Chiringuito is Spanish slang for a place where you can grab a quick snack, such as snack stands or kiosks. But the real meaning goes far beyond a place to buy a bag of chips. The local chiringuito is a place where friends, neighbors or tertulios meet to exchange gossip, swap jokes and hang out. Chiringuitos range from the bare bones to the really well equipped where you can buy your morning espresso, a tempting pastry and the latest newspaper to check the soccer scores, often a point of intense and sometimes heated discussion in Spain. And, who knows, you might be able to make a date for tapas with that cute chica or handsome hombre that just moved in down the street. Like so many other Spanish customs, stopping by the chiringuito opens up a world of possibilities.
