Pay the Check in Spanish Restaurant | Smooth Payment Phrases

Use “La cuenta, por favor,” confirm the total, then pay by card or cash with a few polite lines and clear hand signals.

In Spain, servers often won’t bring the bill until you ask. It’s normal. They’re giving you space to finish, talk, and leave when you’re ready. Once you know the words and the rhythm, paying feels simple in any bar, café, or dining room.

Below you’ll find the lines people use, the timing that keeps service smooth, and the little etiquette moves that prevent mix-ups with totals, receipts, and split bills.

What Usually Happens When You Ask To Pay

Most of the time, the flow goes like this: you ask for the bill, you check it, then you pay either at the table with a card terminal or at a counter. Smaller places may prefer the counter. Many mid-range restaurants bring the terminal to you.

When To Ask For The Bill

Ask once everyone’s finished and you’re ready to leave. If you’re staying for coffee, there’s no rush. If you’re on a schedule, ask right after plates are cleared so you’re not waiting later.

Hand Signals That Work

A small “writing” motion in the air usually does the trick. Pair it with a quick phrase and you’ll be understood even in a noisy room.

Words You’ll Hear At The End Of A Meal

The core word is cuenta. In restaurants, it’s the bill. The RAE dictionary entry for “cuenta” includes the sense of a written list of charges that gets totaled, which matches what you want at the table.

You may also hear ticket (often the receipt) and factura (an invoice with business details). If you just want to pay and go, stick with cuenta. If your company needs an invoice, ask for factura before you pay.

Three Polite Ways To Ask

• La cuenta, por favor. Simple and standard.
• ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor? A little fuller, still natural.
• ¿Nos cobra, por favor? Useful when you’re ready to pay right now.

Get The Server’s Attention The Local Way

If you need the bill, the first step is getting your server’s attention without turning it into a scene. In Spain, a quick look and a small nod often works. If the room is busy, lift your hand slightly at shoulder height. Keep your face friendly. That’s the whole move.

For the words, many people use Perdona with staff they’ve already been chatting with. It’s casual and common. If you want a more formal tone, use Disculpe. Both are fine. Pick the one that matches the vibe of the place.

Short Attention Lines

• Perdona. (Excuse me.)
• Disculpe. (Excuse me.)
• Cuando puedas. (When you can.)
• Una cosa. (One thing.)

Add your request right after: Perdona, la cuenta, por favor. It sounds natural and it keeps the exchange brief.

Say How You Want To Pay In One Sentence

A lot of payment confusion comes from half-requests: you ask for the bill, the server brings it, then you pause while deciding card or cash. You can skip that pause by pairing your request with your payment method.

Try one of these combos:

• La cuenta, por favor. Pago con tarjeta.
• La cuenta, por favor. Pago en efectivo.

If you’re paying at the counter, it also helps to tie the bill to your table. Many cafés track orders by table number. A simple line avoids the “Which table?” back-and-forth:

• Soy de la mesa ocho. (I’m from table eight.)
• Es la mesa de la ventana. (It’s the table by the window.)

And if you need the bill itemized, ask for it before you pay. That’s common when you’re splitting by items or you want to check charges for bread, bottled water, or a cover charge in some bars.

• ¿Me la trae desglosada? (Can you bring it itemized?)

Paying The Check In a Spanish Restaurant With Less Back-And-Forth

The goal is clarity: who’s paying, how you’re paying, and whether you want a receipt. Say those pieces once, calmly, and the payment step turns quick.

Ask For A Card Reader At The Table

• ¿Se puede pagar con tarjeta? (Can I pay by card?)
• ¿Puede traer el datáfono? (Can you bring the card terminal?)

Pay At The Counter When That’s The Norm

In casual bars, paying at the bar is common. These lines are enough:

• Pago en la barra. (I’ll pay at the bar.)
• ¿Pago aquí? (Do I pay here?)

Confirm The Total Before You Tap

A quick check keeps things clean:

• ¿Cuánto es en total? (What’s the total?)
• ¿Me da el ticket, por favor? (Can I get the receipt, please?)

Spanish Phrases For Paying, Splitting, And Receipts

This table is a practical set of lines you can use in real restaurants. Pick one phrase per moment and keep it short.

