Both quintessentially Catalan and unmistakably Soho House, Barcelona Pool House combines heritage design with a Soho Health Club and the group’s first fully vegetarian and vegan café. Olivia Palamountain reports

Soho House has expanded its presence in Barcelona with the launch of Barcelona Pool House, a members’ retreat located in a restored 1906 Catalan mansion on Avinguda del Tibidabo.

Overlooking the city from a leafy hillside near Park Güell, the House brings together heritage design, Mediterranean dining and advanced wellness facilities in one of the group’s most ambitious openings to date.

Spanning more than 2,000 square metres with an additional 836 square metres of landscaped gardens, Barcelona Pool House has been restored to reflect the Catalan Modernisme style with Art Nouveau influences. Original frescoes, vaulted ceilings and hand-painted tiles from Manchester, Germany and Paris have been meticulously preserved, offset by new elements – from bespoke Murano glass lighting to Pierre Frey upholstery.

The club is spread across four storeys, centred on a sweeping marble staircase that leads members through a series of intimate rooms, bars and lounges. The main Club Space features six interconnected rooms, two bars and a Mediterranean menu with dishes such as Cantabrian anchovies, Iberian cold cuts and oysters with rainbow trout and flamed pluma ibérica.

Upstairs, the first floor houses Pen Yen, Soho House’s Japanese restaurant concept, serving favourites such as miso black cod, beef tataki and chicken karaage, plus a saké cocktail bar and a wraparound terrace for alfresco dining.

Wellness is a central focus. The fourth floor is home to the Soho Health Club, offering treatments by SkinCeuticals, Cowshed and Omorovicza, alongside signature experiences such as the Water Massage on a heated HydraTherm bed and the HydraFacial Body Treatment.

The lower-ground gym features terracotta floors, vintage lighting and patterned tiles that nod to Catalan craftsmanship. It offers personal training, yoga, Pilates and new concept classes such as Precision Sculpt, while the adjoining café — the group’s first fully vegetarian and vegan outlet – serves smoothies, sweet potato pancakes and superfood grain bowls.

Outside, the 14-metre pool and gardens form the heart of the House. Terracotta and limestone flooring, striped loungers and lush foliage create a secluded oasis for dining and relaxation. The alfresco Club Garden serves an elevated wood-fired Mediterranean menu, including rib eye on the bone, ox-tail cannelloni and Mediterranean sole, enjoyed among bespoke vintage furnishings and a central fountain.

As with every Soho House, art is integral to the experience. Barcelona Pool House features more than 80 works by 30 artists connected to the city, from celebrated names such as Eva Fàbregas, Regina Giménez and Antoni Tàpies to emerging local talent including Ana Monsó, Bea Bonafini and Josep Maynou. Historic murals from the mansion’s original interiors remain visible, forming a layered dialogue between Catalan heritage and contemporary creativity.

Located at Avinguda del Tibidabo 23, Barcelona Pool House offers full Every House and Local House memberships, with annual fees starting from €2,800.