Spanish chef Benito Gómez, of two-Michelin-starred Bardal, is bringing his fire-and-fish Mediterranean cooking to a beachfront table on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island this November.
Two-Michelin-starred Spanish chef Benito Gómez is taking over the kitchen at Ocean Club, the beachfront restaurant at Regent Phu Quoc in southern Vietnam. The reimagined Ocean Club by Benito Gómez opens on 18 November 2026, serving Mediterranean dishes built around fire, fish, rice and slow-cooked stews, all designed to be shared at the edge of Long Beach.
Gómez is best known for Bardal in Ronda, Andalusia, which holds two Michelin stars, and for Tragatá, his tapas restaurant in the same town, which is also recognised by the Michelin Guide. He has spent nearly three decades building a reputation for precise, product-first cooking that strips away fuss rather than adding it.
That is the pitch for Phu Quoc (one of our favourite long weekend destinations), too. Ocean Club has been the resort’s beach restaurant since Regent Phu Quoc opened in 2022, and the relaunch puts a high-calibre kitchen into a deliberately relaxed setting. According to the hotel, the menu uses the island’s own produce, cooked through an Andalusian lens rather than recreating dishes from Spain wholesale.
What to Expect
The restaurant runs in two moods. Lunch is light and unhurried, with fresh dishes suited to a day on the beach. In the evening, the cooking becomes more elaborate and the room shifts accordingly.
Guests can choose where they eat: an indoor dining room, an adjoining lounge, a terrace, or a table among the sun loungers on the sand. The space was designed by BLINK Design Group, with the indoor and outdoor areas flowing into one another, and the lighting moves from bright daytime to a warmer glow after sunset.
Evenings carry most of the programme. The resort is planning sunset events, live music on the terrace, wine tastings and seasonal chef-led experiences through the year. Plates are made for passing around the table, and drinks pairings get the same attention as the food.
Why it’s Worth Booking
For travellers, the appeal is simple: two-star cooking without the white tablecloth. Gómez has said he sees no conflict between an informal restaurant and serious kitchen standards, and Ocean Club is built on that idea. A long lunch here is likely the easiest way in, especially for guests who would rather eat in swimwear than dress for a tasting menu.
It also adds weight to Phu Quoc’s dining scene, which has grown alongside the island’s luxury resorts but rarely draws chefs of this profile for permanent projects.
Ocean Club by Benito Gómez opens on 18 November 2026 at Regent Phu Quoc.
