Asking for the bill without feeling rushed

La cuenta, por favor

lah KWEN-tah, por fah-VOR — The bill, please

"Perdona, ¿nos traes la cuenta, por favor?"
Excuse me, could you bring us the bill, please?

In Spain, waiters won't bring the bill until you ask for it — it's considered rude to rush a table, not the other way around. Asking is expected, not impatient.

"I once had a student sit waiting twenty minutes for the bill in a Madrid restaurant before I taught him this — he thought the waiter had forgotten him!"— Graciela