Greer's OC

Newport Beach has a new spot for tapas and paella. Telefèric Barcelona, the family-owned Spanish restaurant group behind eight other California and Arizona locations, has opened its ninth U.S. restaurant at Fashion Island.

The Padrosa family, siblings Xavi and Maria, trace the concept back to their original restaurant in Sant Cugat, Spain, which opened in 1992. The brand made its U.S. debut in Walnut Creek in 2016, and 2026 marks a decade of growth stateside, with recent openings in Scottsdale and La Jolla leading up to Newport Beach.

The menu, led by Executive Chef Óscar Cabezas, leans into family-style sharing. Expect patatas bravas, 38-month-cured jamón ibérico de bellota, gambas al ajillo, and grilled octopus with potato cream and Pimentón XO. Wagyu empanadas with braised short rib and croquetas stuffed with jamón or king crab round out the tapas list, and every dish starts with ingredients imported from Spain.

Paella is the centerpiece, prepared to order and available with socarrat, the crisp caramelized rice that forms at the bottom of a properly cooked pan. Options include a surf-and-turf Paella Mixta, a Paella Fiesta with lobster and ribeye, a Lobster Paella built on Canadian lobster and gulf shrimp, and a Veggie Paella with shiitake mushrooms and broccolini.

At the bar, Barcelona-style gin and tonics and house-made sangrías share the list with more than 100 wines from Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat and Rías Baixas.

Maria Padrosa oversaw the design, sourcing furniture and tile directly from Spanish artisans for a room finished in whitewashed walls, hand-glazed tile and natural wood, with an open kitchen and paella station as the visual anchor. An in-house market, El Merkat, sells imported olive oils, tinned seafood, artisanal cheeses and at-home paella kits.

The restaurant also handles private events and corporate catering, from pickup orders to full-service affairs with live paella cooking and flamenco entertainment. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday, 3 to 5 p.m.

Telefèric Barcelona Newport Beach is located at 311 Newport Center Drive. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information, visit telefericbarcelona.com. Reservations can be made here. 

Image Credit Telefèric Barcelona