Places to eat in Granada
The food scene is changing in Granada and it now has a great choice of food establishments serving a wide variety of Spanish and international food. As eating habits, preferences and trends have changed, new bars and restaurants have opened and places have adapted their menus and cuisines to match demand. Gone are the days when there was only one vegetarian restaurant and now many more places are serving vegetarian and vegan food.
Lunch/Dinner: Menú del Día
cheap meal option
Many restaurants in Granada serve a set lunch menu on weekdays at midday and these are displayed on boards outside the restaurant. The idea is to choose one dish from the first section as a starter and another from the second section as your main course. It is important to find out before sitting down what is included: most will include bread (pan), dessert (postre) and a drink (bebida) but some add on VAT to the price later. If VAT is not included, it must say IVA NO INCLUIDO. Some places will let you have a coffee instead of a dessert.
Snack: Shawarma
cheap snack
A shawarma is generally made from shredded meat (chicken, beef, lamb, etc.) which has been roasted on a spit. It is served wrapped in a flatbread and you can choose from a selection of accommpaniments (falafel, hummous, shredded cabbage, tomato, cucumber, tahini, etc.). In recent years shawarma bars have become increasingly popular in Granada. They can be found throughout the city but especially around Plaza Nueva and along the Calle Elvira.
Breakfast: Churros con Chocolate
typical Spanish breakfast
Churros con chocolate is a typical Spanish breakfast. You order churros for the number of people and a hot drink of your choice (normally chocolate or coffee). The chocolate is luxuriously thick and is perfect for dipping your churros into.
Fast food: burgers
fast food - burgers and fries
Although there are several fast-food restaurants around Granada, there is only one in the centre of the city: Burger King in Puerta Real.
Mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack: Cakes
cakes and pastries
There are several places in Granada where you can buy cakes and pastries. You can choose either to eat them at the bar, at a table or to take out. One of the local specialties to try is the "pionono", small, gooey and sweet, which is made in Santa Fe.
Lunch/Dinner: Raciones
typical Spanish meal
A typical Spanish way of eating is to order to a selection of different dishes (raciones) from the menu for everyone to share: popular choices are patatas a lo pobre (potatoes slowly fried in oil), tortilla de patatas (Spanish potato omelette), fritura de pescado (selection of fried fish), lomo al ajillo (pork in a garlic sauce) and ensalada de la casa (house salad).
Lunch/Dinner: Platos Combinados
typical Spanish food
Another meal option is to order a plato combinado. This normally consists of meat and chips, fish and a salad, fried eggs and chips, etc.
Lunch/Dinner: Pizza and Pasta
Italian food
There are lots of places which serve pizzas and pasta in Granada from fast-food takeaways to sit-down restaurants.
Lunch/Dinner: Vegan Food
vegan food
In recent years the number of bars and restaurants serving vegetarian or vegan food has grown and there is now a lot more variety and greater choice than before.
Snack: Ice cream
ice cream
There are many ice cream parlours in Granada with several selling their own homemade ices and sorbets.
Breakfast: Tostada con Tomate
typical Spanish breakfast - toast
In Granada, tostadas are long, bread rolls, cut in half and toasted. Tostada con tomate (a toasted roll topped with grated tomato and olive oil) is one of the most common. You can choose between media tostada (half a roll) or una tostada (a whole roll) with the topping of your choice. Other typical toppings include jamón (cured ham), mantequilla y mermelada (jam and butter), paté, etc. They are typically eaten with a white coffee (café con leche) and possibly fresh orange juice (zumo de naranja).