Bar Casino Nou, Foodies on Menorca Award for Best Gastrobar

Itziar Lecea / Ciutadella - The Bar Casino Nou in Ciutadella has been recognized as the Best Gastrobar at the recent Foodies on Menorca Gastronomy Awards. This recognition adds to last year’s Solete Repsol distinction, confirming the success of a project that blends tradition, innovation, and community spirit. We spoke with its manager, Juli Rabal, who tells us how they have managed to make the Casino once again a cultural and gastronomic landmark of the city.

Receiving the Foodies on Menorca Award for Best Gastrobar must have been meaningful for you. How did you experience it?

We were thrilled to receive this award. It’s always important, but getting it after last year’s Solete Repsol was especially rewarding. It’s proof that hard work pays off: if you put your heart into what you do, eventually it shows. We’re very grateful to Foodies on Menorca and to all their collaborators for these island awards.

The Solete Repsol is described as “a charming place with that special something that makes you come back.” Does that reflect the spirit of Bar Casino Nou?

Absolutely. We’ve always wanted the Casino to be a meeting place for all generations, especially for local people. We offer local, quality produce — with a touch of care and affection. If you treat the product well, it gives back great results. We keep classic dishes such as meatballs in sauce or battered squid, but we also add innovation with pintxos and creative weekend dishes.

Has this combination helped attract people of all ages?

Yes, definitely. Serving dishes like nachos or burgers, without abandoning the Casino’s classics, has meant that our long-time customers keep coming — and at the same time, younger people have joined in.

You took over the Bar des Casino Nou a few years ago. How has the project evolved since then?

We took over in September 2021, and the original idea remains the same: to recover the essence of a cultural institution, as it was in the late 19th century. Back then, the Casino was a social, cultural, and intergenerational meeting point, and that spirit had been lost. Our goal has been to bring it back — a place where people come after work, to relax, have fun, and enjoy. We want to be, once again, Ciutadella’s gathering place.

How has your menu evolved?

We’ve added dishes year after year, depending on what our customers enjoy the most. This year, for example, we introduced Andalusian-style artichokes. Customer demand guides us, but we always try to surprise them with new creations.

Do you look at gastronomic trends for inspiration?

Yes, we like to stay up to date. Every year we attend gastronomic fairs such as Madrid Fusión or Madrid Gourmet. These events allow us to discover new trends and products that inspire us to innovate and improve our menu. It’s very enriching.

Do you think the Solete Repsol was awarded for innovation or tradition?

I think mainly for tradition — for being a local reference. The Solete recognizes places with a soul, long-standing bars where you can eat well at a fair price. That’s exactly what we aim to be.

The Casino 17 de Gener also has a strong cultural dimension. How does that combine with gastronomy?

They complement each other perfectly. Many people who have come for cultural events — concerts, theatre, or other activities — have ended up trying our food. Then they come back, not just for the culture but for the cuisine. It’s a great way to attract new customers and build loyalty.

You also embrace tradition and local festivities.

Yes, it’s part of who we are. Keeping a popular-style venue has led us to maintain fair prices and a good quality-price ratio. If we want to be a meeting point, it must be accessible. And of course, we continue to celebrate key dates like Christmas, Carnival, or Sant Joan, which have always been important for the Casino. The winter months are especially intense — we start with Sant Antoni, then the Premis Ciutadellencs de s’Any, followed by Carnival and Easter.

Why Bar Casino Nou is the Best Gastrobar

As the Foodies on Menorca jury highlighted when granting the award:

“With closeness and authenticity, the Bar des Casino Nou, under the direction of Juli Rabal, has revived the essence of the historic Casino and Theatre 17 de Gener, turning it into a true cultural and gastronomic meeting point in Ciutadella.”

Awarded the prestigious Solete Repsol, the establishment offers both traditional and innovative homemade tapas that captivate for their quality and flavour.

With a calm atmosphere, period architecture, and a nostalgic charm, it has become a perfect synthesis of culture, flavour, and community.

The Bar del Casino Nou’s commitment to excellent local produce, cultural events, and community engagement through theatre represents its dedication to Ciutadella’s cultural life.