Mercado Little Spain

What Mercado Little Spain does

Mercado Little Spain is a single-location, multi-venue Spanish culinary market and food hall operated by ThinkFoodGroup (José Andrés Group) at 10 Hudson Yards in New York City. Founded in 2019 by chef José Andrés with Ferran and Albert Adrià as creative collaborators, the property houses seven distinct dining concepts — La Barra (tapas), Txula (Spanish steakhouse), Leña (live-fire), Spanish Diner, Bar Celona (cocktail/vermutería), Vinos (Spanish wine), and El Chiringuito (beach bar) — supported by a paella kiosk, Qué Sweet (pastries and ice cream), and Colmado (retail shop). Underlying assets are real-estate and brand-driven rather than technology-driven: the venue monetizes premium Hudson Yards foot traffic via food and beverage, private events (group dining for 9–20 guests up to full buyouts), gift cards redeemable across the 40+-restaurant José Andrés Group portfolio, retail CPG via Colmado, a separate e-commerce storefront at JoséAndrésFoods.com, and nationwide shipping through Goldbelly.

The business model is omnichannel and event-driven: dine-in and à la carte service across the seven venues (with reservations through OpenTable) generate the core; private events, catering, gift cards, and ticketed activations (e.g., Longer Tables Live podcast events, Rioja soccer watch parties, Museo del Jamón debut) layer in higher-margin episodic revenue; and third-party delivery (UberEats, DoorDash, Grubhub) plus Goldbelly shipping extend reach beyond the Hudson Yards catchment area. Growth is pursued through partnership-based concept debuts and brand extensions rather than new physical locations; the entity has no disclosed external funding of material size across the two rounds on record (2022 and 2025). Pricing is à la carte, with limited disclosed price points spanning $12 cocktails (Sangría Hour), $25 weekend brunch add-ons, $35 weekday prix fixe at Leña, $16 single-portion jamón ibérico, and $115–$300 ticketed events.

The company is privately held and domiciled as THINKFOODGROUP, LLC in Delaware, USA, with Mercado Little Spain functioning as a flagship tenant within the broader José Andrés Group portfolio. Distribution is multi-channel: direct on-premise dine-in, takeout via Toast Tab, marketplace delivery, in-house and marketplace e-commerce, and wholesale-distributed nationwide shipping. There is no evidence of proprietary software, AI/ML capability, app-based product, or technology-as-a-service offering; competitive advantage is anchored in celebrity-chef talent, real-estate location, and brand authenticity rather than in technology stack.

Name

Mercado Little Spain

Legal name

THINKFOODGROUP, LLC

Website

https://littlespain.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mercado Little Spain is a multi-venue Spanish culinary market at Hudson Yards, New York, operating seven restaurants and bars plus retail and event space under chef José Andrés with Ferran and Albert Adrià. It serves NYC diners, tourists, and nationwide e-commerce customers via on-premise dining, Goldbelly shipping, and group events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spanish Restaurants

NAICS

Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529), Specialty Food Retailers (4452)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Fast Casual (THAFABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mediterranean/Greek/Italian/Spanish Grocery Stores (CRAHAFAJ), Gourmet & Fine Food Stores (CRAHAGAG)

Keywords

• Spanish restaurants
• Tapas dining
• Culinary experiences
• Private event catering
• Spanish retail products

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Dining: Revenue from multiple dining venues including La Barra (tapas), Txula (steakhouse), Spanish Diner, Leña (live-fire), Bar Celona (cocktail bar), El Chiringuito (beach bar), and paella kiosk
2. Retail Sales - Colmado: Retail shop selling Spanish products including olive oil, tinned fish, paella pans, porrones, and cookbooks for at-home Spanish cooking
3. Online Shop - José Andrés Foods: E-commerce platform for specialty Spanish products including olive oils, sherry vinegars, olives, tinned seafood, snacks, and branded items
4. Events & Catering: Private event hosting and catering services for groups from intimate dinners to full buyouts, including group dining packages for 9-20 guests at La Barra
5. Gift Cards: Mercado gift cards usable at all José Andrés Group-managed restaurants including Mercado Little Spain, Jaleo, Oyamel, Zaytinya, China Chilcano, and others

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mercado Little Spain operates a multi-venue Spanish culinary destination at Hudson Yards in New York City, comprising restaurants (La Barra, Txula, Leña, Spanish Diner), bars and kiosks (Bar Celona, Vinos, El Chiringuito, Paella Kiosk, Qué Sweet), a retail Colmado shop, private event and catering services, online ordering for pickup and delivery, and nationwide shipping of Spanish food products through Goldbelly.

