Savoring Spain: Exploring the Culture and Cuisine of Mealtimes and Siesta

Ah, mealtimes in Spain! Let me tell you, it’s a whole different world out here. First of all, forget about the usual breakfast, lunch, and dinner routine. Spanish people have their own unique mealtimes that will make your head spin (but in a good way).

5 meals a day yet restaurants close at certain times

The daily routines in Spain rely on mealtimes. Yes, that’s how important food is to Spaniards. To completely adjust to the culture, get used to eating several times a day and changing your mealtimes. It took a couple of months but now works perfectly for us!

Just when you thought you were going out for a delicious meal, here you are, standing in front of a door with a closed sign or you enter a restaurant at 3:30pm, which, according to Google, doesn’t close until 4pm and they tell you “the kitchen is already closed”.  It has happened to us more times than once.

This is how sacred Spanish mealtimes are. Lately though, there are some restaurants that stay open all day – so always check the opening hours by calling (Google hasn’t’ been that reliable lately) or just start eating like a local.

One more thing …. Many restaurants, bakeries and small businesses close for their summer holidays (July and August). Some take a week or two while others close for a month.

¡ Vamos a desayunar, almorzar, comer, merendar, o cenar!

Desayuno 7:00 to 9:00
Let’s start with desayuno (breakfast). This meal is usually light, sweet, and full of carbs. You can enjoy a delicious tostada con tomate (toasted bread with fresh tomato, olive oil, and salt) accompanied by the classic café con leche (coffee with frothed milk, so really like a latte) or fresh, Valencian orange juice. And if you’re feeling extra fancy, you can add toppings like queso (cheese), jamon (ham), or aquacate (avocado).

Almuerzo 10:30 to 12:00
But hold on, we’re not done yet. After a couple of hours, it’s time for almuerzo (mid-morning snack). Yes, you read that right. It’s like having a second breakfast, and who doesn’t love breakfast food? You can find people munching on a bocadillo which is a baguette cut in half, usually filled with a tortilla, manchego cheese, or serrano ham.

Comida 13:00 to 16:00
Now, let’s move on to comida (lunch), the most important meal of the day. And I mean it. Spanish people take lunch seriously. It’s the heaviest meal of the day and can last for hours. You’ll find families and friends gathering together, enjoying several courses of deliciousness, starting with the appetizers (entrantes), followed by the first course (primero), second course (segundo), and dessert (postre). And if you’re on a budget, you can always choose the menú del día, which is a set menu that includes all of the above for a reasonable price.

Entrantes: Appetizers. These are usually meant to be shared at the beginning of the meal. You’ll also see appetizers under the heading para picar which means “to pick at.”

Primeros: First courses. This word is most often used on lunchtime menu del día. These first courses tend to be more elaborate than the second course. This is often where you’ll find most of the vegetable dishes.

Segundos: Second courses. This is another word used almost exclusively on daily lunch menus. Segundos are often a meat or fish dish served with fried potatoes or a very small salad of lettuce, tomato and onion.

Postre o Cafe: Dessert or coffee. Most menu del día’s include a dessert or coffee in the price. 

Merienda 17:30 to 19:00
I am always ready for merienda (a late-afternoon snack). After a few hours of digestion, it’s time for merienda (late-afternoon snack). This is the time to indulge in a pastry or two, a coffee, or if you’re in Valencia or Alicante, a horchata and farton (a sweet pastry) or in the winter, churros y chocolate. Yum!

Cena 20:30 to 22:30
Last but not least, we have cena (dinner), which can either be a light meal or a mix of tapas that you share with your family or friends. Tapas are small snacks that range from croquetas, mussels, cheeses, patatas bravas, cured meats, olives, little pieces of octopus, gazpacho, calamari or gambas al ajillo. And don’t forget to eat late because, during the weekends, people usually start eating around 10 pm.

Some of our favorite tapas bars are Cerveceria Sentos in Alicante and La Uva Jumillana in Cartagena,  At these places you will find delicious and different types of tapas away from the norm.

One thing we’ve learned since living in Spain. Never be in a hurry when eating your meal…. and be patient when it’s time to ask for your bill. La cuenta por favor.

So, there you have it. Mealtimes in Spain are a whole new world, but it’s a world full of delicious food and good times. Just remember to pace yourself and never be in a hurry when eating your meal because in Spain, we take our time to enjoy the food and the company. ¡Buen provecho! (That’s Spanish for enjoy your meal.)

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