DiverXO is the immensely successful project of chef David Muñoz. The avant-garde restaurant boasts three Michelin stars, the only restaurant in Madrid to hold such a title. Currently ranked in the Diner’s Club World 50 Best Restaurants, DiverXO has left a lasting legacy in the fine-dining community of Spain and the entire world.
DiverXO is categorized as a fusion restaurant with Mediterranean and Chinese influences. Other than that, there are not many ways you can categorize it. It’s decor is quirky and sinister, tying in with the avant-garde nature of both chef Muñoz and his cuisine. If one is able to get a reservation, they will find set menus of small, articulate dishes fixed at upscale prices. The plates Muñoz and his staff prepare are detailed pieces of art, and the presentation is clearly a crucial aspect of the dining experience.
As a growing market exists today for high-fashion dining and a restaurant experience that is unique and out of this world, DiverXO competes with top-tier avant-garde establishments. Late chef Anthony Bourdain described the food as weird and something that should not work, but "loved it" nonetheless. Here, the complexity of the dishes and dramatic dining experience is showcased from the intimate perspective of a guest:
"The best dishes were genuinely thrilling, and this is clearly a chef with enormous drive and talent." -Andy Hayler, food critic
Chef Muñoz, the head creator, has earned incredibly high marks in the culinary world as a talented cook and unique influencer. Although he has two other restaurants in Madrid and London, his fame and acclaim was received through his work at DiverXO. Interviews with Muñoz reveal his tenacity and commitment to being himself.
Muñoz was raised in the community of Madrid with a very humble upbringing. His family had very little money. He recalls creating abnormal dishes in his microwave as a child. His passion for experimenting in the kitchen led him all the way to top-level restaurants like Nobu before he opened DiverXO. His quirky and eccentric personality shines in the marketing that DiverXO has produced. The theatricality in this ad campaign matches the whimsicality of the dining experience one will receive at DiverXO.
David professed in a candid interview with the New York Times, that despite the awards and recognition, the restaurant barely become profitable in 2014. Muñoz details the level of equality in effort that him and his employees make. His passion for this restaurant is what has kept the it alive and successful, even detailing that he had not missed a day of work for 6 years.
As he is considered a celebrity chef in the fine dining world, heightened by his marriage to actress Cristina Pedroche, his content in the media is widely received. When he comedically posted photos in his wife's dresses, there was high levels of commentary and backlash. An interviewer probed Muñoz on the subject and his response was firm and supportive of individual choice and acceptance.
The personal options can not ballast the professional career because then we would be talking about homophobia, machismo or worse. -David Muñoz
Whether you are a lover of food or art, DiverXO has proven to provide an experience unlike anywhere else in the world. Chef David Muñoz has risen from the bottom to very top ranks and created a restaurant in Madrid that's legacy can be known around the world. Muñoz will be closing his project in 2024 in order to move onto new things, so the opportunity to experience DiverXO and Muñoz's first big success is fleeting.