Barcelona over New Year's weekend - everything closed?
After a traumatic New Year's weekend experience in Naples where the entire city is shut down, I'm wondering what happens in Barcelona.
We arrive Dec 30 and depart Jan 5. Given that the 31st and 1st are a Friday and Saturday, and Jan 2 is a Sunday, will many restaurants be closed for that full 3-day period?
For lunch and dinner on New Year's Eve, will we be better off shopping and cooking in the apartment we've rented if we want to avoid exorbitant set-price mandatory menus?
When will the Boqueria and its restaurants (Pinotxo, etc) be open? I've heard it's closed Sunday and dead on Mondays. If it's also closed the 31st and 1st, does that mean Tuesday the 4th will be the only day to shop/eat there?
Thanks!
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I have also been looking into this and while we do not have the option of eating in - I've found many places open.. As for NYE, many "go to" places are full, there are still many excellent options. Rather than emailing, I have been phoning directly, and even those places thgat are full, are so friendly/helpful, that we have booked them for other nights....I fear we will have to take out a mortgage ....we're a family of four and my children (now in their teens) have never eaten from a kids' menu.....
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SnackHappy
Dec 22, 2010 08:14 AM
We were there, this year, on 1st January and many restaurants were open. We had a terrific dinner at Tapaç24. I wouldn't worry about finding places to eat on those days. According to their web site the Boqueria will be open on the 31st and 1st. Pinotxo and El Quim close on holidays. I don't know about Kiosko Universal.
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PBSF
Dec 22, 2010 08:12 AM
You should have no problem with places open for NYE. Your instinct is correct that most sit down restaurants will have expensive prix-fixed for that evening but in most cases, if the restaurant is excellent, it will be the same for that evening. Most good restaurants are already booked by now. Barcelona is not all about high end and sit down; most tapas/pinxtos places will be open and packed out. It is the liveliest evening of the year, therefore, go out and enjoy but plan to stand. Some places will be open for New Year Day lunch: mainly tapas/pintxos places in the Eixample, Barri Gotic and El Born/Ribera; also restaurants in Barcelonetta. I am sure that Paco Meralgo, Cerverseria Catalan and a a few others in the Eixample are open all day on New Year. Some of the best highend restaurants are in hotels: Lasarte, Drolma, Moments, Moo. Some might be open for dinner on NY Day.
If you want to cook in, the Boqueria as most mercat will be open NYE, NY Day mornings. Not all kiosks will be open (shop early!!!, otherwise sparse picking), Sunday closed. Monday will be open but tend to be slow. This is what I've been told by my Barcelona friends but check when you get in. Keep in mind that Sunday is the popular day of the week for restaurant closings and Monday is next, therefore, restaurants will keep that schedule.
