Meal times are of major importance in Spain. They are times when families can get together, often in the form of a large lunch and a light dinner. Continental type breakfasts are the norm in Spain and they consist of fresh bread rolls jam and butter. Sometimes cheeses and hams are served at breakfast times also. Fresh juice, tea and coffee are the standard breakfast beverages but hot chocolate is also popular in the mornings. Spanish coffee may be too strong for some, even when milk is added.

Tapas bars are popular worldwide and it is basically small portions of Spanish foods. Tapas can consist of a variety of dishes which can change from restaurant to restaurant. Small pieces of garlic bread, olives, ham, salami and cheeses are often a part of a tapas menu, as are garlic mushrooms, meatballs and shrimp. Seafood often plays a big part in the Spanish cuisine with seafood paella being a popular choice. With tapas you can pick and choose from a variety of dishes and you keep going until you have eaten enough. It is the perfect way to sample a variety of Spanish dishes, and even if you eat tapas every day you never have to eat the same choices twice, unless of course you want to.

Traditionally, vegetables and salads do not play as big a part at Spanish mealtimes as one might think. Salads tend to be very simple affairs, often just a small amount of lettuce and tomatoes. Vegetables are more often cooked as a part of a meal and not as individual portions, for example such as in soups or stews not as a side order to a meat dish. Peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and mushrooms are often used in larger quantities at meal times. Garlic is used in almost everything and most meals are cooked using olive oil. Spain is the largest producer of olive oil than any other country worldwide.

Very rare is a meal cooked in Spain without the use of meat in some form or other. Rabbit, chicken and pork are the most popular meat dishes, and other meat products such as chorizo are used regularly. Seafood dishes such as squid cooked in its own ink are a popular delicacy and fish soup, which is a favourite of both locals and tourists alike, can be made using a variety of seafood. Vegetarian meals such as vegetable paella, large beans in tomato sauce and some pasta dishes are usually also available in restaurants.

Regional variations can be applied to the countries favourite dishes. Whereby the coastal areas may see seafood dishes at their most popular, perhaps due to the fact the fish is caught and served usually within a few hours to many fish restaurants, there are many traditional dishes that remain popular throughout the whole country. Potato omelette (tortilla de patata), paella and stews remain high on the list of most requested meals in many restaurants throughout Spain. Desserts are also a must have to finish of a meal in Spain. Rice pudding (Arroz con leche) is popular as are flans, custard and Madeleines.

The Spanish tend to eat late. It is not uncommon to see the locals heading off to their favourite eateries after 11pm. Tourists and expats who are not yet used to the change in eating patterns may feel like restaurants are deserted if eating at the ‘normal’ times of 7 or 8 pm. However, anyone choosing to eat later may find that after 11pm it is difficult to get a table.

As well as Spanish coffees, teas in various types are enjoyed throughout the country. Chamomile and fruit teas are also often served as well as ice teas. Sangria is a popular beverage as is Spanish cider which can sometimes be dry compared to the cider produced in other countries. Rioja wines produced in the Spanish region of La Rioja are one of the most famous and popular wines from around the world. Beers such as San Miguel which are Spanish produced are also very popular with tourists and locals alike. Spanish Sherries are some of the nicest in the world and it is not uncommon to find many dishes cooked also using a variety of wine and sherry based sauces.