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The 10 best bars, nightlife and cafés in Granada

In Granada, locals and visitors alike love to have a good time, and there is no shortage of tempting drinking spots to while away a few hours in any season. On sunny afternoons or as evening descends, plazas and terraces all over the city get packed with lively crowds sipping everything from on-the-up Granada-region wines to classic local sherries, house vermouth and artisanal beers. Granada's tapas-bar culture is deservedly famous, so it is no surprise that food and drink go hand in hand here, with a free tapa often accompanying your tipple of choice. There is a fun tardeo scene too, when Granadinos meet for afternoon-evening drinks that spill over into later hours. A fresh crop of chic rooftop bars, meanwhile, now delivers lofty urban views to enjoy over cocktails. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best things to do in Granada. Find out more below, or for more inspiration, see our guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants and things to do. Find a venue by type: Best for views B-Heaven Granada The stylish rooftop at the Barceló Carmen Granada hotel, near Puerta Real, has put itself on the map as one of the city's hottest bars. Clubby beats – or occasionally live flamenco – set the tone on the eighth-floor terrace, which has tall tables and a marshmallow-pink corner booth. Some of the best views in town swoop across the hilltop Alhambra, with Sierra Nevada's peaks looming behind. Keep things simple with a gin and tonic, as the city begins to glow all around at sunset. Reservations recommended if dining (not possible for drinks only). Huerto del Loro Many of Granada's best-loved bars for views are tucked into the historical Albayzín, but this one gives you the chance to gaze out on the meandering district's church towers, rust-tiled rooftops and hidden greenery. Huerto del Loro is set in the elevated, ivy-clad gardens of what was once an ancient carmen (a home with private gardens) on the lower Alhambra hill. With all those dazzling views you could relax here for hours drinking pretty much anything, but a tinto de verano (red wine with lemonade) or a citrus-infused Mediterranean mojito go nicely with the breezy outdoor vibe. La Barra El Claustro An oasis of tranquillity on busy Gran Vía, El Claustro is housed in the evocative cloister of a 16th-century convent, now transformed into the swish Hotel Palacio de Santa Paula. Rows of red-brick arches frame a cobble-floored courtyard dotted with orange trees in terracotta pots. It's a refreshing place at any time of day, with smart bar menus offering home-baked cakes to go with café con leche, as well as Andalusian wines and inventive cocktails. It's particularly tempting on evenings when live flamenco takes over the courtyard. Best local favourites Bar Candela Groups of chatting friends huddled under a lipstick-red awning mark one of the Realejo's most popular bars. Candela is loud, informal and heaps of fun, with a vibrant mural on the outside and Andalusian fiesta posters in the narrow, high-ceilinged bar area. It also does tapas, in this case dainty montaditos (bread with toppings) and bocadillos (filled rolls) starring local ingredients like Alpujarras ham. It's open all day, but particularly lively around lunchtime and evenings. Drink-wise, a caña (small beer) or vermouth usually does the trick. Poë With its mango-yellow walls and terracotta-hued counter, Poë might seem like a traditional bar at first glance, but it's best known locally for its zippy, original tapas and mixed Spanish-international crowd. You can choose a free tapa with every drink – just the thing, alongside one of the bright Almería-brewed craft beers or a glass of rich red from respected Granada winery Bodegas Anchurón. Owners Matt and Ana are British and Lisbon-raised Angolan, which certainly shows in beautifully spiced bites such as curried potatoes, Portuguese-style cod and grilled-pork skewers with pineapple. Casa de Vinos La Brujidera Everything revolves around fine Spanish wines at this cosy bar just off Plaza Nueva, with rustic wooden beams, drops listed on wall-mounted menus, and outdoor tables on a narrow alley. There are intriguing wines picked from all over the country, but it makes sense to sample a local southern grape, such as a dry sherry from Jerez or Sanlúcar or an earthy red from one of Granada's emerging wine regions. A selection of uncomplicated tapas is also on offer, including manchego cheese and cold-meat platters. Petra In the centre's untouristy San Jerónimo area, this intimate, easy-going wine bar was originally opened in the 1990s by the late Granada sommelier Petra Fuensanta Martín. It still has a strong local following, and specialises in wines from across Spain, particularly Granada labels. Hams, herbs and dried peppers dangle above a wood-and-marble bar, which leads to multiple bottle-lined rooms. Like all good Granada bars, it does great unfussy tapas, with the likes of Payoyo goat's cheese and tomatoes drizzled with picual olive oil. Return to index Best cafés La Finca Coffee Easy to miss on an alley just around the corner from the cathedral, this stylish little haven is one of Granada's leading speciality-coffee spots. It was roasting its own beans and pouring flat whites well before most other third-wave cafés popped up around the city. At any time of day you'll find a mix of Granadinos and visitors dipping in for seasonal brews and home-baked treats, including flaky croissants and soft cinnamon rolls. Mismatched seating, a curving booth and a single sought-after bench by the door lend a casual feel. Tetería El Bañuelo Granada has a wealth of refreshingly relaxed, moodily lit teterías (tea rooms) to take a break in. Yet few of them have the Alhambra views you can ogle from the vine-fringed, multi-floor terrace at El Bañuelo, in the lower Albayzín. Fresh-leaf mint tea in silver pots and artisanal sweets like pillowy baklava are served at tiled-topped Moroccan tables. There's often a queue for the terrace, but dropping by while everyone else is at lunch or dinner helps avoid crowds. Noat Coffee Watch Realejo life go by over a cortado at metallic tables under the trees from this relaxed, minimal-style neighbourhood café. Beans are sourced from popular Barcelona-based roaster Right Side Coffee, and the menu is focused on creative tostadas with toppings like local tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto oil. The light-flooded interior has marble-effect flooring, low-lying tables, pendant lights, and pop-up exhibitions by Granada-based artists. When it's busy people just spill onto the steps out the front. Return to index How we choose Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. Return to index About our expert Isabella Noble I grew up in an Andalusian village halfway between Granada and Málaga and have been spending time in Granada since the 1990s. Find me on a tapas-bar terrace in the art-filled Realejo.