where-to-eat
Where to Eat in Granada: Best Restaurants & Tapas Bars (2026)
Forget the tourist menus. Here's where to eat like a local in Granada, the city where tapas are still free.
Eating in Granada at a Glance
Granada is the last city in Spain where free tapas remain a genuine tradition.
Order a beer or wine and you receive a tapa - not a handful of olives, but a proper plate of food. Order another drink, get another tapa. By the third or fourth round, you have eaten dinner without ever ordering food.
This is not a gimmick for tourists.
It is how Granada has always worked, and it shapes the entire culture of eating out here. You do not sit down for a meal; you move from bar to bar, drink in hand, discovering what each kitchen offers. The tapas get larger with each drink. By midnight, the streets are full of people doing exactly this.
But Granada offers more than free tapas.
The Albaicín hides romantic restaurants with Alhambra views. The Sacromonte caves serve zambra flamenco with dinner. The university area buzzes with cheap, excellent food. And the Moorish heritage appears in everything - the spices, the sweets, the tea houses of the Calderería Nueva.
What makes Granada's food special?
Local tip
The free tapas tradition works on a simple principle: you do not choose. The kitchen sends what it wants. This is not a limitation - it means you taste things you would never order. If you hate something, finish your drink and move to the next bar. By the third bar, you will have eaten three different dishes for the price of three drinks.
Granada's cuisine reflects its history as the last Moorish stronghold in Spain. Arab influences appear everywhere - in the spiced meat dishes, the honey-drenched pastries, the tea houses, the way almonds and saffron find their way into unlikely places.
What defines Granada's food:
- Free tapas with every drink (a tradition unique to Granada)
- Moorish-influenced dishes with North African spices
- Mountain ingredients from the Sierra Nevada (ham, game, chestnuts)
- Tortilla del Sacromonte (the city's signature omelette)
- Pionono (sweet pastry from nearby Santa Fe)
- Trevélez ham from the Alpujarras
Best tapas bars in Granada
The legendary free tapas bars
Bar Los Diamantes
€Seafood tapasCalle Navas · Legendary, always packed, standing room only
Must try: Fried fish, gambas, boquerones
The most famous tapas bar in Granada, and deservedly so.
The free tapas are generous portions of fried fish - crispy, fresh, and perfectly cooked. The bar is always packed, the floor is covered in napkins, and the noise is deafening. This is Granada at its most authentic. Multiple locations, but the Calle Navas original is the one to visit.
Bodegas Castañeda
€Traditional tapasNear Plaza Nueva · Historic bodega, barrels lining the walls
Must try: Montaditos, jamón, vermouth
A historic bodega with barrels lining the walls and hams hanging from the ceiling.
The free tapas are traditional and reliable. The montaditos are worth ordering extra. Vermouth on tap is excellent. Atmospheric without being touristy, drawing locals and visitors in equal measure.
Bar Poe
€Creative tapasRealejo · Small, creative, local favourite
Must try: Whatever they bring - changes daily
A small bar in the Realejo neighbourhood where the free tapas are more creative than traditional.
The kitchen changes the offerings constantly, so you never know what you will get. Popular with locals who appreciate the quality. Go early - it fills up fast and the space is tiny.
La Riviera
€Seafood tapasCalle Elvira · No-frills, excellent fish
Must try: Seafood tapas, calamares, gambas
Less famous than Los Diamantes but serving seafood tapas of equal quality.
The calamares are superb - crispy, tender, and served hot. The space is no-frills, the crowds are smaller, and the value is exceptional. A local favourite that deserves more attention.
Bar La Tana
€€Wine and tapasPlaza Nueva area · Serious wine bar with excellent food
Must try: Wine selection, cured meats, cheese
A serious wine bar where the free tapas are a cut above.
The wine list is exceptional, staff are knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is sophisticated without being stuffy. Come here when you want quality over quantity, and when you want someone to guide you through Spanish wines.
Calle Navas - the tapas street
Calle Navas is Granada's most famous tapas street, lined with bars serving generous free tapas.
