Spain sees shift toward earlier dinner times

Traditional late-night dining habits in Spain are undergoing a significant shift as more citizens opt for earlier meals. Data from restaurant booking platforms indicate that the era of the 10:00 PM dinner is declining.

According to CoverManager, which manages reservations for approximately 16,000 Spanish restaurants, 50% of dinner reservations are now made before 9:00 PM, compared to just 27% a decade ago. Specifically, bookings for 10:00 PM have dropped from 30% in 2019 to 15%, while 11:00 PM reservations have fallen from 5.7% to 1.9%. Conversely, TheFork reports that reservations for 8:00 PM have nearly tripled since 2016.

Several factors are driving this change, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which encouraged more organized, pre-planned dining rather than spontaneous late nights. Health consciousness, such as reduced alcohol consumption and increased exercise, also plays a role. Additionally, a demographic of professionals aged 30 to 50 with children and tighter schedules is prioritizing earlier routines. The influx of tourists and expatriates in major cities like Madrid and Barcelona is further contributing to the trend of earlier dining.