Barcelona eats late: dinner between 9 and 10 pm is normal, and later still in summer. The catch comes with dessert. You leave the restaurant wanting an ice cream for the walk back and find that many ice cream shops have already pulled down the shutters, especially on weeknights and outside peak season.
If you’re in the city centre, there’s a safe bet: at La Palau we serve gelato until 23:30 every day, Sundays and public holidays included.
La Palau: artisan gelato until 11:30 pm, every day
We’re at Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt, 14, in El Born, right opposite the entrance to the Palau de la Música Catalana. We’re open from 12:00 to 23:30 every day, including Sundays and public holidays. The only exception is our winter break: we usually close from 15 January to 15 March.
Our gelato is made by Menodiciotto, a workshop founded in Turin in 1986 by master gelato maker Luca Grassi, with natural ingredients and no preservatives. There are between 25 and 30 flavours in the display, rotating through the seasons: classics like pistachio, stracciatella, fior di panna and Piedmont hazelnut, plus fruit sorbets. Most flavours are gluten-free, and the fruit ones are vegan and lactose-free.
You can see every flavour and price on our ice cream menu.
What to order if you come at night
- A cone or cup for the walk. One scoop costs €3.50, two scoops €4.50 and three €5.50, with a free topping in a cup.
- A waffle with gelato. A freshly made Belgian waffle with a scoop of gelato and a topping is €4.90. It’s the most filling option if you had a light dinner or fancy something warm and cold at the same time.
- A coffee or a cortado to go with your ice cream if the night isn’t over yet.
- Horchata (tiger nut milk), from June to September (€2.80), very refreshing on hot nights. More about it in our guide to horchata in Barcelona.
- Half a litre to take away (€10.50) if you’d rather enjoy it back at your hotel or apartment. It travels well over a short distance; here’s how to store it: how long artisan ice cream lasts in the freezer.
Night plans nearby to finish with an ice cream
One reason El Born is a great neighbourhood for late-night ice cream is that it stays lively until late and everything is walkable. A few ideas:
After a concert at the Palau de la Música. Most concerts finish between 9 and 10:30 pm. You walk out, cross the street and you’re at our door. More on this in ice cream near the Palau de la Música.
After dinner in El Born. The neighbourhood is packed with restaurants and tapas bars, and it’s about a 10-minute walk from Passeig del Born or Santa Maria del Mar. If you’re looking for somewhere to sit outside before or after, check our guide to the best terraces in El Born.
A night-time stroll with gelato. From La Palau you can walk down Via Laietana towards the Cathedral and the Gothic Quarter, or head to the Arc de Triomf and Passeig de Lluís Companys, which is quiet and well lit at night. For more ideas, see things to do in El Born.
Festival nights. During the big festivals, like Sant Joan or La Mercè, the centre is full of people until very late and an ice cream at 11 pm fits perfectly between concerts.
How to find another ice cream shop open late
If you’re in another part of the city, these tips will save you a wasted walk:
- Check that day’s hours, not the general ones. Many artisan ice cream shops have summer and winter hours and close earlier from October to March or on certain weekdays.
- Use the “open now” filter on your map app and look at the closing time, not just whether it’s open: at 10:45 pm a shop that closes at 11 may already be packing up the display.
- Look in the areas with nightlife. Ciutat Vella (El Born and the Gothic Quarter), Barceloneta and Gràcia have more places that stay open late than the residential neighbourhoods.
- Summer weekends are when most ice cream shops extend their hours. On winter weeknights, late options shrink considerably.
For a selection by neighbourhood, see our guide to the best ice cream shops in Barcelona.
Getting to La Palau at night
- Metro: Urquinaona (L1 and L4), about a 2-minute walk. The metro runs until midnight Sunday to Thursday, until 2 am on Fridays and all night on Saturdays.
- On foot: about 7 minutes from Plaça de Catalunya and around 10 from the Cathedral or Passeig del Born.
- Address: Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt, 14, 08003 Barcelona. See the map and directions.
Frequently asked questions
What time do ice cream shops close in Barcelona?
It varies a lot by shop and season. Many close between 9 and 10 pm outside summer, while in peak season some stay open until midnight at weekends. La Palau is open every day until 11:30 pm, except during its winter closure (usually 15 January to 15 March).
Is there an ice cream shop open after 11 pm in Barcelona?
Yes. In El Born, La Palau serves ice cream until 11:30 pm every day. For other shops, check that day’s hours on their map listing, because many change their schedule with the seasons.
Is La Palau open on Sundays and public holidays?
Yes. We’re open every day from 12:00 to 23:30, including Sundays and public holidays.
Does La Palau close at any time of year?
Yes, we take a winter break of about two months, usually from 15 January to 15 March. The rest of the year we’re open every day.
Do you have gluten-free or vegan options at night?
Yes, the menu is the same at any time: the vast majority of flavours are gluten-free and there are vegan sorbets and flavours. Just ask for the allergen sheet for any flavour.
Can I take ice cream back to my hotel?
Yes. We pack half-litre and one-litre tubs on the spot. It arrives in good shape over a short walk or metro ride; if you’ll be travelling for more than 20-30 minutes, it’s best to buy it at the end of your stroll and put it in the freezer as soon as you arrive.