Making a Restaurant Reservation
Use these phrases to book a table, request specific arrangements, or manage your reservation at a Spanish-speaking restaurant.
Key Phrases
¿Tienen hueco para cuatro esta noche?
neutralDo you have room for four tonight?
Common in Spain; a natural, standard way to ask for a free table.
¿Tendrían una mesa libre para cenar hoy?
politeWould you have a free table for dinner today?
Using the conditional tense softens the question.
¿Se puede a las nueve?
neutralIs 9:00 possible?
A standard, direct way to suggest a time to service staff.
Nos gustaría ir sobre las nueve y media.
politeWe would like to go around 9:30.
"Sobre las" is used for approximate times.
Una mesa para dos, por favor.
neutralA table for two, please.
A standard, transactional request addressed to a host.
Venimos por la reserva de las nueve y media.
neutralWe're here for the 9:30 reservation.
A routine way to inform staff of your arrival.
Buenas noches, teníamos una mesa reservada a mi nombre.
politeGood evening, we had a table reserved under my name.
The imperfect tense ("teníamos") is frequently used for politeness.
Vamos un poco retrasados, pero llegamos enseguida.
neutralWe are running a bit late, but we will be there shortly.
Standard service interaction explaining a delay.
Llamaba para avisar de que llegaremos quince minutos tarde.
politeI was calling to let you know we will arrive fifteen minutes late.
Using "llamaba" (I was calling) is a common polite strategy.
¿Podemos sentarnos en la terraza, por favor?
neutralCan we sit on the terrace, please?
A simple and direct transactional request.
Preferimos una mesa que esté cerca de la ventana.
politeWe prefer a table that is near the window.
Uses the present subjunctive to describe an unspecific desired table.
¿Tienen platos sin gluten en el menú?
neutralDo you have gluten-free dishes on the menu?
Direct and standard way to ask about dietary restrictions.
¿Podrían preparar un plato que no lleve lácteos?
politeCould you prepare a dish that doesn't contain dairy?
Combines a polite request with a subjunctive relative clause.
Necesitamos cambiar nuestra reserva para mañana, si es posible.
neutralWe need to change our reservation to tomorrow, if possible.
Clear and direct.
¿Sería posible añadir a una persona más a la reserva?
politeWould it be possible to add one more person to the reservation?
Very respectful way to request a change.