Eating times

Dinner (supper) is at 10 pm. What time in lunchtime??

normally around 2:30 on average .. sometimes a bit later . Steve .. It takes some getting used to hahahahaha

As steve robinson says, 2:30pm a pretty average time but people start eating LUNCH as early as 1:30pm and go for lunch as late as 3pm. Most restaurants don't even open until 1:30pm but some of the more touristic places are open at 1pm.

Saludos, MadridMan

Denise 2009, the meal times may sound strange, and they might be a bit of an adjustment for you. However, keep in mind that lunch (often called "la comida" or "el almuerzo") is the biggest meal of the day. In North America dinner is usually the most substantial meal of the day, but that's not true in Spain. In Spain, you often eat lightly in the evening. This means having a tapa or two with your drink at one bar and then going to another bar to do the same.

Also, keep in mind that many restaurants offer a prix fixe menu at lunch time, and it's called "Menu del Dia." Depending on the restaurant, you will get a starter such as a soup or salad, then your main entree, then coffee and possibly dessert. These are better deals than ordering a la carte.

Denise, bear in mind that Spain is cake/dessert heaven!!

Sallyanne,
Sooooo...the diet is wasted! *LOL*

Well, it doesn't matter where you go you can eat when you please.

If I typically have breakfast at a certain time everyday then I will continue to do so whether in Bilbao or Hong Kong (I know from experience), same for lunch and dinner.

Yeah, yeah,,, in Spain certain restaurants may not provide certain menus until certain times of the day but I assure that if you're hungry and wanna eat lunch by 1230 you shall be able to grub for food and succeed.

The Midday meal is most often the principal meal of the day. I usually wait until 3:30 PM or so for my midday meal. That way, most people having the Menu del Día will already have been served, and the Taberna or restaurant or whatever is more likely to give us late diners larger portions. Then I have a light repast before sleepytime.

I arrived at my Hotel in VilaGarcia de Arousa (Galicia) at 4 PM; the meal service had ended, but they served me and portions were enormous.

When in Spain, be a Spaniard!

Your method is a good one, Eddie, for not having to compete with others for tables during the busy lunchtime. But on the downside, most places will close at 5pm (at the latest) and you'd have to rush to eat if arriving at 4pm. PLUS, sometimes at that 4pm hour you'll find half of the items on the "Menú del Día" crossed out because they've run out. That's always a bummer.

Northern regions in Spain tend to eat lunch and dinner at earlier hours. Seems to me that 1pm was the average lunch time in Cantabria.

Saludos, MadridMan (time to cook lunch!)

well my five cents worth, as Spanish ,who have travelled the country. the meal times gets extended as you go south ,generally speaking. Nowdays with the advent of modernity and corporate schedules, even in the south meals are been serve more flexible. And it will continue to change although slowly ::)

You can eat anytime you want, anything, But ,the general times for meals are pretty much as is
breakfast 8:30 to 10 am
Lunch 2-4 pm
dinner 10-12midnite, i know but i have often eaten by 11:30 pm

the in between you can have "snacks", tapas, drinks, horchatas, etc anytime.