Q ¿Qué vas a tomar?What are you having?
- A Una caña, porfa.A small draft beer, please (how locals order).
- A Una cerveza, por favor.A beer, please.
They'll say Vale. ¿Algo de comer?Okay. Something to eat?
Ordering a beer/
How to order a beer in Spain
Q → A → what they'll probably say
Compiled by Gabriel Gilles · Updated
Spanish bar wordsWhat each one means, one by one →Short answerIn Spain, say Una caña, porfa.A small draft beer, please (how locals order).
Q ¿De barril o de botella?Draft or bottle?
- A De barril, gracias.Draft, thanks.
- A De botella, gracias.Bottle, thanks.
They'll say ¿Cuál? Tenemos Mahou/Estrella…Which one? We have Mahou/Estrella…
Q ¿Rubia o tostada?Blonde (lager) or amber?
- A Rubia.Blonde/lager.
- A Tostada.Amber.
They'll say Vale. Ahora te la pongo.Alright. I'll get it now.
Q ¿Algo más?Anything else?
- A Nada más, gracias.Nothing else, thanks.
- A Sí: una tapa de tortilla, porfa.Yes: a tortilla tapa, please.
They'll say Perfecto.Perfect.
Q ¿Para aquí o para llevar?For here or to go?
- A Para aquí.For here.
- A Para llevar.To go.
They'll say Son __ euros.That'll be __ euros.
Q ¿Te pongo otra?Want another one?
- A Sí, una más.Yes, one more.
- A No, gracias.No, thanks.
They'll say Vale.Okay.
Q ¿La cuenta? / ¿Queréis la cuenta?The check? / Do you want the check?
- A Sí, porfa.Yes, please.
They'll say Ahora mismo.Right away.
Q ¿Cómo quieres pagar?How do you want to pay?
- A Con tarjeta.By card.
- A En efectivo.In cash.
They'll say Acércala aquí.Tap it here.
Tiny upgrades that sound natural (Spain)
Cuando puedas.When you can (no rush).
Gracias, jefe/jefa.Thanks, boss. (very casual — use with care)
Ponme una caña.Pour me a small draft beer, please (literally "put me a caña": how regulars order).
Lo mismo, porfa.Same again, please.
¿Qué me recomiendas?What do you recommend? — the fastest route to eating well.
Para picar algo.Just something to pick at.
Una clara, que aprieta el calor.A shandy, it's baking out there.
¿Me pones otra?Can you get me another one?
The coffee ritual (Spain)
Q ¿Qué te pongo?What can I get you?
- A Un café con leche, porfa.A coffee with milk, please.
- A Un cortado.An espresso with a splash of milk.
They'll say ¿Para tomar aquí?For here?
"Solo" = straight espresso; "cortado" = with a little milk; "con leche" = latte-ish.
Q ¿Frío o caliente?Cold or hot?
- A Caliente.Hot.
- A Con hielo, porfa.Over ice, please.
They'll say Marchando.Coming right up.
"Café con hielo" = they give you a hot espresso and a glass of ice to pour it over.
Q ¿Solo o con leche?Black or with milk?
- A Con leche, por favor.With milk, please.
- A Solo, gracias.Black, thanks.
They'll say ¿Grande o pequeño?Large or small?
Q Un descafeinado, porfa.A decaf, please.
- A ¿De máquina o de sobre?From the machine or a sachet?
Spain genuinely asks this. "De máquina" is the one you want — de sobre is instant stirred into hot milk.
Q ¿Me pones un café con hielo?Could I get a coffee with ice?
- A Ahora te lo saco.I'll bring it right out.
It arrives as a hot espresso and a separate glass of ice. You pour it over yourself — that is the correct way.
Q ¿Tenéis algo para desayunar?Do you have anything for breakfast?
They'll say Tostada con tomate o con mantequilla.Toast with tomato or with butter.
"Tostada con tomate" is the classic Spanish breakfast.
Q ¿Algo de comer con el café?Anything to eat with the coffee?
- A Un croissant a la plancha.A grilled croissant.
They'll say Te lo saco en nada.I'll have it out in a second.
Q ¿Cuánto es el café?How much is the coffee?
- A Un euro veinte.One twenty.