It’s devastating news whenever any restaurant, but the whole city mourned the loss of Casamia when it closed in 2022. Undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best restaurant in Bristol at the time, it was one of only three Michelin-star restaurants in the city. But Peter Sanchez-Iglesias (who also runs Paco Tapas) shut the doors on Casamia in August 2022.
But it appears Peter has unfinished business with the restaurant that made his name. He now wants to reopen the former fine dining restaurant somewhere in the city. Posting on Instagram, Peter said: “Casamia will reopen again. Unfinished business. If you know of any developments/projects where a gastronomic restaurant could live, please DM me.”
It can’t go back to the old spot on Lower Guinea Street, however, as that’s now occupied by its spiritual successor, Casa – which opened shortly after Casamia’s closure, and offers a more relaxed experience. This is in stark contrast to the more edgy vibe of Casamia that emerged after the pandemic. But who knows what Casamia 2.0 will look like?
Casamia was opened in 1997 in Westbury-on-Trym by Peter’s mother and father. Peter, alongside his brother Jonray, would take over the business in 2006, acquiring its Michelin star in 2009. It then moved to The General in the centre of Bristol in 2016. Once considered one of the best restaurants in the UK, Peter has even loftier aspirations for the return of Casamia.
‘“I have unfinished business and I think about it everyday,” he said, speaking to CODE Hospitality. “I see food as an art form and I’m not content unless I’m creating the best food that I can. I want to take Casamia even further because there’s more to be done. I want to reopen and aim for three Michelin stars – that’s the dream.”
Casamia 2.0 is still a long way off, but the hope is that the fine-dining restaurant will return in the next year or two. But it might not even be in Bristol?! “Would consider anywhere in the world,” Peter added on Instagram to his post. In the meantime, why not read our review of its sister restaurant Casa, which we wrote about last year? Read that here.