Product overview

Mercado Little Spain is a Spanish culinary destination at Hudson Yards in New York City featuring a multi-venue complex of restaurants and food experiences. The portfolio includes La Barra (tapas bar), Txula (Spanish steakhouse with BarCelona), Leña (live-fire restaurant), Spanish Diner (all-day dining), Bar Celona (cocktail bar), Vinos (wine bar), and El Chiringuito (beach bar), along with food kiosks for paella, pastries, and retail. Supporting services include catering and private events, online ordering with pickup/delivery via third-party platforms, nationwide shipping through Goldbelly, and a Colmado retail shop. José Andrés Foods operates as a separate e-commerce platform selling Spanish pantry products online.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Barra: Spanish tapas bar offering beloved dishes from tapas bars all around Spain.
• Txula
• Spanish Diner
• Leña
• Bar Celona
• Vinos
• Qué Sweet
• Colmado
• Paella
• El Chiringuito

Products and services

• La Barra Spanish tapas bar offering exploration of beloved dishes from tapas bars around Spain with communal dining and shareable plates.
• Txula Spanish steakhouse at Hudson Yards featuring elevated Spanish steakhouse cuisine with an attached BarCelona venue.
• Leña Live-fire restaurant dedicated to open-fire cooking and Spanish grilled favorites, featuring charcoal-roasted dishes, dry-aged ribeyes from Pat LaFrieda, and charcoal-roasted octopus.
• Spanish Diner All-day dining restaurant offering Spanish comfort food classics, brunch options, and family-friendly meals with outdoor patio seating overlooking the High Line.
• Bar Celona Cocktail bar styled after Spanish vermuterías, featuring cocktails, vermouth, sangrías, and classic tapas such as gildas, anchovies, and olives.
• Vinos Wine bar showcasing Spanish wines from regions including Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and the Canary Islands, with sherry selections and wines available by the glass.
• El Chiringuito Beach-themed bar celebrating Spanish summer drinking culture, serving bocatas, G&Ts, frozen drinks, and Spanish pastries year-round.
• Paella Kiosk Paella counter serving Paella Valenciana cooked over wood fire and various arroz dishes available to go.
• Colmado Retail shop selling Spanish pantry staples including olive oil, tinned fish, paella pans, porrones, cookbooks, and specialty Spanish ingredients for recreating Mercado meals at home.
• Qué Sweet Pastry and ice cream counter featuring Spanish sweet treats including crema Catalana, xuxos, xuxo helado (ice cream-filled churro cones), and traditional Spanish pastries.
• Gift Cards Mercado gift cards usable at all José Andrés Group restaurants including Mercado Little Spain, Jaleo, Oyamel, Zaytinya, China Chilcano, Spanish Diner, barmini, and minibar.
• Events & Catering Private event and catering services including group dining for 9-20 guests at La Barra, full venue buyouts, and catering packages for breakfast, lunch, happy hour, or custom occasions.
• Pickup & Delivery Online ordering service for pickup via Toast Tab and delivery via UberEats, DoorDash, and Grubhub, plus nationwide shipping of Spanish food experiences through Goldbelly.
• José Andrés Foods Online Shop E-commerce platform selling specialty Spanish products selected by Chef José Andrés including extra virgin olive oils (Arbequina, Picual), sherry vinegar, tinned seafood, potato chips, paella kits, and Spanish classics.
• Museo del Jamón First U.S. location of Spain's Museo del Jamón, offering authentic bocadillos, tapas, Iberian cured meats (chorizo, salchichón, lomo), and curated Spanish cheese boards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ restaurants in José Andrés Group portfolio demonstrates scalability and brand reach
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rioja Wines / DOCa RiojacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 June 2026Rioja Wines partnered with Mercado Little Spain to launch the International Soccer and Tasting Series at Hudson Yards, running June 11 through July 19. The activation pairs communal viewings of major soccer matches with curated Spanish wine selections and traditional Spanish dishes at La Barra and BarCelona at Txula Steak. Rodrigo Gutierrez, North American Business Director of DOCa Rioja, stated the initiative aims to share the versatility of Rioja wines in a social atmosphere centered around food and community. The Rioja Bar is open for sixteen match days including all Spain and United States fixtures.
• PR NewswireminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 June 2026PR Newswire distributed press releases for Rioja Wines and Mercado Little Spain partnership announcements, including the International Soccer and Tasting Series launch.
