Eat Like a Local
The Spanish eating schedule is no joke—here is how to survive it.
Sarah Fitzgerald
Barcelona & Sitges , Spain
If you walk into a restaurant at 6:00 PM expecting dinner, you will be eating alone (or with other confused tourists). Here is the actual schedule: locals typically do lunch/tapas from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and dinner doesn't start until 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Pro Tip: Arriving slightly earlier (like 12:45 PM or 7:45 PM) is the best hack to grab a table before the local rush hits.
Ordering: Don't be shy—tapas are meant for sharing, so order a bunch of small plates for the table rather than one big main.
The Drink: Skip the sangria; locals pair their tapas with vermouth, cava, or a caña (small beer).
