There's something that happens the first time you order in Spanish in Barcelona and get it right. The waiter doesn't switch to English. The table doesn't go quiet. You just... order, and it works. This guide is built around that moment.
The phrases below are drawn directly from what we teach as part of our Spanish courses in Barcelona at Speakeasy BCN. These vocabulary and communication skills are covered at A1.1 and A2.2 levels – the two beginner stages where students move from knowing a little Spanish to using it confidently in real situations.
Not sure what level you're at? Take our free online level test – it takes about 10 minutes.
Why Barcelona specifically?
Barcelona has its own food culture, its own pace, and its own way of eating out. You're not just ordering food – you're navigating a city where lunch runs until 4 pm, sharing plates are the default, and asking for the bill can feel like an afterthought if you don't know how to prompt it. These phrases are tuned to that context.
Wondering if Barcelona is a good place to learn Spanish? Although Catalan is a co-official language in Catalonia, around 60% of people only speak Castilian Spanish on a daily basis in Barcelona – and 98% of people in the city are fluent in it.
So yes, you’ll have no problem learning to order food and drinks in Barcelona!
The phrases we teach at A1.1
These are core vocabulary and communication patterns introduced in Week 2 of our beginner courses.
Drop "quiero" – just say the thing
English trains you to soften requests. Spanish doesn't require it. In a Barcelona restaurant or bar, stating what you want directly – with a friendly tone and por favor – is completely natural.
Un café con leche, por favor. – A coffee with milk, please.
Para mí / para ella / para él
One of the first patterns we teach at A1.1 – saying "for me", "for her", "for him". Sounds simple, but it transforms how you participate at a table.
Para mí, una caña. Para ella, agua con gas. – For me, a small beer. For her, sparkling water.
Porfa / porfi
Every language has its shortcuts. In Barcelona, you'll hear porfa used by locals every day – instead of por favor. Using it marks you as someone who's been paying attention.
Porfi exists too, though it has a warmer, more affectionate feel – the kind of thing you'll hear between close girlfriends rather than in everyday conversation or anything formal.
La cuenta / me cobras
Asking for the bill is something students want to get right from day one.
La cuenta, por favor. – The bill, please.
¿Me cobras cuando puedas? – Could you charge me when you get a chance? (Very local, very natural.)
Ordering drinks
¿Me ponéis una copa de vino? – Can I get a glass of wine?
¿Qué vinos hay? – What wines do you have?
¿Puede ser una copa en lugar de botella? – Could I just have a glass instead of a bottle?
Una copa de vino tinto / blanco / rosado, por favor. – A glass of red / white / rosé wine, please.
Una botella de agua con gas / sin gas – A bottle of sparkling / still water.
¿Podemos pagar por separado? – Can we pay separately?
Una caña
In Barcelona, locals don't order pints. They order cañas – small glasses of draft beer, refreshing and social. Knowing this saves you from ordering something that looks out of place.
¿Me ponéis una caña? – Can I get a beer?
Moving beyond A1.1 – phrases we introduce at A2.2
At A2.2, students start handling more nuanced interactions – expressing preference, managing situations, and sounding genuinely conversational. Here are some of the restaurant phrases that come in at that level.
Poco hecho / al punto / bien hecho
If you order a steak, you'll need to answer how you want it cooked. This is one of those vocabulary sets that feels small but lands big.
Poco hecho / al punto / bien hecho – Rare / medium / well done.
Vamos con un poco de prisa
In Barcelona, there's no rush – unless you need there to be. Letting your waiter know early changes everything.
Vamos con un poco de prisa. – We're in a bit of a hurry.
Vamos a compartir
Sharing plates is the default in Barcelona. This phrase makes the intention clear from the start – and it's very much what a local would say.
Vamos a compartir. – We're going to share.
Menú vs carta – a distinction that matters
Carta is the main menu. Menú almost always refers to the menú del día – a fixed-price lunch menu many Barcelona restaurants offer but don't always advertise. Knowing to ask for it is worth knowing.
¿Tenéis menú del día? – Do you have a lunch menu?
Ración / media ración
Understanding portion language helps you order the right amount when sharing.
Media ración / ración – Half portion (starter size) / full portion (main size).
Muchas gracias, ¡estaba muy rico!
Always finish well. Saying something was delicious on your way out is the kind of thing that makes the whole interaction feel complete – and it's the kind of natural, spontaneous speech our methodology is built around.
How we teach this at Speakeasy BCN
The phrases above aren't pulled from a textbook in isolation. They're part of a structured progression we follow through our immersion-based teaching methodology – the CASA Program, based on the curriculum of the Instituto Cervantes.
Our approach is rooted in a principle from the linguist Stephen Krashen: people acquire language fastest when they're using it, not studying it. That's why on day one, your teacher will encourage you to speak Spanish – in the classroom and outside it. This is also why we recommend taking part in extracurricular activities every week so you can practise ordering, navigating, and socialising in Spanish in real Barcelona contexts.
As I like to say, "The best way to learn a language is to live it."
Classes are small (8–13 students), levels are divided into mini-levels so you're always with people of very similar ability, and we use structured Spanish-language textbooks throughout – not disconnected handouts.
Ready to use these phrases for real?
The vocabulary in this guide is part of our beginner Spanish courses in Barcelona, and each set of phrases maps directly to our A1.1 and A2.2 curriculum.
If you want to learn them properly, you’ll cover this vocabulary in three of our 15+ Spanish courses currently available:
Our intensive course, which runs for 20 hours a week and covers each level in 2 weeks
The semi-intensive course, which runs at 10 hours a week over 4 weeks
The evening course, which is a manageable 4 hours a week across 8 weeks
Not sure which format or level suits you? Browse all our current Spanish courses here or take our free level test to get started.
Learn and improve your Spanish in Barcelona, one of the world's most vibrant and exciting cities.
Here at Speakeasy BCN you'll find courses for all abilities and timetables, an incredible team of talented and motivated teachers and classmates to share your interests and passions. And if you need a visa for your stay, then of course we're able to help and advise.
Start your learning Spanish in Barcelona adventure
Let us know if you have any questions about our courses, our school and life at Speakeasy.