A guide to help you choose the best paella in Granada
Food in Granada is a vital part of your holiday experience, and paella in Granada is some of the best paella in Spain.
When it comes to things to do in Granada regarding food, this delicious and traditional rice dish is sure to be one of the top menu options to consider.
Here, we’ll take a closer look at where to eat in Granada and where to find the best paella in Granada, Spain.
So, are you ready to find out where you can order the best paella in Granada? It’s time to read on!
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Top Places to eat the best paella in Granada
- Arrocería Maese Píol
- Bodegas Castañeda
- Arrozante – Hotel Barceló Granada Congress
- Mesón de la Bizcocha
Best Paella in Granada
There are so many different types of paella available to choose from in this region that you’re sure to find one that suits your tastes.
From pork paella to Spanish chicken paella, you’ll find many varieties served up in all the best restaurants in Granada.
1. Arrocería Maese Píol
You’ll no longer be asking what food is Granada known for when you’ve tasted the paella at Arooceria Maese Pio.
Located in the historic center of Granada, this downtown eaterie is a contender for the title of the best restaurant in Granada, Spain.
Not only can you enjoy a variety of tasty paellas, you can also sample risotto made to order or the local arroz meloso that is sure to tantalize your tastebuds.
One of the best dishes on this restaurant’s menu is its black rice paella which is made with baby squid.
With its fresh, seafood flavours and striking good looks, it’s a meal that you’re guaranteed to remember for a long time.
Opening times:
1pm – 4:30pm and 8pm – 11:30pm Tuesday to Saturday, 1pm – 5pm on Sundays, and 1pm – 4:30pm on Mondays.
Address: Placeta del Pulgar
2. El Pescaíto De Carmela
If you’re wondering where to eat in Granada, Spain as a seafood fan, you need look no further than El Pescaito de Carmela.
This restaurant specialises in seafood, with a menu featuring many tasty options including the house delicacy – Spanish black rice paella.
Coloured with octopus ink, this dish is served with a topping of garlic mayonnaise and is a top local rice dish.
The staff here are known for their excellent service and welcoming attitude, and with food this good on the menu, it’s no surprise that El Pescaito de Carmela is popular with tourists and locals alike.
Famous for the high-quality ingredients used in all of its recipes, this restaurant guarantees satisfaction with every bite.
Opening times:
1pm until 12am 7 days a week.
Address:
12 Calle Marques de Gerona
3. Las Perdices
Paella may be a well-known food to eat in Granada, but there is a wealth of other rice dishes waiting to be discovered.
If you stop at Las Perdices for lunch in Granada, Spain, you’ll discover a host of exciting options.
While paella is the star of the show here, with both fish and meat options on the menu, it’s definitely worth trying the arroz caldoso which is a hearty and delicious Granada food option.
As this restaurant is outside the city, you’ll need to take a taxi. However, the trip is well worth it as it’s one of the best places to eat in Granada.
It also boasts amazing panoramas from its outdoor terrace where children are permitted to play, making it a family-friendly choice when searching for a suitable restaurant.
Opening times:
8:30am – 5pm Tuesday to Friday, and 8:30am – 6pm at weekends. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Address:
93 Camino Real de los Neveros
4. Los Manueles
If you’re looking for the best food in Granada, Spain for a mixed group of people with a variety of tastes, Los Manueles is one of the top places to eat in Granada, Spain.
First opening in 1917, this restaurant is actually best known for its huge croquettes, but its chicken and lamb paella is one of the city’s very best dishes.
It specialises in Andalusian cuisine, and there is something on the menu to suit every preference.
As more of a tapas bar than an actual restaurant, Los Manueles is a great spot for a casual meal.
Many people come here as part of a local tapas crawl or guided tapas tour, but if you prefer, you can order a full main course as a sit down dinner.
As this is a popular spot, you may need to queue for a table, but at most times of day the wait shouldn’t be longer than 15 minutes or so, and the wait is well worth it for the tasty cuisine!
Opening times:
Open from 12pm until 12am seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
Address:
61 Calle Reyes Catolicos
5. Bodegas Castañeda
If you’re wondering where to eat in Granada to enjoy a wide variety of local dishes in a single meal, the Bodegas Castañeda is a top spot.
This local hotspot serves incredible tapas to its guests, including paella in tapa form. If you’re looking for healthy paella that won’t take up your entire day’s intake of calories, this is the place to go!
