4 Countries That Eat the Latest Dinners

You can tell a lot about a place from its food, and still more about its cultural heritage from the eating habits of its residents. That’s especially true at dinnertime. Head out to dinner at 6 p.m. in some places and you’ll struggle to find a free table, while elsewhere, restaurants remain empty until 9 or even 10 p.m. For travelers, this large variation in customary dinnertimes can be confusing at first. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between countries and find out which ones eat the latest dinners.

Spain

Late-night dining is the norm in Spain. Though the custom of a siesta (midafternoon nap) is dying out, especially in bigger cities, the day was traditionally split by a long break. Because of that, coupled with the heat of Spanish summers, it often made sense to dine late in the evening when the temperature was more comfortable. 

But the time zone is another reason why Spaniards eat dinner at this hour. Their clocks are set an hour later than clocks in Portugal, their Iberian neighbor with which they share many cultural similarities, a  change made permanent in 1942. Effectively, what was once a typical 9 p.m. dinner now takes place at 10 p.m. since Spain follows Central European Time (CET). In large cities such as Madrid, many restaurants won’t open for dinner before 8 p.m., and it’s common for locals to eat as late as 11 p.m.

France

Unlike their German or Dutch neighbors, who tend to eat earlier, the French typically sit down to dinner around 8 p.m. Many restaurants, particularly in larger cities such as Paris, won’t open for dinner until 7 p.m., and eating around 9 p.m. is common. In France, dinner is a hearty meal during which friends or families sit down together around the table to eat and chat.

While you wait for dinner, you can partake in le goûter. It’s enjoyed (most often by children) at about 4 p.m. and takes the form of a small snack such as cookies or fruit. Adults may indulge in l’apéro, short for “aperitif,” relaxing over a glass of pastis or Kir as they nibble on savory fare such as peanuts, potato chips, or olives.

Italy

In Italy, the time of the evening meal may be delayed by the customary evening stroll called la passeggiata. After the working day, many Italians join together for a walk through their town or central piazza, welcoming an opportunity to stretch their legs and socialize. By the time this has finished and dinner has been prepared, it’s not unusual for the evening meal to take place as late as 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. 

There are regional variations, too. If you travel through Italy, you’ll notice that dinner is often eaten later the farther south you go. That can be explained partly by weather variations but also by tradition. Italy wasn’t unified into a single nation until 1861; before that, each region was governed separately and thus had distinct cultural norms. 

Argentina

There’s a great deal of cultural diversity across South America, and this translates into differences in mealtimes, too. In places such as the Peruvian Andes, locals tend to eat their main meal around 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., but farther south, that’s not the case. 

In Argentina, especially in the capital Buenos Aires, the biggest meal of the day is eaten at lunchtime. For most Porteños (the nickname for local residents), a later meal after 9 p.m. is the norm. According to Turismo Buenos Aires, restaurants don’t tend to open until at least 8 p.m. and will still be busy as the clock approaches midnight. A similar pattern can be seen on the opposite banks of the Rio de la Plata in neighboring Uruguay.

Which Country Eats the Earliest Dinner?

In Nordic countries such as Norway and Finland, eating dinner early is the norm. The typical working day starts and ends early, so it makes sense that eating right afterward would suit most people. Climate is also a factor. In winter, it’s generally cold outside and darkness falls early due to the northern geography of these countries. Therefore, it’s natural to want to retreat somewhere cozy and eat.

Norwegians tend to eat their dinner, known as middag, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. This is the most substantial of the four meals traditionally eaten each day. The last is a lighter meal called kveldsmat, which is usually taken after 8 p.m. and is considered more of a snack or supper.