Question about using hostel kitchen hours in Barcelona

I stayed at a hostel in Barcelona last spring and noticed a big difference in how much I saved on food. Before I figured out the timing, I was spending around 15 euros a day on meals out. After I started cooking breakfast and dinner in the hostel kitchen during off peak hours, I got that down to about 5 euros daily. The change happened over my second week there once I realized the kitchen was empty between 7 and 9 AM for breakfast. The hostel had this weird rule where you could only use the stove during certain times. Has anyone else dealt with hostel kitchen schedules ruining your meal plans? Any tips for finding places with 24 hour kitchen access?

3 comments

3 Comments

garcia.wren9h ago

Feel that, @sean48's idea is solid but try booking hostels with open kitchen policies instead.

the_cameron9h ago

Wait, aren't hostels with open kitchens usually way more crowded during regular meal times though? The real trick is finding ones that let you cook after 9pm when all the tour groups have cleared out. I've stayed at places where the "open kitchen" policy just means anyone can use it but good luck finding a burner at 7pm. One hostel in Berlin had a sign up sheet for stove time slots and it was the best system I've seen. Late night cooking means no rush, no waiting for someone to finish their pasta, and you can actually grab that bottom shelf at the fridge without elbowing three people.

sean4811h ago

Have you tried asking about late checkout kitchens since they're usually less crowded?