When in Rome, do like the Romans ... or when in Spain: do like the Spanish.
Sure, you can get international food in Spain - but do yourself a favour and taste the Spanish food while visiting. It's part of your holiday experience and chances are; you'll love it! Keep an eye out for crowded local bars and cafés; if the place is packed with Spanish people, it usually means the food is good. |
Bocaddillos
Whether you are staying in a hotel or in a holiday home, leave the buffet breakfast or the kitchen in your holiday home alone, one of your mornings, and take a stroll out in the neighbourhood to see where the Spanish have their morning coffee and breakfast.
There are many different types of coffee in Spain. If you want black coffee order Café Solo - but remember to add "Grande" (Café Solo Grande) otherwise you will get a very tiny strong black coffee. If you want coffee with warm milk, order Café con Leche. Coffee is normally served in a glass. A typical Spanish breakfast is a bocaddillo (baguette) which you can get fresh or toasted with olive oil and tomatoes. The tomatoes are not like the ones you get in your local supermarket at home, these tomatoes are most likely freshly picked and they actually taste of tomatoes. |
How to order coffee in Spain
Café Solo – half a glass of single espresso Café Solo Grande – full glass of single espresso Café Doble – double espresso Café con Leche – half coffee / half milk Café Cortado – espresso with a little bit of milk Carajillo – coffee with a twist of brandy or whiskey |
Tapas
A brilliant thing about the Spanish cafés is that they serve tapas. This basically means you can get a varied, filling, tasty lunch for very little money - depending on where you go.
In Granada you still get free tapas with every drink you buy. Most other places you pay from 0.50 EUR to 2.50 EUR per tapas. The selection of tapas vary from bar to bar and from season to season, however they are all served with fresh bread, which purpose is to dip into the sauce to soak it up. |
Menu del Dia
Menu del Dia or the meu of the day is a very economical way of eating while in Spain. You normally get a starter, a main meal and a dessert for one budget price.
In most places you will have a choice of starters like salad or soup. The main meal is usually a choice between meat or fish and the dessert a choice between coffee or dessert. Some places Menu del Dia is only served for lunch between 14.00 and 17.00 |