Low wages, chronically high unemployment and rising prices never seem to prevent Spaniards from enjoying drinks and meals out with friends and family. New data illustrates how much importance Spaniards give to these eating rituals.
We all know that food and sitting down to eat together is a big part of Spanish culture, but just how important is it to the average Spaniard?
A recent study by global food market analysts Circana found that the average Spaniard eats out 152 times a year. That’s almost three times per week.
In fact, Spaniards are only surpassed by Italians, who eat out 221 times per year. The Spanish also dine out more the French, who go 142 times a year.
A separate survey by Spain’s Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) found that 88 percent of Spaniards eat out at least once a month. Only one in ten Spaniards never eats out.
According to the Circana study, a total of 43 percent of people in Spain eat out for lunch or dinner, compared to the European average of 35 percent.
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Edurne Uranga, an executive from Circana did point out though, “that we’re seeing an increase in times that were previously less common, such as breakfast and brunch, which has experienced a significant rise in popularity” in Spain.
The study also revealed that Spaniards collectively spend around €43.5 billion on eating out. However, this included everything from traditional bars and restaurants to cafes and even options like vending machines and ready meals in supermarkets.
Although the latter options aren’t as common in Spain, this market is growing and supermarkets are selling more and more convenience food.
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Spaniards much prefer to eat inside bars or restaurants, rather than getting takeaway. “It’s a country that eats in the dining room,” explained Uranga.
Nevertheless, the researcher did stress that the fastest-growing food segment in Spain compared to previous years was takeaway, whether from a restaurant or from the supermarket.
Could it be that Spanish eating habits are slowly changing? Or is it just among young people in Spain who perhaps cannot afford to eat out at restaurants as much?
In terms of how much each person actually spends on eating out in Spain, the CIS survey found that 55.7 percent of respondents spend between €15 and €30 per person when eating out.
This is followed by 28.6 percent who spend between €31 and €50 per visit, while 7 percent spend less than €15. Just 1.8 percent of respondents say they spend over €70 per person.
The latest data on Spaniards’ annual eating out budget is from 2024, with government figures suggesting they each spent on average €1,010 at bars, restaurants and cafés that year.
Another survey by the Spanish Hospitality Association titled “Barómetro FOOD 2025” found that three quarters of Spaniards refuse to reduce their visits to restaurants even if prices are increasing.
Food, and in particular eating out, is a non-negotiable expense for 74 percent of those asked.
“People (in Spain) are willing, for example, to cut back on expenses like clothing or technology before they cut back on restaurants,” María Abolafio, Wellbeing Expert at Edenred, told Spanish newspaper Infobae regarding the survey’s findings.
They’re also prepared to spend a bit less on lavish meals and opt for cheaper options, even though nutritional health and sensory pleasure were also highlighted among the most valued factors in the survey.
READ ALSO: Is Spain’s beloved ‘menú del día’ at risk of disappearing?
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According to Hostelería de España, the average prices of a menú del día in 2025 was €14.20, suggesting that Spain’s classic set menu is becoming increasingly more expensive.
This is already true in the Balearic Islands where the average menú del día an average of €16, in the Basque Country where it costs €15.80 and in Catalonia where customers spend on average €15.40.
Crucially for Spaniards, eating out isn’t just about enjoying delicious food. More than half of those surveyed (51.7 percent) said that sharing a meal with friends and family the most important aspect of the occasion.
Much of the time it doesn’t matter where Spaniards go out to eat, it just matters who they eat with. A family meal out doesn’t even have to be a celebration, it could be a ritual every Sunday afternoon.
The art of sobremesa – or lingering after a meal to chat and socialise – is just as important as the actual food itself in Spain. It’s all about being together.
READ ALSO: Spanish Word of the Day – ‘Sobremesa’
