Directory Catering types Cities Blog Plans Advertise List your company
Spain

Open Bar and Event Cocktail Service in Spain

The bar is the longest part of an event and the part people remember, and it is also the one quoted in the most different ways: by the hour, by consumption, per person, or service only if you buy the drinks yourself. Comparing two bar quotes without knowing which is which is impossible, and the cheapest figure on paper is not always the cheapest at the end of the night.

Here are the companies in the directory that run bars and cocktail service at events across Spain. Below, what the service includes, how it is billed, how many bar staff you need for your guest list, and what to put in writing before you book.

86 catering companies · 4 cities

Event open bar with rows of spirits and glassware, a bartender seen from behind shaking a cocktail under string lights

Open Bar by city

Madrid (15) Barcelona (10) Valencia (3) Gijon (3)
Zen Food Vilassar

Zen Food Vilassar

Vilassar de Dalt, Barcelona

5.0 (130 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, cocktail, corporate, home catering and parties, based in Vilassar de Dalt.

Open Bar Cocktail Corporate +2
View profile →
The Wine Truck

The Wine Truck

Puigdelfí, Tarragona

5.0 (48 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, cocktail, birthdays, hen & stag, openings and paella & bbq, based in Puigdelfí.

Open Bar Cocktail Birthdays +3
View profile →
Bartender Spot

Bartender Spot

Valencia, Valencia

5.0 (23 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, cocktail, coffee breaks, birthdays and parties, based in Valencia.

Open Bar Weddings Cocktail +3
View profile →
Rollo Privado

Rollo Privado

Barcelona +3 areas

4.9 (400 reviews)

Catering company specialising in parties, food trucks, weddings, open bar, home catering, industrial and paella & bbq, based in Barcelona.

Parties Food Trucks Weddings +4
View profile →
Goblin Catering

Goblin Catering

Madrid

4.9 (220 reviews)

Catering company specialising in cocktail, parties, home catering, wedding planner, open bar, coffee breaks, corporate and birthdays, based in Madrid.

Cocktail Parties Home Catering +5
View profile →
Aroma Catering

Aroma Catering

Girona

4.9 (71 reviews)

Catering company specialising in weddings, cocktail, open bar, coffee breaks, birthdays, home catering and children's parties, based in Girona.

Weddings Cocktail Open Bar +4
View profile →
Altozano Catering & Eventos

Altozano Catering & Eventos

Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz

4.9 (49 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, cocktail, home catering, industrial and wedding planner, based in Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Open Bar Weddings Cocktail +3
View profile →
Catering El Asador

Catering El Asador

Lloret de Mar, Girona

4.9 (33 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, cocktail, corporate, birthdays, paella & bbq and wedding planner, based in Lloret de Mar.

Open Bar Weddings Cocktail +4
View profile →
catering Tasi

catering Tasi

Talayuela, Cáceres

4.8 (66 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, cocktail, hen & stag, parties and paella & bbq, based in Talayuela.

Open Bar Weddings Cocktail +3
View profile →
Catering AsturCocteleros

Catering AsturCocteleros

Gijon, Asturias

4.8 (45 reviews)

Catering company specialising in cocktail, parties, wedding planner, weddings, open bar, private chef, coffee breaks, corporate, ham carver, home catering, openings and industrial, based in Gijon.

Cocktail Parties Wedding Planner +9
View profile →
ChocoFruitFondue

ChocoFruitFondue

Valencia

4.8 (24 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, gala dinners, cocktail, corporate, hen & stag, parties, children's parties and openings, based in Valencia.

Open Bar Gala Dinners Cocktail +5
View profile →
Paella Company

Paella Company

Madrid

4.9 (7 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, cocktail, ham carver, home catering, parties, children's parties and paella & bbq, based in Madrid.

Open Bar Cocktail Ham Carver +4
View profile →
Artigot Catering

Artigot Catering

Madrid

4.7 (335 reviews)

Catering company specialising in weddings, open bar, brunch, gala dinners, private chef, cocktail, coffee breaks and ham carver, based in Madrid.

Weddings Open Bar Brunch +5
View profile →
Coctelebra

Coctelebra

Maó, Islas Baleares

4.7 (218 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, cocktail, birthdays and wedding planner, based in Maó.

