10 of the best tapas bars in the centre of Granada
“Bars, what places. So pleasant for conversation. There is nothing like the warmth of love in a bar.” It would not be surprising if Gabinete Caligari found the inspiration for this legendary song after a stroll through the city of the Alhambra. Going out for tapas in Granada is culture, a philosophy of life, a unique way of understanding leisure. It is impossible to sum up the best tapas bars in the centre of Granada in a list of ten, but here we present some of the favourites that can be found within easy reach of the Cathedral area, Plaza de la Trinidad and Hermanos Maristas.
Going out for tapas in Granada: abundance at affordable prices
We begin our route through the best tapas bars in the centre of Granada with a classic: La Bella y la Bestia. It is the typical Granadan establishment that serves each drink with a generously sized tapa. They do not stand out for exquisite quality, but it is the perfect place to fill your stomach at more than affordable prices. They have several venues, one of them next to the Cathedral, on Cárcel Baja street.
And the mega tapas continue, because now we head to El Establo, on Almona Vieja street. This is the student area par excellence, full of bars that cater to this clientele: large, cheap tapas that always come with your drink. El Establo is one of the best in the area, and they specialise in toasts, sandwiches and ring-shaped breads. Their small, cosy venue stands out for its rustic décor.
In the same style is La Antigualla, on Cetti Meriem street, next to the section of the emblematic Elvira street closest to the Cathedral. The perfect place to satisfy the hungriest diners with just two or three tapas. And it is not all about bread: at La Antigualla, the selection also includes tapas such as skewers, scrambled eggs and meat stews.
And just opposite, we find another of the best tapas bars in the centre of Granada: La Riviera. A place not suitable for small appetites, with a rustic and traditional atmosphere. And this time, you choose the tapa yourself from a wide variety: rejos, croquettes, skewers, toasts… and their signature tapa, the milanesa.
Variety, quality and always at low prices
With a different and very unique style, we find another of the best places to go for tapas in Granada: La Trastienda. What initially seems to be a delicatessen becomes a cosy bar once you go past the counter. There, you can enjoy cheeses, cured meats, smoked products and pâtés, all of them high-quality products. At number 11 Plaza de Cuchilleros.
We continue our route with Los Diamantes, a classic with several venues across the Nasrid city. Their tapas and portions are abundant, and they specialise in fried fish, just as abundant as the customers who fill the place every day. A spot equally loved by locals and tourists, so it is advisable not to go at peak times or to book ahead.
Fried fish continues to take centre stage at bar Provincias, another of the best tapas bars in the centre of Granada: anchovies, marinated dogfish, octopus, squid… as well as paella, prawns, skewers and more daily tapas. A place where time seems to stand still, full of tradition and right in the centre, just 100 metres from the Cathedral. It was also one of flamenco singer Enrique Morente’s favourite places, and the walls of Provincias still hold fond memories of his singing between tapas.
With a very varied, higher-quality menu that combines tapas with more elaborate restaurant-style dishes, we find Los Manueles. It has more than 100 years of history and several venues in the centre, one of them right next to the Cathedral. With a cosy, traditional atmosphere, it stands out for dishes that combine traditional cuisine from Granada and Andalusia with more modern styles.
Right next door is another of the classic tapas bars in the centre of Granada: Taberna Al Pie de la Torre. A small place, but always packed with people enjoying its abundant and generous portions. They stand out for their empanadas and their varied menu of seafood and fish. You should not miss their mussels, clams, marinated dogfish or their huge shrimp fritters.
And to finish our route for tapas in Granada, we end with a vegan option that is suitable for everyone. El Ojú, on General Narváez street, serves quality tapas and specialises in meat-style illusions: meatballs, burgers, hot dogs… a great selection of vegan food, along with pizzas, salads, tacos, desserts and snacks. They also offer several types of beer and soft drinks such as kombucha.
Where to park in the centre of Granada
And very close to these ten of the best bars in the centre of Granada, you will also find our Hermanos Maristas car park, where you can leave your car without wasting time looking for parking. It has wide, comfortable spaces and is open 24 hours a day.
In addition, by booking through our booking portal or from the Apparkya app, you can access more affordable rates and secure your parking space in advance so that nothing takes time away from enjoying Granada’s famous tapas scene.
