred-year-old vine , is significantly more pleasant in daylight than after dark. Booking is hard by the standards of this price tier, so if you can flex to a midweek lunch rather than a Saturday dinner, you will find it easier to secure a table and, likely, a quieter room.
Casa Pepa is a former farmhouse in Ondara, Alicante, that holds a Michelin star (awarded 2024) and sits at number 466 in Opinionated About Dining's Classical in Europe ranking for 2025. The kitchen is led by Emmanuelle Baron, operating under the stewardship of Alberto Ferruz, the two-Michelin-star chef behind BonAmb and one of the most credentialled operators in the region. The property was previously associated with chef Pepa Romans and carries a long-standing reputation in Marina Alta dining circles; the BonAmb group's takeover brought a full renovation and a new creative direction while keeping the farmhouse bones intact.
The setting rewards arrival in daylight. The terrace is framed by mature planting , the olive trees and the century-old vine give the outdoor space a weight that newly built restaurant terraces cannot replicate. Inside, the dining room is bright, with a half-visible kitchen that keeps the cooking present without making the room feel like a theatre. The cuisine is described as contemporary-Mediterranean with a nod to classic food pairings, served across both an à la carte and set menus. The price tier is €€€, which in this context means noticeably more affordable than the two-star BonAmb next door but squarely in fine-dining territory.
This is the decision that most first-timers get wrong. Dinner at Casa Pepa runs Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30 PM and is the session that fills first, particularly on weekends. Lunch runs Wednesday through Sunday from 1 PM. The practical case for lunch is direct: the terrace is fully usable, the room is lighter and more relaxed, and midweek lunch bookings are easier to secure. If you are combining a visit with a broader Costa Blanca trip , and a stop at Quique Dacosta in Dénia is nearby and logical , scheduling Casa Pepa for lunch keeps your evening free and lets you use the surrounding Marina Alta countryside as a natural backdrop rather than arriving in the dark.
Dinner has the edge if atmosphere and occasion formality matter more to you than the terrace or the light. Saturday evening is the most sought-after sitting. But if you are an explorer who came primarily for the food and the setting, lunch is the stronger choice by a clear margin. Go for the set menu at lunch; it gives you the full range of Baron's cooking at a format that suits the daytime pacing.
Casa Pepa is right for food-focused travellers in the Valencia region who want Michelin-standard cooking without committing to the price point or formality of a two-star meal. It also works well as a standalone destination for visitors to the Costa Blanca who want one serious meal during their stay. The Marina Alta area has limited competition at this level, which makes Casa Pepa the default answer for anyone asking where to eat well in Ondara or its immediate surroundings. See our full Ondara restaurants guide for broader context on what the area offers.
For those building a longer food itinerary around the region, Casa Pepa pairs logically with Ricard Camarena in València to the north or Quique Dacosta in Dénia, which is closer and operates at a higher price ceiling. If you are planning to spend time in the area, our Ondara hotels guide, bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide cover the rest of the visit.
Casa Pepa is at Partida Pamis, 7-30, 03760 Ondara, Alicante. Hours: Tuesday dinner only (7:30 PM – 11 PM); Wednesday through Sunday lunch 1 PM – 4 PM and dinner 7:30 PM – 11 PM; Monday closed. The venue is closed on Mondays. No phone or website is listed in current records , book via the BonAmb group's reservation channels or through a concierge. The booking difficulty is rated hard; plan at least three to four weeks ahead for weekend dinner, less for midweek lunch. Google rating: 4.4 across 422 reviews.
Quick reference: Michelin 1 star (2024) · OAD Classical in Europe #466 (2025) · €€€ · Ondara, Alicante · Lunch Wed–Sun from 1 PM · Dinner Tue–Sun from 7:30 PM · Monday closed · Booking: hard.
Yes, with conditions. At the €€€ price tier, the set menu at Casa Pepa represents strong value for a Michelin-starred kitchen with the credentials of the BonAmb group behind it. The cooking is contemporary-Mediterranean and the format suits the farmhouse setting better than a heavy degustation would. If you are comparing against the tasting menu at Quique Dacosta nearby, expect less conceptual ambition but also a more accessible price and a noticeably easier booking. For the Marina Alta, the set menu is the right way to eat here.
Ondara itself has a thin dining scene at this level, which is precisely why Casa Pepa matters. For creative, chef-driven cooking in the broader region, Quique Dacosta in Dénia is the closest serious alternative and operates at a higher price tier with three Michelin stars. For something further afield in Valencia, Ricard Camarena in València is worth the drive. If you want to stay in the Marina Alta and eat well without committing to fine dining, the Ondara restaurants guide covers other options at lower price points.
Yes, particularly for smaller groups who want a considered, food-forward setting rather than a grand-hotel dining room. The farmhouse setting , renovated terrace, bright dining room, visible kitchen , gives it a character that purpose-built restaurants at this price point rarely achieve. The Michelin star and OAD ranking provide the credibility to make the occasion feel substantiated. For a milestone dinner, book a Saturday dinner table early. For a more relaxed celebration, a summer lunch on the terrace is the stronger choice.
Seat configuration details are not confirmed in current venue data. Given the farmhouse layout and the fine-dining positioning, a counter or bar dining option is not guaranteed. Contact the restaurant directly via the BonAmb group's reservation channels before arriving with that expectation. If bar seating matters to you, have a fallback plan.
