Aureum by Picualia

The story

Aureum by Picualia, Bailén: Bib Gourmand Olive Oil Restaurant in Jaén

Aureum by Picualia

At the heart of Jaén’s olive groves, Aureum by Picualia occupies a singular location: the premises of Picualia, where one of the world’s finest extra virgin olive oils is produced. The dining room looks out over the mill itself, making the source of the restaurant’s inspiration immediately visible. This is a restaurant that earns its Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition — good quality, good value cooking — by staying close to the land it stands on.

Chef Paco Simón leads the kitchen with a clear philosophy: local, seasonal ingredients treated with creativity and precision. The menu is a tasting format, a sequence of dishes that draw on Andalusian tradition while pushing into new territory. A Josper oven adds intensity and texture, from mains through to desserts. The result is cooking that feels rooted but never predictable.

The front of the house is overseen by José Antonio Simón, who manages both the wine list and the cocktail program. He has built a cellar that complements the kitchen’s flavours, and also creates original cocktails using fresh, seasonal ingredients. The team’s attention to detail extends from the glassware to the pacing of the meal.

Aureum is also a natural stop for anyone exploring the olive oil culture of Jaén. The restaurant is part of a broader oleotourism experience at Picualia, where guests can tour the mill and taste oils before sitting down to eat. It is a complete sense of place — one that the Michelin inspectors recognised as delivering real quality at a fair price.

Open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday, closed evenings.