Beyond their usual offerings, many restaurants in Barcelona, especially in hotels, set up exceptional plans depending on the season or market trends and products. These are ideal occasions to discover recipes beyond the menu and enjoy unconventional proposals and settings, which transport diners to different atmospheres and flavors. Almost as if they had taken a small trip outside the Catalan capital.
Below, we propose three winter plans that can only be savored for a few weeks on the panoramic rooftops of the hotels El Palace Barcelona, The One, and Renaissance Barcelona.
El Chalet at El Palace Barcelona
The central pergola of the Rooftop Garden, possibly the most romantic and unique rooftop terrace in Barcelona, transforms in winter into El Chalet, a charming wooden cabin that transports visitors to the Alps. Plaid tablecloths, rustic motifs, and other mountain elements create the ideal setting for its culinary proposal for the cold season. Although there is an à la carte option, it is most common to opt for a menu, which blends dishes inspired by alpine products and local recipes.
On this occasion, one must choose a starter from the arugula salad, sun-dried tomato, nut vinaigrette, and parmesan; a delicious onion soup; or their selection of local cured meats (with a generosity that makes it an ideal dish to share).
The main course offers a choice between their famous traditional Swiss cheese fondue; gnocchi with seasonal mushrooms and smoked straciatella; the hearty traditional reblochon tartiflette with smoked cansalada; the lighter option, but with extraordinary product and perfectly cooked, is grilled salmon with dill cream, apple, and arugula; or the grilled beef burger with raclette cheese, mushroom mayonnaise, and pickles.
For dessert, Swiss chocolate fondue with brioche and fruits, ginger tile with chocolate mousse and almond cake, or apple Tatin tart with cream.
The menu costs 75 euros per person, including rustic bread, smoked butter, mineral water, coffee, tea and infusion, and a bottle of cava, white or red wine every two people (the cellar can be upgraded with a supplement). For a complete and surprising evening, it can be combined with the Winter Rooftop Cinema, or high-altitude cinema in its small rooftop cabins, with blankets and even hot water bottles.
Swiss Fondue at The One
Until March 31, one of the most delicious pop-ups in the winter flavor scene in the city returns. The Mood Rooftop Bar at the luxurious The One hotel (at 277 Provença Street) transforms into a Swiss dining room, with a wide variety of fondues (from 27 euros per person). With the Mood Swiss Fondue Experience, you can choose from the most classic to the most daring, combining Gruyère, Vacherin, blue cheese, or Tête de Moine.
And the fondues that chef Miguel Muñoz excels at, in collaboration with Quesos de Suiza, can even include fresh truffle, or dare to try the tomato option. As a nod, the local highlight is the one made with cava. Both à la carte and in menus.
Their shared menu proposal combines the famous fondues with various more or less complete options ---starting from 42 euros per person---, with dishes such as onion soup, vitello tonnato with Sbrinz cheese, or a cured meat platter. Or even main courses like Iberian pork tenderloin, salmon with Ticinese polenta, or the typical potato Röstis, with eggplant and tomato; with smoked salmon; with melted cheese and truffle, or with free-range egg and Iberian ham. As a 2025 addition, they include the option with melted cheese and fresh truffle. And among the premieres are also the Malakoff, or cheese fritters, as well as the Älplermagronen, Alpine-style macaroni.
You have to leave room for the chocolate fondue or the apple Strudel, among other tempting finishes. The plus is its panoramic terrace, where in good weather you can even eat outdoors with panoramic views of the city. And finish with a good cocktail.
Calçotada outdoors at the Renaissance BCN
Without leaving Barcelona, it is possible to enjoy a full-fledged calçotada outdoors. Goja Rooftop, at the top of the Renaissance Barcelona hotel (Pau Claris, 122), is the perfect setting to indulge in the calçot ritual with incredible views of the city.
It is served until March 31, only on weekends, on the eighth floor of the hotel and with attentive service. The best of this Catalan tradition is added to the comfort of a superhotel, which has made this rooftop a meeting point in the Eixample.
The grace of its proposal is that it is open to both carnivores and vegetarians, with a green version. For the former, the menu (46 euros) includes unlimited Valls calçots with romesco sauce, freshly taken from the embers. This is followed by a meat grill composed of botifarra and beef rib, accompanied by Santa Pau white beans, baked potatoes and toasted country bread with tomato, garlic and extra virgin olive oil. The vegetarian version (40 euros) serves a grilled vegetable platter (escalibada, artichokes and celeriac).
In both cases, it includes half a bottle of wine, two glasses of cava or two soft drinks per person, as well as dessert (mel i mató or crema catalana, to choose from).
The urban calçotada also stands out for championing fresh and local ingredients, and for having become an annual event for those who prefer to travel on foot or by public transport to enjoy this winter menu with maximum comfort. Reservations are required.
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