Open Bar Weddings Cocktail +2
View profile →
Azeri Jana Catering

Azeri Jana Catering

San Sebastian, Guipúzcoa

4.7 (27 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, brunch, cocktail, ham carver, home catering and parties, based in San Sebastian.

Open Bar Brunch Cocktail +3
View profile →
Barcelona Picnic

Barcelona Picnic

Santa María de Palautordera, Barcelona

4.8 (4 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, cocktail, coffee breaks, home catering and paella & bbq, based in Santa María de Palautordera.

Open Bar Cocktail Coffee Breaks +2
View profile →
Barman de Cádiz

Barman de Cádiz

Chiclana de la Frontera, Cádiz

4.6 (373 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, cocktail, corporate and parties, based in Chiclana de la Frontera.

Open Bar Cocktail Corporate +1
View profile →
Eventos La Oca

Eventos La Oca

Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz

4.6 (30 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, cocktail, corporate, hen & stag, parties and wedding planner, based in Jerez de la Frontera.

Open Bar Weddings Cocktail +4
View profile →
NinomiyaEventos

NinomiyaEventos

Madrid

4.6 (12 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, cocktail, corporate, home catering, parties and paella & bbq, based in Madrid.

Open Bar Weddings Cocktail +4
View profile →
Ibiza P. Services

Ibiza P. Services

Ibiza, Islas Baleares

4.6 (10 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, brunch, private chef, cocktail, corporate, hen & stag, home catering, trade fairs, parties and paella & bbq, based in Ibiza.

Open Bar Brunch Private Chef +7
View profile →
Loxisco Galicia

Loxisco Galicia

Culleredo, A Coruña

4.5 (93 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, private chef, cocktail, corporate, ham carver, home catering, openings, paella & bbq and wedding planner, based in Culleredo.

Open Bar Weddings Private Chef +7
View profile →
Novaterra Catering & Eventos

Novaterra Catering & Eventos

Paterna, Valencia

4.5 (72 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, brunch, cocktail, coffee breaks, corporate, birthdays, parties, openings and wedding planner, based in Paterna.

Open Bar Weddings Brunch +7
View profile →
Pecado Y Gula

Pecado Y Gula

Leganés, Madrid

4.4 (266 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, cocktail, corporate, birthdays and hen & stag, based in Leganés.

Open Bar Weddings Cocktail +3
View profile →
Oliveira's Catering

Oliveira's Catering

Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Barcelona

4.3 (31 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, cocktail, corporate, home catering, trade fairs, parties and paella & bbq, based in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda.

Open Bar Cocktail Corporate +4
View profile →
Deluz

Deluz

Santander, Cantabria

4.1 (1164 reviews)

Catering company specialising in weddings, cocktail, parties and open bar, based in Santander.

Weddings Cocktail Parties +1
View profile →
El Farito

El Farito

Urb. Novo Santi Petri, Cádiz

4.1 (2958 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, private chef, cocktail, ham carver, home catering and paella & bbq, based in Urb. Novo Santi Petri.

Open Bar Private Chef Cocktail +3
View profile →
Restaurante Reserva JUPAMO

Restaurante Reserva JUPAMO

Villanueva del Trabuco, Málaga

3.7 (74 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, cocktail, ham carver, birthdays, home catering and parties, based in Villanueva del Trabuco.

Open Bar Weddings Cocktail +4
View profile →
Jardines de Uleta

Jardines de Uleta

Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava

Catering company specialising in open bar, brunch, cocktail, coffee breaks, corporate, ham carver, birthdays and openings, based in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Open Bar Brunch Cocktail +5
View profile →

Estilo Gourmet

Alhaurín de la Torre, Málaga

Catering company specialising in open bar, private chef, cocktail, corporate, home catering, children's parties, gourmet and openings, based in Alhaurín de la Torre.

Open Bar Private Chef Cocktail +5
View profile →

What bar service includes

An open bar is more than a table with bottles. In a standard quote you will normally find:

  • The bar unit and its setup, with lighting if needed.
  • The drinks: soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits, according to the agreed list.
  • Ice and glassware, which at a summer event are half the battle.
  • Staff: bar waiters and, for cocktails, bartenders mixing to order.
  • Clearing away and removing empties and glass.

