The CARPE DIEM group

What The CARPE DIEM group does

The CARPE DIEM Group is a privately-held hospitality company headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, founded in 2003 with 58 employees. It operates as the parent entity for multiple upscale restaurant and lifestyle venues, the most prominent being the Ikibana Japanese-Brazilian fusion restaurant brand, which runs three dine-in locations across Barcelona: Ikibana Born (Passeig Picasso, El Born/Ciutat Vella), Ikibana Sarrià (Carrer del Dr. Fleming, Sarrià district, with a two-floor layout and garden terrace), and Ikibana Paral·lel (Avinguda del Paral·lel, Poble Sec). Sister brands within the group include CDLC Carpe Diem Barcelona (a Balinese-inspired beachfront lounge club), Velissima (a Mediterranean waterfront restaurant at Port Vell), and Tracatrà (a flamenco-inspired venue), all cross-promoted under The CARPE DIEM Group umbrella.

Ikibana's core culinary offering is a proprietary triple-fusion concept combining Japanese precision (sashimi, uramakis, gyozas, robata grilling, dashi-based preparations) with Brazilian tropical flavors (dendê, passion fruit, açaí) and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) influences, anchored to the 1908 arrival of the Kasato Maru ship that brought the first Japanese flavors to Brazil. The product portfolio spans the three restaurant locations, an author cocktail program (Ikibana Coctelería featuring yuzu, ginger, basil, and shiso), the IKIKIDS family dining experience on Sundays at Sarrià, gift cards (Tarjetas Regalo) via website e-commerce, and a Grupos events vertical serving corporate and private events. Distribution is entirely direct: dine-in at physical locations, with reservations managed through an embedded widget on the multilingual ikibana.com website (Spanish, Catalan, English) and by phone.

The revenue model is transactional per-cover food and beverage sales at premium upscale price points, supplemented by group/private event bookings and gift card purchases. Marketing relies on organic channels: an SEO-driven blog with curated 'best restaurants near [landmark]' guides, Instagram (@ikibanabcn), TikTok, and Facebook, plus local SEO via Google Maps listings for each venue. There is no third-party delivery integration, no e-commerce beyond gift cards, and no disclosed app or digital platform. The group targets four customer segments: affluent local residents and food enthusiasts, tourists visiting Barcelona's cultural landmarks, families seeking upscale family-friendly dining, and corporate/MICE clients hosting events.

Name

The CARPE DIEM group

Legal name

The CARPE Diem Group

Website

https://ikibana.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The CARPE DIEM Group is a Barcelona-based hospitality company operating the Ikibana Japanese-Brazilian fusion restaurant brand across three locations, plus sister venues CDLC, Velissima, and Tracatrà, serving affluent locals, tourists, families, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Upscale Fusion Restaurants

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants (THAFACAD)

Keywords

• Japanese-Brazilian fusion cuisine
• Nikkei restaurant
• Upscale dining Barcelona
• Fusion cocktail bar
• Hospitality venue group

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Dine-in restaurant food & beverage sales: The primary revenue stream is in-person dining at three restaurant locations in Barcelona. Guests order from an à la carte menu featuring Japanese-Brazilian fusion dishes including sashimi, uramakis, temakis, gyozas, robata-grilled items, ceviches, and author cocktails. Revenue is generated per transaction at point of sale, with average ticket sizes consistent with premium upscale dining in Barcelona. The group also generates revenue from group reservations, private events, and gift cards (tarjeta regalo).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The CARPE DIEM group operates the Ikibana restaurant brand, a Japanese-Brazilian (Nikkei) fusion cuisine concept with three dine-in locations across Barcelona (Born, Sarrià, Paral·lel). Beyond dine-in service, the group offers an author cocktail program, family dining experiences (IKIKIDS on Sundays), group and corporate event services, and gift cards. Sister brands include CDLC Carpe Diem Barcelona, Velissima, and Tracatrá.

Product overview

Ikibana is a Japanese-Brazilian fusion restaurant group operating three locations in Barcelona (Born, Sarrià, and Paral·lel). The restaurants offer a unique culinary experience combining Japanese precision and technique with Brazilian exuberance and tropical flavors. The group also provides author cocktail services, family dining experiences (IKIKIDS), gift cards, and group/event dining services. The CARPE DIEM GROUP is the parent company behind Ikibana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ikibana: Japanese-Brazilian fusion cuisine restaurant brand featuring dishes such as sashimi, uramakis, gyozas, tiraditos, and robata-grilled items. Operates multiple locations in Barcelona including Born, Sarrià, and Paral·lel.