Famous since the 1920s for its welcoming atmosphere, traditional food, and authentic décor, this classic bar will give you a taste of the real Granada.
You may need to be prepared to wait for a table though, since this bar is extremely popular and becomes crowded at peak times.
Aim for an off-peak hour to dine if you want to get seated straight away.
Opening times:
11:30 am until 12:30 am seven days a week.
Address:
1-3 Calle Almireceros
6. Carmen de San Miguel
One of the most convenient places to eat in Granada when you’re visiting the Alhambra, the Restaurante Mirador Carmen de San Miguel can be found in the Realejo neighbourhood, which was an ancient Medieval Jewish district.
Not only is this restaurant historic, but it also boasts stunning views of the city.
The paella available here is innovative, taking a twist on traditional cuisine.
The chefs use high-quality ingredients and seasonal products to create fantastic flavours and beautifully presented dishes.
Some of the options on the menu include mixed paella as well as a vegetarian version.
Opening times:
12:30pm until 4pm and 7:30pm until 11:30pm Mondays to Saturdays. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.
Address:
3 Plaza Torres Bernejas
7. Arrozante – Hotel Barceló Granada Congress
The Hotel Barcelo Granada Congress is an excellent place to stay during your visit to the city, but it’s also a top spot for paella in Granada.
If you love rice dishes, you’re certain to enjoy dining in this elegant spot. It’s also a convenient location for a meal if you happen to be residing in the property.
Although there are plenty of non-rice dining options, paella is what diners come to this restaurant to sample. In fact, its name, Arrozante, is a reference to its signature rice dishes.
You can experience a wide variety of different paellas including classic seafood, Iberian pork and traditional Valencian as well as the less-familiar del Senyoret variety.
With paella dishes from all over the country to try, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Be aware, though, that this restaurant is only open for lunch service, so if you’re planning to eat here you’ll need to make it an early meal.
It’s the perfect way to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon though, indulging in some delicious cuisine while you watch the world go by.
Opening times:
1pm until 3:30pm seven days a week
Address:
12 Calle Maestro Montero.
8. Restaurante-Pub Albanta
Enjoying a perfect location between the city, the Sierra Nevada and the Alhambra Palace, this restaurant pub is just five minutes outside the city but feels a world away.
Romantic and welcoming, the Pub Albanta serves up traditional delicacies to its guests.
Here, you can discover an enormous variety of dishes ranging from authentic Andalusian favourites to more innovative modern twists on classics.
Even better, you can enjoy your meal in a stunning setting, next to roaring fires in the winter, or on the magnificent terrace during the summer months.
Although the menu is extensive, this pretty spot serves up some of the best paella in Granada.
One of the more unusual options is the French bean and king prawn paella, but there are more traditional seafood, meat and mixed options available too for those who like to keep things simple.
For those who would prefer a rice-free meal, there are numerous alternatives to pick from including specialties such as Iberian pork loin, roast sea bass, and an amazing array of mouthwatering desserts, including orange blossom crème brulee, apple tartlet, and chocolate souffle.
Opening times:
Daily between 12 noon and 2am.
Address:
3 Calle Sala Dos Hermanos
9. Mesón de la Bizcocha
Enjoying a quiet location in the Plaza Gamboa, this restaurant serves up many different Mediterranean specialties, including squid and seafood, although, of course, it’s also home to some the best paella in Granada.
All of the food is made with fresh produce, and the wine menu perfectly accompanies your meal.
If you’re wondering what to eat in Granada that will please every member of your party, this Mesón de la Bizcocha is sure to fit the bill with its extensive menu that encompasses a wide variety of tastes and flavours.
Although this venue doesn’t look particularly impressive from the outside, when you enter through its doors you’ll enjoy a true culinary experience.
Its unassuming exterior hides amazing cooking talent, and a range of options that will never fail to impress.
Opening times:
12 noon – 4:30 pm and 8pm – midnight Tuesday to Thursday, 12 noon until midnight, Friday and Saturday, 12 noon until 4:30pm on Sundays, and closed Mondays.
Address:
Plaza de Gamboa
Insider Tips for the Ultimate Paella Experience
As you can see, we’ve outlined many great restaurants in the city and in its surrounding areas where you can discover the most delicious rice dishes, ranging from seafood and Spanish meat paella to vegetarian alternatives to suit every palate and dietary requirement.
However, if you’re going to make the most of your experience of sampling paella in Granada, you could benefit from some practical advice.
