Hi,
Will be spending 31st December in Barcelona this year.

Being on a very tight budget, was wondering if anyone can suggest a good place to have dinner on the 31st, without paying a fortune?

Also need to know if La Boqueria is open on the 31st of December/ 1st of January?

Gracias.

When are you going to eat? As you appreciate the 31st is New years eve and if any restaurant is open then it will have a special menu that night. That will be expensive.
If you want to eat during the day then any bar where the locals are eating would be my personal choice.
contact the market direct to see if they open
http://www.boqueria.info/Eng/index.php

I'm not 100% sure, but i believe the restaurant Set Portes serves a special menu and their regular menu on NYE. Check their website to be sure. In any case, you'll need a reservation. Enjoy Barcelona!

Thanks..will check out 7 Portes, though they have not yet published their NY menu or price.

Dining out on New Years Eve, both in Madrid and Barcelona is quite a pricey affair. Both 7 Portes and Agua, El Principal and Tragaluz, members of the Tragaluz group, will have special NYE menus. I believe the Tragaluz group gala menu ran 150 euros p.p. last year. Set Portes may cost a bit less, especially if it serves its regular menu. Dinner at the Hotel Arts will cost 320 euros this year!

La Boquería market will definitely be closed on Jan. 1, but it may have truncated hours on Dec. 31, since folks will be doing their last minute shopping for their NYE dinners celebrated at home with friends and family.

sasha,
Another thought:
The Tragaluz group restaurant and tapas bar, Cuines de Santa Caterina, in the Mercat de Santa Caterina (in El Born) will probably be open on NYE in the early evening at least. We have had an inexpensive meal of tapas and raciones there at the bar.