For Spaniards, the meal doesn’t end simply after you finish eating. ‘Sobremesa’ is a fundamental part of all meals shared with friends and family.

A table that's still covered in empty plates and crumpled serviettes tells you everything you need to know: the meal may be over, but no one is ready to leave. That's the essence of a sobremesa. Instead of rushing to clean up, everyone hangs back to enjoy each other’s company for a while.

Sobremesa can last longer than the meal itself, stretching on for hours. You might continue to drink, have dessert, or just let the food settle while you soak it all in.

It’s a cultural custom that is treasured and understood - in restaurants, your table won’t be hastily cleared after you eat, with a bill placed very obviously on the table and a waiter hovering nearby with an eftpos machine in hand. Instead, waiters will generally only bring the bill when you ask for it - a signal from your table that the meal, and sobremesa, has come to an end.

Sobremesa literally means "upon the table", yet there isn't a single English word that captures its meaning. The lack of a translation speaks to how the tradition is embedded in Spanish culture and in its language. Their way of living teaches us that there’s no need to rush and the people and the conversation at the table are just as important as the food itself.