NM

Verdict: One of Asturias's most considered fine-dining addresses, worth booking if tasting menus are your format

If you visited NM a year ago and are weighing a return, the case for coming back is the same reason it was worth the first trip: Nacho Manzano's kitchen operates with a consistency that is rare at this price point. The seasonal tasting menu evolves with the region's larder, which means a second visit in a different quarter will deliver a meaningfully different plate sequence. With a Michelin star confirmed for 2024 and a Google rating of 5.0 across 100 reviews, NM sits at the leading of Oviedo's fine-dining tier. At €€€€ pricing, it asks a serious commitment, but the credentials support it.

The Space: Nastura Inside El Vasco

NM occupies a designer dining room called Nastura on the food floor of the El Vasco shopping mall in central Oviedo. That address might give pause, but the context is worth understanding: El Vasco dedicates an entire floor exclusively to food and dining, making the setting less incongruous than it sounds. The room has a considered, polished layout with a bar counter that doubles as a dining surface — an option that changes the experience considerably depending on what you are looking for.

Spatially, NM reads as intimate rather than grand. The bar counter creates a second distinct mode of dining: closer to the kitchen, more immediate, better for solo diners or couples who want engagement over occasion formality. The main room carries the weight of a special-occasion destination without tipping into stiff territory. For groups, the room's layout is worth discussing at booking stage — seat configuration matters at this format and price level, and the venue has confirmed that menu preference must be declared when reserving.

What You Are Booking

NM runs a seasonal tasting menu with two length options: a shorter version and a longer one. You choose at booking. The kitchen's framing is Asturian in identity , drawing on the region's meadows, woods, mountains, and the family's own market garden in Narbasu , with contemporary technique applied to push flavour extraction rather than to novelise the menu. This is not a chef-as-auteur operation chasing novelty for its own sake. The consistency Manzano's kitchen has built is its actual selling point.

For a food-focused traveller with serious interest in regional Spanish cuisine, NM offers something that broader city visits to Madrid or Barcelona rarely deliver: a grounded, place-specific tasting menu that reflects a specific landscape and producer network rather than an international fine-dining template. That specificity is what justifies the fare relative to peers. Compare it to the Basque canon at Arzak in San Sebastián or the more global creative ambition of DiverXO in Madrid and NM's proposition becomes clear: this is Asturias on a plate, executed at a level that has earned formal recognition.

Bar Counter vs. Main Room: Which to Request

The bar counter at NM is not a fallback option for walk-ins who missed a table. It is a legitimate alternative format, and for certain diners it is the better one. Solo visitors and couples who want a more interactive experience should request counter seats explicitly when booking. The counter puts you closer to service, suits a more casual conversational pace, and is the right call if the full ceremony of the main room feels like more structure than you want.

For groups of three or more, the main room is the practical choice. At €€€€ and with a tasting menu format, NM is a natural fit for a special occasion in a group setting, but it is not a venue with obvious private dining infrastructure on record. If your party has specific layout or privacy requirements, raise this at the point of reservation rather than assuming the room will accommodate it. The venue's tightly defined service windows (1:30–3:30 PM and 8:30–10:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday) mean seat turnover is deliberate and organised.

Booking and Timing

NM is a hard book. A 2024 Michelin star and a perfect Google score on 100 reviews means demand at a restaurant with limited daily covers and two sittings per service. Plan at minimum three to four weeks ahead for a weekend dinner reservation; midweek lunch sittings offer better availability and are worth considering if your schedule allows. Remember: you must state your menu preference (shorter or longer tasting menu) when booking, not on arrival. Monday and Sunday are closed.

For a broader picture of Oviedo's dining options before committing to NM, see our full Oviedo restaurants guide. For accommodation planning, our Oviedo hotels guide covers the most relevant options near the city centre. If you are extending the trip, our Oviedo bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide are worth consulting.

NM in the Wider Spanish Fine-Dining Context

For travellers benchmarking NM against Spain's broader starred scene, a single Michelin star at this price and format puts it in a competitive band that includes strong regional contenders. Azurmendi in Larrabetzu and Martin Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria operate at higher star counts and correspondingly different price ceilings. Aponiente in El Puerto de Santa María and El Celler de Can Roca in Girona are in a different category altogether. NM sits well below those in ambition and scale, which is not a criticism , its proposition is regional precision, not marquee spectacle. Cocina Hermanos Torres in Barcelona offers a closer analogy in format, though in a very different city and at a different scale.

For creative fine dining benchmarks outside Spain, Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen and Arpège in Paris both show what produce-led tasting menu cooking looks like at the highest international level.

FAQ

Can I eat at the bar at NM?

• Yes. The bar counter at NM is a designated dining option, not just a waiting area. It is worth requesting specifically if you are dining solo or as a couple and prefer a less formal setting. For larger parties, the main room is the more practical arrangement.

Is the tasting menu worth it at NM?

• Yes, at this price tier, provided tasting menus are a format you engage with rather than endure. NM holds a 2024 Michelin star and a 5.0 Google score , the kitchen delivers what the format promises. Choose the shorter menu if you are uncertain; it is a lower-commitment entry point to the same kitchen. For a la carte Spanish dining in Oviedo, Casa Fermín is the more flexible alternative.

Can NM accommodate groups?

• NM can seat groups in the main dining room, but there is no confirmed private dining infrastructure on record. If you need a private or semi-private arrangement for a celebration or corporate dinner, raise this explicitly at the time of booking. Do not assume it is available , confirm it. For groups who want flexibility without a fixed tasting menu format, Cocina Cabal is worth considering at a lower price point.

What should I wear to NM?

• No dress code is on record, but at €€€€ with a Michelin star, smart casual is the safe baseline. The designer dining room in Nastura has a polished, contemporary feel , treat it as you would any serious tasting menu destination in Spain. Trainers and shorts will feel out of place; business casual or smart dress reads correctly.

Is NM good for a special occasion?

• Yes, straightforwardly. A Michelin-starred tasting menu with a dedicated designer dining space in a city where €€€€ options are limited makes NM Oviedo's default answer for birthdays, anniversaries, and significant dinners. The structure of the tasting menu format supports a celebratory pace. Book early , this is not a walk-in option for occasions that matter.

What are alternatives to NM in Oviedo?

• For traditional Asturian cooking at a lower price point, Casa Fermín (€€€) is the most direct comparable. Cocina Cabal (€€€) covers traditional cuisine with more booking flexibility. For lighter budgets, Ca'Suso and Gloria (both €€) are credible contemporary and regional options respectively. See our full Oviedo restaurants guide for a complete picture.

Is NM worth the price?

• At €€€€ with a 2024 Michelin star and consistent reviews, NM prices in line with what the award and format demand. Whether it is worth it depends on one factor: are you booking a tasting menu because it is the experience you want, or because it is the city's top-rated option? If the former, yes. If you would rather order à la carte from a wide menu, the price-to-experience ratio is better at Casa Fermín.