In Spain, lunch is the main meal of the day and is served from about 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Dinner starts around 9:00 p.m., and later on weekends and in summer. Breakfast is light, a mid-morning snack carries Spaniards to lunch, and a late-afternoon merienda bridges the gap to dinner. Most restaurant kitchens close between about 4:00 and 8:00 p.m.
See how we pace the days around Spanish meal times: 10-Day Private Spain Tour: Madrid to Barcelona Highlights. Or talk to a planner, who replies within one business day.
What time do Spaniards eat each meal?
| Meal | Spanish name | Typical time | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | desayuno | 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. | Coffee with toast, often topped with crushed tomato and olive oil, or a pastry |
| Mid-morning snack | almuerzo or media mañana | 10:30 a.m. to noon | Coffee and a slice of tortilla española or a small sandwich, a bocadillo |
| Lunch | comida | 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. | The main meal: starter, main course, dessert and coffee. Many restaurants serve a fixed-price menú del día on weekdays |
| Afternoon snack | merienda | 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. | Coffee or hot chocolate with a pastry, or churros in cooler months |
| Dinner | cena | 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. | Lighter than lunch, often tapas or raciones shared at a bar or restaurant |
Why do Spaniards eat so late?
Clock and sun explain most of it. Spain has kept Central European Time since 1940, although most of the country lies west of London, so the sun rises and sets later than the clock suggests. In Madrid in late June the sun sets around 9:45 p.m. A 9:00 p.m. dinner happens in daylight for much of the year. The traditional working day also paused for the main meal at midday, and evenings stayed social, with friends and family out on the plazas.
Do restaurants in Spain serve dinner early?
Restaurants in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and other cities usually open for dinner at 8:00 or 8:30 p.m., and the most sought-after dining rooms fill from 9:30 p.m. Tapas bars stay open through the afternoon and evening, so a 7:00 p.m. tapas stop works well before a later dinner, or instead of one. Lunch works the other way for Americans: a 2:00 p.m. reservation at a top restaurant is the easiest way to enjoy Spain’s best cooking at a relaxed pace.
How does the meal schedule shape a private tour of Spain?
Our planners build each day around Spanish meal times. Morning visits start after breakfast, the main sightseeing ends in time for lunch, and afternoons stay free or hold a gentle visit before dinner. We reserve tables at restaurants we know well, and if you prefer to eat earlier, tell your planner and the days are planned around your hours.
Is the meal schedule the same in Portugal?
Portugal eats about an hour earlier than Spain, with lunch from about 1:00 p.m. and dinner from about 8:00 p.m. Travelers who combine the two countries notice the shift at the border. Read our guide to the meal schedule in Portugal.
Tell us how you like to eat, early or late, and your planner builds the days around it. Talk to a planner, who replies within one business day.
