The set lunch menu (menú del día) and how to use it

Key rules

• Price: The price on the board already includes VAT.
• Drink: One drink per person is normally included with the meal.
• Supplements: Some dishes carry an extra charge, so check the board before you order.
• Weekends: Weekend versions are usually pricier than the weekday menu.

Prices and inclusions are set by each restaurant and change often, so check the board at the venue.

What you get

The menú del día is a fixed-price weekday lunch of several courses with a drink. It is the best-value cooked meal you can buy in Spain.

A typical menu has:

• A first course: salad, soup, pasta or legumes.
• A second course: meat or fish, usually with a side.
• Dessert or coffee. Some places give you coffee as well as dessert.
• Bread and one drink per person: wine, beer, a soft drink or water.

The price includes VAT, so the price on the board is what you pay.

What it costs

Each restaurant sets its own price, and prices change every year. In most places the price is in the low-to-mid teens of euros.

Smaller cities and towns are cheapest, especially in Andalusia, Galicia, Castilla and Extremadura. Madrid and Barcelona cost more, and central and tourist areas cost the most. Basque Country cities such as San Sebastián and Bilbao are also at the top end. Prices have risen in recent years with food costs.

When and how to order

It is served mostly Monday to Friday at lunchtime. Weekend versions exist but usually cost more.

1. Look for the menu board outside the door. It lists the courses, the price and what is included.
2. Ask what is included if the board does not say. Inclusions vary by venue.
3. Choose one dish per course. Many places offer a limited choice for each.
4. Watch for a supplement. Some places charge extra for certain dishes.

If you want to compare it with tapas or takeaway, see the comparison below. The questions below cover coffee, big-city prices and weekends.

What eating out costs, set menu, tapas and takeaway compared

Coffee and tapas are cheap in Spain, and a sit-down dinner costs roughly double a casual meal. Delivery is usually the most expensive way to eat the same food.

Typical prices

A media ración (half portion) costs between a tapa and a full ración. Seafood and ham raciones cost more than the range shown.

What moves the price

• Place: Smaller towns and neighbourhood bars are cheapest. Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastián, the Balearic Islands and tourist centres cost the most. Seville, Valencia, Granada and inland cities are cheaper for dinner.
• Terrace: Terrace prices are often 10-20% higher than at the bar. Central terraces in Madrid and Barcelona can go above the ranges in the table.
• Tourist spots and airports: Expect to pay more than the table shows.
• Free tapas: In Granada, parts of Andalusia and León, a tapa often comes free with your drink. This makes a few drinks and a light meal very cheap.

Set menu versus dinner

The menú del día is mainly a lunch offer. Evening meals are usually à la carte, so the same restaurant costs more at night. For the set-menu price and what it includes, see the menú del día guide.

If you want a cheap main meal, make lunch the big one and keep dinner to tapas or a shared ración or two.

Delivery

Delivery costs more than the menu price suggests. Each order can add:

• a delivery fee that changes with distance and demand
• a separate service fee
• a surcharge if your basket is small

Many restaurants also charge higher menu prices in the delivery apps than in the restaurant. The apps take roughly a fifth to a third of each order, and some restaurants pass that on. Others keep the same prices.

If you order often, the apps offer monthly subscriptions with free or reduced delivery above a minimum basket. Fees differ by city, restaurant and time of day, so compare the final total in the app before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

Is coffee included in a menú del día?

Often yes, but it depends on the restaurant. Some places give coffee instead of dessert, and others add it on top. Read the board before you sit down, since it usually says which one you get.

Is the menú del día more expensive in big cities?

Yes, Madrid and Barcelona cost more than smaller towns, and central and tourist areas cost the most. Basque Country cities such as San Sebastián and Bilbao are also at the top end. Smaller cities in Andalusia, Galicia, Castilla and Extremadura are usually cheapest, so walking a few streets from the centre can save money.

Can I get a menú del día at the weekend?

Sometimes, but the menú del día is mostly served Monday to Friday at lunchtime. Weekend versions are usually pricier. Some dishes can also carry a supplement, so check the board for extra charges.