What Cúrate Bar de Tapas does

Cúrate Bar de Tapas is an Asheville, North Carolina-based hospitality company founded in 2011 by Chef Katie Button and Félix Meana, centered on an all-day Spanish vermutería, jamonería, restaurant, and wine bar at 13 Biltmore Avenue. The restaurant combines Appalachian farm-to-table sourcing with traditional Spanish techniques (Josper wood-oven cooking, charcuterie, and an all-Spanish wine list led by Wine Director Jessica Salyer), and has earned five James Beard Foundation Award nominations (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020) plus Food & Wine Best New Chef (2015) for Button. Executive Chef Ángel Palacios brings Michelin-trained pedigree from La Broche and Martín Berasategui.

The company operates as a multi-vertical ecosystem spanning dine-in service, two private event venues (Wine Cellar up to 40, La Bodega up to 90), the Cúrate at Home e-commerce marketplace, the Cúrate Spanish Wine Club (nationwide subscription shipments), Cúrate Travel (small-group culinary tours to Spain and Mexico), gift cards, and an Adopt an Olive Tree program with Apadrina un Olivo. Reservations run through Resy; private events through Tripleseat; the wine club and e-commerce ship nationwide.

The business is privately held and founder-owned, with no external institutional investment or parent company identified. Revenue is generated through per-cover dining (including an $80 prix fixe tasting menu and $45 wine pairing add-on), private event catering, e-commerce transactions, recurring wine club subscriptions, and travel package fees. Headcount is reported at 51-100, and the company continued operating through Hurricane Helene recovery in 2024 while partnering with World Central Kitchen on community relief.

Name

Cúrate Bar de Tapas

Legal name

Cúrate Bar de Tapas

Website

https://curatetapasbar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cúrate Bar de Tapas is a founder-owned Asheville, NC hospitality company operating a James Beard-nominated Spanish tapas restaurant alongside a wine club, e-commerce marketplace, private event venues, and culinary travel business serving food and wine enthusiasts nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spanish restaurant and hospitality

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (72241), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Beverage Services (Bar Catering, Mixology, Beverage Programs) (THAHAKAJ)

Keywords

• Spanish tapas restaurant
• Spanish wine club
• Culinary travel tours
• Private dining events
• Spanish pantry marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Asheville

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: Full-service Spanish tapas dining with all-day menu including pintxos, tapas, raciones, and paella. Operating hours Tuesday-Sunday with lunch and dinner service. Prix fixe tasting menu experience available at $80/guest with optional wine pairing.
2. Private Events: Two event venues: Wine Cellar (up to 36 seated/40 standing) and La Bodega (up to 75 seated/90 cocktail). Catering and event planning services for corporate meetings, wedding receptions, and private parties.
3. Cúrate at Home Online Marketplace: E-commerce platform selling Spanish pantry items, kitchen essentials, and culinary products. Ships nationwide.
4. Cúrate Spanish Wine Club: Subscription wine club shipping curated Spanish wines nationwide. Each release reflects relationships with Spanish winemakers.
5. Cúrate Travel: Culinary tour company offering small-group journeys (12-18 guests) to Barcelona & Costa Brava, Basque Country & Rioja & Bordeaux, and Mexico City. Hosted by co-founder Félix Meana.
6. Gift Cards: Digital and physical gift cards available for purchase, redeemable at Cúrate Bar de Tapas location only.
7. Adopt an Olive Tree Program: Partnership with Apadrina un Olivo allowing customers to support olive grove care in Oliete, Spain and receive olive oil from their tree.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cúrate Bar de Tapas operates an all-day Spanish tapas restaurant, vermutería, jamonería, and wine bar in downtown Asheville, NC, serving pintxos, tapas, raciones, and daily paella with a nationally recognized all-Spanish wine program. Beyond the restaurant, the company runs Cúrate at Home (online marketplace shipping Spanish pantry products nationwide), the Cúrate Spanish Wine Club (subscription wine shipments), Cúrate Travel (small-group culinary tours to Spain and Mexico), two private event venues, gift cards, and an Adopt an Olive Tree program with Apadrina un Olivo.

