Bar Ávila

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Shawn

avila

In the lower San Matias, in a little side street halfway between the Cathedral and the River Genil, Bar Ávila is one of those great little neighbourhood bars that always seems to be packed with locals enjoying a beer and “free” tapas. In fact, this is one of the few tapas bars I know of in Granada where you get to choose your complimentary snack.

There are a few tables in the back, but mostly it’s standing room only at the bar, and lots of folks coming and going. It’s nothing fancy, either in décor or cuisine, but the food is good, and good value too. If you’re looking for authentic (much abused and overused word), this is as authentic as it gets. Make that extra bit of effort to come here and make sure you try the house speciality, jamón roasted on a spit, that’s always on the go.

Verónica de la Virgen, 16
Granada
Tel 958 264 080
€ €

Food 7 | Wine 6 | Service 7 | Ambiance 6

avila (2)

avila salmorejo salmorejo

avila adobo cazon in adobo

avila morcilla grilled morcilla (black pudding)

avila pulpo fried octopus

avila paparrones paparrones

avila puntillitas puntillitas (baby squid)

avila roast jamon roast jamón

avila slicing the jamon slicing the roast jamón

avila roast jamon (2)

Taberna Gamboa

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Shawn

Updated August 2018

After having come here for years, on every stay in Granada, this time was a bit of a disappointment. I’d heard that Taberna Gamboa had changed hands since my last visit, but we were determined to have the hot sizzling gambas pil-pil….

The bar looks the same – it’s quite small and cosy, with a buzzy atmosphere that’s both typical and traditional. It can be a bit of a struggle to get a place at the bar or tables, especially at peak times, also typical of popular bars in Granada. Anyhow, the food. Our gambas pil-pil arrived “unsizzly” in a dish of tepid olive oil, served by a waiter who seemed to be wishing she were somewhere else. We were then joined by friends and tried a couple of the complimentary tapas (meh), and when we decided to have another round of drinks we weren’t brought the usual complimentary tapa. Finally we mentioned this to the waiter, who begrudgingly brought us a plate of cheese. I hope this was just an off day, as I used to really love this place. But friends in Granada say it hasn’t been the same since the change in management. Oh well.

Lepanto 11
Granada
Tel 958 229 237
€ € €

Food 5 | Wine 7 | Service 5 | Ambiance 6

gamboa (2) the bar

chalkboard menu

gamboa tortilla complimentary tortilla (4 people)

gamboa serrano complimentary serrano (4 people)

complimentary rice (2 people)

gamboa flamenquin flamenquín de la casa

stewed pork (complimentary)

gamboa habas complimentary beans with jamón (2 people)

spicy gambas pilpil

complimentary cheese (4 people)

gamboa (5)

gamboa (4)

Updated August 2018

Granada Senzone

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Shawn

senzone terraza

Tucked away inside the gardens of the Palacio de los Patos hotel, Senzone is a fabulous oasis in the centre of the city, with various fountains cooling the patio area where you can either sit at tables to eat a meal or curl up on sofas to enjoy a drink. Large trees and hanging wisteria provide natural shade and all the greenery running along the wrought iron fence shuts out traffic and city noise. My favourite was the gnarly pomegranate tree, which I was told was over 200 years old. If you don’t know, the pomegranate (or “granada” in Spanish) is the emblem of the city.

The Senzone Restaurant offers tapas as well as a full-service menu, and an intriguing tasting menu made of Riofrio caviar products.

Solarillo de Gracia, 1
Tel. 958 53 57 90
Senzone Website
€ € € €

senzone salmorejo salmorejo cordobés with chopped egg and jamón

senzone croqueta creamy bulltail croquettes

senzone mozarabe pastela mozárabe: lamb & cinnamon in sweet pastry

senzone alpujarreño

designer alpujarreño: soft-cooked egg, jamón, chorizo, potato foam

senzone pomegranate 200-year-old pomegranate tree

senzone wisteria

El Mentidero

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Shawn

Updated January 2015

El Mentidero is just off Calle Navas, Granada’s famous street of bars next to the town hall in the city centre. With so much choice it’s hard to know which ones to head for, but El Mentidero is worth a visit. It’s a bit no frills, with a fairly typical layout of small bar, a few tables, and a small terrace outside, but the food is good. The house specialities are the “huevos rotos” and Iberian pork (presa) that you grill for yourself on a hot (and I mean HOT) stone plate, but there’s a full range of other tapas and larger dishes, both meat and fish. Like most places in Granada you get a small tapa “free” with your drink.