If you're looking for ideas for romantic things to do in Granada you won't go far wrong with a tapas tour for date night!
There are plenty of other great tapas bars to try out but first take a look at our list of the best places to eat free tapas in Granada on a romantic night out.
Travelling with your partner and best friend is an absolute dream. In fact, spending more time together was one of the main reasons we decided to escape jobs and head off travelling in the first place, with a view to working on the road and becoming location independent. It’s just the two of you together, writing about the places you’re exploring and sticking to tight budgets. This is great fun but don’t forget about the romance! I read a brilliant couples blog (will attach the link when I find it!) which mentioned the importance of still having ‘date nights’ whilst travelling together. I think this is a lovely idea, so here is a 4 bar tapas tour for a great date night in Granada, which is definitely one of the most romantic places in the World.
If, like us you’re on a tight budget don’t worry, each place we’re recommending provides fantastic complimentary tapas with your drink, so with a little spending money you can get merry and fill your belly!
So, sort your hair out and iron your shirt (only kidding, you’ve never looked more beautiful) it’s time to grab your partner in crime and head off into the night. Tapas is an intimate thing to eat if you think about it – one plate, two forks, sharing is caring after all – imagine Lady and the Tramp and that Bella Notte meatball scene (real life relationship goals)
An important thing to remember is that in many parts of Spain bars and restaurants don’t open until around 8, in fact, many Granadinos and Grandinas don’t eat until 10pm.
Your ‘Date Night’ Tapas Tour – 4 Bars all within a short walk of each other.
1.
First on the list because if you just can’t wait to go out it opens at 7pm and there’s no better place to start. Entre Brasas is famous for its flame grilled meats! Situated on the corner of what would often be described as a ‘touristy’ street Entre Brasas is always packed with locals. As we have learnt, anywhere frequented by a lot of locals is always going to be good quality and well priced, perfect for a budget.
Choose a cosy, romantic corner or perch up next to the long bar together and mingle with the locals, order a €2.00 Alhambra beer (by far the best in our opinion) or choose from their fantastic and bargain wine list, which is perfectly suited to their food. This place has great vibes for starting your night off, and more-ish welcoming portions of freshly grilled meat. Also expect huge springy slices of fresh tortilla atop crunchy bread liberally drizzled with a subtly flavoured aioli and rich slow cooked garlicky stews with melt in the mouth pork…is your mouth watering yet??
Ready for the next stop on the route? Step out of EntreBrassas on to Calle Navas and head all the way down the street (5minutes). Cross over Calle San Matias and stroll through Calle Virgin del Rosario and you will be standing outside your next date destination.
2.
One of the most popular bars in the area is Taberna El Aviso, and for good reason. It’s a modern, stylish bar that attracts a lively, smartly dressed crowd at night. With high seated tables for two and cosy, dimly-lit corners it’s easy to forget about the world and just soak up the energy and atmosphere of the early Spanish crowd. The tapas here changes daily as you will notice from the Tapas del dia menu just outside the entrance. El Aviso specialities include Gambas Pil-Pil, Secreto and Potatas A Lo Pobre. If you find yourself with a tiny hamburgesa in front of you - get excited - Niall still swears it is the best burger he had ever eaten!
Don’t be afraid to squeeze between the locals next to the bar, wave over the barman, and shout your order, just as the locals do. It’s just €2.10 for an Alhambra beer and their selection of wine is fantastic; the bar staff will bring the bottle to you, so you can sample it, before pouring you a glass. Should you see a table don’t hesitate to sit down (you’ll receive table service), in El Aviso, if you snooze you lose.
If you aren’t already on the wine now is the time! Just 20m up Calle Varela just outside El Aviso is a firm favourite for locals, though once you find yourselves a table it will become a favourite of yours too.
3.
La Bottilleria. As you have probably guessed by the name La Bottilleria is the place to go for a decadent selection of local and regional wines. Don’t know the type of wine you fancy? Our advice: Pick a Rioja, you really can’t go wrong and the quality is astounding for the price (€2.75).
La Bottilleria may not have a tapas del dia menu but don’t let that fool you, prepare yourself for a mouth-watering modern twist on Spanish tapas classics such as their exceptional loin of cod or braised pork cheek in red wine sauce. They will start you off with some of the tastiest olives that we have encountered. It may take a couple of drinks to get reach their really good specialities, but stick with it in this bar, it’s so worth the wait. Soak up the atmosphere, and if the weather is warm, make sure to grab a table outside and watch all the glamourous people walk past.
Fancy something a little cosier but still busy as your final date night destination? Once again it’s just 20m away. Head further up Calle Varela and you will see it on your left.
4.
La Tarara is a tiny little wine bar with a small number of standing and seated tables. We recommend snugging up at the bar where you can watch the talented chefs prepare the tapas from just behind the bar and marvel at the vast selection of wines stacked up to the ceiling. This friendly establishment offers wonderfully classic tapas, such as Manchego with crusty bread and olives, and fantastic local wines from Granada and neighbouring towns (starting at only €2.50).
Just propping yourselves up at the bar, checking out the artwork and chatting to the owner makes you feel like it’s the kind of haunt you will want to introduce to all your friends. The cosiness and atmosphere (and possibly the wine) of La Tarara will make you warm and fuzzy and ready to go home.
And that’s it! If you aren’t full and rosy cheeked then we can certainly recommend more places but I’m sure you will be satisfied. Likely you will fancy a bit of a walk to work off some of the food, we will be posting a great route for a night time walk soon.
Independent Atlas Top Tip
Don’t forget, all the food mentioned here is tapas which is served alongside your drink at no extra charge. A useful tip to remember is the word caña just one of Spain’s ambiguous drink measurements. A caña is just under half a pint, this may not sound like much however, if you are hoping to make the most of tapas with each drink this is the way to go, let’s face it if, you’re anything like us you’ll move onto wine after a couple anyway.
This is just a snippet of the incredible little bars and restaurants in Granada. You can find more about our foodie adventures here – if you have a favourite bar or restaurant you think we might enjoy, please do get in touch and let us know all about it!!