It gets crowded, especially on weekends, but the tradition here is strong. Walk from one end to the other, stopping at whatever catches your eye.
La Chicotá
€Traditional tapasCalle Navas · Classic Calle Navas bar
Must try: Croquetas, patatas bravas, tortilla
A reliable Calle Navas institution serving classic free tapas.
The croquetas are creamy and well-seasoned, the portions are generous, and the atmosphere is authentically Granada. Not the most famous bar on the street, but consistently good.
Entrebrasas
€€Grilled meatsCalle Navas · Meat-focused, quality cuts
Must try: Grilled meats, secreto ibérico, chuletón
When you want more than tapas, Entrebrasas serves serious grilled meats.
The secreto ibérico is exceptional, cooked over charcoal and served pink. This is where to come for a proper meal on Calle Navas rather than bar-hopping. Book ahead on weekends.
Restaurants in the Albaicín
The Albaicín, Granada's old Moorish quarter, offers romantic restaurants with Alhambra views. Prices are higher than in the centre, but you are paying for atmosphere as much as food.
El Huerto de Juan Ranas
€€€MediterraneanAlbaicín · Terrace with direct Alhambra view
Must try: Anything - but you come for the view
The terrace here offers one of the most famous views in Granada - the Alhambra lit up at night, close enough to see detail but far enough to appreciate the whole.
The food is good, not exceptional, but you are here for the setting. Book ahead and request a terrace table for sunset.
Carmen Mirador de Aixa
€€€AndalusianAlbaicín · Elegant carmen with garden terrace
Must try: Tasting menu, local wines
Set in a traditional carmen (an Albaicín house with walled garden), this restaurant combines elegant dining with stunning views.
The cooking is refined without being pretentious, using local ingredients with skill. The garden terrace is magical on summer evenings. Dress nicely.
Ruta del Azafrán
€€Modern AndalusianAlbaicín · Intimate, creative cooking
Must try: Dishes with saffron, local lamb, desserts
A more intimate restaurant where the cooking is creative and the portions are refined.
Saffron appears throughout the menu, used thoughtfully rather than as a gimmick. The space is small and romantic. Good for a date night away from the crowds.
Traditional restaurants
Restaurante Chikito
€€Traditional GranadinoPlaza del Campillo · Historic institution, García Lorca connection
Must try: Tortilla del Sacromonte, habas con jamón, remojón
A Granada institution with history - García Lorca and his literary circle used to meet here.
The food is traditional Granadino, and this is the place to try tortilla del Sacromonte (the local omelette with offal), habas con jamón, and remojón (orange and cod salad). The setting is formal but welcoming.
Arrayanes
€€Moroccan-AndalusianCalderería Nueva · Authentic North African, romantic lighting
Must try: Tagines, cous cous, Moroccan pastries
Granada's Moorish heritage comes alive in the teahouses of the Calderería Nueva, but Arrayanes offers proper Moroccan cooking.
Tagines are fragrant and authentic, cous cous is fluffy and well-spiced, and the pastries are excellent. The space is intimate, lit by lanterns, genuinely transporting.
Cunini
€€€SeafoodPlaza Pescadería · Classic seafood restaurant, white tablecloths
Must try: Fresh fish, shellfish, fried seafood
Granada is far from the sea, but Cunini has been serving excellent seafood since 1952.
The fish is fresh, the preparations are classic, and the quality is consistent. White tablecloths, professional service, slightly formal but not stuffy. One of the best seafood restaurants in inland Andalusia.
Budget options and student favourites
Granada is a university city, and students have kept prices low in certain areas. The streets around Plaza de Gracia and the Realejo neighbourhood offer excellent value.
Om Kalsum
€Middle EasternCalderería Nueva · Cheap, cheerful, popular with students
Must try: Falafel, shawarma, hummus
The Calderería Nueva is lined with Middle Eastern restaurants competing for student custom.
Om Kalsum stands out for quality. The falafel is crispy and well-spiced, the shawarma is generous, and the prices are genuinely cheap. Perfect for a quick lunch when you want something filling and fast.
