Bars and restaurants in Spain have an etiquette of their own and it is worth knowing a few things before you settle down to have a drink or a bite to eat:

• Don't get put off if the barman or waiter appears to ignore you; just give a firm shout of oiga, which is the polite way of calling their attention.

• If you are in a restaurant and haven't booked a table you'll be told to wait at the bar or entrance, do not expect an orderly queue. Don't be dismayed, however, as the staff will almost always remember the order in which everyone has arrived.

• If you are in a bar don't be in a hurry to hand over your money, instead wait until you are ready to leave and then ask for “la cuenta".

• It is nearly always worth asking for recommendations from the staff; in both bars and restaurants there are often specials that do not feature on the menu.

• Eating is a social activity so expect bars and restaurants to be noisy - Spanish is a high-decibel language, but this is what makes them such fun places to be. A few words of Spanish will go a long way, so at the very least try out your holiday vocabulary.

• Tips are lower in Spain than many other countries. That isn't an excuse to be mean, but you are not expected to adhere to the 10% rule.