A relaxing cup of café amb llet in Plaça Catalunya. People-watching at a table on the Rambla. Yes, it's kind of possible once again. Having made the jump from Phase 0.5 to Phase 1 of the coronavirus de-escalation plan, Barcelona has re-opened its bar terraces. Well, not all of them. Perhaps partly because it’s Monday, and party because they're not sure whether it's worth their while, some bar and restaurant owners have decided not to raise the shutter on their premises just yet.
Cafeteria El Fornet on Rambla Catalonia/ A.S.S.
At Bar Kasparo, in Plaça de Vicenç Martorell, the staff explain how they've been looking forward to opening. The tables now have a built-in QR code allowing clients users to view the menu. The waiters comment that they have been forced to reduce the number of tables but are confident people will want to sit down, have a drink and get back together with friends.
Bar Kasparo setting up tables / A.S.S.
Further uptown, on Rambla Catalunya, the opening was uneven and a little timid. But, as you'd expect, the bakery tables began to fill up first, and later on, some of the tapas restaurants put out their chairs.
In fact, among those bars which did decide to open, it became difficult to get a table.
El Glop on Rambla Catalunya this Monday morning/ A.S.S.
However, staff at several bars explained that some of their competitors normally close on Mondays, and may be encouraged to open on Tuesday. Others expressed their uncertainty about what will end up happening with the regulations, which they see as likely to keep changing.
Bar Lekker, in Plaça Sant Josep Oriol / A.S.S.
Rambla del Raval / A.S.S.
As has already been seen in other cities, it is expected that the timid return to the terrances will acquire more momentum as the week goes on, and more bars and restaurants will decide to put out their tables.
Sixty per-cent won't open until Phase 2
Nevertheless, the Gremi de Restauració, the Barcelona restauranteurs' association estimates that two out of three restaurants with a terrace in the city will not open this Monday and will wait until Phase 2 to resume activity. Counting all bar and restaurant establishments in the city - with and without terraces - the association estimates that only about 20% will open in Phase 1. There are about 3,300 restaurants without terraces, although the city council has proposed a plan to give them rights to open terraces.
In total, there are 8,887 registered bars and restaurants in Barcelona. The association says that 70% of terraces have four tables or less and that, with capacity limited to 50% of their normal size, many businesses are not viable at present. The Gremi is calling for bars and restaurants to be allowed up to 50% of their interior seating capacity in Phase 2. The regulations at present specify 30% for Phase 2.