Spanish · A1 · Speaking · about 5 min
Call a Spanish restaurant and book a table in under a minute.
Marta wants to take three friends to a paella restaurant in Valencia on Saturday. She calls to book. The waiter will ask how many people, when and under what name. Six phrases cover the whole call, including a terrace request and her phone number.
MomentYou open the call.
SayHola, quería reservar una mesa, por favor.
WhyQuería (imperfect) + infinitive: the polite way to ask.
MomentYou give the number of people.
SayPara cuatro personas.
WhyPara + number + personas: the party size.
MomentYou give day and time.
SayPara el sábado a las nueve de la noche.
WhyPara + day + a las + hour: when you want the table.
MomentYou give your name.
SayA nombre de López.
WhyA nombre de + surname: the booking name.
MomentYou ask for the terrace.
Say¿Tienen mesa en la terraza?
Why¿Tienen…? (ustedes): ask what the restaurant has.
MomentYou give your phone number.
SayMi número es el seis, uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho.
WhySpaniards say phone numbers digit by digit or in pairs.
| Moment | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You open the call. | Hola, quería reservar una mesa, por favor. | Quería (imperfect) + infinitive: the polite way to ask. |
| You give the number of people. | Para cuatro personas. | Para + number + personas: the party size. |
| You give day and time. | Para el sábado a las nueve de la noche. | Para + day + a las + hour: when you want the table. |
| You give your name. | A nombre de López. | A nombre de + surname: the booking name. |
| You ask for the terrace. | ¿Tienen mesa en la terraza? |
« Quería » sounds softer than « quiero » — use it for requests. « Para » introduces both the number of people and the time. Hours use « a las » + number: a las nueve (at nine). « Tienen » is the ustedes form, used to address the restaurant.
Dinner in Spain often starts at 21:00 or later; at 19:00 many kitchens are still closed. Spell your name if needed: « López, con zeta al final ».
Related topics: /topics/spanish/a1/cafe/ordering, /topics/spanish/a0/introductions/first-meeting. To keep going, continue the Spanish course on MyAnya.
Open politely, give the party size, day and time, your name, ask for the terrace and leave your number.
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The restaurant answers the phone. How do you start?
Hola, quería reservar una mesa, por favor.
Quería (imperfect) + infinitive: the polite way to ask.
Marta wants dinner with friends in Valencia.
Para cuatro personas.
Para + number + personas: the party size.
Four friends are coming.
Para el sábado a las nueve de la noche.
Para + day + a las + hour: when you want the table.
In Spain people dine late.
A nombre de López.
A nombre de + surname: the booking name.
The waiter asks for a name.
¿Tienen mesa en la terraza?
¿Tienen…? (ustedes): ask what the restaurant has.
It's a warm evening in June.
Mi número es el seis, uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho.
Spaniards say phone numbers digit by digit or in pairs.
The restaurant may call to confirm.
| ¿Tienen…? (ustedes): ask what the restaurant has. |
| You give your phone number. | Mi número es el seis, uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho. | Spaniards say phone numbers digit by digit or in pairs. |