Company tardeo in Valencia: the alternative to the Christmas dinner

For years, the company Christmas dinner has been the celebration of choice. But more and more teams prefer another formula: meeting in the late afternoon, with music, drinks and something to eat, and getting home at a reasonable hour. It is the company tardeo, and in Valencia, the city where tardeo has become a way of life, it fits naturally.

This guide explains what it is, how it differs from a dinner, when to choose it and how to organise it step by step.

The essentials in 30 seconds

• What it is: a private party for your team that starts between 17:00 and 18:00 and ends between 22:00 and 23:00.
• Format: finger food or food stations, a bar, a DJ and a short moment for a toast.
• Why it works: it is easier on work–life balance, more people come, the atmosphere is relaxed and public transport is still running on the way home.
• When: Thursdays and Fridays in December are the most requested, but it works at any time of year.
• Where: a space exclusive to your company, with music and room to dance.

What is a company tardeo?

Tardeo is a very Valencian way of going out: starting mid-afternoon with music and friends and finishing before the small hours. At Palau Alameda we know it well: AfterYou, our Saturday tardeo, turned ten in 2026.

For a company, tardeo becomes a private celebration: the space is just for your team, the music and food are chosen for the group, and there is a moment for management to say a few words. It is not a drink after work, but an event with a beginning, an end and something to celebrate.

Tardeo or company dinner: the differences

• Timing: a tardeo runs from late afternoon to 22:00 or 23:00; a dinner starts around 21:00 and the party goes on into the early hours.
• Format: a tardeo is standing, with finger food and a bar; a dinner is seated with a served menu.
• Atmosphere: at a tardeo people move around and mix; at a dinner, everyone talks to their own table.
• Attendance: a tardeo is easier for people with children, those who live further away or work the next day.
• Getting home: at 23:00 the metro and buses are still running; at 3:00 they are not.

The two can coexist: many companies hold a tardeo and whoever wants carries on into the night on their own.

Why it works for companies

• More people come. An afternoon slot brings in those who never make it to evening dinners: parents, people who live outside the city or early risers.
• More conversation. Standing up, people move between groups and colleagues from different departments actually talk.
• Fewer risks. A party that ends at 23:00 means fewer excesses and fewer late-night journeys.
• More dates available. A Thursday or Friday afternoon is easier to book than a Saturday night in December.
• The next day. Nobody turns up at the office without sleep.

When it fits (and when it does not)

A tardeo works especially well for young or mixed teams, for companies with shift work or remote staff, and when the goal is to celebrate and mingle rather than hold a formal evening.

If the celebration includes a long awards ceremony, institutional guests or a multi-course menu, a seated dinner is still the better choice. In that case, read our guide to company Christmas dinners in Valencia.

How to organise a company tardeo step by step

1. Choose the day and time. Thursday or Friday, starting between 17:00 and 18:00. In December, book six to eight weeks ahead.
2. Work out capacity. More people are likely to come than to a dinner: ask for a standing space with places to sit.
3. Decide on food. Generous finger food or food stations: cold, hot and something sweet. Make sure there is plenty at 19:00, when hunger peaks.
4. Decide on drinks. Open bar by the hour, a set number of drinks, or a mix. Always include alcohol-free options.
5. Bring the music. A DJ who starts with background music and builds towards the end. If your team loves the classics, ask for them: they fill the dance floor.
6. Plan the company moment. A toast, a few words from management or an award: ten minutes, no more, and before the music goes up.
7. Add an extra. A photo booth, a prize draw, a Christmas photocall or a short show: that is what people share afterwards.
8. Announce the end. Share the closing time and how to get home.

Sample timetable

• 17:30 · Arrival and welcome drink.
• 18:00 · Finger food and food stations.
• 19:00 · Toast and a few words, ten minutes at most.
• 19:15 · The DJ turns up the music.
• 22:30 · Close.

A tardeo with content

Some companies use the afternoon for something more: a results presentation, a short talk or an awards ceremony, followed by the party. That is the format Century 21 Levante chose in La Gran Sala, with more than 100 guests: awards for its offices, sector figures and then catering prepared for the occasion.

Company tardeo at Palau Alameda

Palau Alameda brings together, in one building on the Paseo de la Alameda in central Valencia, three spaces that adapt to a tardeo depending on the size of the group:

• [Àtic](/en/atic): the panoramic restaurant overlooking the Alameda, up to 550 guests in a cocktail format. Ideal for starting at sunset.
• [Azza](/en/azza): the club inside the building, up to 500 guests, with a DJ booth and a party atmosphere.
• [La Gran Sala](/en/la-gran-sala): a large-format venue with stage and audiovisual equipment, up to 800 guests, perfect if there is a presentation or awards before the party.

The kitchen is in-house, under the culinary direction of chef Luis Valls, and the team handles set-up, bar, DJ and technical production. The spaces can be combined: the talk in La Gran Sala and the tardeo at Àtic or Azza, without leaving the building.

If your group is small, another option is to go together to one of the open weekend tardeos, such as AfterYou on Saturdays in La Gran Sala or tardeo with Vicente Buitrón at Azza.

Not just for Christmas

A company tardeo is not only for December. It works just as well to celebrate the end of a project, welcome the summer, introduce new colleagues or close the season. For other formats, see our private and corporate events.

Frequently asked questions

What is a company tardeo?

It is a private party for your team that starts in the late afternoon, usually between 17:00 and 18:00, with finger food, a bar and a DJ, and ends before midnight. It is an alternative to the traditional company dinner.

What time does a company tardeo start and finish?

It usually starts between 17:00 and 18:00 and ends between 22:00 and 23:00. That way the team celebrates without a late night and can get home by public transport.

Is a tardeo or a company dinner better?

It depends on the team. A tardeo suits a relaxed atmosphere where people mingle and more of the team comes; a seated dinner suits formal awards, institutional guests or a multi-course menu.

Can you hold a company tardeo at Christmas?

Yes, and that is when it is most in demand. Thursday and Friday afternoons in December are the most requested dates, so book six to eight weeks ahead.

How many people can a tardeo at Palau Alameda host?

Àtic holds up to 550 guests in a cocktail format, Azza up to 500 and La Gran Sala up to 800. Smaller groups can also go together to one of the open weekend tardeos.

How do I request a quote?

Fill in the private events form with the date, the number of guests and the format you want, and we will send you a proposal within 24 hours.