Food in Spain is woven into daily life — how you order, when you eat, what you tip, and which dishes locals reach for on a Tuesday night versus a weekend out.
In Spain, food & drink comes down to a few things: tapas are a way of life, meal times are late, and sobremesa is sacred.
In many cities, you get a free tapa with every drink. Granada is famous for this. Hop between bars, order a caña (small beer), and eat whatever arrives. In other cities, you order tapas à la carte.
Tip: In San Sebastián, they're called pintxos and are lined up on the bar. Point at what you want. The toothpicks are counted for your bill.
Lunch is 2–4pm and is the main meal. Dinner is 9–11pm. Restaurants don't open for dinner before 8:30. Eating at 6pm will land you in a tourist trap or an empty room.
The post-meal conversation that stretches for an hour or more. Nobody rushes to leave the table. Coffee, maybe a copa, and talking. The bill won't come until you ask.