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Of the more than * restaurants and food stalls (Group 561, CNAE-2009) that existed in Spain as of January 1, 2024, Catalonia held the top position with just over * establishments. Andalusia, with about *, and the Valencian Community, with around *, completed the podium. With such an offer, it is no surprise that the population that goes out to dinner in Spain under normal conditions exceeds ** percent.

Key sector for the economy

The contribution of the restaurant sector to Spain’s GDP hovered around * percent until 2020, when it dropped to *** percent. After all, in those years, visits by Spaniards to restaurants, bars, cafes, and other similar establishments resulted in sales that, for the first time in five years, fell below ** billion U.S. dollars. However, in 2021, things began to improve, and the following two years only confirmed this. Indeed, its contribution to GDP increased slightly in both 2022 and 2023. Undoubtedly, this was helped by the fact that per capita spending on food and beverages outside the home in Spain exceeded 1,000 euros.

Impact of COVID-19

Between March 15 and April 30, 2020, sales in the restaurant sector in Spain decreased by more than * billion U.S. dollars compared to the same period the previous year. Of the total losses caused by the coronavirus crisis, almost ** percent corresponded to full-service restaurants. This was a severe blow to business owners in the sector, compounded by the population’s fear of going to a restaurant without the COVID-19 vaccine.