Sacromonte - cave restaurants and flamenco
The Sacromonte neighbourhood, famous for its cave dwellings and zambra flamenco, offers a unique dining experience. The caves maintain constant temperature - cool in summer, warm in winter - and the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else.
Venta El Gallo
€€Traditional GranadinoSacromonte · Historic cave restaurant with flamenco
Must try: Tortilla del Sacromonte, grilled meats
A historic cave restaurant where you can combine traditional Granadino cooking with zambra flamenco.
The tortilla del Sacromonte here is authentic - made with offal as tradition demands. The cave setting is atmospheric, the flamenco is genuine (not the tourist version), and the experience is uniquely Granada.
What to order: Granada's essential dishes
Good to know
Granada's traditional dishes reflect its position as the last Moorish stronghold and its proximity to the Sierra Nevada mountains. Expect strong Arab influences and hearty mountain ingredients.
Traditional Granada dishes
Tortilla del Sacromonte - Granada's signature omelette, traditionally made with lamb brains and offal.
Not for everyone, but authentic versions are worth trying if you are adventurous. Modern versions sometimes substitute more familiar ingredients.
Habas con jamón - Broad beans cooked with jamón serrano. Simple, seasonal (spring is best), and utterly delicious when made properly.
Remojón granadino - A salad of oranges, salt cod, olives, and onion.
The combination sounds unusual but works beautifully. A Moorish-influenced dish.
Olla de San Antón - A hearty stew made in January for the feast of San Antón.
Pork, beans, and blood sausage. Proper winter food.
Plato alpujarreño - A mountain dish combining fried eggs, potatoes, jamón, morcilla (blood sausage), and chorizo. Fuel for hiking.
Sweets
Pionono - The signature sweet of Granada, created in Santa Fe.
A small sponge roll soaked in syrup and topped with toasted cream. Dangerously addictive.
Huesos de santo - "Saint's bones" - marzipan tubes filled with sweet egg yolk. Traditional for All Saints' Day but available year-round.
Drinks
Tinto de verano - Red wine with lemon soda. Lighter than sangria, more refreshing, and what locals actually drink in summer.
Vino de la costa - Wine from the Costa Tropical, south of Granada. Light, unusual, worth trying for curiosity.
Practical tips for eating in Granada
How free tapas work
- Order a drink (beer, wine, tinto de verano) and receive a free tapa
- You do not choose the tapa - the kitchen sends what it wants
- Tapas get larger with each subsequent drink (usually)
- If you do not like what you receive, finish your drink and move to another bar
- Some bars let you choose from a list; most do not
- Water and soft drinks usually do not come with tapas
- The tradition is strongest in the centre; less consistent in tourist areas
Best areas for different experiences
Calle Navas - The classic tapas crawl.
Crowded but authentic. Best for first-time visitors who want the full Granada experience.
Realejo - The old Jewish quarter.
More local, less touristy, excellent small bars. Best for those who want to escape the crowds.
Albaicín - Romantic restaurants with Alhambra views.
Higher prices, better for sit-down dinners. Best for special occasions.
Calderería Nueva - Tea houses and Middle Eastern restaurants. Best for a different experience and cheap, filling food.
Sacromonte - Cave restaurants and flamenco. Best for a unique experience combining food and culture.
Timing
Local tip
Granada eats late, even by Spanish standards. Restaurants do not fill until 10pm for dinner. If you arrive at 8pm, you will eat alone. Adjust your body clock or embrace the Spanish schedule.
Reservations
For tapas bars, you do not need reservations - just turn up.
For restaurants, especially in the Albaicín or for flamenco shows, book ahead. Weekend nights in high season require planning.
Day trips for food lovers
The Alpujarras
The white villages of the Alpujarras, on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, produce Spain's finest jamón in Trevélez. The mountain restaurants serve hearty plato alpujarreño and local wine.
The Alpujarras
60 km · 1.5 hr driveWhite villages clinging to the Sierra Nevada slopes, producing famous Trevélez ham and serving hearty mountain cuisine.
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