Firstly, you’re going to need to know when to eat. That may not be as obvious as it sounds!
Mealtimes are far later in Granada than in many other locations and you’ll find locals only sitting down to lunch at around 2pm with dinner being served no earlier than 9pm.
If you’re planning on heading out for a meal at a restaurant, you may therefore find that your chosen dining spot will be far quieter if you aim for an earlier meal at 8pm.
Most of the best restaurants will open for dinner at around 7:30pm or 8pm, so you are more likely to be able to find a table.
Of course, some restaurants remain open all day, but you’ll probably find that they quieten down in between the hectic lunch and dinner periods.
Be aware that some restaurants may only be open for lunch service. This is quite unusual, but it does give you a great excuse to take some time out from sightseeing in the middle of the day to indulge in a relaxing meal.
It’s a perfect way to recharge your batteries and energize yourself for a few more hours of discovery!
Not all restaurants in Granada will require you to make a reservation.
However, if you’re planning to visit one of the more upmarket venues or restaurants in one of the city’s hotels, it’s wise to call ahead to make a booking to avoid disappointment.
If you’d rather steer clear of making any definite arrangements, you could always head to a tapas bar to try paella in tapa form since these establishments generally only offer walk-in service.
Although some of the restaurants in the city don’t look much from the outside, never judge a book by its cover.
Many of the most unassuming-looking establishments actually serve some of the best paella in Granada.
If the locals are eating there, it’s a good sign that you should pay the restaurant a visit too, so don’t be taken in by fancy surroundings – it’s the quality of the food that matters, not the quality of the fixtures and fittings!
One thing to bear in mind when you’re perusing the menus is to check whether your chosen restaurant adds chorizo to their paella.
If they do, you should give it a wide berth and look elsewhere. No authentic arroceria would add chorizo to a traditional paella!
That said, there is a lot of variety in the ingredients used in paella in Granada. There is a common misconception that all paella dishes must contain seafood, but that isn’t the case at all.
In fact, Valenciana paella recipe, which is the most authentic version of the dish, contains absolutely no fish but only meat such as chicken, rabbit or pork, so you can see that seafood needn’t be the star of the show.
That’s good news for anyone who has a seafood allergy, who is vegetarian, or who just doesn’t like fish.
You’ll be able to find plenty of alternatives in Granada, including chicken and pork varieties, listed on most menus.
There are even healthier and vegetarian varieties that are sure to satisfy those looking for something different.
One final thing to bear in mind – paella in Granada is really a dish for large groups. It’s most unusual to order a paella for one, or even for two people.
It’s really a whole family dining experience, so if you’re the only person in your party who wants to sample its delights, you might be better off heading to a tapas bar and trying it in tapa form.
Conclusion on the best paella in Granada
Although paella isn’t the best-known food in Granada, it’s certainly a popular choice amongst both locals and tourists who are looking for a hearty and delicious meal.
With that in mind, there are many restaurants that are keen to satisfy the demand for this tasty rice dish, and you have many of them at your fingertips when you take a trip to this part of Spain.
Whether meat, fish, or vegetables are your preference, there are eateries in this city that will serve up a meal that will tickle your tastebuds!
If you’re looking for the best paella in Granada, it goes without saying that you’ll be spoiled for choice in the city.
There are many varied and diverse paella dishes available for you to sample, from the classic to the contemporary.
If you’re planning to stay in the area for a few days, you may even have time to try them all!
Why don’t you take your own gastronomic journey through the streets and neighbourhoods of Granada and savour the amazing and authentic flavours of a dish that is iconically Spanish?
Short FAQ about the best paella in Granada
What are the best things to do in Granada
Visiting the Alhambra palace is one of the best things to do in Granada, but sampling the local paella is another popular activity.
What food is Granada famous for?
Granada is best known for its tapas, and tapas crawls are commonplace here in the evening.
However, rice dishes also feature highly on restaurant menus, and paella is a top choice.
Is paella expensive in Spain?
Paella can seem quite expensive, but it’s important to remember that it’s a dish designed for large numbers of people which keeps the prices a little lower.
Nevertheless, the fresh ingredients used are high-quality, so you should expect to pay a reasonable amount for your meal.
Hola, I’m Paulina! Together with my team, we are passionate about Southern Spain. Here we share all you need to know for great times in Southern Spain with the best places to visit, stay and, of course, the best food to eat.
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