The Padrosa family’s ninth US location brings tapas, made-to-order paellas and Barcelona’s coastal spirit to Orange County
Newport Beach just got a little closer to the Mediterranean. Telefèric Barcelona, the family-owned Spanish restaurant group founded by siblings Xavi and Maria Padrosa, opened Aug. 20 at Fashion Island, bringing tapas, paellas and festive Spanish dining to Orange County. The Newport Beach restaurant is the brand’s ninth US location and third California opening of the year, and it follows recent openings in Scottsdale, Arizona, and La Jolla.
“Newport Beach immediately felt different to us. 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,” said Xavi Padrosa, co-founder of Telefèric Barcelona.
The story began with an original family restaurant in Sant Cugat, Spain, which opened in 1992. More than three decades later, that same recipe for Spanish hospitality has carried the brand to nine locations across California and Arizona, starting with its 2016 US debut in Walnut Creek. The timing makes the Newport Beach opening extra meaningful: 2026 marks a decade of the Padrosa family’s growth in the United States.
A Taste of Barcelona
At Telefèric Barcelona, sharing is the whole point. Tapas move family-style around the table alongside paellas built for the group. Executive Chef Óscar Cabezas leads the menu, having spent more than a decade with the brand since training at Arzak, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant in San Sebastián. He oversees a kitchen team brought directly from Spain, and every dish begins with ingredients imported from Spain.
Signature tapas include patatas bravas, jamón ibérico de bellota (38-month-cured Iberian acorn-fed ham), gambas al ajillo (garlic-infused prawns) and Pulpo Telefèric (grilled octopus with potato cream and Pimentón XO). Wagyu empanadas arrive filled with braised short rib alongside Manchego crackers and mojo sauce, while croquetas come stuffed with Spanish jamón or king crab.
Each paella is prepared to order and can be finished with socarrat, the caramelized rice crust that forms at the bottom of the pan and signals a properly cooked paella. The surf-and-turf Paella Mixta brings together pork belly, chicken, shrimp and octopus, while the Paella Fiesta pairs lobster with ribeye steak. The Lobster Paella is built on Canadian lobster, Gulf shrimp and Piquillo peppers, and for a meatless option, the Veggie Paella combines shiitake mushrooms, broccolini, snow peas and Piquillo peppers.
Spanish tradition carries through to the bar with Barcelona-style gin and tonics, housemade sangrías and cocktails like The Tourist, made with blanco tequila, lychee, raspberries, honey and lime. The wine list features more than 100 bottles spanning Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat and Rías Baixas, with rotating Sommelier Selections from small, family-run producers alongside rare vintages from Vega Sicilia and Artadi.
Mediterranean Design Meets the Newport Coast
Nearly every material detail in the restaurant, from the furniture to the tile, was sourced directly from Spanish artisans, a hallmark of Co-Founder Maria Padrosa’s design work across the brand. Whitewashed walls, hand-glazed tile, natural wood and organic ceramics bring Mediterranean character to the room, finished with linen accents and greenery. At the center of it all, an open kitchen and paella station put the cooking on full display.
“I wanted this space to feel like it grew out of the coastline it sits on,” said Maria Padrosa. “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.”
A Taste of Spain at Home
The experience doesn’t have to end when the check arrives. El Merkat, Telefèric Barcelona’s in-restaurant Spanish market, stocks imported olive oils, tinned seafood, specialty rices, conservas, spices, artisanal cheeses, hand-carved jamón and Spanish wine. Home cooks can also pick up Paella Kits complete with rice, seasoning and a traditional pan.
The restaurant doubles as a hospitality partner for private events and corporate gatherings. Semi-private and fully private dining options are available, and groups of 10 or more receive curated set menus. Catering ranges from easy pickup or drop-off orders to fully staffed events, and for larger celebrations, the team can bring the full experience on-site with live paella cooking, tapas spreads, flamenco entertainment and full bar service.
Spanish Traditions, Brought to Life
Across its locations, Telefèric Barcelona builds programming around the table, including Olé! Flamenco & Tapas evenings and happy hour Monday through Thursday from 3-5 p.m. Programming specific to Newport Beach will be announced in the coming months.
For the Padrosas, the Fashion Island opening is about more than adding another pin to the map. “There’s something about Newport that feels very familiar to us. Barcelona is also a city where the beach, food, beautiful weather and social life all come together, and we feel that same energy here,” said Xavi Padrosa. “This location has its own personality, and from the beginning we wanted to create something unique that reflects both Barcelona and Newport Beach.”
Telefèric Barcelona Newport Beach is located at 311 Newport Center Drive and is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information, visit telefericbarcelona.com. Reservations can be made through OpenTable.
Q&A:
Q: Where is Telefèric Barcelona Newport Beach located?
A: The restaurant is at 311 Newport Center Drive inside Fashion Island in Newport Beach, bringing tapas, paellas and festive Spanish dining to Orange County. Guests can take advantage of free parking at the shopping center.
Q: When did Telefèric Barcelona open at Fashion Island?
A: The restaurant opened Aug. 20, 2026, as the brand’s ninth US location. The opening lands during a milestone year for the family, marking a decade since Telefèric Barcelona debuted in the US with its Walnut Creek location in 2016.
Q: What should I order on my first visit?
A: Start with signature tapas like patatas bravas, jamón ibérico de bellota, gambas al ajillo and Pulpo Telefèric (grilled octopus with potato cream and Pimentón XO). Then share a paella cooked to order, such as the Paella Fiesta with lobster and ribeye steak, and pair it with a Barcelona-style gin and tonic or a housemade sangría.
Q: What are the restaurant’s hours?
A: Telefèric Barcelona Newport Beach is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 3-5 p.m.
Q: Can I host a private event at Telefèric Barcelona?
A: Yes. The restaurant offers semi-private and fully private dining, and groups of 10 or more receive curated set menus. Catering options range from pickup or drop-off orders to fully staffed events with live paella cooking, tapas spreads, flamenco entertainment and full bar service.
Telefèric Barcelona
311 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
657.325.8881
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