Products and services

• Ikibana Born

Quantifiable outcome

• Ikibana is recommended as the #1 restaurant in multiple curated 'best restaurant' blog posts by Ikibana's own blog content marketing (e.g., Francesc Macià guide, Cathedral guide, luxury restaurants guide, Nikkei guide)

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

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CDLC Carpe Diem BarcelonacoreOthersCDLC (Carpe Diem Lounge Club) is a sister hospitality brand operated by The CARPE DIEM group. It is a beachfront lounge club located at Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 32, Barcelona, featuring Balinese-inspired decor, lounge beds, and a terrace on the beach. The two brands cross-promote on each other's websites and share the same parent group. CDLC is referenced as a luxury beachside dining and afterwork alternative, with an oriental-inspired menu and a sophisticated atmosphere.
• VelissimaminorOthersVelissima is a Mediterranean waterfront restaurant operated by The CARPE DIEM group, located at Pg. de Joan de Borbó 103 (Port Vell, Barcelona). It features an elegant ambiance inspired by the Amalfi Coast and the 1960s, with views over the harbor. Cross-promoted on Ikibana's website footer alongside CDLC and Tracatrá as a related brand within the same hospitality group.
• TracatráminorOthersTracatrá is a flamenco-inspired restaurant and cultural venue operated by The CARPE DIEM group, located at Rda. de Sant Pere 7, Barcelona. It offers a festive atmosphere with live flamenco performances, raciones (Spanish tapas portions), and wines. Referenced as a related brand on Ikibana's website footer, suggesting it is part of the same hospitality group with cross-promotional relationships.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• El Barri Group (Albert Adrià): Barcelona hospitality group operating multiple Michelin-recognized concepts (Tickets, Pakta, Bodega 1900). Comparable to The CARPE DIEM Group as a multi-concept premium hospitality operator in Barcelona.
• Grupo Andilana: Spanish restaurant group operating diverse premium concepts across Spain including Barcelona. Comparable as a multi-venue Spanish premium hospitality group competing for similar tourist and corporate-event clients.
• Nobu Restaurant: Global luxury Japanese-Peruvian (Nikkei) restaurant brand. Conceptually adjacent to Ikibana's Japanese-Brazilian-Nikkei fusion, with comparable premium positioning, cocktail culture, and design-led venues.
• Grupo Tragaluz: Established Barcelona restaurant group operating multiple premium venues across the city. Comparable to The CARPE DIEM Group as a multi-brand Barcelona hospitality platform with cross-brand portfolio strategy.
• Hakkasan: Internationally recognized upscale Cantonese and Japanese-influenced restaurant brand. Comparable to Ikibana as a design-forward, premium Asian-fusion operator with cocktail program and global hospitality positioning.

Direct peers

• Niño Viejo: Mexican-Japanese fusion restaurant in Barcelona. Comparable to Ikibana as a fusion-cuisine upscale operator combining Latin and Japanese influences in Barcelona's premium dining scene.
• Koy Shunka: Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant in Barcelona owned by chef Hideki Matsuhisa. Directly comparable to Ikibana as a premium Japanese-fusion operator in Barcelona targeting affluent diners and tourists.
• Shunka: Long-established upscale Japanese restaurant in Barcelona's Born/Gothic quarter. Overlaps with Ikibana on Japanese cuisine positioning, premium ticketing, and Born-district tourist/locals clientele.
• Pakta (Albert Adrià / ElBarri Group): Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) tasting-menu restaurant in Barcelona. Most direct culinary peer to Ikibana's Japanese-Brazilian-Nikkei proposition, competing for the same fusion-curious premium diners.

Regional players

• Sagardi / Grupo Sagardi: Basque-origin premium grill and pintxos group with a strong Barcelona presence. Comparable to Ikibana as a Spanish premium-casual operator with design-led venues in prime Barcelona locations, though with different cuisine focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IkibanaRestaurants
• Instagraminstagram.com/ikibanabcn
• TikToktiktok.com/@ikibanabcn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thecarpediemgroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The CARPE DIEM group