 who were behind me sat down,' he told the newspaper. Another waiter warned he would have just 20 minutes to eat his meal, while a third claimed that the terrace was for groups only. Journalist Noemí Vilaseca claimed that the window given over to tourists by restaurants was growing larger and larger, pushing locals to dine at inconvenient times. '4 in the afternoon. Before entering the MACBA (Museum of Contemporary Art Barcelona) we want to have a coffee. They don't serve it to us on the terrace, because 'its time for an aperitif [before dinner, of course]," she posted in July. A local resident claimed that that a bar had refused her several times, despite her being a loyal customer. Others have said they end up seated in the worst spots, such as by the toilets, so the better vantage points can be saved for loaded tourists. Barcelona has been){kind=link}
In the centre of Barcelona some restaurants – mainly on Carrer de Blai which is known for its tapas bars and in the Eixample neighbourhood – have started turning single diners away
Visitors to Barcelona have been refused tables because they are dining alone.
Local people as well as tourists in the Catalan capital are becoming increasingly frustrated by restaurants looking to maximise profits during the busy summer seasons. Unwilling to give up space on their crowded terraces to single covers, the eateries have been accused of making up excuses.
In the centre of the Spanish city, some restaurants – mainly on Carrer de Blai which is known for its tapas bars and in the Eixample neighbourhood – have started turning single diners away. Waiters are claiming their restaurants are fully booked when they aren’t, it is alleged. One local claimed he tried several establishments in the same evening only to be turned away by all of them, despite there being a number of visibly empty tables.
“At the first terrace I got a table, a waiter quickly arrived and told me it was reserved. It wasn’t. As soon as I got up, a group of guiris (foreigners) who were behind me sat down,” he told the newspaper. Another waiter warned he would have just 20 minutes to eat his meal, while a third claimed that the terrace was for groups only. Journalist Noemà Vilaseca claimed that the window given over to tourists by restaurants was growing larger and larger, pushing locals to dine at inconvenient times.