So you’re off on holiday to Spain but you don’t speak much Spanish. You’re not too sure what to expect. How do you know how much you should tip and should you wait to be seated at a restaurant? We’ve put together a simple etiquette survival guide with a few rules of thumb to help you out.
Greetings
Be sure to shake hands both when you arrive and meet someone and when you leave. Once you know the person in question, a kiss on each cheek is accepted between both male and female and between two female friends. Remember it’s not actually a kiss though, just a brush of the cheek – you don’t want smudged lipstick on your face! Close male friends may hug.
Tipping
In Spain, tipping is not a conventional custom at bars or cafes. Nor is it normal to tip taxi drivers. You may see a jar or pot with an English sign stating it is a tip jar, but nine times out of ten this would be intended for tourists only. Additionally, you will most likely be served by more than one waiter or waitress, which makes it difficult to tip one particular staff member. If you do decide to tip, be aware that the staff member for whom the tip is intended may not actually receive it as the tips may be kept by the owner of the premises.
On the other hand, at expensive restaurants where you have received good service, a 5% tip is acceptable. Tipping wherever you wine and dine however, is essentially at your discretion.
Table Manners
Keep your elbows off the table, use a teaspoon for your dessert and feel free to use your bread as an additional piece of cutlery! Do not dip your bread in your soup either – it is the ultimate faux pas!
Dining at Restaurants
Punctuality is not considered to be extremely important in Spain. It is fairly common to be slightly late for a social occasion. Thirty minutes is acceptable in southern Spain and fifteen minutes in northern Spain.
Generally you are expected to seat yourself at a restaurant, unless it is an expensive restaurant whereby you will normally wait to be seated. Bread is usually just placed in a basket in the middle of the table and you will be charged per piece – don’t expect a bread plate or butter, normally there is olive oil to dip it in. It is considered bad manners to leave food on your plate so try to refrain from over-ordering.
If you get invited to a Spaniards home, be sure to bring a gift whether it be chocolates, wine, flowers or pastries.
Personal Space
Spaniards will stand very close when speaking but don’t be alarmed, this is the norm. Spaniards also articulate a lot with their hands.
General Tips & Pointers
To avoid not being denied entrance to religious buildings, dress appropriately and cover bare skin. Shoulders in particular should be covered and shorts are not advisable – all as a matter of respect. Keep your voice low and refrain from using flash photography.
By checking out the local etiquette before you go, you’ll be sure to have a great time without making a faux pas! Have you had an embarrassing etiquette experience abroad? Share your story.
