People in Spain eat dinner late
Most North Americans are taken aback when they learn that Spaniards eat dinner between 9 and 10 p.m. In fact, the Spaniards eat their dinners late, about 10 p.m. or even 11 p.m., especially in the summer. Breakfast is not a big deal in Spain (it is usually very light), lunch is around 3-4 p.m., and dinner is when the Spaniards really show off.
Most restaurants don't serve food until after 8 p.m., which is useful to know before you start making plans for your day. In addition, between lunch and dinner, many restaurants that are open all day close their kitchens for a few hours, making it difficult to find a place to eat between 4 and 8 p.m. Dinner can easily last several hours, with wine flowing and multiple courses being served. Not to mention that in Spain, meals are often as much about the people as they are about the food, which can make for fantastic gatherings.
