ROUTINES • Barcelona
Sporting life
XAVI PADROSA • co-founder • Telefèric Barcelona
Neighborhood you work in: Eixample, Barcelona
Neighborhood you live in: Sant Cugat del Vallés
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursday mornings usually start early and involve a lot of movement. Telefèric Barcelona is in a strong growth phase, so my “workplace” is rarely just one place. Some mornings, I’m at one of our restaurants in Sant Cugat or Barcelona. Other days, I’m working remotely on calls, coordinating with teams across California, and more recently, Arizona, where we just opened. When I’m in Barcelona, I often stop by our office, located close to our restaurants, to stay connected to the day-to-day. What stays consistent is being close to the business – I like to be present.
What’s on the agenda for today?
On the business side, we’re focused on thoughtful expansion and execution. Growth for us has never been about scale alone — it’s about doing things with integrity and respect for our heritage. On a personal level, I structure my days with the discipline of an athlete. Training is part of my routine; it keeps me focused, resilient, and clear-headed. That mindset carries directly into how I lead the business: consistency, long-term vision, and always thinking as a team.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I love spending time with friends and family, especially on the weekends. One of my favorite places to go in Barcelona is Taktika Berri. It’s an informal Basque pintxos spot that immediately reminds me of my mother’s cooking. It’s perfect for going with friends, having a few light bites, sharing a variety of dishes, and before you know it, you’ve turned it into a full dinner. That’s the kind of dining I love — easy, social, and full of flavor.
On the other hand, sometimes we’ll order something simple to eat at home, and other times my mother, who’s from the Basque country, will cook for all of us. My favorite dish from my mother is “lubina a la donostiarra”. It’s a simple but incredible recipe using fresh sea bass, cooked gently and finished with a warm garlic and olive oil sauce, often with a touch of vinegar and guindilla.
How about a little leisure or culture?
Sports are a big part of my life and have shaped how I think about effort, patience, and resilience. I love sunny days spent on the bike or going out for a run, often with friends who share that same passion. I also enjoy spending time with my family — getting in the car and heading to the Costa Brava to see the sea and reset. On the days I want a solid bike ride without turning it into an all-day mission, I usually go for my Sant Cugat loop up to Tibidabo through Collserola. It’s around 38 km, with a lot of punchy climbs and fast descents, and the best part is you’re in nature almost immediately, so it’s perfect to clear your head while still getting a proper workout in.
Any weekend getaways?
I love a quick escape to the Costa Brava. The combination of crystal-clear sea, nature, and great food is unbeatable. One of my favorite places to eat there is La Taverna del Mar in S’Agaró. It has a beautiful big window facing the sea, and they make incredible oven-baked fish. If I’m craving a proper paella, I also love Tragamar in Calella de Palafrugell because you can enjoy your food right next to the sand, which makes the whole experience feel like a vacation. After lunch, my favorite thing to do is walk through the Camí de Ronda, heading toward Llafranc, the next village over. It’s the perfect way to digest, clear your head, and then catch the sunset by the water.
What was your last great vacation?
One of my most meaningful recent trips was to the United States at the end of 2025, coinciding with the opening of our Roseville location. When I’m in the U.S., I don’t always have a lot of free time, so I’ve learned to prioritize the small moments. My best-kept secret so far is that I actually keep a bike at our offices in Campbell, California, because whenever I get a short break, I’ll squeeze in a ride to clear my head. One of my favorite routes in the Bay Area is a South Bay loop: starting in Campbell, riding through Los Gatos Creek Trail, then continuing toward Vasona Lake, and if I have a bit more time, pushing into the Saratoga foothills. That’s my top priority when I’m in the States, especially on this last trip to Roseville; I was extremely focused on the opening, so the bike was my way to stay grounded and keep my energy up.
GOODS & SERVICES • Big Ticket
Notable responses to the FOUND Routine query, “What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?”
→ LAURENT TOURONDEL, executive chef & owner, LT Hospitality (NY): Recently, I bought a very large Le Creuset pot — the largest one. It’s big enough to cook for about 10 people, so it’s definitely a serious piece of cookware. It was very expensive, but I love it. I’ve already made some soups in it, and it’s great for something like a good chicken or lamb curry.
→ TESS ROLETTI, co-founder, Fussie (SF): I recently bought a pair of G.H. Bass Mary Jane loafers, and I’ve been wearing them almost every day. There was literally no break-in period, which was shocking for leather loafers.
→ CARINA SOTO VELÁSQUEZ, restaurateur & partner, Quixotic Projects (Paris): Bad Bunny tickets (totally worth it).
GETAWAYS • California
Kiddie cool
In Berkeley, CA, the Claremont Resort & Club is a hotbed of activity year-round. The tennis (and new pickleball) courts are always in full swing, but what stands out most to passersby is the joyful laughter of kids splashing around in the resort pool.
A wholesome beacon at the base of the Berkeley Hills, The Claremont has been known as Berkeley’s premier luxury stay for over 100 years – it’s drawn celebrity clientele from Count Basie to Bruce Lee to Michelle Obama, plus Angelina Jolie and her gaggle of kids. The Club is where well-heeled locals come to swim laps, but if you’re looking for a quiet, adults-only pool scene, you’re better off at Cavallo Point Lodge — the Claremont is all about welcoming family-friendly fun.
