The simplest order in a Spanish bar is una caña, por favor: a small draught beer. A corto is smaller in some regions, while a copa or jarra is larger. Sizes vary by bar, so pointing to the glass is perfectly acceptable.

Beer in Galicia

The local name seen most often is Estrella Galicia, brewed in A Coruña. Its standard beer is a pale lager, commonly described as rubia. Bars may also offer a darker amber tostada, wheat beer, IPA or seasonal bottles. Ask ¿Qué cerveza tenéis de barril? for the draught options.

Alcohol-free beer has improved greatly and is now ordered routinely. Una cero cero means 0.0% beer. Sin alcohol is the wider category and can legally contain a small amount, so anyone avoiding alcohol completely should request 0.0 and check the label.

A clara con limón mixes beer with lemon soft drink. Some bars use gaseosa unless you specify lemon. A branded Radler is a ready-made version with a similar idea. These are refreshing but still usually contain alcohol unless labelled 0.0.

Wine mixtures

Tinto de verano is red wine mixed with gaseosa or lemon soda and served over ice. It is common, simple and usually ordered by the glass. Kalimotxo, a name associated especially with the Basque Country, combines red wine and cola. It is informal and more closely linked to festivals and groups of younger drinkers than to a restaurant wine list.

Sangria exists, but it is rarely the everyday drink imagined by visitors. Preparing fruit and a full jug takes time, so it is more common in tourist restaurants, summer terraces and groups sharing a pitcher. In a village bar, wine by the glass or tinto de verano is a more natural order.

Drinks without alcohol

Useful orders include:

  • agua sin gas / con gas: still or sparkling water
  • un refresco: a soft drink
  • mosto: grape juice, sometimes white or red
  • zumo de naranja: orange juice
  • una tónica: tonic water
  • un café con leche or una infusión: coffee with milk or herbal tea

Cola, lemon and orange drinks are widely available, as are Aquarius-style isotonic drinks and bottled iced tea. Tap water is potable in normal municipal supplies, though flavor varies. Ask ¿Me puede rellenar la botella con agua del grifo? if you want a bottle filled with tap water.

Alcohol affects hydration, balance and recovery after a long walk. Drink water first, eat with alcoholic drinks and remember that the next stage begins in the morning. Our Galician food guide explains what to order alongside them.