Telefèric Barcelona Brings the Spirit of Spain to Newport Beach
- LLM Staff Writer
- 10 minutes ago
- 5 min read
The family-owned Spanish restaurant opens at Fashion Island, pairing authentic tapas, signature paellas, and Mediterranean hospitality with the Newport Coast's relaxed elegance.
There is something naturally complementary about Barcelona and Newport Beach. Both are coastal destinations where sunshine, beautiful design, exceptional food, and an appreciation for the good life come together with effortless ease. That shared sensibility is at the heart of Telefèric Barcelona’s newest restaurant, now open at Fashion Island.
Founded by siblings Xavi and Maria Padrosa, Telefèric Barcelona has built its reputation on Spain's lively dining culture, where meals are rarely hurried, and dishes are meant to be passed around the table. The Newport Beach restaurant marks the family-owned group’s ninth U.S. location, following recent openings in Scottsdale and La Jolla. It also arrives during a milestone year, as 2026 marks a decade since the brand made its American debut in Walnut Creek.
For the Padrosa family, however, Newport Beach is more than another destination on a growing map.
“Newport Beach immediately felt different to us,” says Xavi Padrosa, co-founder of Telefèric Barcelona. “The coastal breeze, the Mediterranean light, the energy of the people, and the connection to the ocean remind us so much of Barcelona. We didn’t want this restaurant to feel like simply another Telefèric location. We wanted it to feel like it truly belongs here.”
That sense of belonging is evident from the moment guests enter. The restaurant captures Barcelona's warmth and vitality while embracing Orange County's polished coastal character. It feels sophisticated without becoming formal, festive without being overwhelming, and relaxed like the best Mediterranean dining rooms.
A Family Story Rooted in Barcelona
The story of Telefèric Barcelona began in 1992 with the Padrosa family’s original restaurant in Sant Cugat, just outside Barcelona. More than three decades later, two locations continue to thrive in Spain while Maria and Xavi have carried their family’s approach to hospitality across California and Arizona.
At the center of that approach is a simple but meaningful idea: dining should be shared.
Here, tapas arrive in a rhythm that encourages conversation, discovery, and a bit of friendly negotiation over the final bite. Paellas arrive in traditional pans, creating the kind of centerpiece that naturally turns dinner into an occasion.
Executive Chef Óscar Cabezas leads the culinary program. A longtime member of the Telefèric Barcelona family, Cabezas trained at Arzak, the celebrated three-Michelin-starred restaurant in San Sebastián, and has spent more than a decade helping shape the group’s culinary identity. In Newport Beach, he oversees a kitchen team brought directly from Spain, maintaining a close connection to the techniques and traditions that inspired the restaurant.
The tapas menu begins with familiar Spanish classics, including patatas bravas, garlic-infused gambas al ajillo, and jamón ibérico de bellota, an acorn-fed Iberian ham cured for 38 months. Pulpo Telefèric pairs grilled octopus with silky potato cream and Pimentón XO, balancing smoke, sweetness, and richness in every bite.
Other selections bring a contemporary spirit to the table. Wagyu empanadas are filled with braised short rib and served with Manchego crackers and mojo sauce, while delicate croquetas arrive with fillings of Spanish jamón or king crab. Ingredients imported directly from Spain help preserve the integrity and unmistakable character of each dish.
Photo courtsey of Telefèric Barcelona
Paella Made for the Table
Paella is the heart of the Telefèric Barcelona experience, prepared to order and presented as both a dish and a celebration.
Guests may request the coveted socarrat, the caramelized layer of rice that forms at the bottom of the pan when paella is cooked traditionally. Crisp, deeply flavored, and texturally irresistible, it is often considered one of the finest rewards of a properly prepared paella.
The Paella Mixta brings together pork belly, chicken, shrimp, and octopus in an abundant combination of land and sea. The indulgent Paella Fiesta pairs lobster with ribeye steak, while the Lobster Paella features Canadian lobster, Gulf shrimp, and piquillo peppers.
