The Spaniards are real gourmets in the choice of food and drink, which is why there are numerous restaurants, cafes, eateries, taverns throughout the country. Their main feature is that the menu consists of national dishes that have their own regional characteristics.
Catering establishments
In addition to traditional places of public catering, international eateries Wok to Wolk, McDonalds, KFS are open throughout the country, where you can have a snack or drink coffee. They compete with small cafes called 100 montadiotos, which serve exclusively sandwiches. They are made from products that can be found only in the regions of the country. That is why different categories of the population like to go here - from young to elderly, who are attracted by the opportunity to have a quick and satisfying snack.
It is worth noting the presence in the cities of Spain and the presence of Chinese restaurants serving Asian and European cuisine. Locals also come here quite often, as you can have a full meal for only 9-10 euros. While in national institutions for such a price you can find a business lunch, which can be ordered from noon.
A distinctive feature of cafes and taverns is that they work like an ordinary buffet, where the number of approaches for food and drinks is unlimited.
The oldest restaurant in the country is Sobrino de Botín, opened in Madrid in the 1720s.
Gastronomic culture
Almost all establishments serve various types of tapes and tapas, which form the basis of the Spanish diet. These dishes have created a special gastronomic culture as well as a lifestyle. During meals, residents chat with friends and drink. Therefore, special tapas bars began to be organized everywhere, serving sandwiches and snacks.
Soups are not often seen on the menu, although in every establishment you can see the traditional first course gazpacho. It is a cold soup made with tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, spices and bread.
Also, the national cuisine includes paella (pilaf with seafood added) and jamon (dry-cured pork). The seafood menu is also an integral part of nutrition, since the Spaniards eat a lot of fish and shellfish.
The most common alcoholic beverages include white (Pendes and Ampordan) and red (sangria) wines, as well as sherry.
