Signature Series: Exclusive 12-Day Spain Foodie Tour with Matt Preston & Gary Mehigan + 6-Day Portugal Highlights
Join Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan for an exclusive journey through Spain, before breaking away from the hosts for a curated tour of Portugal’s finest plates. From the hallowed tables of a private Basque gastronomic society to a five-star stay in Lisbon’s EPIC SANA Marquês Hotel, this Signature Series is your ticket to experience the flavours of Spain and Portugal like never before.
Planned, designed and hosted with two of Australia’s most beloved food authorities – former MasterChef judges Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan – this once-in-a-lifetime journey is packed with sensational surprises and aromatic excellence, including two nights at a restored 16th-century noble palace. Along the way, your hosts will join you for select Signature Highlights throughout the tour in Spain and then leave you with handpicked Signature Experiences to enjoy in Portugal.
Begin your adventure in Spain, where you’ll learn the secrets of Basque cuisine and prepare the perfect paella at hands-on cooking classes, wander the covered markets of Barcelona and tour the pintxo bars of San Sebastian. Sample the original Basque burnt cheesecake, savour wine tasting in a reclaimed vineyard stable barn, discover pintxos bars in San Sebastian, and taste Matt and Gary’s favourite handpicked churrerias.
Beyond fabulous food, you’ll stay in some of Spain’s most extraordinary accommodations – from a Belle Époque masterpiece overlooking the golden sands of San Sebastian to a meticulously restored 12th-century Cistercian monastery complete with a thermal spa fed by natural hot springs.
In Portugal, say farewell to Matt and Gary as you discover the country’s best. Travel through Porto, Lisbon and the Douro River region, with an included Michelin-starred lunch at Casa de Chá da Boa Nova, plus an itinerary of food trails and dessert routes curated by Matt Preston.
With just one departure and limited spots available, this experience is crafted for true food lovers. Secure your spot now for the Spanish and Portuguese foodie adventure of a lifetime.
Superior Upgrade: For true connoisseurs, the Superior Upgrade unlocks Spain’s most coveted tables and premium accommodations. Wake to sea views from your Classic Room at San Sebastián’s storied Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra, master Basque techniques at Mimo (named by National Geographic as one of the world’s best cooking schools) and secure impossible-to-book tables at Elkano – ranked #24 among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants – and Rioja’s Echaurren Tradición. In Madrid, dine at Sobrino de Botín, the Guinness World Record holder as the oldest restaurant in the world, where the wood-fired oven has burned continuously since 1725. With premium wine pairings at select dinners, the Superior Upgrade transforms the exceptional into the extraordinary.
Return international flights available: Fly to Spain in style with return economy or business class flights from Australia. For further details, please contact our dedicated Tours Concierge team at tours@luxuryescapes.com.
Italy Signature Series: Take your European adventure to the next level when you extend your escape with an 11-day deep dive into Italy’s rich culinary culture alongside Matt and Gary. Book now.
Ultimate Spain, Portugal & Italy Signature Series: Ready for the ultimate foodie adventure? This 27-day Signature Series combines Spain, Portugal and Italy into one unforgettable escape, with Matt and Gary along for the ride in Spain and Italy. Book now.
