Dining Information

When it comes to restaurants Granada certainly isn't one of the gastronomic centres of Spain, possibly due in part to the granadino tapas bars which tempt away potential diners by giving out some of the most generous tapas in Andalucía - one comes free with every drink. We have recommended a few of the best of these, and the municipal tourist office gives out a handy tapas bar leaflet to help you locate more. A flavour of North Africa is to be found along c/Calderería Nueva and its surrounds in "Little Morocco," where you'll find health-food stores as well as numerous Moroccan tearooms and eating places. This street is useful for assembling picnics for Alhambra visits, as is the revamped ultramodern Mercado Municipal in Plaza San Agustín just north of the cathedral (Mon-Fri early until 1.30pm). Inexpensive restaurants - most serving an economical menú del día - can be found among the inevitable tourist traps all over Granada. The warren of streets between Plaza Nueva and Gran Vía has plenty of good-value places, particularly tapas bars, as does the area around Plaza del Carmen (near the ayuntamiento ) and along c/Navas leading away from it. Another good location is the Campo del Principe, a pleasant square below the south side of the Alhambra hill, with a line of open-air restaurant terraces, highly popular on summer nights.

City centre
Bar-Restaurante Sevilla, c/Oficios, opposite the entrance to the Capilla Real. One of the few surviving prewar restaurants, and a haunt of Lorca, with a good-value menú and an outdoor terrace in the evenings.

Cafetería-Restaurante La Riviera, c/Cettimeriem 5. Popular café with a good menú económico , including a vegetarian option.

Casa Cepillo, c/Pescadería, off c/Príncipe behind the Alcaicería. Cheap comedor very popular with locals for its great-value menús - fish and squid are the specialities.

Horno de Santiago, Plaza de Los Campos 2. Probably the city's best restaurant, offering classic granadino meat, fish and game dishes in a pleasant setting. There's a menú de degustación for about €20. Closed Aug.

Mesón La Alegría, c/Moras 4, east of Puerta Real. This mesón is a favourite of granadinos working nearby and specializes in carnes asados (roasted meats).

Mesón Yunque, Plaza San Miguel Bajo in the Albaicín. Great atmosphere, with tasty meat and fish dishes served at indoor and outdoor tables on this delightful square.

Naturi Albaicín, c/Calderería Nueva 10. Imaginative vegetarian cooking, serving up fine salads, stuffed mushrooms, and the like.

Restaurante León, c/Pan 3. Long-established cordobés restaurant serving many carne de monte (game) dishes with a cheap menú del día , plus a good tapas bar on the other side of the street.

Restaurante-Marisquería Cunini, c/Pescadería 9. One of Granada's established upmarket restaurants, serving mainly fish, with an outstanding (and cheaper) tapas bar attached.

Around town
El Amir, General Narváez 3, in the south of the city near the Plaza de Gracia. Superb, and expensive, Arab restaurant with delicious hummus and falafel, wonderful dishes of rice and ground meat with pine nuts and cinnamon, and meatballs in a spicy sauce.

Bar-Restaurante Orotava, junction of c/Pedro Antonio de Alarcón and c/Sol. This no-frills diner serves up what has to be Granada's cheapest menú del día at €3.60 for three courses including bread and wine.

La Botana, Santa Escolástica s/n, near the Casa de los Tiros. Stylish restaurant and bar with raucous musical background and an eclectic cuisine, including some vegetarian options.

Café-bar Ochando, Avda. de los Andaluces. Situated right by the train station and open 24 hours, this café is handy for late or early travellers, and serves a good breakfast.

Rincón de Lola, Plazita Rosales near the Hospital Real. Good little vegetarian restaurant with well-prepared dishes and tasty home-made desserts.