We are sure you must have come across reels and videos on social media explaining the perfect time to have dinner. Many health influencers connect dinner time with weight loss goals and even mental health. They have difference of opinion over the prefect dinner time and no consensus have yet been made. While some influencers believe that dinner should be done before sunset, others believe having dinner two hours before going to bed will suffice.
Dinner serves as a family bonding time in many cultures. After a long day at work, dinner becomes a way to unwind and have a leisure with the family and friends. When all have different schedules for work, leisure and even having food.
With every other influencer boasting to have an early dinner for better health let us look at cultural dinner timings of people globally.
1. Spain (9 pm- 11 pm):
For Spaniards dinners starts usually at 9 pm. They indulge in siesta which is a mid-day break for at least two hours. This affects their dinner time which does not start before 9 pm and goes on till at least 11 pm.
2. Norway (4 pm- 5 pm)
Norway is known for being quite early compared to other countries i.e. usually between 4 and 5 pm. Norwegians tend to finish their workday earlier, giving them plenty of time to head home and prepare dinner before settling down for the night.
3. Brazil (6 pm – 8.30 pm):
Culturally people in Brazil like to have dinner with their families around 6-8:30 pm.
4. India (8 pm-10.30 pm):
An average Indian restaurant starts to serve dinner by 8 pm and goes on till 10.30 pm.
5. United Kingdom (6 pm-8 pm):
Britishers often refer to their dinner time as “tea”. Their dinner time falls between 6 pm and 8 pm.
6. USA (6 pm-7 pm):
Another country in the list of culturally eating dinner during early evening is the USA. Dinner time here usually between 6 pm and 7 pm.
7. Greece (9:30 pm-11:30 pm):
To avoid the scorching heat in summers especially, people in Greece usually have dinner during the late evening. The restaurant here gets the most crowd after 9.30 pm and continue till 11.30 pm.
8. Japan (6 pm- 10 pm):
Restaurants in Japan start serving dinner by 6 pm and usually go on till 10 pm.
9. South Africa (8 pm- 10 pm):
Very similar to India and Greece, families sit together to have dinner in South Africa between 8-10 pm.
10. Mexico (9 pm- 10pm):
Typical timings for dining in Mexico is between 9 pm and 10 pm. Restaurants here may be found deserted at 6 pm, since the typical dinner time for citizens in the country starts only around 9 pm.
11. China (6 pm-8 pm):
For citizens of China, dinner is a time to unwind and connect with the family. So dinner time in China falls between 6 pm and 8 pm.
12. France (8 pm-10 pm):
Dinner is for socializing and spending time with the family in France. So typically dinner in France is between 8 pm and 10 pm. It however varies region to region.
13. Italy (8 pm-10 pm):
Dinner in Italy us typically always served after the sunset. So despite the different regions of Italy, dinner is usually served after 8 pm. Depending on the region, dinner time varies between 8 pm-10 pm.
14. Australia (5 pm-6 pm):
Australians typically dine between 5 pm and 6 pm This trend is spurred by factors such as the importance of quality family time, cost-effectiveness, and a focus on wellness.
15. Germany (5 pm- 7 pm):
Germans are early diners and usually their dinner timings fall between 5 pm and 7 pm.