Product overview

Cúrate Bar de Tapas operates as a unified hospitality brand centered on Spanish culinary traditions, combining a flagship restaurant in Asheville with multiple complementary business lines. The core offering is the all-day tapas restaurant featuring Spanish vermutería, jamonería, and an award-winning all-Spanish wine program. This is supported by Cúrate at Home (e-commerce marketplace), the Cúrate Spanish Wine Club (subscription service), Cúrate Travel (culinary tours to Spain and beyond), private event venues, gift cards, and an Adopt an Olive Tree program. The brand represents an integrated hospitality ecosystem spanning dining, retail, travel, and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cúrate Bar de Tapas Restaurant All-day Spanish vermutería, jamonería, restaurant, and wine bar in downtown Asheville serving pintxos, tapas, raciones, and daily paella lunch specials, with a nationally recognized all-Spanish wine list and farm-to-table Appalachian produce. Includes an $80 per guest prix fixe tasting menu with optional $45 wine pairing.
• Cúrate at Home Online Marketplace Online marketplace selling Spanish pantry items, kitchen essentials, olive oil, and culinary products sourced from trusted producers, shipping nationwide and bringing Cúrate's ingredients and traditions into customers' homes.
• Cúrate Spanish Wine Club Subscription wine club offering periodic shipments of curated Spanish wines selected from Cúrate's relationships with Spanish winemakers, shipping nationwide.
• Cúrate Travel Culinary-inspired tour company offering small-group (12–18 guests) guided journeys to Barcelona & Costa Brava, Basque Country & Rioja & Bordeaux, and Mexico City, focused on food, wine, culture, and authentic local experiences.
• Private Events by Cúrate Private dining and event services with two venues: the intimate Wine Cellar (up to 36 seated/40 standing) and La Bodega event space (up to 75 seated/90 cocktail), offering in-house catering and bespoke event experiences for celebrations, corporate meetings, and wedding receptions.
• Cúrate Gift Cards Digital and physical gift cards available in variable amounts, redeemable at Cúrate Bar de Tapas location only.
• Adopt an Olive Tree Program Partnership with Apadrina un Olivo allowing customers to support olive grove care and harvest in Oliete, Spain, and receive olive oil from their adopted tree while preserving centuries-old agricultural traditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nationally recognized wine program featured by Wine Enthusiast and Food & Wine
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Apadrina un OlivominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 'Adopt an Olive Tree' program supporting olive grove care and harvest in Oliete, Spain. Customers can support sustainable agriculture and receive olive oil from their adopted tree, preserving centuries-old farming traditions.
• The Culinary GardenercoreOthersEvan Chender of The Culinary Gardener grows specialty vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers on a four-acre micro-farm in Reems Creek Valley. Supplies produce meeting chefs' exacting standards with focus on soil health and heirloom varieties.
• Sunburst Trout FarmscoreOthersFamily-run trout farm raising fish in the mountains of Western North Carolina since 1948. Spring-fed operation reflecting decades of care, stewardship, and connection to cold, clear mountain waters.
• Cinco JotascoreOthersFounded in 1879 in Jabugo, Spain, Cinco Jotas produces 100% acorn-fed Ibérico ham from free-range pigs. Their jamón is cured slowly over years, representing Spanish charcuterie tradition.
• Mountain Food ProductscoreOthersBased at the Western North Carolina Farmers Market, Mountain Food Products connects with local farms and producers across the region. Daily deliveries bring seasonal harvest of Western North Carolina into the Cúrate kitchen.
• Round Mountain CreamerycoreOthersFarm in Black Mountain producing goat cheeses using milk from their own herd. Every step from milking to aging happens on site, reflecting care for animals, land, and farmstead cheesemaking traditions.
• Asheville MicrogreensminorOthersGrows living microgreens and edible flowers year-round for Western North Carolina restaurants. Their carefully cultivated greens bring freshness, flavor, and vibrancy while supporting a strong local food system.