Weddings and large parties often add a short cocktail list mixed in front of the guest. A short list works better than a long one: the queue keeps moving and the team does not jam. If you want a signature drink, mention it when asking for quotes, because it changes the number of staff and the equipment needed.

A gin and tonic being garnished with citrus and herbs on the bar counter in warm evening light

How an open bar is billed

There are four models, and you need to know which one you are being offered before comparing figures:

  • Per person and per hour: a closed price per guest for a set number of bar hours. The most common at weddings and large parties.
  • By consumption: you are billed for what is drunk, settled at the end. Good with groups that drink little, risky without a cap.
  • Service only: you buy the drinks and the company supplies bar, ice, glassware and staff.
  • Cash bar: each guest pays for their own drink, usual at open company events where not everything is covered.

In all four, staff and equipment hire are normally charged separately. Remember that catering is taxed at 10 % VAT and hire at 21 %, and that quotes in Spain are usually shown without VAT. Ask for the total with VAT so the final invoice does not surprise you.

Who supplies the drinks: you or the caterer

This is the question that changes the price more than any other. If the catering company supplies the drinks, you get a single invoice and they take care of quantities, transport and leftover stock. If you supply the drinks yourself, you pay less for the service itself, but you take on the risk of running out, the work of transporting everything and the question of what to do with what is left.

Some companies accept a mixed model: you provide the wine or the signature cocktail, and they provide the rest. Ask about corkage, because some caterers charge a fee per bottle opened. Whatever you decide, put it in writing: who supplies the ice, who supplies the glassware and who keeps the leftover bottles.

A bartender's hands pouring cava into a row of flute glasses along an event bar

How many bar staff for your guest list

Bar staff are usually calculated on the same ratio as cocktail service: around one bar waiter per 20 to 25 guests. For 100 guests, that means 4 to 5 people at the bar. If you are serving cocktails mixed to order, add at least one more bartender, because every cocktail takes time and the queue has to keep moving.

The number of staff also depends on the layout. A single long bar for 100 guests works if the waiters serve the guests; if every guest walks up to the bar, you need more points of service or a second bar. Ask the caterer how many staff they include in the quote and whether that number holds until the end of the event.

What to settle before you book

  • Bar opening and closing times, and the cost of each extra hour.
  • Which brands are on the list and which count as premium.
  • How many bar staff are included and whether that number holds until the end.
  • Who supplies ice, glassware and water, and whether broken glasses are charged.
  • What happens to the drinks left over if you paid for them in advance.
  • Whether the quote includes VAT and any service charge.

Four to eight weeks ahead is comfortable for most events; weddings and peak dates book earlier, so ask as soon as you have the venue and the guest count.

Frequently asked questions

How is the open bar charged for a wedding or party?

In four ways: a closed price per person and hours, by actual consumption, service only (you buy the drinks) or a cash bar where each guest pays. Before comparing two quotes, check which of the four each one is, because the figures are not comparable. Ask for the total with VAT included.

Can I supply the drinks for the open bar myself?

Yes, plenty of companies work that way: you buy the drinks and they provide bar, ice, glassware and staff. It usually costs less, but you have to work out quantities, transport everything and keep what is left. Ask whether they charge a corkage fee per bottle as well.

How many bar staff are needed for 100 guests?

As a reference, bar service is calculated at one waiter per 20 to 25 guests, so for 100 guests you need around 4 to 5 bar staff. If the bar is mixing cocktails to order, add at least one more bartender because every drink takes time.

What does an open bar service usually include?

A standard open bar includes the bar unit, soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits, ice, glassware and the staff to serve the drinks. Some quotes also include lighting, napkins and clearing away. The exact list depends on the package, so ask for it in writing before booking.

How long does open bar service usually last at a wedding?

It depends on the schedule: some weddings have an open bar during the cocktail hour only, others keep it running after the meal until the end of the party. The duration is agreed in advance and extra hours are usually billed separately. Ask for the closing time in the quote so there are no surprises.

Ad
Professional resources for hospitality
Recommended resource
Professional resources for hospitality
26 downloadable products: business plans, HACCP kits, financial templates and more.
See catalogue — From 9 EUR
Your brand here — see advertising options
Free listing

Do you offer open bar and event cocktail service?

List your company and appear on this page and on your city page, in front of people comparing quotes.

List my company