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What time do you eat dinner in Barcelona?

Dinner – 9 pm to 11:30 pm Evening meals are taken quite late here. Don't distress if you are an early eater as many restaurants have adapted quite well to visitors, opening their doors before hand. Traditionally, portions consumed at this late hour are not as big as at lunch time.



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La Cena (dinner) – And finally… dinnertime. It's widely known that people in Spain like to eat late, and Barcelona is no exception. Around here, some restaurants catering to tourists can open around 6 or 7, but most really tend to get going around 9:00pm.

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While most clubs in the city start opening around 10 pm, they won't start getting busy with locals until well past midnight. The only exception is Barcelona's beach clubs which start getting busier early since they usually attract more tourists than locals.

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Tips aren't expected in Barcelona, but they are always appreciated. Credit cards – tipping is possible with a card, just be sure you ask them to add it to the total as they run your card. There's no space on the credit card receipt when it comes time to sign.

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Why do they eat so late in Spain? Spain's famously late mealtimes are due to the fact that the country has been geographically in the wrong time zone since World War II! During all that time, Spaniards have eaten at the same time they always have in regards to the position of the sun in the sky.

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Most Greeks will eat dinner around 9 to 10 pm. If they have had a substantial lunch then they will eat something lighter for dinner such as fruit with yogurt, a sandwich, salad or a small amount of leftovers from lunch.

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Restaurants in Barcelona Tipping at restaurants is a widely accepted practice in Spanish tipping etiquette. The bill will include a service charge representing the tip in most cases. The most common tip amount to leave is 10% of the total amount on your bill.

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You won't necessarily be turned away if you're dressed casually, however, an evening out in Barcelona generally means you should be looking good and well dressed. Avoid wearing casual shorts in the city, save them for the beach, wearing them elsewhere will generally label you as a tourist.

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In the evening, local women dress more stylishly, particularly when dining out. If you are going to an average to high quality restaurant, you'll be more comfortable wearing something more dressy. And don't forget about your shoes… the Spanish love shoes, and for them a pair of shabby shoes can let down a whole outfit.

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Respect other tenants by keeping noise levels to a minimum, and by avoiding making noise in hallways and common areas. Quiet Hours 10pm-8am: There is a national law in Spain prohibiting noise from 10pm-8am and neighbors will call the police if this is not enforced.

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During World War II, Franco moved Spain's time zone ahead one hour to Central European Time in solidarity with Nazi Germany. Because of this, the sun also tends to set pretty late in Spain, which is part of the reason dinner (and nightlife) tends to start so late.

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Punctuality is not highly important in Spain. People can arrive half an hour late to a social function with no questions raised. If someone turns up late and apologises, people are likely to respond with something like “no pasa nada” – meaning “It's not that important”.

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Lunch: 2–3:30 p.m. Merienda (Mid-afternoon snack): 5–6:30 p.m. Aperitif: 8–10 p.m. Dinner: 9–11 p.m.

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Local Etiquette
  1. Don't talk politics. ...
  2. Do bring your own bags to shop in the market or supermarket.
  3. Don't have tapas for dinner. ...
  4. Don't show up for dinner before 9 p.m.
  5. Don't wear a Barça jersey except on a day where there's a game (unless if you're under ten years old).


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Great news for Spanish diners - the Government has made it a legal requirement to provide free tap in all restaurants and cafes. Before now, the EC's 2020 drinking water directive had only encouraged public venues and restaurants to offer tap water for free.

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