With chef Rafa Zafra at the helm, Masia Tibidabo has become the highest restaurant in Barcelona, offering panoramic views and a dining concept designed for families to enjoy together
The new venue enhances the park’s dining options and rounds off the Tibidabo experience in the year of its 125th anniversary
Parc d’atraccions Tibidabo has opened Masia Tibidabo, a new Catalan restaurant for all ages located at the highest point in the city, with chef Rafa Zafra at the helm. The opening event was attended by the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, the first deputy mayor and chair of the municipal company BSM, Laia Bonet, as well as numerous representatives from the city’s business, social and culinary sectors.
Masia Tibidabo is located in the historic Masia building in Plaça Tibidabo, 500 metres above sea level, and is the highest restaurant in Barcelona, with outstanding panoramic views. The modernista-style building, whose architect is unknown, was opened in 1901 and has now been refurbished for this project by Varis Arquitectes, led by Dani Freixes.
With this opening, Tibidabo—managed by municipal company BSM—is taking another step forward in its commitment to establishing itself as an all-round leisure destination, with food now becoming a new attraction that enhances the visitor experience, coinciding with the celebration of the park’s 125th anniversary.
‘The opening of Masia Tibidabo is a new opportunity to experience and enjoy one of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks,’ says Laia Bonet, the first deputy mayor and chair of BSM. ‘In the year of the park’s 125th anniversary, this project expands Tibidabo’s offering with a high-quality local dining experience designed for visitors of all ages, with chef Rafa Zafra at the helm. The initiative enriches the visitor experience and reinforces Tibidabo as an open, vibrant space for the whole city.’
‘Being part of this project in the year of Tibidabo’s 125th anniversary is an immense honour,’ added chef Rafa Zafra. ‘Masia Tibidabo was created to be a place where people can take a break, come together and enjoy seasonal Catalan cuisine for all ages, in an exceptional setting overlooking the city. This opening further enriches the Tibidabo visitor experience, offering a new way to enjoy this iconic landmark through food and dining.’
‘Masia Tibidabo is a truly unique restaurant,’ said architect Dani Freixes. ‘The project was designed with all five senses in mind: the lighting, acoustics and views were given as much attention as the menu itself, with the aim of creating an all-round welcoming and memorable experience in constant dialogue with its surroundings and with the spirit of such an iconic place.’
A dining experience for all ages
Masia Tibidabo is headed by Rafa Zafra, one of the leading names in Spanish cuisine. Born in Seville in 1981, he moved to Barcelona at the age of 24 to train at elBulli under Ferran Adrià.
The new restaurant, which can accommodate 300 diners, spans three separate areas: a main dining room, a viewing lounge and a terrace. This layout is also reflected in the dining concept, which adapts to the pace of each setting: in the two indoor dining rooms, the experience is more relaxed and designed to encourage guests to linger at the table after their meal while enjoying views of Barcelona and Collserola; on the terrace, by contrast, a more flexible dining option is available, ideal for a short break by the Temple del Sagrat Cor.
Masia Tibidabo offers Catalan cuisine for all ages with a focus on origin, ingredients and time, with dishes designed for sharing, making memories and enjoying the meal at a slower pace. Curious children can try more grown-up flavours, while adults can reconnect with the excitement of discovery. The experience is rounded off by an extensive wine list, reinforcing the spirit behind the project: come up to sit down; sit down to dig in and drink up.
To make it easier to reach the restaurant, reservations include travel on the Cuca de Llum funicular, allowing visitors to get to the summit comfortably and sustainably. Parking is also available for those arriving by private vehicle.
A versatile space inspired by the spirit of Tibidabo
The interior design and concept—also created by Varis Arquitectes—give Masia Tibidabo its distinctive warmth, characterised by the predominance of wood and warm tones. One of the defining features of the new restaurant’s interior design is its lighting. The ceiling lights, which also serve as large projectors, make it possible to transform the space and adapt the lighting, atmosphere and colour scheme to suit different needs. The concept is inspired by the world of the amusement park, creating unique interior landscapes and settings.
The design is rounded off by large windows that showcase the special location at the summit of Tibidabo, turning the landscape itself into the main attraction, with panoramic views across Barcelona, the sea and the mountains.
