💡 Coffee in Spain is ordered by type: café solo (espresso), cortado (with a drop of milk), café con leche, americano; with it people often take a tostada or croissant.
💡 In a bar in the morning people take a tostada, bollería (pastries), churros, tortilla; ask ¿Qué tienen de desayuno?
💡 Milk: leche entera (whole), desnatada (skimmed), sin lactosa, de avena (oat), de soja (soya); descafeinado is decaf.
💡 In bars and on terraces you choose your own table; if none, say ¿Hay alguna mesa libre?; you can sit at the counter (en la barra), where it's cheaper.
💡 A caña is a small draught beer, tinto red wine, agua con gas sparkling water, zumo de naranja orange juice, refresco a soft drink.
💡 The contraseña del wifi is the Wi-Fi password: ask the waiter or read it on a sign; say ¿Tienen wifi?
💡 Para llevar is takeaway; ask ¿Me lo pone en un vaso? or ¿Tiene tapa?; a sandwich is a bocadillo (baguette) or sándwich; bolsa is bag.
💡 Bread: barra (loaf), pan de pueblo (country), integral (wholemeal), pan de molde (sliced); rebanada is a slice; crujiente is crusty.
💡 At the bakery bread is sliced on request: ¿Me lo corta?, en rebanadas; entero is whole; you can ask for a bag.
💡 Pastries: napolitana (with chocolate), palmera, ensaimada, croissant, magdalena (cupcake), rosquilla; you take several: tres napolitanas.
💡 Sin gluten is gluten-free; you can mention intolerance: Soy celíaco/a; bakeries may have separate products, but ask about cross-contamination (trazas).
💡 A cake (tarta) is ordered in advance: say the number of people, flavour, inscription and day; leave a deposit or name; ask about allergens.
💡 At a restaurant you say reservar una mesa para dos; give time and name; Spaniards dine late: from nine, and lunch is around two.
💡 In a restaurant say Buenas noches at the door; mesa para dos is a table for two; do not sit before being invited if there is a host.
💡 La carta is the menu; el menú del día is a fixed-price set lunch (starter, main, drink, dessert or coffee); served on weekdays at lunchtime.
💡 In the set lunch: primero (starter: soup or salad), segundo (main: meat or fish), postre (dessert) or café; ask ¿Qué hay de menú?
💡 Mention allergies at once: Soy alérgico/a a...; vegetariano, sin cerdo (no pork), sin gluten; the waiter will tell you what is possible.
💡 Dishes: paella (rice with seafood or meat), gazpacho (cold soup), tortilla española, croquetas, pulpo (octopus); ask for a description: ¿Qué lleva?
💡 If the wrong dish arrives say politely: Perdone, esto no es lo que he pedido; the waiter replaces it; do not be shy, it's normal.
💡 Requests: sin cebolla (no onion), con poca sal, sin picante (not spicy), aparte (on the side); the waiter usually accommodates.
💡 You ask for the bill with a gesture or La cuenta, por favor; the waiter brings it to the table; you usually pay at the table or at the till near the exit.
💡 Separado or cada uno lo suyo is separately; todo junto together; the waiter asks ¿Junto o separado?; you can also split evenly (a medias).
💡 Tips (propina) in Spain are not obligatory; you leave small change or round up; service is already included in the price.
💡 If the bill has a mistake say calmly: Creo que hay un error en la cuenta; the waiter checks; always check the bill before paying.
💡 A receipt is a ticket or factura (invoice); for company expenses ask for a factura with details; say ¿Me da el ticket?