The pool, made famous by the Pierce Brosnan “run-by fruiting” scene in Mrs. Doubtfire, is 100% kid zone, making it an ideal family staycation destination for summer and fall. It’s an easy rhythm to fall into, where the property functions less like a hotel and more like a high-end summer camp for all ages. Parents can hand off the morning entertainment duty — guests receive three hours of complimentary childcare with every stay, and the Kids’ Club hosts everything from daytime adventure camps to hands-on arts and crafts. At dusk on select Friday nights, kids retreat for dinner and a film at kids’ movie night, leaving adults with an open window to sip a cocktail overlooking the bay.
For families traveling with a crew, the resort’s layout eliminates the usual logjam of standard hotel living. A range of connecting suites (like the two-bedroom Bay View Suite, which comfortably sleeps up to eight) gives parents room to exhale without sacrificing privacy or those skyline vistas. –Allison McCarthy
RESTAURANTS • London
King for a day
Chef Aktar Islam is known for Opheem, a tasting menu restaurant in his native Birmingham. In May, he made his London debut with Oudh 1722, a more casual, multi-space Indian spot close to Borough Market. It serves his version of Awadhi cuisine, a historic style from the royal courts of northern India, with warm hospitality.
The vibe is homely, laidback and varied. The three-story listed Victorian building is a special find, full of character, nooks and crannies. While the ground floor (above) is spacious and offers kitchen views, the first is more intimate. The attic lounge and bar feels like a living room, with its plush green velvet sofas, hand-painted ceiling and exposed brick walls. (FOUND Pro: you could really impress a date with a first drink or nightcap here.)
The vast menu is divided into sections denoting different parts of the cuisine of Awadh (or Oudh), beginning with shorba, a traditional broth of lamb or morels. The standout appetiser is gol guppa (also called panipuri), a fragrant street-food snack of hollow, fried dough balls filled with crisped rice and a punchy pouring liquid of mint and spices. Curries are generously portioned, with both confit masala goat and ox cheek pleasingly endowed with accompaniments. There are naans and rice too and, if you’re flummoxed by the extensive menu, a Feast selection. –Laura Price
AROUND FOUND • Bonus Intel & Recs
→ NY: Hiroki Abe, who led longtime Murray Hill vegetarian kaiseki favorite Kajitsu, opened Jō in the same neighborhood last year. The eight-seat counter still honors the seasonal principles of kaiseki cookery, this time with the addition of meat. It’s a fitting return for Abe’s inspired, seasonally driven cooking, and with a much broader pantry at his disposal.
→ SF: Opened in 2019, Bad Animal is a used bookstore, natural wine bar, and restaurant in Downtown Santa Cruz. In January, the owners hired Nick Hahn to take the helm, fresh off a year at LA’s lauded n/naka. Thus dawns a highly anticipated new chapter for Bad Animal, with the launch of a Parisian-inspired bistro menu with Korean-Brazilian twists.
→ LA: Daisuke Nakazawa, the talented star protege from Jiro Dreams of Sushi opened his first restaurant in New York in 2013, making waves. Thirteen years later, he finally made his West Coast debut, with Sushi Nakazawa, which opened this Spring. The most memorable bite on the chef’s menu was the hot and cold sea urchin duo of tempura Santa Barbara uni wrapped in shiso, juxtaposed with Hokkaido uni sorbet.
REAL ESTATE • Whitefish, MT
Three for-sale properties that came to market this week.
→ 463 Tamarack Creek Rd (Whitefish) • 4BR/4BA, 3754 SF house • Ask: $3.3M • fully remodeled in 2017, no zoning or covenants, transferable fishery license • Annual taxes: $7804 • Days on market: 3 • Agent: Hilary Jo Anderson, Timber Haven Realty Advisors.
→ 580 Monegan Rd (Whitefish, above) • 3BR/2.2BA, 3258 SF house • Ask: $4.25M • 11+ acres on bluff at confluence of Whitefish River and Haskill Creek • Annual taxes: $14,704 • Days on market: 4 • Agent: Chet Todd, Truman Real Estate.
→ 1608 W Lakeshore Dr (Whitefish) • 4BR/4.2BA, 5761 SF house • Ask: $16.495M • on 78’ of Whitefish Lake shoreline w/in protected bay • Annual taxes: $22,398 • Days on market: 3 • Agent: Matt L Buckmaster, PureWest Real Estate.
GETAWAYS LINKS: What the Aman scandal should teach every boutique hotel • Travelers adapt to European heatwaves • St. Regis Mexico City’s major renovation set for completion next month • Why they really check carry-on bags even when overhead bins are empty • Why is it so hard to get a good martini in Europe? • Are you travelmaxing?
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Asian teahouses, Paris
The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best.
Jugetsudo (6th arr), Kengo Kuma-designed teahouse and atelier w/ finest of Japanese green teas plus homemade pastries