re: How did the tradition of super late dinners out start in places like Spain and Italy?

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I see you've never had to meet a payroll.

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I'm sure you're aware of this, but traditionally these restaurants were family owned/run and you didn't necessarily have to meet a payroll when grandma was in the kitchen, mom and dad ran the front of house and the kids were serving. The dinner experience in places like Spain and Italy is a much more social experience than just looking to turn over tables. Sure they wanted to make money, but that wasn't the ultimate goal.

It's slowly changing, but the culture and mindset over there is obviously much different than here when it comes to eating in a restaurant.

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you didn't necessarily have to meet a payroll when grandma was in the kitchen, mom and dad ran the front of house and the kids were serving.

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I get this, and I don't have an issue eating out. But I was simply pointing out, it would make your life very difficult to have a family run restaurant that didn't open until 8 pm and closed after midnight.

I understand that things can be different, and I appreciate that. I just expected that with technology and changes over time, that not opening until 7 or 8pm may become more of a thing of the past. Tradition being kept for the home or more rare restaurants. That's all.

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How, as in before modern technology of the last 20 or 30 years, did it become a "tradition" for places like Italy and Spain to have super late dinners?

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They don't consider it late.

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I understand the younger crowd under 25 preferring late dinners, but why in the world would a place that has to cater to all ages do that?

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Has nothing to do with age.

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My issue is it effects your whole day and probably the next morning also? Going out to Tapas late on vacation, is fun. Having to wait for a place to open as a local until 8pm...seems terrible?

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You're on vacation, should be easy to plan your schedule and have a great time while appreciating local practices and customs.

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It works for their culture. Expecting other countries to change things because Americans want to eat earlier is...ugh.

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That’s not what I said but ok….

Spain also consistently has one of the worst economies in Europe. I get culture and some things are beyond/ more important then money. But if you can’t wake up until 10am, work 5 hours 4 days a week, and are incredibly corrupt then don’t cry about it. Not saying they are.

My entire point though was, ok, you say it gets dark late…well it also gets light early, but they stay up late and don’t wake up and seize the day. Not all cultures do this.

I am in Greece right now and it is the same thing. I love it. Almost every restaurant here is family run, and they work 7 days a week from May - September, so they need their break. Our favorite restaurant is 4 brothers working the front of the house and their mom and dad in the back cooking.

Most shops and restaurants (aside from the beach clubs/restaurants) open around 10am, and then close from about 2-6, and then reopen from 6 or 7 until midnight. There is a great late night atmosphere here and it also gives you time to lay on the beach, shower, not feel rushed when going out, and gives the business owners time to rest. Payroll isn’t much if a concern since so many are family run.
Learn to take naps and move a littler slower, and you will love the European pace.

I think it stays light until nearly 9 or 10 which does it for me.