Visiting the city on this special night? Wondering what to do on New Year’s Eve in Barcelona? Whether you are looking for traditional with family, party time with friends or fun with kids, we’ll show you what’s on offer!
To start with, what do the locals do for Nochevieja (New Year)? Well, the evening of the 31st is usually spent feasting with family. Possibly the most traditional dish eaten is escudella amb carn d’olla, a clear broth made with a whole array of meat cuts and served with giant pasta shells.
When the New Year arrives, the tradition is to eat 12 grapes synchronized exactly with the 12 dongs… it’s a LOT harder than it sounds and is very funny to take part in! If you manage, without choking that is, they say you will be blessed with good luck the following year.
Toasting the New Year with a gold ring in your glass of cava will bring wealth and prosperity. Sporting red lingerie is also considered a good thing, though more linked to love than money.
After finishing the grapes and cava, locals will often head out to meet friends at various points in the city and party the night away. That said you don’t have to wait for midnight to get the party going, so here’s a guide of where you can celebrate this New Year in Barcelona!
INDEX
Street events for New Year’s Eve in Barcelona 2019-2020
Plaça d’Espanya
As expected, Montjuïc is hosting Barcelona’s official New Year’s Eve celebration. It is a FREE event with music, lights and a wonderful pyrotechnic display around the Magic Fountain.
This is a family-friendly event and hugely popular with the locals. They head over in the thousands (last year that equated to 94,000!) so make sure you get there early to claim a decent spot. There is the pre-show that starts at 9:30 pm which includes the Magic Fountain lights display. The New Year’s Eve event itself begins around 11:45 pm and includes a spectacular firework show and some performances. This part usually lasts around 30 minutes and will see you into the New Year in style.
OUR TIP: Use Tarragona metro station afterwards if at all possible. It is a little further, but it will be a lot less crowded than Espanya metro station.
Plaça Catalunya
Due to its central location, Plaça Catalunya gets absolutely packed on New Year’s Eve. It’s perfect though if you’re looking for a cheap option to celebrate the New Year.
Be warned, however, as the party revellers do more than just congregate swigging cava. They take part in a rather wacky tradition that will take you by total surprise if you’re not expecting it. With the final dong of the midnight bells, thousands of people haul their cava bottles into the centre of the square. A real nightmare for the health & safety conscious!
OUR TIP: If you do forget your grapes and cava, fear not as there will be plenty of people around ready to help you out… for a price.
Barcelona Clubs to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2019-2020
Most clubs organize THE party of the year for New Year’s Eve. If you’re looking to dance the night away, there’s plenty on offer but remember to buy tickets in advance! Here are some of the most popular nightclub options:
Poble Espanyol
Now in its 31st year, Poble Espanyol is not new to this New Year’s Eve Party lark and they claim to host the “biggest and best” party in town.
They offer 3 different spaces: Plaza Mayor, a large and comfortable outdoor space; the Marquee; and the VIP area lounge area.
The party kicks off at 10:30 pm and ends at 6 am. Tickets range from €40/€45 for tickets pre-booked online to €60 at the box office and they include 4 drinks, the traditional grapes & novelties. There are also VIP tickets available with skip-the-line and access to the VIP area. Remember to wrap up warm as it is an outdoor party.
Buy tickets for NYE party at Poble Espanyol (regular ticket)
Buy tickets for NYE party at Poble Espanyol (VIP ticket)
Pacha Barcelona
This huge name requires no introduction. All you need to know is the International party starts minutes before midnight and closes at 6:45 am.
As every year the clubs’ resident DJ’s Marshall Knight and Alberto Herrera are running the show.
Cheaper tickets are already sold out and now start at €50 (includes 1 drink).
Buy tickets for NYE party at Pacha
Shoko Club
Overlooking the beach this is where you can enjoy a drink on the elegant terrace (heated!) and a sophisticated dinner before joining the opulent New Year’s party in the club. With panoramic views and reputable kitchen, Shoko has been voted one of the top 100 clubs in the world.
The party begins just before midnight and closes at 6 am.
Party tickets start at €50 (includes 1 drink).
Buy tickets for NYE party at Shoko Club
Otto Zutz
Open since 1985, Otto Zutz provides a less formal setting to see in 2020. Here you’ll find 4 dance floors offering the best of Hip Hop, R&B, House & Reggaeton. The party starts at 10 pm.
Tickets start at €45 (includes 1 drink).
Buy tickets for NYE party at Otto Zutz
Opium Barcelona
Close to Shoko, Opium will kick things off at 11 pm and party till 7 am. The main room is large enough for 3,000 revellers but there is a large terrace with sofas overlooking the sea where you can relax.
If you would like to eat first, they offer a smart set menu starting at €150 pp for a 4-course dinner and a more luxurious 5-courses for €200 pp. They claim you will be “stunned” by the “ostentatious decoration” of the club.
Tickets start at €50 (includes 1 drink).
Buy tickets for NYE party at Opium
Sutton Barcelona
Boasting big names like David Guetta, the Martinez Brothers and Bruno Mars this is a sure place for a good New Year’s Eve party. It starts at 11.45 am and ends in the early morning.
Tickets start at €50 (includes 3 drinks). If you feel like indulging, the Epic VIP experience (for 15 of you and your friends) costs a mere €10,000 and offers the Moet Suit, €10,000 to spend in the club and your own private bathroom!
Buy tickets for NYE party at Sutton Barcelona
Razzmatazz
This is the biggest club in town in the trendy neighbourhood of Poble Nou. It has 5 rooms to choose from with different DJs plus a roof terrace and they brag something for absolutely everyone.