Situation	Spanish Line	What It Signals
You want the bill	La cuenta, por favor.	You’re ready to see the charges.
You want to pay now	¿Nos cobra, por favor?	You want to settle right away.
You want to pay by card	Pago con tarjeta.	You’re paying by card.
You’ll pay cash	Pago en efectivo.	You’re using notes or coins.
You need the card reader	¿Puede traer el datáfono?	You want the terminal brought to you.
You want separate payments	¿Podemos pagar por separado?	Each person will pay their part.
You want to split evenly	¿Podemos dividir la cuenta?	One bill, split into equal parts.
You need an invoice	¿Me puede hacer una factura?	You need formal billing details.
You’re asking for one receipt	Un ticket, por favor.	You want a single receipt.

Cash In Spain: Notes, Coins, And Change

Cash is still common in neighborhood spots. The euro is legal tender across the euro area, and Spain’s central bank covers how cash circulates in its section on billetes y monedas.

Two practical habits help: carry a few smaller notes, and check your change before you walk away. Nobody thinks that’s rude. It’s just normal in a busy place.

Two Lines For Change

• ¿Tiene cambio? (Do you have change?)
• ¿Me puede cambiar este billete? (Can you change this note?)

A Simple Way To Check A Large Note

If you receive a €50 or higher note as change, you can do a quick “feel, look, tilt” check. The European Central Bank lays this out on its page about euro banknote security features.

Card Payments: Terminals, Minimums, And What To Say

Card acceptance is broad in Spain, including contactless taps. Still, some small businesses set a minimum amount for card payments. Spain’s central bank answers this in its consumer guidance on pago mínimo con tarjeta.

If a minimum comes up, you’ve got three clean options: pay cash, add an item, or ask the minimum and decide. Keep it straightforward.

Lines For Card Hiccups

• ¿Cuál es el mínimo para pagar con tarjeta? (What’s the minimum to pay by card?)
• ¿Puedo poner el PIN? (Can I enter the PIN?)
• Un solo pago, por favor. (One payment, please.)

Splitting The Bill Without The Long Pause

Splitting is common, but the method depends on the restaurant’s system and how busy it is. If your group wants separate payments, say it early, ideally before the bill is printed.

These lines cover the usual options:

• Pagamos por separado, por favor. (We’ll pay separately.)
• Pagamos a medias. (We’ll split it down the middle.)
• Yo invito. (It’s on me.)

If the restaurant can’t split the bill the way you want, don’t take it personally. Some POS systems are limited, and during peak hours staff may push for one payment to keep the line moving. If that happens, one person can pay, then the group can settle up later. Keep the tone light and you’ll usually get a helpful answer.

Tip Talk: Keep It Clear And Small

Tipping in Spain is usually modest and optional. Many diners round up or leave a couple of euros when service felt friendly. If a service charge appears on the bill, you can treat that as the service payment and skip extra cash.

Two lines keep it clear:

• Quédese con el cambio. (Keep the change.)
• ¿Se puede añadir propina? (Can a tip be added?)

Payment Scenarios And What To Say

When you hit a specific snag, one short sentence fixes it. Use this table as your “say it once” menu.

Scenario	Spanish Line	Next Move
Card minimum appears	¿Cuál es el mínimo para pagar con tarjeta?	Pay cash or add an item if you want.
You spot an unknown charge	Perdón, ¿qué es esto?	Let staff explain or correct it.
Terminal amount looks wrong	Ese importe no es.	Ask them to enter the total again.
You need change first	¿Tiene cambio?	Swap to a smaller note if needed.
You need an invoice for work	Necesito factura, por favor.	Share billing details before paying.
You want one charge for the group	Un solo pago, por favor.	Hand over one card or cash.
You want to add a tip by card	¿Se puede añadir propina?	Follow the terminal prompts if available.

Mini Script You Can Use At The Table

If you want a simple flow you can memorize, use this. It fits most restaurants, and you can swap card or cash on the fly.

1. Ask: La cuenta, por favor.
2. Check: ¿Cuánto es en total?
3. Pay: Pago con tarjeta / Pago en efectivo.
4. Receipt: Un ticket, por favor.
5. Optional tip: Quédese con el cambio.

That’s the whole routine. Clear words, a calm tone, and one request at a time. You’ll leave on good terms and you’ll get charged the right amount.