In short
- In Madrid you order with ¿Me pones…? — it sounds natural, not rude.
- You usually pay at the end: catch the waiter's eye and say ¿Me cobras?
- A caña is a small draught beer; tapas come in three sizes.
How a Spanish bar works
Most bars in Madrid have a counter (la barra) and a few tables, sometimes a terrace outside (la terraza). At the counter it's normal to stand, order, chat and order again. Nobody brings you a menu unless you ask, and nobody rushes you.
Getting attention is about eye contact and a short ¡Perdona! — never whistle or click your fingers. Busy bartenders will serve you when they can; a smile works better than waving.
Ordering drinks
The phrase you'll hear Spaniards use all day is ¿Me pones…? (literally “will you put me…?”). It's friendly and completely normal. Quería… (“I'd like…”) is a bit more polite and works everywhere.
- una caña
- a small glass of draught beer
- un tercio
- a third-of-a-litre bottle of beer
- un tinto de verano
- red wine with lemon soda, on ice
- un vermú
- vermouth — a Madrid weekend classic
- una copa de vino
- a glass of wine
- un agua con gas
- a sparkling water
- un refresco
- a soft drink
- un café con leche
- coffee with hot milk
¿Me pones una caña, por favor?
Can I have a small beer, please?
Quería un vino tinto.
I'd like a red wine.
Otra, por favor.
Another one, please.
Dos cañas y un agua, por favor.
Two small beers and a water, please.
Tapas, raciones and what to ask
Food comes in three sizes. A tapa is a small plate for one; a media ración is half a sharing plate; a ración is a full plate to share. Ordering a few raciones for the table is how groups eat.
¿Qué tapas tenéis?
What tapas do you have?
Tenéis: “you” plural — you're asking the bar.
Una ración de croquetas, por favor.
A plate of croquettes, please.
¿Qué lleva?
What's in it?
¿Es picante?
Is it spicy?
Una tortilla para compartir.
A Spanish omelette to share.
Camarero
¡Hola! ¿Qué te pongo?
Hi! What can I get you?
You
¿Me pones una caña, por favor?
Can I have a small beer, please?
Camarero
Claro. ¿Algo de comer?
Sure. Anything to eat?
You
Sí, una ración de bravas.
Yes, a plate of patatas bravas.
Camarero
Muy bien. Ahora mismo.
Very good. Coming right up.
Paying (and tipping)
At the bar you normally pay at the end, not with each round. When you're ready, ask ¿Me cobras? (“will you charge me?”) or ¿Cuánto es? (“how much is it?”). At a restaurant table, La cuenta, por favor is the classic.
¿Me cobras, por favor?
Can I pay, please?
¿Cuánto es?
How much is it?
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
Can I pay by card?
Pagamos a medias.
We'll split it in half.
Questions
Is “¿Me pones…?” rude?
Not at all. It's how people order in Madrid every day. If you prefer, “Quería…” (“I'd like…”) is a little more formal and always correct.
What's the difference between a caña and a tercio?
A caña is a small glass of draught beer; a tercio is a bottle of about a third of a litre. Many bars also serve bigger glasses — just ask what they have.
Do I pay for each round?
Usually not at the bar: the waiter keeps track and you pay when you leave. On busy terraces they sometimes charge as they serve — they'll tell you.
Free PDF · printable
50 Survival Spanish Phrases for Madrid
The pocket guide for your first weeks — printable, offline, ready for the fridge door.