Eating out
It’s often just as cheap to eat out in Spain as it is to eat at home. Why spend time shopping and cooking when you can enjoy a three course menú del día (set menu) for as little as 10 euros?
Eating out is usually a casual affair in Spain (unless you go to one of the more formal international restaurants) where children are always welcome.
There are some excellent restaurants and bars in this region, choose from mountain views or eating by the sea. View our Restaurant pages for a comprehensive list of places to eat in the area.
Eating out can be a simple coffee and pastry for breakfast, a long leisurely lunch or an evening meal. Restaurants will move tables and chairs to accommodate large parties and will always welcome your custom.
Spain’s speciality is tapas (single small snacks that are usually accompanied by a glass of wine or beer). Tapas can be hot or cold and consist of single portions (raciones) of meat, fish or vegetables. Served with fresh bread and the famous alioli (garlic mayonnaise) they can make a satisfying meal. Some bars are specifically tapas bars and the choice is overwhelming. You find yourself wanting to try everything and ending up very full! In a real traditional tapas bar they are eaten at the bar and olive stones, seafood shells and cocktail sticks are just thrown on the floor.
A bocadillo (filled roll/sandwich) is always a good choice for a snack, particularly when filled with tortilla. If you want ham you’re likely to be asked if you want jamón york, which is standard ham. Otherwise you may end up with chorizo, the smoked sausage famous throughout Spain.
If you go into a bar for a coffee mid-morning you’re likely to be accompanied by lots of local workers who eat their breakfast then. It’s not unusual for Spaniards to accompany this meal with a brandy and then return to work, but you’ll hardly ever see them drunk – it’s just the done thing.
Smoking is beginning to become a bit of an issue in Spain and it’s now possible to find restaurants that have both smoking and non-smoking areas.