Madrid’s right-wing regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso on Tuesday referred to as on hospitality companies within the metropolis to adapt their opening hours to the sooner consuming habits of worldwide guests.
Whereas in most European international locations lunchtime is round noon and dinnertime round 6pm, Spaniards are famously late eaters, tucking in to la comida (lunch) at 2pm or 3pm and la cena (dinner) as late as 10pm.
This disparity in meal occasions implies that when many vacationers within the Spanish capital are getting peckish, most eateries haven’t even opened their doorways but.
Commercial
Madrid regional authorities are presently in talks with hospitality associations within the metropolis of three million inhabitants within the hope of convincing bar and restaurant house owners to begin serving lunch as early as noon (quickly after Spaniards’ mid-morning espresso break) and dinner at 6pm.
“We have now to adapt to those that grace us with their go to and belief us,” Ayuso stated, contradicting herself considerably when including that when Spaniards go overseas they usually “get distracted” and “miss out on lunch or dinner”.
The proposal would reportedly solely apply to bars and eating places in components of town centre that are well-liked with vacationers, reminiscent of Plaza Mayor and Gran Vía.
In response to sources from Madrid’s regional authorities, “it’s not a case of imposing these timetables” however slightly providing extra meal occasions inside these earlier time slots.
Spain is by far the European nation the place individuals have lunch and dinner the newest.
Against this, in Nordic international locations reminiscent of Norway and Finland lunch is at 11am while dinner could be as early as 4pm, at a time when many Spaniards are ending off their lunches.
It’s completely attainable to have meals at cafés and bars in Madrid and throughout Spain at noon or earlier than, however it is going to usually be breakfast meals or crammed baguettes slightly than correct meals.
In March, Spain’s left-wing Labour Minister argued that it was “loopy” that many eating places within the nation keep open till 1am as a part of a wider debate about Spaniards’ late working hours.
READ MORE: Do Spain’s working hours finish too late?
What do you suppose? Ought to bars and eating places in Madrid and Spain adapt to vacationers’ consuming habits, or ought to or not it’s the opposite manner spherical? Tell us within the feedback part under.