Granada is packed with tapas bars, but they’re not all worth the same. After years of eating my way around this city, I’m bringing you the areas and the kind of place where the tapa is still generous and good, so you don’t gamble on it. This is the guide I’d give a friend so she tapas like a granadina and not like a clueless tourist.
Let’s get into it.
How to pick a good tapas bar
Before the names, the criteria, which is what really helps you:
- Where there are granadinos eating, walk straight in.
- Be wary of terraces with huge photos of the menu and a waiter at the door calling you over.
- A packed, noisy bar = a good sign.
- If the tapa changes with each round and gets better, you’re in the right place.
The best areas for tapas bars
Calle Navas
The tapas street par excellence, right in the centre. One bar after another, classic old-school counters. It gets seriously busy, but it’s pretty much a must for a first time.
Calle Elvira and the Arab quarter
Right by Plaza Nueva, with tapas bars, tea houses and loads of atmosphere. Ideal for starting the night before heading up to the Albaicín.
El Realejo
My favourite area. The old Jewish quarter keeps the most authentic counters and the most generous tapa. If you could only tapas in one spot, this is where I’d send you.
La Pescadería and Bib-Rambla
In the heart of the centre, easy and central, with squares where you can sit down. A good starting point if you’re staying around here.
How to plan a tapas crawl
The key is not to get stuck in a single bar. Pick an area, stop at three or four counters, a drink and its tapa at each one, and keep moving on. That way you try a bit of everything and have dinner almost without realising it. How free tapas works I explain in full in the guide to tapas in Granada.
And if you want to stretch the budget, take a look at cheap eats in Granada. Everything else about the local food scene is in where to eat in Granada.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best areas for tapas bars in Granada?
Calle Navas is the most famous, but El Realejo, Calle Elvira and the Pescadería area have brilliant counters and, sometimes, a more generous tapa.
How do I know if a tapas bar is good?
If it’s full of people from Granada and the bar is noisy, that’s a good sign. Steer clear of terraces with photos of the menu and a tout at the door.
Do you need to book at tapas bars?
For tapas at the bar, no, you just pop in and out. If you want a table to sit down for dinner, it’s worth booking, especially at weekends.
What time do people have tapas in Granada?
Around 1.30 pm for the midday aperitif and from 8.30 pm onwards at night. Those are the hours when the bars are in full swing.