A bustling bar in the heart of a Barcelona tourist district has begun charging customers who overstay their welcome.
Bar Perfetto is a popular spot for both holidaymakers and locals thanks to its proximity to the sea in the Barceloneta neighbourhood.
However, the recent introduction of a ‘time surcharge’ on its terrace has divided opinion among patrons.
A small sign on each table explains how the policy works.
A coffee, for example, costs €1.60. But if you take more than 30 minutes to finish, the price goes up to €2.50. If you are there for more than an hour, it increases to €4.
A photo of the chart explaining the surcharges was shared on X this week, with some questioning the policy’s legality.
The bar’s owner, named only as Massimo, defended the move after some branded it ‘theft’.
He told El Diario that he placed the ‘warning’ on tables following a fight between customers.
He explained: ‘It was one night when some people waiting for a table got tired and confronted those sitting there, who had been waiting for hours without consuming anything…
‘It’s a way to raise awareness… you can’t go for hours without consuming anything, otherwise the business isn’t profitable.’
The policy has divided opinion online, with some supporting it, claiming that half an hour for a coffee ‘is more than enough’.
However one passerby told El Diario: ‘I wouldn’t sit here. Mostly because of the manners. I don’t want to have to keep an eye on the clock when I’m in a bar.’
The woman, who lives nearby, blamed the policy on the neighbourhood being ‘colonised by tourists’.
‘All the bars are designed for outsiders, and the ones with affordable prices end up charging us €4 for a coffee if we go over our time,’ she fumed, adding that she feels ‘completely expelled’ from her neighbourhood.
Massimo said the policy has not affected his business, before claiming he only implements it ‘when there are a lot of people on the terrace’.
He added: ‘We only charge this if we have customers waiting. Nobody likes to see people occupying a table you want to sit at if they’re not consuming anything.’
