Dinner in Granada has its own rhythm: people eat late, you can have dinner on tapas almost for free, and there are spots with views of the Alhambra that take your breath away. Here’s where to have dinner depending on what you fancy that night, from old-school tapas hopping to a dinner with a view for a special occasion.
If what you’re after is lunch or a general restaurant guide, that one’s in where to eat in Granada. This is about the evening. Let’s get to it.
What time people have dinner in Granada
First things first, because it catches a lot of people out: dinner is late in Granada. Kitchens usually open for dinner from 8:30 or 9 pm, and the norm is to sit down around 9 or 10 pm. Turn up at seven looking for dinner and you’ll find half of it shut or places aimed only at tourists.
My advice: have something earlier (a beer with its tapa) and dine at the local hour, unhurried. You’ll eat better and with more atmosphere.
Dinner on tapas: the most Granada (and cheapest) option
In Granada you can absolutely have dinner on tapas, and it’s what a lot of us do. You order a drink, they bring the tapa, and after three or four stops you’ve had dinner for the price of a few drinks. It’s cheap, fun and the most authentic way to dine here.
I explain how the whole thing works in the tapas in Granada guide, and the specific bars to head straight for in the best tapas bars. For dinner on tapas, Calle Navas and the Elvira and Realejo areas never fail. Bodegas Castañeda and Los Diamantes are classics to start the round.
Where to have dinner in the centre
If you’d rather sit down to dinner, the centre is the most convenient. Between the Cathedral, Plaza Nueva and the Realejo there are taverns and restaurants for every taste. The usual trick: walk a street or two from the most touristy squares and you’ll eat better and cheaper.
For seafood and fried fish at dinner, Marisquería Cunini (next to the Cathedral) is the reference. And in the Realejo, La Auténtica Carmela or Picoteca 3 Maneras work really well for a tasty dinner without fuss. You’ll find them all, in more detail, in where to eat in Granada.
Dinner with views of the Alhambra
If you want a special dinner, this is as Granada as it gets: the carmenes of the Albaicín have terraces facing the lit-up Alhambra, and dining there at night is one of those things you don’t forget. Note down Carmen Aben Humeya, Mirador de Morayma and Las Tomasas, all near the Mirador de San Nicolás.
Just book ahead and ask for the table with the view when you do. And if you want to know more about the neighbourhood, I tell you in the Albaicín guide.
Dinner on a budget in Granada
Beyond the tapas, Granada is a great city for eating well while spending little. Neighbourhood bars, sharing plates and evening set menus in places off the tourist circuit. I tell you the tricks and the specific spots in cheap eats in Granada, which work just as well for dinner.
Dinner for a special occasion
If it’s a night to celebrate (a birthday, a proposal, an anniversary), go for the carmenes with views in the Albaicín or the restaurants with an Andalusian courtyard in the centre, which have a gorgeous, more intimate setting. Book for sure and, if it’s a place with views, ask for a table outside.
And after dinner…
Granada at night offers plenty. You can head to a viewpoint to see the lit-up Alhambra, do a night-time free walking tour around the centre and the Albaicín, or book a visit to the Alhambra at night, which is a completely different experience. And if you’re into flamenco, the Sacromonte has shows in caves that are pure Granada.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I have dinner in Granada?
Depends on the night: tapas hopping around Calle Navas and the Realejo if you want it cheap, a sit-down place in the centre, or a carmen in the Albaicín if you want dinner with views of the Alhambra. For the general restaurant guide, see where to eat in Granada.
What time is dinner in Granada?
Late. Kitchens open for dinner from 8:30 or 9 pm, and the norm is to sit down around 9 or 10 pm.
Where can I have dinner cheaply in Granada?
Having dinner on tapas (you order a drink and they bring a tapa) gets you a very long way, especially around Calle Navas, Elvira and the Realejo. More spots in the cheap eats guide.
Where can I have dinner with views of the Alhambra?
In the carmenes of the Albaicín near the Mirador de San Nicolás, like Aben Humeya, Mirador de Morayma or Las Tomasas. Book ahead and ask for a table with a view.
Do you need to book for dinner in Granada?
For tapas, no, you just pop into the bars. For sit-down restaurants, and especially the carmenes with views at weekends, yes, it’s worth booking.
That’s dinner. For the rest of the day, you’ve got where to eat in Granada (the general restaurant guide) and what to see in Granada to sort out your trip.