Food is an integral part of any visit to Spain, and the country is known worldwide for its gastronomic traditions. Still, any traveler to Southern Spain will quickly discover that local eating customs are quite different than those they may be accustomed to – and embarking on a foodie adventure in Andalusia consists of not only knowing what to eat, but when. Let’s take a look at some local eating customs.
When to eat?
Breakfast
Two things that might surprise visitors to Granada are that coffee shops open much later than in other countries and, besides those that cater to tourists, most breakfast places do not serve eggs as these are not a Spanish breakfast staple. For breakfast, locals tend to opt for tostadas or churros in cafeterías that usually open around 9 am. Toast can be ordered with toppings such as olive oil, tomato, ham or cheese, although some places will customize your order with a fried or poached egg. Churros are always made to order and dipped in hot chocolate and are a local breakfast favorite.
Lunch
Classic Spanish restaurants and tapas bars typically serve lunch from 1 pm to 3 pm, featuring a daily menu, or menú del día. This can be a bit confusing as el menú is the daily fixed-price lunch special, while la carta is what foreigners would refer to as the restaurant’s complete menu. The daily specials almost always consist of two dishes, the primer plato and the segundo plato, a glass of wine or cold drink and a dessert. This complete meal may cost as little as 10€ per person in some places. When ordering from the regular menu, keep in mind that many appetizers, or entradas, come in full-meal-size portions, so it might make sense to order one item and wait to see if you’re still hungry before ordering another.
Merienda / Siesta
Most restaurants close after the lunch service to give their staff a break. If they stay open between lunch and dinner, often they will only serve drinks during that time. Certain bars might offer a cold tapa, such as jamón or olives, but only serve hot food when they open again for dinner. Locals looking for a snack during these hours often frequent pastelerías, or bakeries serving sweets and coffee. Finding places that serve food between 3 pm and 8 pm can be challenging, and options are sometimes limited to quick service establishments. However, restaurants in busy tourist areas may offer continuous meal service.
Dinner
Starting around 8 pm, you will find a myriad of options to satisfy your hunger. Granada has an incredible dining scene with countless establishments serving local fare and a growing number of restaurants specializing in international cuisine, including Japanese, Mexican and Italian. Locals are accustomed to eating late, and most restaurants will be at their peak around 10 pm. As with anywhere else, some of the more popular dining spots might require a reservation.
Night Hours
Calle Elvira, which runs parallel to Gran Vía and separates the Albaicín from the city center, and Calle Pedro Antonio de Alarcón are the go-to locations if hunger calls at any time of day or night. Many of these faster food establishments cater to a younger crowd leaving bars and clubs, but the quality and ingredients are fresh. Popular options include falafel, shawarma, burgers and pizza.
Stay Longer Guide Tip!
Tipping is not customary in Spain; locals generally do not tip at restaurants. If you want to show your gratitude for exceptional service, be prepared to leave a cash tip because in most places, you cannot add a tip if paying by credit card.