Great news for Spanish diners - the Government has made it a legal requirement to provide free tap in all restaurants and cafes. Before now, the EC's 2020 drinking water directive had only "encouraged" public venues and restaurants to offer tap water for free.
You are allowed to ask for tap water without being charged for it. This is now true anywhere in Spain. Ice. Ice will usually not be charged but it can be, especially if in a fancy or touristy restaurant.
Barcelona has about 1700 public sources for pedestrians to drink water. All these sources have in common the tap for drinking, regardless of their form or material. It also has water features that are part of the urban solutions that provide beauty, wealth and vitality to the environment.
Hospitality businesses are required by law to provide their free drinking water to customers when requested. For restaurant customers and fellowships making their way to Mordor, this is particularly welcome.
Yes! Barcelona has some of the highest quality drinking water in the world. The Ministerio de Sanidad assess all of Spain's drinking water, and the agency has determined that tap water in Barcelona is safe to drink unfiltered, according to EU and World Health Organization standards.
The quick answer is yes: the average traveler absolutely can drink tap water in Spain. Essentially, 99.5% of Spain's tap water is deemed safe for consumption. In fact, Spain has one of the most advanced public filtration and wastewater management systems in the world.
You are certainly entitled to ask for “agua del grifo”, and they cannot complain for this, although they will see you as being 'stingy'. A more subtle way to say it is “ Un vaso de agua”, a glass of water.
Hospitality businesses are required by law to provide their free drinking water to customers when requested. For restaurant customers and fellowships making their way to Mordor, this is particularly welcome.
The most polite and idiomatic way to ask would be "Please may I get some water". "May I have" is also fine, but it sounds like you're asking them to get the water for you. "Get" makes it clear you will draw the water from the fountain yourself once you've had the approval to do so.
What do you say to ask for a glass of water in a restaurant?
Safest just to say, Could I please have some water. Depends on where you are...if you're in a bar or a nice restaurant, they'll usually serve you water in a glass (a tall vessel for holding water made of glass that does not have a handle), so you'd usually ask for 'a glass of water' in a restaurant.
Great news for Spanish diners - the Government has made it a legal requirement to provide free tap in all restaurants and cafes. Before now, the EC's 2020 drinking water directive had only "encouraged" public venues and restaurants to offer tap water for free.
Restaurants and bars across Spain are now required by law to offer free tap water. FOR years campaigners have been calling for Spain to make it a legal obligation to provide free tap water on demand at bars and restaurants.
All restrooms in bars/restaurants in Spain are for public use as free in acomplishment of a King Alfonso XII (around year 1870), law which has never been deleted. The truth is that very few places don't like "no-customers" use their facilities but in general, there's no problem.
While tipping isn't expected in Barcelona, locals and travelers alike often appreciate good service by leaving a small amount of change or rounding up the bill to the nearest euro. And if the service is exceptional, a tip amounting to 5-10% of the total bill is commonly offered.
And don't worry, Barcelona isn't short of budget-friendly options. Here you'll find everything from classic tapas to cheap pasta, and fresh dumplings to gnocchi bars. At most spots on our list, you can get lunch for around €10, which is an absolute steal. Here are our favourite cheap eats in Barcelona.
Domestic Water: €28.74 for 10 m3 of water (inclusive of taxes and other standing charges). Natural Gas: €15.61/ kWh inclusive of taxes and standing charges.
It is possible to get free bottled water from hotels, but it may depend on the hotel's policies and the availability of free water. Some hotels may provide complimentary bottled water in guest rooms or common areas, while others may charge for it or provide it only upon request.
Most hotels have in-room mini bars that offer a range of beverages, including bottled water. However, it's important to note that these mini bar items are not usually complimentary and will be added to your bill if consumed. So, make sure to check the prices before reaching for that bottle of water.
Can restaurants charge for filtered tap water? As there's no requirement that free tap water be filtered, restaurants can charge for filtered drinking water. However, if they serve alcohol, they have to provide FREE drinking water, whether that's filtered or unfiltered.
Is it illegal to not give tap water in a restaurant?
All licensed premises authorised to serve alcohol, including pubs, bars, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants, must by law provide free drinking water, even if you are not a paying customer.
Business owners know that the water that comes out of their taps isn't free. So when a customer asks for a glass of tap water, can the business charge for it? Essentially the answer is no – but you could charge them for the service.
They might ask you to specify with carbonation or without (con gas / sin gas) when you order it. If you want a (free!) glass of tap water, ask for un vaso de agua del grifo.
