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No matter where you are in the world, sitting down and enjoying dinner with family and friends is a great way to catch up after a long day. However, different countries eat dinner at different times, so if you plan on making dinner reservations for 7pm during a trip to Norway, you may want to think again.
A map of “the usual time of eating dinner in Europe” went viral the other day when it was posted to Reddit by a user named u/kkaiOkkai. Social media users were shocked by the stark mealtimes — some beginning as early as 4pm while others hold out until 9.30pm.
Norway and Finland usually sit down for dinner between 4pm and 5pm. The meal, also known as middag, typically consists of a hearty stew like Fårikål, or a combination of meatballs and gravy called kjøttkaker.
Nearby countries, such as Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands, enjoy dinner right after 5pm. Sweden’s national dish, made famous worldwide by IKEA, are its Swedish meatballs, “köttbullar”.
Next up to eat dinner is Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, between 6pm and 7.30pm. In the United Kingdom, the name for this evening meal varies between “tea” and “dinner”. A recent survey found that six out of 10 Britons eat the same food every day.
According to the map, most Europeans eat dinner between 7pm and 8.30pm. Enjoy a ratatouille in France during this time, or pierogies in Poland.
Later in the evening, Italy and Greece sit down to eat from 8pm to 9pm, while people in Portugal finish their meal by 10pm. Italians typically begin their multiple courses with an antipasti, followed by primi (pasta), secondi (meat or fish), and dolci (dessert).
Spain tops the list with the latest dinner time — 9.30pm to 10.30pm. Some attribute Spain’s late meal times to its mid-day siesta tradition. However, it might be because Spaniards have been living in the wrong time zone for their region for the past 70 years. According to the BBC, the country should be on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), but due to a complicated political history dating back to World War II, Spain goes by Central European Time (CET).
The viral map, which received more than 37,000 interactions on Reddit sparked a conversation about cultural eating practices throughout Europe, and possible reasons for the differing dinner times.
“A Norwegian and Spaniard go to a bar…” one person commented.
Another user responded: “The Spaniard will be ordering dinner while the Norwegian will be ordering breakfast.”
“I actually witnessed once dinner plan being made between several people, including a Finnish and a Spaniard,” shared someone else. “The horrified expression of the Finnish when the Spaniard offered a 10 pm meal was wonderful.”
“Spain and Portugal straight up partying,” noted one person of the late meal times.
FAQs
According to the map, most Europeans eat dinner between 7pm and 8.30pm. Enjoy a ratatouille in France during this time, or pierogies in Poland. Later in the evening, Italy and Greece sit down to eat from 8pm to 9pm, while people in Portugal finish their meal by 10pm.
What time do most Europeans eat dinner? ›
In the United Kingdom, the name for this evening meal varies between “tea” and “dinner”. A recent survey found that six out of 10 Britons eat the same food every day. According to the map, most Europeans eat dinner between 7pm and 8.30pm. Enjoy a ratatouille in France during this time, or pierogies in Poland.
Why do Europeans have dinner so early? ›
Europeans don't necessarily eat dinner late. In most of central and northern Europe dinner is at around 7 or earlier. Southern Europe has a completely different schedule. The reason is latitude and it goes back to antiquity.
Which country eats dinner the earliest? ›
If you're having dinner in Norway, you'll probably be eating much earlier than you'd expect. In the northern nation of Norway, residents prefer to get their eating done relatively early in the evening.
Do Germans eat dinner early? ›
But in Germany, the traditional dinner time is much earlier: you'll find many German households having their evening meal between 5 and 7 pm.
What time is dinner in Italy? ›
Mealtimes can vary slightly, but Italians typically eat lunch between 1 and 2:30 p.m. and dinner between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Many restaurants will open for lunch around 12:30 or 1 p.m. and close the kitchen from 2:30 or 3 p.m. until 7 or 7:30 p.m. Restaurants that serve dinner before 7 p.m. are catering to tourists.
Why do people in America eat dinner so early? ›
The Robb Report attributes the change to hybrid work. These days 34% of people work from home most of the time, so they can leave the house a lot earlier than before. Plus, when you're cooped up in your house all day it's nice to get out and enjoy a bite to eat as soon as possible.
What time is dinner in Switzerland? ›
You just can't go wrong eating out in Switzerland. There's a match for every taste and budget. Lunch is usually served between noon and 2 pm, and even a little earlier at some restaurants. Dinner is usually served from 6 pm to 9.30 pm.
Why do Southern Europeans eat so late? ›
According to an article by Food & Wine, Spaniards have been living in the incorrect time zone since World War II. Judging by geographical location, Spain is in the same area as other countries such as Portugal, Morocco, and the U.K., which all run on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
What time do Europeans go to bed? ›
Download Table Data
| Country | Overall Sleep Quality Rating | Average Bedtime |
|---|
| France | 16 | 12:19 AM |
| Switzerland | 6 | 12:19 AM |
| South Korea | 21 | 12:16 AM |
| Norway | 40 | 12:16 AM |
46 more rowsWhile there are no strict meal times in Japan, most Japanese people will consume meals at approximately the following times: Breakfast: 06:00-07:00. Lunch: 12:00-13:00. Dinner: 18:00-20:00.
What time is dinner in Ukraine? ›
Ukrainians prefer to eat at home, leaving restaurants for special occasions. Meal times are from 7:00 to 10:00 A.M. for breakfast, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 P.M. for dinner or lunch, and from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. for supper. The main meal of the day is dinner, including soup and meat, fowl, or a fish dish with a salad.
What time do Canadians eat dinner? ›
Canadian supper/dinner time is usually between 5:00pm and 6:30 pm. Meals often consist of meat, potatoes and vegetables. Of course, every family has different likes and dislikes, so you may find your family enjoys foods like pizza, fish, spaghetti, or pasta.
What time do Chinese eat dinner? ›
Apart from work, one of the most important activities in Chinese everyday life is mealtime. For Chinese people it is very important to have substantial meals at regular periods of time. Breakfast time is not that important, but lunch traditionally lasts from noon to 2pm, and dinner – from 6 to 8 pm, no matter what.
What time did USA eat dinner? ›
According to the American Time Use Survey, most Americans are eating dinner between 5:07 p.m. and 8:19 p.m., with peak dinner time nationwide being at 6:19 p.m.
What time do the French usually eat dinner? ›
In France, it is very common to eat dinner at 8 pm or even later! This is part of your French homestay experience and it won't take you long at all to get used to it. As you will soon find out, the French consider it important to sit down at the table and have a meal together as a family.
What time do British eat dinner? ›
Dinner also refers to the traditional main family meal. This is often eaten between six and seven in the evening, which is after most British people come home from work.
Why is dinner so late in France? ›
“French people eat late because most standard job hours are 9 or 10 to 6, instead of 9 to 5 like in the States,” Alysa explains. “So, by the time everyone gets home, gets settled, and a meal is prepared, it's about 8 pm.”
