Ordering, asking for the bill and splitting it in a Spanish restaurant

Terms used

• Cubierto — The cubierto is a per-person charge for bread and table setting, allowed only if the price list shows it.
• La cuenta — La cuenta is the bill, which the waiter brings only when you ask.
• Hoja de reclamaciones — The hoja de reclamaciones is the official complaint form every venue must give you on request.
• Bizum — Bizum is an instant mobile payment service used to send money between Spanish bank accounts.

Key rules

• Cover charge: A bread or cover charge is only fair if it is shown on the price list with its amount; otherwise you can ask to remove it.
• Tap water: Bars and restaurants should offer free tap water on request, in a jug or glass.
• The bill: The bill only comes when you ask for it.
• Terrace prices: Terrace prices can be higher than bar prices, but the bill must match the displayed prices.

Getting the waiter's attention

Waiters rarely come to your table unless you call them. Make eye contact, raise a hand slightly, or say «perdona» or «disculpa». In casual places «oye» is fine. Shouting or snapping your fingers is rude.

Asking for the bill

The bill never arrives on its own, because rushing diners is considered rude. Say «la cuenta, por favor». In a bar you can say «¿nos cobras?» or «¿me cobras?». Miming a signature in the air also works.

In a bar you often pay at the counter or the till. Some waiters bring a card machine to the table.

Cover charges and bread

A cubierto is a per-person charge for bread and table setting. It is only fair if the price list shows it with its amount. Otherwise you can ask to remove it. Check the price list before you order.

If the waiter refuses, ask for the hoja de reclamaciones and file a complaint with the regional consumer authority. Some regions restrict the cubierto more strictly, so rules differ by region.

Terrace and table prices

The same drink or dish often costs more at a table than at the bar (barra), and more again on a terrace. This is legal, because prices are free. The price list must be visible outside or at the entrance, show final prices with taxes included, and make clear if terrace prices differ. The bill must match what is displayed. If a surcharge was not shown, ask for it to be removed or complain with the hoja de reclamaciones.

Tap water

Ask for «agua del grifo». Venues should offer it free, in a jug or glass. Tap water is safe to drink in most of Spain. You can complain if you are refused.

Smoking on terraces

Indoor smoking is banned. Smoking is generally allowed on open-air terraces, though some regions and cities restrict it. Sit inside if you want to avoid smoke.

Splitting the bill

Ask at the start of the meal: «¿Se puede pagar por separado?». Many restaurants accept separate bills for small groups. Large groups and busy places often refuse, and each venue decides.

The usual alternatives:

• Divide the cuenta equally.
• One person pays and the others send their share, often by Bizum, an instant mobile payment.
• In a bar, take turns paying for rounds (rondas).

If you are overcharged or the meal goes wrong, see the "What if" section below.

Checklist

• Catch the waiter's eye, raise a hand slightly or say «perdona» or «disculpa», because waiters will not come to your table unless called.

• Ask for the bill with «la cuenta, por favor», or «¿nos cobras?» in a bar, since the bill is never brought unless you ask.

• Ask the waiter to remove any cubierto or bread charge that was not shown with its amount, and ask for the hoja de reclamaciones (the official complaint form) if they refuse.

• Agree on a split before paying: divide the cuenta equally, or let one person pay and have the others send their share by Bizum, an instant mobile payment.

• Choose a table inside if you do not want smoke, because smoking is allowed on open-air terraces in many places, while indoor smoking in bars and restaurants is banned.

What if I am overcharged or the meal goes wrong?

Ask for the hoja de reclamaciones. Every restaurant and bar must give you the official complaint form when you ask for it. Refusing is an offence that can be fined.

If the bill is wrong

1. Ask for the itemised bill and compare it with the menu prices. Look for a cover charge, a terrace supplement or dishes you did not order.
2. Raise the error calmly with the waiter or manager and ask for a corrected ticket.
3. If they will not fix it, pay anyway and keep the ticket. Walking out without paying can lead to a police report.
4. Ask for the hoja de reclamaciones. If they refuse, you can call the local police.
5. Take photos of the menu and the receipt before you leave.

How the complaint form works

The form comes as a set of copies, usually three: one for the administration, one for the business and one for you. Fill it in on the spot. The business keeps its copy. You file the administration copy with your town hall's consumer office (OMIC) or your region's consumer office, with the bill and your photos attached.

Forms and filing details differ by region, and some regions also accept complaints online. Ask the consumer office near you how to file.

If a meal makes you ill

1. Get medical care first. Go to a health centre, or call 112 if it is severe.
2. Tell the doctor you suspect food poisoning, so it is written in your medical report.
3. Keep the evidence: the receipt, photos of the food and the menu, any leftovers if it is safe to keep them, and the names of others who were affected.
4. Report the place to the public health authority of your region or town, and to the consumer office. When several people fall ill, the health authorities treat it as a food outbreak.

For compensation, you can claim from the restaurant or its insurer. If the harm is serious, the next step is court.

Quick answers on bills, water, leftovers and drinking

Can I ask for free tap water in a Spanish restaurant?

Yes, you can ask for free tap water (agua del grifo), and bars and restaurants should serve it in a jug or glass. Asking is normal and tap water is safe to drink in most of Spain. If a venue refuses, you can ask for the hoja de reclamaciones.

Can I take my leftovers home from a restaurant in Spain?

Yes, you can ask for a container to take uneaten food and drink home, and restaurants must offer one free of charge. It is often called a doggy bag. Since April 2025 the venue should also tell you about this option.

Can a restaurant charge me for bread or a cubierto?

Yes, but only if the charge is shown on the price list with its amount and what it covers. Bread you did not ask for, or a cubierto that was not shown, can be disputed. Ask for it to be removed, and some regions restrict the charge further.

What is a caña, and how do rounds work in a Spanish bar?

A caña is a small draught beer of about 200 ml, and a tubo is a taller glass. In a group, one person often pays for a round and others cover the next. At the bar you can pay at the end, and at a table you ask for "la cuenta".

What is the legal age to buy alcohol in Spain, and can I drink in the street?

The legal age to buy and drink alcohol in Spain is 18. Drinking in the street (botellón) is banned or restricted in most places, with fines from tens to several hundred euros, but licensed bar terraces are fine.