The hotel and restaurant Casa Canut was established by the Canut family more than 50 years ago. It is located high up in the eastern Pyrenees mountains in the Principality of Andorra. At 1,053 meters above sea level you will find the town of Les Escaldes not far from the country’s capital Andorra la Vella. You will have some driving on winding roads from Spain or from France before you arrive at one of the microstate’s most charming restaurants.

Josefa Canut founded a small cava in 1955 for the locals to enjoy great wines. The business became successful and in 1965 the original concept was evolved into a hotel. Casa Canut has always been a family company so it was natural for Josefa to pass on her business to her son, Chef Patron Ramon Canut, who runs the property today. Ramon has a deep passion for the gastronomic world and he prefers to call his establishment a restaurant with rooms rather than the other way around. Even if the rooms are really nice as well and the whole hotel is designed by several Spanish recognised designers.

Ramon Canut spends most of his time in his restaurants La Grandalla dels set pètals and La Barra del Canut. His two daughters, Cristina and Natalia, help the Chef Patron to run his business. You will feel welcome by the family and the friendly staff. The level of service is more on the brasserie side compared to a top dining establishment so you sometimes have to make yourself heard to get the waiters attention.

Chef Canut loves to cook. His mother taught him well and in addition he has brought in a lot of inspiration from Spain and mostly from nearby Catalonia to his cuisine. There is a lot of seafood on the menu which might feel weird considering the location high up in the mountains, but it tastes good. Packets of smoked salmon and egg laced with sturgeon caviar are a nice way to begin your meal. Go for paella with rabbit, mushrooms and scampi if you like to have something more rustic.

Casa Canut is definitely one of the very best restaurants in Andorra. The culinary competition is not fierce in this small country so it is relieving to find a place like Casa Canut that actually pays attention to quality.

Written by John