Three things. First, booking is hard , treat it like a two-star reservation in terms of planning lead time, especially for weekend dinner. Second, the lunch service is underused relative to dinner and gives you the better setting if the terrace is open. Third, the cooking sits in contemporary-Mediterranean territory with classic reference points; this is not avant-garde provocation. If you want more conceptual ambition, Quique Dacosta is the regional alternative. Casa Pepa is the right choice if craft and setting matter more than novelty.
No dress code is confirmed in current venue data. At €€€ pricing with a Michelin star, smart casual is a safe baseline , the setting is a renovated farmhouse rather than a formal hotel dining room, which gives it a slightly relaxed register. Avoid beach or resort casual for dinner. For a summer lunch on the terrace, the atmosphere is more relaxed but the cooking remains at a level that warrants dressing with some intention.
Lunch, in most circumstances. The service runs Wednesday through Sunday from 1 PM, the terrace is usable in daylight, and midweek lunch tables are easier to secure than weekend dinner slots. The full cooking programme is available at both services, so you are not trading down on the food by choosing lunch. Dinner is the better pick if occasion formality or a Saturday evening atmosphere is the priority. Otherwise, a weekday lunch , particularly in summer , is the smarter booking.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Pepa | Creative | €€€ | The writer and philosopher Miguel de Unamuno once said that you need to adapt in order to move forward (hence the expression “adapt or perish”); history proves that this is often the case. This former farmhouse, an iconic address in the Marina Alta area when it was managed by chef Pepa Romans, has had a new lease of life under the umbrella of the BonAmb group. It now has a promising future ahead of it with Emmanuelle Baron in the kitchen and the stewardship of award-winning chef Alberto Ferruz, from the two-Michelin-star BonAmb. Following a makeover, it now features an attractive terrace (with palm trees, olive trees, a hundred-year-old vine etc), a bright dining room with a half-visible kitchen, and contemporary-Mediterranean cuisine with a nod to classic food pairings on the à la carte and set menus.; Opinionated About Dining Classical in Europe Ranked #466 (2025); The writer and philosopher Miguel de Unamuno once said that you need to adapt in order to move forward (hence the expression “adapt or perish”); history proves that this is often the case. This former farmhouse, an iconic address in the Marina Alta area when it was managed by chef Pepa Romans, has had a new lease of life under the umbrella of the BonAmb group. It now has a promising future ahead of it with Emmanuelle Baron in the kitchen and the stewardship of award-winning chef Alberto Ferruz, from the two-Michelin-star BonAmb. Following a makeover, it now features an attractive terrace (with palm trees, olive trees, a hundred-year-old vine etc), a bright dining room with a half-visible kitchen, and contemporary-Mediterranean cuisine with a nod to classic food pairings on the à la carte and set menus.; Michelin 1 Star (2024) | Hard | — |
| Aponiente | Progressive - Seafood, Creative | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Arzak | Modern Basque, Creative | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Azurmendi | Progressive, Creative | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Cocina Hermanos Torres | Creative | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| DiverXO | Progressive - Asian, Creative | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Yes, particularly at lunch. Casa Pepa earned its Michelin star in 2024 under chef Emmanuelle Baron, with the BonAmb group (two Michelin stars at the flagship) providing the kitchen infrastructure. At €€€ pricing, the set menu format delivers serious cooking at a price point well below comparable starred restaurants in the Valencia region. If you want à la carte flexibility, that option exists too, but the set menu is the stronger case for the price.
BonAmb in Jávea is the natural step up — two Michelin stars, same group, higher price point. For similar Marina Alta territory with creative Mediterranean cooking, options are thin, which makes Casa Pepa the most accessible Michelin-level choice in the area. If you're willing to travel further into the Valencia region, options expand, but within the immediate area Casa Pepa occupies the top of the field without serious local competition at this level.
Yes. The setting is a renovated farmhouse with a terrace featuring palm trees, olive trees, and a hundred-year-old vine — practical, pleasant, and with enough character to carry a celebration without feeling stiff. Michelin-starred cooking under Emmanuelle Baron, OAD Classical Europe ranking (#466, 2025), and a bright dining room with a semi-open kitchen make it a credible special-occasion choice for couples or small groups. Book dinner for the fuller experience; lunch works for a more relaxed occasion.
Bar seating is not documented in available venue data for Casa Pepa. The dining room features a half-visible kitchen setup, and the terrace is the main alternative to indoor table seating. check the venue's official channels to confirm any bar or counter options before assuming that format is available.
Monday is closed. Lunch runs Wednesday through Sunday, 1 PM to 4 PM; dinner runs Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30 PM. The venue is a former farmhouse at Partida Pamis, 7-30, Ondara — not in the town centre, so you'll need a car or taxi. Chef Emmanuelle Baron runs the kitchen under the stewardship of Alberto Ferruz (BonAmb, two Michelin stars), and the menu combines à la carte and set menu options with a contemporary-Mediterranean focus.
Dress code specifics are not stated in the venue record, but a Michelin-starred farmhouse setting with a terrace and contemporary Mediterranean focus generally suits neat casual to smart casual — think a clean outfit you'd wear to a serious restaurant, without the need for formal attire. Avoid beachwear even if you're coming from the coast.
Lunch is the stronger booking for most visitors. Wednesday or Thursday lunch sittings are easier to secure than weekend dinner, and the terrace is the best seat in the house in good weather. Dinner runs from 7:30 PM and tends to fill faster, especially Friday and Saturday. If a special occasion or a more atmospheric evening meal is the priority, dinner is worth the extra effort to book — but for value and availability, lunch wins.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
