Bars and restaurants in Barcelona are at odds with so-called "mercaurants" – supermarkets that have set up areas with tables and chairs for customers to consume products bought on-site. The Barcelona Restoration Guild has so far filed complaints against 30 such establishments, all belonging to the Mercadona chain, and announces that complaints against other retail brands will soon follow. This marks the first time in Spain that such a complaint has been lodged for this practice.
According to the guild, these supermarkets violate the Food Commerce Ordinance, which expressly prohibits dedicating the area between the establishment's entrance and the checkout counters to any commercial or service activity. The administrative complaints, filed with the Barcelona City Council, aim to compel these establishments to remove tables and chairs and to impose corresponding sanctions. The guild's president, Roger Pallarols, has warned that if the council fails to act, the case will be escalated to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Pallarols dismisses these areas as mere "rest areas," pointing out they include items facilitating consumption such as napkins, glasses, cutlery, waste separation bins, and even microwaves. Furthermore, some of these dining zones can accommodate up to 30 people, and the absence of waiters, making it self-service, is considered irrelevant by the guild.
This initiative follows previous complaints against bakeries with tasting areas, also accused of unfair competition. The Restoration Guild reported over 180 bakeries between 2024 and 2025 and has recently filed 50 more in the Eixample district. Pallarols criticizes the City Council's inaction and the lack of sanctions against bakeries, despite identical infringements to those of bars.
