Eating and sharing meals are essential parts of everyday life and expressed through tradition and culture. This everyday expression of who we are is argued to be taken away from us during hospitalization. Few studies have qualitatively explored hospitalized older patients experiences with their mealtimes. This is a perspective that could increase the understanding of how to provide enhanced dining experiences during time of illness for this malnutrition prune age group. The study objective was therefore to explore older patients’ (> 65 years) mealtime experiences during hospital stay with an emphasis towards the social interactions taking place before, during and after their meals. Eleven semi structured interviews were conducted and analysed through the lens of hospitality and the dramaturgical theory outlined by Goffman. The preliminary results indicate that the patients experience hospitality through materiality (e.g. the menu), commensality (with fellow patients and staff) an d individuality (the possibility to make own meal choices) but also inhospitality through conformity (not expressing their wishes or conforming to the situation) and locality (e.g. being lonely in ther oom). The patients are seen to reinforce the role of the non-complaining patient as well as not being a burden. The understanding of these kinds of role making and role taking by the patients is important to recognize within healthcare to be able to ensure that the mealtime and the meal service is provided with a person- centered approach together with the recognition that hospitality can bring fourth the practical doings in how to perform during meal service.