The Christmas party is the event of the year a team remembers most, for better or worse. These are 15 ideas we've seen work in Barcelona, ordered from least to most production, so you can choose according to your budget and your company culture.
In short
- What people remember most is the atmosphere, not the menu: music, venue and a surprise moment.
- A cocktail format brings large teams or teams from several offices together better.
- Ideas with a prior activity (tasting, workshop, treasure hunt) break the ice before dinner.
- Book in September or October if you want a Friday in December.
Format ideas
- Long cocktail with food stations. Rice dish show cooking, hand-carved ham and a dessert table. People move around and mingle.
- Seated dinner followed by a party. The classic, but with the DJ starting right at dessert so the energy doesn't drop.
- Christmas brunch. For teams with families or shifts: a Saturday at midday, with vermouth and live music.
- Dinner in a venue with character. A room with history or unusual decor does half the work; at Sala Rockstar, for example, the venue itself is the talking point.
- Christmas afterwork. From 7 pm to 11 pm, with no formal dinner: ideal for young teams and tight budgets.
Theme ideas
- Roaring Twenties gala. Dress code, live jazz and classic cocktails. It works because it's easy to dress for.
- 80s and 90s party. The most inclusive theme: everyone has a song.
- Mediterranean Christmas. Local produce, Penedès cava and natural decoration instead of the usual Nordic clichés.
- Charity casino night. Chips with no real money and the takings symbolically donated to an NGO chosen by the team.
Activity ideas
- Wine or vermouth tasting before dinner. It breaks the ice and stretches the experience at little cost.
- Team cooking workshop. The group cooks part of the menu; perfect for groups of up to about 40 people.
- Karaoke or music quiz. The most shared moment of the night on social media.
- Light-hearted internal awards. Fun categories voted for by the team, with a host.
Ideas for the end of the night
- Photo booth with instant prints. The physical keepsake people take home.
- Organised transport home. A coach or shuttles: it looks after the team and takes away the worry of how everyone gets back.
How to choose the right idea
Before deciding, answer three questions: how many of you there are (above 100, a cocktail wins), what the team is like (age, languages, whether people come from other offices) and what you want to happen that night: celebrate results, welcome new people or simply say thank you for the year.
If in doubt, combine a format idea with an activity idea: for example, a tasting before dinner and a 90s party afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
When should you book a company Christmas party in Barcelona?
December Fridays sell out first: ideally book in September or October. For Thursdays or late November, a month is usually enough.
Which day of the week is best?
Thursday is your best ally: the atmosphere is the same, there's more availability and the price is usually lower than on a Friday.
How do you include people who don't drink alcohol?
Include quality alcohol-free cocktails and activities that don't revolve around the bar, such as food tastings, karaoke or a photo booth.
Is a seated dinner or a cocktail better?
A cocktail for big groups and young teams; a seated dinner if there are speeches, awards or a more senior team.