Spain Lands in Cherry Creek

Two-time Michelin Star chef and restaurateur Johnny Curiel and his business partner/wife Kasie have opened their new Spanish neo-bistro and wine bar, Mar Bella Boqueria, inside the Clayton Hotel & Members Club. Located just steps from his award-winning restaurant, Alteno, the Curiel’s newest addition spotlights the vibrance and spontaneity of coastal Spanish dining, complete with a seafood-forward tapas program, jamóneria-style chef’s counter and conserva bar, and a chef’s counter omakase experience.

“Mar Bella Boqueria is a vision years in the making,” Curiel explains. “Opening a Spanish restaurant is a dream realized after years of exploration through Spain with Kasie, each trip pulling us deeper into the regional nuances and the fierce pride people have for their food and traditions. Spanish colonization left an indelible mark on the way Mexicans cook, shaping our food in profound and lasting ways. This next chapter feels like exploring a side of my story that’s been a part of my cooking all along.”

The menu showcases seafood-focused tapas, house-made conservas, pâtés, terrines, and a robust dry-aged fish program, sourced from the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Cantabrian seas. At the jamóneria counter, Curiel’s eight-course omakase tasting becomes a canvas for him and his team to freely explore new flavor profiles and techniques, creating truly irreplicable guest experiences. The 62-seat space also boasts a Spanish-driven wine list of 120+ bottles, with more than 30 available by the glass, focusing on the country’s most storied regions of Rioja, Catalunya, Basque Country, and Zaragoza, alongside selections from the South of France.