• Haywood Street Community DevelopmentminorOthersCreates permanent supportive housing in downtown Asheville, offering individuals stable homes and access to services fostering dignity, independence, and belonging.
• Haywood Street Downtown Welcome TableminorOthersCommunity meal program where all are invited to gather. Through shared food and fellowship, creates connection, dignity, and mutual care in the heart of Asheville.
• Pisgah Legal ServicesminorOthersProvides free civil legal aid to people across Western North Carolina, helping individuals and families secure housing, safety, healthcare, and financial stability.
• Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)minorOthersConnects farmers, restaurants, and communities to strengthen the local food system. Supports farms, expands access to fresh food, and sustains agriculture in the Appalachian region.
• World Central KitchenminorOthersFounded by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen provides fresh meals to communities impacted by natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Cúrate partnered with WCK to deliver immediate relief and long-term support through food.
• Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR)minorOthersNonprofit coalition of locally owned restaurants in Asheville advocating for community support, economic vitality, and responsible industry practices. Cúrate engages with AIR to strengthen the hospitality community.
• Jacques Pépin FoundationminorOthersSupports culinary education and workforce training, helping individuals build meaningful careers in food while preserving the craft and traditions of cooking.
• Bounty & SoulminorOthersConnects communities with fresh, locally grown food through free markets, education, and outreach, increasing access to nutritious food across Western North Carolina.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tapeo: Washington, DC Spanish tapas and paella restaurant with a regional wine focus. Direct cuisine and format comparable to Cúrate's all-day Spanish dining and wine program.
• Toro: Spanish and Pan-Latin tapas concept by Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette in Boston and NYC. Comparable in Spanish small-plates focus, cocktail/sherry program, and urban chef-driven positioning.
• Barcelona Wine Bar: Northeast US Spanish tapas and wine bar chain with a deep Spanish wine list and small-plates format directly mirroring Cúrate's vermutería/jamonería/wine bar positioning. Closest comparable in concept and beverage-led Spanish experience.
• Frasca Food and Wine: Boulder, CO James Beard-recognized restaurant pairing a single cuisine (Friulian/Italian) with a deep regional wine program and prix fixe tasting menu. Closely comparable in chef-driven, single-location, wine-led fine dining model.
• Boqueria: Multi-location Spanish tapas restaurant group in NYC, DC, and Barcelona offering a similar all-day pintxos/tapas/raciones menu, extensive Spanish wine program, and bar-driven experience. Comparable in cuisine focus and Spanish wine emphasis, though larger in scale.
• Jaleo: José Andrés Group's flagship Spanish tapas concept with multiple US locations. Direct competitor in authentic Spanish dining with a chef lineage that intersects with Cúrate's founders (Meana previously worked for José Andrés).

Others

• Winc: Direct-to-consumer wine subscription club. Adjacent business model to Cúrate's Spanish Wine Club subscription; comparable in e-commerce-led, recurring wine delivery to consumers, though Winc operates at a significantly larger national scale.

Emerging players

• Context Travel: Small-group cultural and culinary tour operator with expert-led food and wine itineraries across Europe and Latin America. Closest direct comparable to Cúrate Travel's 12-18 guest culinary journeys led by domain experts.

Broad incumbents

• José Andrés Group (ThinkFoodGroup): Multi-concept hospitality group founded by Chef José Andrés spanning Spanish restaurants, media, and humanitarian work (World Central Kitchen). Larger incumbent with shared elBulli/José Andrés network connections to Cúrate's co-founders.
• The Bazaar by José Andrés: José Andrés Group's modern, multi-format Spanish dining concept with locations in Miami, LA, DC, and Las Vegas. Overlaps with Cúrate in Spanish culinary DNA and media reach but operates at much larger scale and as part of a broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/curatetapasbar
• Instagraminstagram.com/curatetapasbar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Cúrate Bar de Tapas