Lunch is later than in the United States, starting around 2:00 PM. Dinner is also a late affair. The locals may not dine until around 10:00 PM.

Reservations are recommended.

Tipping tends to be less than in American restaurants because waiters' relative salaries are higher. A small tip, though, is not unusual, and it signifies that your service was exceptional.

The Food

The cooking of Barcelona is of the Catalan tradition. Catalan culture is not exclusively Spanish. Culture doesn't recognize borders so Spanish Catalan and French Catalan cultures are kindred spirits. This becomes obvious in the Catalan kitchen.

An emphasis is placed on fresh ingredients, especially fresh seafood. Catalan cooking is often referenced in terms of having two regional influences -- the mountains and the sea, but it actually draws on three regional influences- the mountains, the sea and the plains. Catalan chefs often use grilling and roasting techniques for main courses. In addition to seafood, the menu often includes lamb and pork.

The Catalan region is second only to the Basque region in producing great Spanish chefs. Nevertheless, visitors to Barcelona aren't assured of a terrific culinary experience by simpling being in the Catalan area of Spain. There are far more tourists than there are talented chefs to feed them so not all pricey restaurants are safe bets. It would be advisable to check with locals or the hotel concierge for specific recommendations of restaurants.

Dishes you may want to try are Cassola del Tros, which is a dish of snails and pork cooked with vegetables and Arros Negre, which is squid on a bed of rice that has been mixed with squid ink to color it black.

There are tapas bars in Barcelona but they're not as numerous as in other Spanish cities. The bars get there name from a word meaning "to cover." Years ago, drinks at the bar were covered with plates to keep insects out. Small free samples of food were later placed on the plates to entice customers. Today in many Spanish cities hitting the tapas bars in the evening is a daily social event. It's also a great way to keep your appetite in check until the proper Barcelona dinner hour. Just remember, these days tapas is seldom free. Also, keep in mind that while tapas bars still offer an easy way to sample various dishes, the quality may be inconsistent from bar to bar.

Dessert

Spanish desserts are rather simple compared to the after-dinner cuisine of most of the rest of the western world. It's here that you can see the Arab influence on Spanish culture as the desserts often feature uncomplicated Middle Eastern recipes and common ingredients like almonds.