The story
Dama Juana is not a restaurant that chases novelty. It is a place of memory. Chef Juan Aceituno Sevilla named it after his grandmother, Juana “La chucha”, a woman from Valdepeñas whose presence still shapes every plate. “We do not pretend to invent anything new,” the team writes. “Rather, we honour and share the legacy that has been passed down to us.” That legacy is the cooking of rural Andalusia – the cortijos, the huertas, the sierras, the recipes born from scarcity and resilience.
The restaurant holds a Michelin star (2026), recognised for its high-quality cooking. But the ambition here is not to dazzle with technique alone. Instead, Aceituno translates the flavours of family matanzas and generations-old dishes into a precise, contemporary language. The result is modern cuisine that feels both grounded and refined – rooted in the olive groves and mountains of Jaén, yet delivered with the clarity of a chef who knows exactly where he comes from.
Dama Juana offers three tasting menus, each a different chapter. The Menú Madre (€58) is the most accessible: three aperitivos, two starters, fish, meat and a dessert, served Tuesday to Thursday. The Menú María (€95) deepens the narrative with five aperitivos, four starters, fish, meat, a transition course and a single dessert – served with a wine pairing option at €50. A third menu, Menú Triana, completes the triptych, though details remain for guests to discover. Each meal is served to the whole table, encouraging a shared experience that mirrors the communal spirit of Andalusian home cooking.
The dining room is an extension of the kitchen’s values: honest, unpretentious, attentive. On a warm Jaén evening, guests can take a seat on the outdoor terrace, or book a private party for a special occasion. Wheelchair access is provided, and the restaurant is air-conditioned for comfort. The focus remains on the plate – and on the woman whose name is on the door. “Guardians of tradition,” the website says. At Dama Juana, that guardianship earns a star.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
Location
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