Meal times in Madrid and the menú del día
Meal times in Madrid and the menú del día
Madrileños usually eat lunch around 14:00 and dinner from 21:00. Restaurants generally serve lunch 13:00–16:00 and dinner 20:00–23:30. The menú del día is a fixed-price lunch: a first and second course plus dessert or coffee, for about €15 according to esMADRID.
Madrid eats later than most of Europe. Here is what the city's official tourism site (esMADRID) and Spain's national tourism site (spain.info) say about when people eat, and what you get with a menú del día. Checked on 8 October 2026.
When people eat
| Meal | Usual time | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Any time 07:00–12:00 | spain.info |
| Pre-lunch drink or tapas | 12:00–14:00 | spain.info |
| Lunch | Around 14:00 in Madrid; restaurants serve it 13:00–16:00 | esMADRID; spain.info |
| Dinner | From 21:00 in Madrid; restaurants serve it 20:00–23:30 | esMADRID; spain.info |
- esMADRID says Madrileños usually have lunch around 14:00 and dinner from 21:00.
- spain.info says the usual lunch time in Spain is 13:30–15:30. In big cities and in summer, dinner is normally served until 23:30.
- Between 12:00 and 14:00 it is common to have a drink or some tapas with friends before eating. spain.info calls this the aperitivo, a light snack to wake up your appetite before the main meal.
- If you're hungry at odd hours: esMADRID says that in tourist areas you can eat at any time. Tapas are a flexible option at any time of day.
The menú del día
esMADRID says most restaurants offer a menú del día: a first course and a second course, plus dessert or coffee, for about €15. It's a fixed-price lunch menu, and esMADRID recommends trying one.
Restaurants set their own menu, price and the days they serve it. Check the board or ask before you order.
On the bill
- Tipping is optional. esMADRID says tips are not obligatory in bars, restaurants or hotels, though they are always welcome when the service has been good.
- Bread or a small tapa: some restaurants add a charge of €2 or €3 for bread or a small tapa. esMADRID says they must tell you about it, and you can turn it down.
- "IVA no incluido" (VAT not included): if a menu or sign says this, the price you see goes up by 10% on the bill.
Shops at lunchtime
- esMADRID says businesses in Madrid open around 9:00 or 10:00. Many, especially in the centre, stay open without a break until 20:00–22:00.
- Shops that do close for lunch usually close at 14:00 and reopen between 16:00 and 17:00.