W Barcelona lights up Thursday nights with the dinner show The Bonfire

Dinner shows are an essential proposal in any tourist city in the world, but it is a format that has never quite caught on in Barcelona, despite the multiple attempts there have been. In the Catalan capital, it is currently possible to enjoy this concept in establishments such as the Salvaje restaurant on Enric Granados street or Velissima in Marina Vela, but this summer there is a proposal that should not be overlooked and that we should not let only tourists enjoy: The Bonfire, at the W Barcelona Hotel.

Every Thursday night, until August 25, the iconic hotel that has transformed Barcelona's skyline brings its main restaurant, Fire, outdoors, serving dinner on the spectacular beachfront terrace that houses its pool. Instead of sun loungers, tables are placed around the perimeter of the hotel pool, allowing guests to enjoy a pleasant outdoor dinner, while watching the sunset from a privileged balcony overlooking Sant Sebastiá beach.

Fire, the W Barcelona's main restaurant, specializes in grilled dishes and, consequently, The Bonfire dinner show features fire as its protagonist. Musical and dance performances, acrobatics, and impressive fakir acts follow one another throughout dinner, with the peculiarity that the show is not performed from a stage, but rather the artists move around the entire terrace, mixing and interacting with diners, who also feel part of the performance. A walkway over the pool allows for even more play in the fire show, which incorporates high-level acts.

It is essential to book in advance to enjoy The Bonfire experience, as places are limited and the attractiveness of the proposal seduces not only hotel guests, but also tourists looking for unique locations to experience the city, especially at night. The price per person is 70 euros, an amount that does not include drinks, but does include a small welcome cocktail. This is a fixed price because The Bonfire is not an à la carte dinner, but is based on a menu that allows you to choose between six starters, eight main courses, and three desserts.

According to W Barcelona, Fire's gastronomic proposal "is born from the union of embers and earth" and is combined with the application of other techniques that do not involve fire. Thus, to start, one can choose between a Girona beef tartare; a black cherry gazpacho, confit cherry tomato and basil sprouts; or a cumin-glazed roasted eggplant with yogurt sauce. Adding a supplement of ten euros, the choice of starters is completed with acorn-fed Iberian ham, with a delicate dish of spider crab with osmotized watermelon and avocado; and with a grilled squid that is also fried and served with all i oli and Padrón peppers.

As usual, when choosing main courses, one must opt for meat or fish. If you are a meat-lover, it is worth choosing the Girona beef tenderloin with rosemary potatoes and asparagus or a 500-gram high loin with chimichurri sauce and French fries. However, the star dish ---adding 100 euros--- is the so-called Tomahawk, a two-kilogram old cow high loin with its bone and also accompanied by potatoes, salad and chimichurri.

For fish, there are three proposals: sea bass with smoked mashed potatoes; swordfish or a one and a half kilo sea bass to share (+80 euros) that has been oven-cooked covered in coarse salt and is flambéed at the moment of serving at the table. It is accompanied by a lemon butter and caper emulsion, and grilled vegetables, rosemary potatoes and a saffron and cava sauce.

Vanilla crème brûlée, also flambéed, cheesecake or mango tatin with ice cream, are the three dessert suggestions to finish the menu, which can be completed with a cocktail while contemplating the sea and listening to the songs chained by the DJ spinning by the pool.