“Life’s too short not to eat well,” said Chef Paulo Airaudo as we dove into a food-filled conversation during his recent visit to his Bangkok restaurant, Sartoria by Paulo Airaudo.
The multi-Michelin-starred chef holds six stars across a global portfolio of 14 restaurants in destinations such as San Sebastián, Barcelona, Florence, Venice, Hong Kong, and Chiang Mai.
Born in Córdoba, Argentina where his Italian immigrant family made their home, Chef Paulo carries a natural ease in blending cultures, a quality that shines through in his restaurants. Each of his venues captures the essence of its surroundings, with menus that celebrate local ingredients. Sartoria in Bangkok, Belén in Chiang Mai, and Noi in Hong Kong, for instance, artfully combine European culinary heritage with the rhythm of seasonal Asian produce.
While San Sebastián is where he calls home, and where eight of his restaurants reside, Chef Paulo’s culinary journey keeps him constantly on the move. “San Sebastián is home. That’s where I live with my family and run a few of my restaurants,” he shared. “But I travel a lot for work.”
Given his constant travels, it’s no surprise he has a few remarkable dining spots up his sleeve. After a bustling dinner service, we had the chance to speak with him and uncover his go-to restaurants in his favorite cities. Consider this your insider’s guide to where a Michelin-starred chef loves to wine and dine.
– Featured image credit: Sartoria by Paulo Airaudo –
Get to Know Chef Paulo in His Own Words
“Hi, my name is Paulo Airaudo, and I’m a chef born in Córdoba, Argentina, though I’ve been living and working abroad. We have quite a few things going on at the moment. We recently opened a new fine dining restaurant in Chiang Mai called Belén located inside InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping.”
“Then, of course, we have Sartoria here in Bangkok; Noi in Hong Kong; Amelia, La Bottega, Da Filippo, and Bar Ibai, along with a few more in San Sebastián; Aleia in Barcelona; Luca’s in Florence; and Da Lorenzo in Venice.”
Must-Dine Spots
Bangkok
“It really depends. Here in Bangkok, I’d highly recommend a newly opened restaurant called I-Sang, it’s Korean and really good. Obviously, this city is full of amazing places to dine, like Potong, Le Du, Sühring, and Sorn, for example.”
“I also like Tropic City, I’ve been there twice and really enjoyed it. I also had a great time at Opium Bar inside Potong.”
Hong Kong
“I also love Hong Kong for food. I just visited Sushi Fujimoto a few days ago, and it was really, really good. There’s also a great Italian place called Testina, and for pizzas, Little Napoli Pizzeria.”
“The Savory Project and Bar Leone are also my favorites. There are just so many great spots to check out here.”
Florence
“In Florence, I have a good friend who runs an amazing two-Michelin-star restaurant called Ristorante Santa Elisabetta. The food there is incredible.”
San Sebastián
“For San Sebastián, you obviously have to check out the beaches and enjoy the seafood and traditional dishes. I also have a bar there called The Blind Pig, which has a very cozy and intimate vibe since it fits only about 10 to 12 people.”
Barcelona
“In Barcelona, there’s a really good restaurant called Mont Bar. It’s a lovely, fancy place with great food and atmosphere.”
New York
“Honestly, there are just too many good restaurants to mention. If you’re in New York, for fine dining, check out César and The Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare.”
“Langan’s is also very nice. The list for New York is long. If I keep naming more, it’ll never end [laugh].”