Spanish dinner hour - It's true!
You've heard the rumours but you never really believed it, yes? But it is true - the Spanish people really DO eat dinner at 10 p.m.!
Honestly.
If you're ever in Madrid and you pop into a restaurant or pub, do not expect to be able to order from its dinner menu. It will simply not be available until 8 p.m. at the earliest. Antonio said 8 p.m. - the 'early seating' - is typically to accommodate Spanish couples with children. Happily, for our tour Antonio would arrange any group dinners to accommodate our North American habits, getting them bumped up to around 7 or 7:15 p.m. I have to admit, I was thankful for that.
Pictures below are from the "Taberna La Plaza". Antonio recommended it and it was such fun (we even went twice). The one waiter was such a character - shades, actually, of "Manwell of Fawlty Towers" - with his comic ways. He would say emphatically, "KITCHEN IS CLOSED!" when people - in error would try to order from the dinner menu before 8 p.m. On one of the bills he presented to me he had written, "I love you" followed by some xoxox's. Too fun!
So if you can't order from the dinner menu? Try some tapas or their toast with a variety of toppings. Loved the latter!
Also fun were the members of this group. I was very lucky to have cast my tour travelling lot with them!
Honestly.
If you're ever in Madrid and you pop into a restaurant or pub, do not expect to be able to order from its dinner menu. It will simply not be available until 8 p.m. at the earliest. Antonio said 8 p.m. - the 'early seating' - is typically to accommodate Spanish couples with children. Happily, for our tour Antonio would arrange any group dinners to accommodate our North American habits, getting them bumped up to around 7 or 7:15 p.m. I have to admit, I was thankful for that.
Pictures below are from the "Taberna La Plaza". Antonio recommended it and it was such fun (we even went twice). The one waiter was such a character - shades, actually, of "Manwell of Fawlty Towers" - with his comic ways. He would say emphatically, "KITCHEN IS CLOSED!" when people - in error would try to order from the dinner menu before 8 p.m. On one of the bills he presented to me he had written, "I love you" followed by some xoxox's. Too fun!
So if you can't order from the dinner menu? Try some tapas or their toast with a variety of toppings. Loved the latter!
Also fun were the members of this group. I was very lucky to have cast my tour travelling lot with them!