From secret Basque culinary societies to Gaudí’s centenary celebrations, Nobu’s Spanish outposts are offering culturally rich summer experiences beyond the usual tourist trail.
There’s Spain as most of us know it—and then there’s the Spain that opens up when you have the right keys. This summer, Nobu Hotel Barcelona and Nobu Hotel San Sebastián are inviting travellers to step behind the velvet rope—into invitation-only gastronomic societies, private Gaudí workshops, and solar eclipse yacht experiences that feel less like holiday plans and more like insider secrets.
With Spain riding high after its World Cup win and new flight routes making both cities easier to reach from the UK and US, 2026 is shaping up to be the year to explore two of the country’s most culturally compelling destinations. And with Nobu expanding rapidly across Europe, the brand’s Spanish footprint is only growing—Nobu Hotel Madrid opens on 1st September as the brand’s fifth property in Spain.
San Sebastián: Inside the Basque Country’s Secret Societies
San Sebastián has long been one of Europe’s premier food destinations, but most visitors only scratch the surface. Through a local partnership with Ikusnahi Tours, guests at Nobu Hotel San Sebastián can gain access to the city’s closely guarded txokos—the invitation-only gastronomic societies where locals cook, eat, and share generations-old recipes around communal tables. It’s the kind of experience you can’t Google your way into.
Every August, Semana Grande transforms the city with live music, sporting events, and world-renowned firework displays over La Concha Bay. From 8th to 15th August, the hotel is marking the occasion with an exclusive Semana Grande Omakase Menu, created by Executive Chef Klaudia Trzaskoma. Come September, front-row seats to the historic Basque Regattas await on the Nobu Terrace, complete with aperitifs and local Txakoli wine.
Beyond the city, the hotel offers visits to the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum in nearby Getaria, seasonal whale-watching excursions along the dramatic Basque coast, and private winery visits after walking sections of the Camino de Santiago. The hotel itself occupies the beautifully restored Vista Eder Palace right on the Bay of La Concha, with just 20 rooms and suites that blend Japanese minimalism with Belle Époque elegance.
Barcelona: Gaudí’s Centenary and a City in Celebration
Barcelona is having a moment. With 2026 marking 100 years since Antoni Gaudí’s death—and the city’s designation as UNESCO World Capital of Architecture—the calendar is packed with immersive events, exhibitions, and celebrations of Catalan creativity. Nobu Hotel Barcelona puts you at the centre of it all, with private tours of Gaudí’s masterpieces including the Sagrada Familia, and hands-on Catalan Modernism workshops where you can create your own Trencadís mosaic using the technique Gaudí pioneered.
On 12th August, the hotel is offering a nine-hour Solar Eclipse excursion combining a guided tour of Tarragona’s Roman history with private yacht viewing along the Mediterranean coast. From mid-August, celebrate harvest season with day trips to vineyards like Llopart, one of Europe’s oldest family-run wineries with over 600 years of tradition.
The city’s summer calendar is brimming with open-air concerts and neighbourhood festivals like Festa Major de Gràcia and La Mercè. Every Saturday, the hotel hosts its own Vertigo Sessions on the Nobu Rooftop—360-degree city views, signature cocktails, and leading artists from Barcelona’s music scene. And if you’re wondering what to wear, the hotel has partnered with fashion rental platform Trent, so you can borrow curated looks from high-end independent designers during your stay—travelling lighter while looking the part.
Located in the Sants neighbourhood, Nobu Hotel Barcelona features 259 sleek rooms and suites combining Japanese design with Catalan character, plus a rooftop bar and sky-high dining at Nobu restaurant with panoramic views of the Sagrada Familia and beyond.
Whether you’re after a calmer kind of escape or a culturally packed city break, both properties deliver that rare mix of insider access and effortless luxury. Explore stays and experiences at Nobu Hotel San Sebastián and Nobu Hotel Barcelona to start planning your Spanish summer.