For a vegetable-forward option, the Veggie Paella combines shiitake mushrooms, broccolini, snow peas, and piquillo peppers, proving paella's pleasures extend well beyond seafood and meat.
Each pan is designed for sharing, arriving with the aroma, color, and theatrical presence that make paella such an enduring symbol of Spanish hospitality.
Cocktails, Sangría, and Spanish Wine
The celebratory mood continues at the bar, where Barcelona-style gin and tonics join house-made sangrías and colorful signature cocktails.
The Tourist offers a playful California-meets-Spain moment, blending blanco tequila with lychee, raspberries, honey, and lime. It is bright, refreshing, and particularly well suited to a leisurely afternoon at Fashion Island.
Wine enthusiasts will find a list of more than 100 bottles representing some of Spain’s most distinguished regions, including Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, and Rías Baixas. Rotating sommelier selections spotlight smaller, family-operated producers, while rare vintages from prestigious names such as Vega Sicilia and Artadi bring an added level of discovery for serious collectors.
Barcelona Meets the California Coast
Co-founder Maria Padrosa’s design vision plays an essential role in the Telefèric Barcelona experience. Nearly every material detail within the Newport Beach restaurant, from its furniture to its tilework, was sourced directly from Spanish artisans.
Whitewashed walls, hand-glazed tile, natural wood, organic ceramics, linen accents, and abundant greenery create a distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere. Sunlight softens the room during the day, while the space takes on a warmer, more intimate glow as evening arrives.
At the center of the restaurant, an open kitchen and dedicated paella station invite guests to watch the culinary process unfold. Flames rise, pans simmer, and the movement of the kitchen becomes part of the evening’s energy.
“I wanted this space to feel like it grew out of the coastline it sits on,” Maria explains. “We brought in hand-glazed tile and furniture from Spanish artisans, but the light and the setting here in Newport did a lot of the work for us. It truly feels like Barcelona meeting the California coast.”
The result is a restaurant that could not simply be transplanted elsewhere. It feels connected to its surroundings, bringing Spain's craftsmanship into a setting that unmistakably belongs to Newport Beach.
A Spanish Market to Take Home
The experience continues at El Merkat, Telefèric Barcelona’s in-house Spanish marketplace. Guests can browse a curated collection of imported olive oils, conservas, tinned seafood, specialty rice, spices, artisanal cheeses, hand-carved jamón, and Spanish wines.
At-home paella kits include rice, seasonings, and a traditional pan, offering an approachable way to recreate a little of the Telefèric experience at home. Whether the final result achieves the same perfect socarrat may depend on the cook, but the ritual itself is part of the pleasure.
The restaurant also offers private and semi-private dining, curated menus for groups of 10 or more, and catering ranging from convenient pickup and delivery to fully staffed celebrations. For larger gatherings, Telefèric Barcelona can create an immersive Spanish experience complete with live paella cooking, tapas displays, flamenco entertainment, and full bar service.
Guests can also look forward to signature programming inspired by Spanish traditions, including Olé! Flamenco & Tapas evenings. Happy Hour is offered Monday through Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m., with additional Newport Beach programming expected in the coming months.
With its joyful cuisine, artisan-crafted interiors, expansive wine program, and genuine family hospitality, Telefèric Barcelona brings something distinctive to Fashion Island. It suits an afternoon of tapas and sangría, an elegant dinner for two, or a spirited evening shared among friends.
Most importantly, it captures the feeling that has defined the Padrosa family’s restaurants since 1992: that a memorable meal is about more than what is served. It is about the people around the table, the stories exchanged, and the simple luxury of taking the time to enjoy it all.
Telefèric Barcelona Newport Beach
311 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
Hours: Sunday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11:15 p.m.
For additional information and reservations, visit telefericbarcelona.com or follow @telefericbarcelona on Instagram.
