Restaurants in this Spanish province charge tourists extra to sit in the shade

New laws have been introduced in the southern Spanish province of Andalusia, allowing restaurant owners to charge higher prices to customers who sit in the shade.

The regional government of Andalusia has allowed this change, but restaurants must follow specific guidelines if they want to increase prices. According to Facua spokesperson Ruben Sanchez, price changes for tables in shady or sunny areas should be visible to customers; these can be displayed on a menu on the restaurant premises, but these cannot be available via a QR code alone as not everyone has access to a smartphone.

There needs to be more than just verbally informing customers about the price changes under the new guidelines.

To prevent customers sitting at patio tables from being charged excessively, there is a €10 limit on how much more restaurants can ask them to pay. Owners are no longer allowed to charge for tables with a specific view at a restaurant in the province.

Failure to properly follow and comply with these new regulations could result in restaurants and bars being fined or punished.

The new rules will mainly affect tourists who flock to Andalusia, a popular place for its warm weather, architecture and history. The Andalusian city of Cordoba recorded rising temperatures of 47.6 degrees three years ago.

Other guidelines state that water should be automatically available to customers, and that charging for bottled water is illegal.

Restaurants also cannot add service charges to bills. Customers can do this with a voluntary tip if they want to show extra appreciation.

The new laws in Andalusia came as changes were being considered to improve Spanish culture and society. Restaurants typically stay open until the early hours, which can require workers in the tourism and hospitality sector to work extra-long shifts.

Last month, Spain’s Minister of Employment and Social Economy, Yolanda Diaz, said: “A country where its restaurants open at one in the morning is not reasonable. It’s insane to try to keep extending hours until I don’t know what time.”

Diaz wants workers in the sector to have a limit on the number of hours they are required to work. He is also in favor of earlier closing times for restaurants.

These types of changes could threaten the experiences tourists expect when traveling to Spain, as they are used to dining in restaurants and bars in the late evening hours.

The impact that Diaz’s proposed changes would have on Spain’s famed night culture has led others to defend the country’s traditions and highlight their positive aspects.

President of the Community of Madrid, Isabal Diaz Ayuso, responded to X (formerly Twitter): “Spain has the best nightlife in the world, with streets full of life and freedom. And that also creates jobs.”

In January, Madrid’s tourist office reported that the number of visitors to the Spanish capital had increased by 17.5 percent compared to 12 months earlier. More than €1 billion was spent by tourists during their visit to the city, helping to strengthen the economy.