This blog post was originally posted on November 10, 2013 and was updated on September 29, 2022
The Best Places to Eat in Granada
Granada is by far one of the most interesting places to eat in Spain. Tapas come with every drink, kebab shops line the corners and even the most casual restaurants offer spectacular views of the Alhambra. The mix of Spanish and Moorish cuisine is evident in some of the city’s most popular dishes and pastries, and going for a tea is nearly as popular as going for a beer.
But, just like anywhere in Spain, leaving eating out up to chance is never a good idea. We’re here to help you avoid disaster with some tried and true tips for eating in Granada.
Pairing local beer and cheese in Granada is a match made in heaven.
Best Restaurants and Tabernas
Mirador de Morayma
A restaurant is housed inside a gorgeous home in the Albaicín, Mirador de Morayma is one of Granada’s most beautiful settings for a meal. The menu is a perfect mix of local cuisine and Moorish influence, and the views of the Alhambra can’t be beat. Our tips are to order a la carte and reserve a table with a view in advance.
Address: Calle del Pianista Garcia Carrillo, 2
Taberna Más Que Vinos
This lovely little bar/restaurant is a short walk from Granada’s main streets and really worth a visit. Thee wine list at Taberna Más que Vinos is great and reasonably priced, and their tapas are made using the best ingredients. When our last visit started with a slice of cheese on bread as our first tapa, we were a bit disappointed at first—but it turned out to be the most delicious bite of cheese we’d had in a long time! They also do a delightful (and affordable) menu of the day.
Address: Calle Tundidores, 10
Cheap, crowded and a bit chaotic, Bodegas Castañeda is the type of bar you go to for an aperitif and a tapa. As one of the oldest and most established tapas bars in the city, it won’t disappoint anyone looking for authenticity. So order a crisp glass of manzanilla, and see what happens!
Address: Calle Almireceros, 1-3
Los Diamantes
If you like fried seafood, Los Diamantes is also a must when eating in Granada. It is the type of place that is crowded with tourists and locals alike, and you’ll have to elbow your way up to the bar to order. Don’t ask questions – drink your beer, eat your fish, and then repeat.
Insider’s tip: While this bar is great for tapas, you should try elsewhere for a sit-down lunch (we’ve found table service to be quite unorganized).
Address: Varias locations
Jersualem Restaurant
Granada is known for its kebab shops, and Calle Elvira is home to at least ten! But look for this tiny, nondescript location off of Calle Elvira, and you’ll be surprised by the quality. Perfect for a late-night snack, make sure to ask for the salsa picante (hot sauce) for an extra punch. Give it a try for a different take on eating in Granada.
Address: Calle Aguirre, 3
Taberna la Tana
This is a fantastic wine and tapas bar with prices to match. The bartender is a sommelier, so his parings and picks are spot-on. Stop at Taberna la Tana early (around 9:00 p.m.) before it gets too crowded!
Address: Calle Rosario, 11
Where to Eat Breakfast in Granada
Cafe 4 Gatos
Located in the Albaicín, this small breakfast café is home to some of the city’s biggest breakfast tostadas (toasted bread with toppings). At Cafe 4 Gatos, our advice is to order a media (half toast) as they truly are enormous! Their coffee is also fantastic, so take your time with a hot café con leche.
Address: Placeta Cruz Verde, 6
Where to Find Something Sweet
Pastelería López-Mezquita
Known for their flaky empanadillas, a stop at Pastelería López-Mezquita completes any trip to Granada. Their coffee and pastries are also worth a try.
Address: Calle Reyes Católicos, 39
Heladería Los Italianos
They may serve Italian-style gelato, but this is as local as you can get. Definitely considered the best ice cream in the city by residents (as evident by the long lines in the afternoon), we consider Heladería Los Italianos a must while walking the streets of Granada.
Address: Gran Via de Colon, 4
Lauren’s love of food and Spain led her create Devour Tours, which has now expanded to 18 countries – and counting! She is also a trained chef and the creator behind Spanish Sabores, a food blog dedicated to Spanish recipes.
I am late to the party, but yes yes yes to La Oliva! I had a fantastic experience there, and Francisco just might be the nicest man ever. He also speaks perfect English 🙂
And Pakistani Shwarma…fortunately (or unfortunately, depending how you look at it), this spot was a mere three minute walk from my piso. I am not sure how many of their shwarmas I ate during my 8 months in Granada but it is a lot more than I would like to admit….
we will be in spain from dec 26-jan 8. right now searching for nice dinner for 10pm dec 31. we are travelling with our 2 children in their 20s so we are hoping to have a nice meal and then they will go out and party for new years. we are not interested in a new years type of event, just a nice meal and were wondering if you could recommend which place is great food and authentic, not touristy.
It’s tricky to find places open on the 31st but we came across this list earlier today: http://tenemosqueir.com/2014/11/20-restaurantes-para-celebrar-la-cena-de-navidad/ Although it’s talking about Christmas dinners, many of those places will also be open on NYE. Hope it helps!
We will be in Granada for 3 nights – family of six with 4 older teens. It has been suggested to me that we do a tapas tour. The price is 65 euros per person. The tour is 3 hours. This seems expensive to me in general, but also I thought most tapas in Granada were free with a drink. Maybe I am incorrect on this information.
I am just wondering if this is a typical price for a tapas tour and if this type of tour is worth taking in Granada. We will be doing a guided tapas tour in Seville and San Sebastian.
Hi Lisa! As we also offer a tapas tour here in Madrid, I’d absolutely say that 65€ is well worth it (of course it depends on the tour and guide in the end). The price of our tours include all food and drink, 4.5 hours with a local guide, and 21% sales tax (the tour you are looking at likely already includes sales tax in the price, as is typical here in Spain). While it’s true that some food comes with your drink in Granada, the quality really ranges, and I would be willing to bet that the tour also includes many dishes that are actually larger than tapas and therefore not free. While I can’t speak for any tours except our own, I think that 65€ sounds like a very reasonable price (remember, you are probably getting much more than food and drink, it is a tour too!). Hope this helps!
don’t eat at Tajin Elvira. It cannot possibly be the old mom and pop shop. Worst rice (previously frozen) heated up in the microwave (heard the door open and close) and moroccan bread i’ve ever had. The veal tajin was good, not great, not moist like a tajin should be, and definitely not great for the price.
Thanks for letting us know, Ehran! Sorry to hear that it’s no longer as good as when we last visited.