With two of the best people in my life, we decided to celebrate my birthday with a posh dinner and show at Gatsby Barcelona. We wanted to enjoy a meal with a live show in a glamorous setting. And we chose to go to one of the most popular and chic restaurant-club in Barcelona.

Getting ready for a fancy dinner and show at Gatsby Barcelona

I booked a table for three people on the restaurant’s website, very excited.

I received a confirmation email reminding me of the date, the number of guests, the time and details about the dinner. Two of the most important things being that we needed to confirm the reservation on the day of the booking, and the dress code was classic-elegant. 

We can either opt for a regular menu “a la carte” (you have to spend a minimum of 70 euros per person) or a tasting set menu (50 euros per person). I pass on the information to the guys. They wonder what “classic-elegant” means. I say “for men? probably shirts, pants and shoes. No shorts. No polos.” Women have it easier.

I called Gatsby to ensure they kept our reservation on the day of the dinner. The hostess reminds me of the dress code. Yes, we got it! See you later!

Entering Gatsby Barcelona…

I put on a long flowing dress with a golden buckle. I complete my outfit with golden sandals. I don’t wear make-up and hang my hair naturally. The guys look good with their long-sleeved shirts, but they must be hot. Summer is about to end, but it is still summer. We got to the door too early, so we headed to the nearby bar for a drink. 

We see guests gathering in front of the door from a distance. All the men have collared shirts. The guys are good! Two bouncers let everyone inside. I see a lot of elegant and sparkly dresses and high heels behind me in the queue. Yep, everybody is ready to party. A hostess checks the reservations at the door. Finally, our turn. Yay! She leads us to the bar where we wait to be seated.

There is a beautiful mural of lights depicting New York on our right. A glittery performer perched in the air on a pink moon smiles as I take her picture. I also notice two feminine figures sitting on two black discs on either side of the bar. What a lovely concept, two exquisite statues as decorations that look like real humans. Ahem no. These are two other performers motionless and rotating on themselves at the bar’s two ends. I see why this club restaurant is called Gatsby. The venue has an air of decadence and opulence that screams “Paaarrtttyyy!”.

I want the show experience

A glittery singer performs while we wait. What a strong and beautiful voice. We are about to order some drinks when another hostess comes and brings us to our table. I feel a little letdown. Our table is at the back of the room, where we can only see the back of the dancers on stage. Let’s just put things in perspective. We primarily came for the performance and the experience. We did not really come here to taste the cuisine, so a good view was essential.

Our waitress is delightful and smiley. She hands us the menu. I inquire about upgrading to a better table to see the show. She speaks to someone on the walkie-talkie, and a hostess arrives to take us to a new table. A better one. She informed us that we would need to book a premium table and pay 150 euros per person to be closer to the stage and have a better view of the show. Good to know.

Dinner and show at Gatsby Barcelona

I order a non-alcoholic passion fruit mojito. Gone are the days I was having alcoholic drinks. D gets a whisky sour and E a bottle of wine. The cocktails are delicious.

We order a starter and a main each from the regular menu. Scallop salad, tuna tartar and a salmon tartare to begin with. Steak tartare as a main for me. The guys both get lamb. The food is tasty and well-presented, and portions are decent. Our new waiter, however, is just alright. We prefer the lady from the first table.

Over the three hours we are here, we see several high-calibre shows. They are spaced out over the evening, though. The music is fabulous, the dancing and the spectacle are amazing. The lighting and the video walls are great. We enjoy the show even if our view is partial. It is a mix of cabaret and modern dance staging. Occasionally, the performers dance around the tables to give us a closer experience.

We are fascinated by the show. When I look about, I see that most people are simply taking in the atmosphere while they eat, drink and chat away. They might be regulars. Then, midnight arrives. We are leaving because we won’t be staying for the club. The bill is bang on what we expected to pay: 70 euros per person. It already includes a service charge for the three of us. We can go home!

Dinner and show at Gatsby Barcelona – the end

At the end of the night, we all agreed that it was a fantastic spectacle and a fascinating evening. However, it is not something that we would do regularly. We would go back if a friend organises his/her special event at Gatsby Barcelona and invite us though.

To book, visit the website: Gatsby Barcelona

Telephone: +34 937 00 44 53

Address: Calle Tuset, 19 – Barcelona