DiverXO, Madrid

Dig pani puri with a Spanish accent? Then book a table at DiverXO and prepare to meet phuchkas topped with jamón and dal makhani that tastes reassuringly familiar—before the kitchen gleefully pulls the rug from under you. Just remember, this is an Iberian pantry at work, not Chandni Chowk.

From the moment you step in, the place makes clear that subtlety is not their thing. Giant metal ants crawl up the stairs, cartoon pigs hover overhead, and heavy curtains cocoon each table. It feels less like a restaurant and more like a slightly mad, very stylish theatre production.

There’s no menu to ponder—just a single tasting sequence revealed at the end—so you sit back and let it happen. Early bites like tempura chicken foot, duck tongue tacos, and a salmon nigiri-croquette signal that technique is solid, even if the ingredients raise an eyebrow. A fridge-cold ‘leftover salad’ and smoky red mullet and eel follow, clever and playful, though not every dish quite hits the high note.


The idea is simple: take comfort food from around the world and dial up the drama. Like bold modern Indian fusion, it swings between inspired and over-the-top. But dull? Never.