• Museo del JamóncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Museo del Jamón, one of Spain's most recognized authorities on jamón ibérico, made its U.S. debut at Mercado Little Spain in April 2026. The Madrid-based brand's first establishment opened over 45 years ago across from the Prado Museum. Luis Alfonso Muñoz, CEO of Museo del Jamón, stated 'For us, this represents a small but significant step: the journey of a family business now beginning to write its story beyond our borders.' Offers bocadillos, tapas, Iberian cured meats (chorizo, salchichón, lomo), and Spanish cheese boards.
• Albert Adrià and Ferran AdriàcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Chefs Albert and Ferran Adrià joined José Andrés as creative collaborators for Mercado Little Spain. The three first worked together at elBulli, once the world's best restaurant. Albert pioneered techniques in avant-garde cooking at elBulli then developed el Barri in Barcelona. Ferran Adrià's elBulli was named world's best restaurant five times and held three Michelin stars. This marks the first time their combined culinary genius brings the best products and recipes of Spain to New York City.
• GoldbellycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGoldbelly provides nationwide shipping for Mercado Little Spain products and food experiences including shrimp paella dinner kits, complete Spanish tapas experiences, burnt Basque cheesecakes, and more. Chef Andrés stated 'I want to bring the tastiest bite of jamón ibérico, the celebration of a tapas party, and the decadent, unparalleled texture and flavor of a Basque cheesecake to every home in America. With Goldbelly, now everyone can embrace the Spanish spirit!'
• Coca-Cola Company and Liberty Coca-Cola BeveragesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoca-Cola Company and Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages partnered for the Longer Tables Live event with Lin-Manuel Miranda, making a donation to Hispanic Federation in honor of the event.
• ThinkFoodGroup / José Andrés GroupcoreOthersMercado Little Spain is operated by ThinkFoodGroup, LLC (José Andrés Group), which manages over 40 restaurants including Mercado Little Spain, Jaleo, Oyamel, Zaytinya, China Chilcano, Spanish Diner, barmini, and minibar by José Andrés. The group is led by Chef José Andrés, twice named to Time's '100 Most Influential People' and awarded 'Outstanding Chef' and 'Humanitarian of the Year' by the James Beard Foundation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boqueria: Multi-location Spanish tapas bar and restaurant in NYC offering authentic Spanish small plates, paella, and sangria. Direct competitor to Mercado's La Barra concept with similar pricing and target demographic.
• Telefèric Barcelona: Spanish tapas restaurant group with multiple US locations including NYC, offering authentic Catalan and Spanish cuisine. Comparable authentic-Spanish positioning and multi-venue model.
• Tía Pol: Long-standing NYC Spanish tapas restaurant in Chelsea. Comparable authentic-Spanish neighborhood dining destination competing for the same diner audience as Mercado Little Spain.
• Socarrat Paella Bar: NYC-based Spanish restaurant group specializing in paella and tapas with multiple locations. Direct competitor for Spanish-cuisine dining occasions and special occasions.
• Casa Mono: Spanish and Italian-inspired small-plates restaurant in NYC's Gramercy neighborhood. Comparable upscale-adjacent Spanish/Mediterranean small-plates dining destination with similar price point.

Broad incumbents

• Jaleo: José Andrés Group's flagship Spanish restaurant in Washington DC, also in Las Vegas and other markets. Sister concept under the same parent operating model and gift card network.
• Eataly: Italian-themed multi-venue food hall and retail marketplace in NYC (and globally) with full-service restaurants, retail, and cooking classes. Comparable food-hall / multi-format dining destination model.
• Time Out Market: Curated food hall operator with multiple concepts under one roof, including in NYC locations. Comparable multi-restaurant marketplace and culinary destination positioning.
• The Bazaar by José Andrés: José Andrés Group's flagship avant-garde Spanish restaurant in Miami, NYC (closed), Beverly Hills, and DC. Sister concept under the same parent showcasing elite Spanish culinary creativity.

Regional players

• La Nacional: Historic Spanish cultural center and restaurant in NYC serving authentic Spanish tapas since 1928. Comparable authentic-Spanish neighborhood institution competing for the same cultural-cuisine diner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/littlespain
• Instagraminstagram.com/littlespain
• Xx.com/little_spain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mercado-little-spain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mercado Little Spain