Barcelona celebrates DAMM's 150th anniversary with a night of star chefs, the Boquería and the Liceu

DAMM’s 150th anniversary transformed the Liceu and the Boquería into focal points of Barcelona’s social life. Renowned chefs and prominent figures gathered for an evening full of surprises. The city buzzed with speeches, music and gastronomy. An event that set a trend in Barcelona.

Barcelona experienced one of those nights that remain etched in the collective memory. DAMM’s 150th anniversary turned the Liceu and the Boquería market into exceptional venues, bringing together key figures from the city’s gastronomy, culture and public life. Expectations had been high for days, and the evening did not disappoint: the arrival of Ferran Adrià marked the beginning of a show combining emotion, history and local talent.

The atmosphere at the Liceu was electric. Ferran Adrià was one of the central figures at a gala chaired by Demetrio Carceller and attended in support by the president of the Generalitat. Salvador Illa surprised guests with an improvised speech demonstrating his knowledge of DAMM’s history. Music also had its moment in the spotlight, with Rigoberta Bandini performing ‘Barcelona i jo’, while Silvia Abril and David Verdaguer brought humour and elegance to their hosting duties.

Backstage and in the stalls, the city’s most celebrated chefs shared confidences and anecdotes. Ferran and Albert Adrià, Joan Roca, Carles Gaig, Nandu Jubany, Romain Fornell, Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch, Mateu Casañas, Carme Ruscalleda, Fina Puigdevall, Martina Puigvert and Rafa Zafra, among others, enjoyed the evening. There was even time for football banter between Rafa Zafra and Ferran Adrià, celebrating their teams’ successes and their rivals’ defeats.

The dignitaries occupied the main box, with Salvador Illa and Demetrio Carceller accompanied by Salvador Alemany, Josep Rull, Miquel Sàmper, Alicia Romero, Jorge Vilavecchia, Maria Eugènia Gay and David Escudé. In nearby seats, familiar faces from publishing and the media, such as Aitor Moll, Carlos Godó, Ferran Rodés, Albert Sáez, Gemma Martínez, Esther Vera, Sigfrid Gras, Jordi Basté and Santi Nolla, were determined not to miss the occasion.

After the show, more than 1,500 guests walked along Las Ramblas to the Boquería, where the event organisation by Lidia Codinachs and the GSR group transformed the market into a temporary restaurant. There, over beers and local produce, conversations flowed between media executives, communications managers and figures from the gastronomic and business sectors. The atmosphere was relaxed and festive, reflecting the widespread affection for DAMM.

The night also brought together leading city figures such as Joan Font, Jaume Alemany, Alex Borrell and Tito Ramoneda, establishing the celebration as one of Barcelona’s most notable social events of the year. The combination of entertainment, gastronomy and networking made clear that DAMM remains a brand deeply rooted in Barcelona life.

The Gran Teatre del Liceu, the focal point of the evening, is much more than an opera house. Founded in 1847, it has witnessed Barcelona’s great cultural moments and has managed to reinvent itself after fires and renovations. Its location on La Rambla makes it a meeting point for the city’s social and artistic life, hosting everything from international premieres to events that set trends in the local calendar.

🆕 DAMM 150 years at the Liceu and Boquería. Gala with Ferran Adrià, Illa, Rigoberta Bandini; 1,500 guests from gastronomy/politics.

DAMM Barcelona party: Silvia Abril/Verdaguer host; Joan Roca, Ruscalleda, Roca among the chefs. Temporary dinner at the Boquería.