Ticket prices depend on what time you enter the night club:
Entrance from 10:30 pm (Early Bird ticket): €54.50 (includes 2 drinks + Razz’20 T-shirt + party bag + lucky grapes + glass of cava)
Entrance from 12:01 am: €44.50 (includes 2 drinks+ Razz’20 T-Shirt)
Buy tickets for NYE party at Razzmatazz
Catwalk
Catwalk has a different tag line: “for many but not for everyone!”. This cool club is 1,500m2 and split into three floors: the Mainroom playing House & Mainstream, the Skyroom with R&B & Funk and the Terrace, somewhere to relax overlooking the sea and Frank Gehry’s “Metallic Fish”.
The party begins just before midnight and closes in the early hours of the morning.
Tickets start with the Early bird at €30 (includes 1 drink).
Buy tickets for NYE party at Catwalk Barcelona
INPUT Dance Club
This year’s party features Paco Osuna, one of the most renowned artists in the electronic music industry. If you want to see in 2020 immersed in Techno, Electronic & Underground music then you need to book your tickets here!
The party begins at just before midnight.
The cheaper tickets are already sold out but there are €40 still available.
Buy tickets for NYE party at INPUT Dance Club
City Hall
If Techno and House are your scenes then this might be a good choice as London based PAWSA is in town, DJing this party into 2020!
The party begins just before midnight and closes at 6 am.
Tickets start at €25.
Buy tickets for NYE party at City Hall
IceBar Barcelona
As the name suggests, over the years IceBar Barcelona has offered a “White Christmas” feel to their New Year parties.
Tickets start at €25 and allow 11 pm access to both parties (featuring live music) in IceBarcelona Terrace Bar and Touché Beach garden (includes 1 drink).
Buy tickets for NYE party at IceBar
Other popular clubs include the famous Jazz Club Jamboree and El Molino that offers a Burlesque show.
Rooftop Terraces to welcome the New Year
If you fancy seeing the city’s fireworks from above then check out some of the many rooftop terraces available.
High-end options include the Mandarin Oriental and the Majestic La Dolce Vitae. The Majestic also offers some very luxurious menu options for New Year’s evening. Something more affordable would be 1881 Sagardi on top of the Catalan History Museum by the port, Alaire Terrace Bar and B-Hotel.
For views looking down into the whole city check out Mirablau club on Tibidabo Hill.
Restaurants for a special night
Many restaurants will offer a special menu for New Year that will naturally cost a little more than usual. Here are a handful of suggestions ranging from the extravagant to the more affordable.
El Palace
The height of luxury to see in 2020 can be enjoyed at El Palace Hotel at their rooftop Winter Garden Gala dinner. Cocktails and appetizers, a sumptuous 6-course dinner, live music late into the night and excellent views of the city’s fireworks all combine to create a fabulous night. The experience costs €520 pp.
Torre d’Alta Mar
For spectacular 360º views and food prepared by renowned chefs, head up 75 meters and experience a Barcelona New Year at Torre d’Alta Mar. The 2019-20 menu is €275 pp and includes all you’d expect at this level of dining.
Dos Torres
Located in the higher, wealthier part of town, Dos Torres is a gorgeous modernist house & garden where you can enjoy an elegant affordable dinner. The location means you escape the city centre madness if that’s what you’re after! The 2019 New Year 5-course menu is €91.40 pp.
El Nacional
A gorgeous environment full of history and a must-visit whilst in town if not for the New Year. El Nacional was built in 1870 as a cafe & modernist theatre, later it converted to a fabric dye factory and then a car dealer’s shop. It was used as a food collection point after the Spanish Civil War and before its latest conversion into this “restaurant mall” was a garage. Its 2,600m2 is divided smartly into 4 bars and 4 restaurants with something for everyone.
Els 4 cats
For something a little more bohemian and relaxed, we suggest booking a table in Els 4 Cats. This was after all where Picasso used to hang out. Last year they offered live music and an elegant 8-course menu though details for 2019 are still to be released.
And for something a bit different…
For a more familiar New Year’s Eve in Barcelona head to Flaherty’s Irish Bar for dinner and late-night partying where Auld Lang Syne is guaranteed! Last year a 3-course meal was €38 pp. This year is still TBC.
For some American hospitality at no extra NYE cost, check out CocoVail Beer Hall. Here the beer flows till 3 am with no door fee or price hike. Get there early to get a place!
If mixing culture with pleasure is your thing, try out Tablao Flamenco Cordobes. For €225 a privileged group of 80 guests will enjoy dinner & show, beginning at 8:30 pm. If you want to party on into the night, there is a club downstairs. Palacio Flamenco also offers a New Year show. Dinner, a drink & the show cost €150 pp (€200 VIP) and for just a drink & the show, €75 pp. You can all party till 3 am in the club.
If you haven’t overindulged the night before you might want to take part in the Primer Bany de L’Any 2020, first swim of the year! Head down to the CNAB sports club in Barceloneta and take part in this crazy tradition!
Remember that the metro runs all night so there is no excuse to go out and enjoy New Year’s Eve in Barcelona!
Staying in the city during the holiday? Don’t miss our post about what to do for Christmas in Barcelona. Our Gothic Quarter and Gaudí Free Tours will be running as usual on December 31st. Please remember that there are no tours on January 1st so see you all on the 2nd! Also, don’t forget to check our comprehensive article on what to do in Barcelona all year round.
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Post updated on December 2019
Main photograph by Jacinta Lluch Valero
Great tour of the Gotic area by Lisa. She clearly knows and loves Barcelona. We learned a lot in just 2 1/2 hours.
Thank you, Steven. I am glad you enjoyed the walking tour of the Gothic Quarter with Lisa. She is definitely a much loved guide :-).
You missed Jamboree
Jamboree was also included in the last paragraph of the night clubs for New Year’s Eve in Barcelona section