Granada Tapas Guide: Los Diamantes & 3 Must-Visit Bars

Every evening in Granada,

one thing I subtly looked forward to was tapas.

Many places serve a plate of tapas

with every drink order,

so instead of filling up at one spot,

it’s really fun to hop around to different bars,

have one or two drinks at each,

and savor the different tapas.

A place that really stuck with me was

Los Diamantes, famous for its seafood tapas!

We each had four drinks there,

trying a variety of tapas from anchovies to squid, mussels, and shrimp.

Then there was Bar Poë, which I revisited after several years,

and Bodegas Castañeda, where the local atmosphere was absolutely authentic.

I'll share a rundown of the

three must-try tapas spots in Granada that I personally visited.

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1. The Meaning of Tapas and Granada's Tapas Culture

Tapa, in Spanish,

means 'lid' or 'cover'.

There are several stories about its origin,

with one popular tale suggesting it started from covering wine glasses

with bread, ham, or cheese to prevent insects from getting in.

Nowadays, 'tapas' refers to any small dishes

served on a plate.

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📌 Useful expressions for tapas menus

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✔ Tapa : A single serving/plate

✔ Tapas : Multiple servings/plates (plural)

✔ Ración : A larger dish, bigger than a tapa

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What was especially delightful about traveling in Granada was

the culture where a free tapa comes

with every drink order.

Some places automatically bring you a tapa,

while others let you choose your desired tapa

from a menu.

So, instead of finishing dinner at one place,

it's really fun to hop around to 2-3 tapas bars,

having a drink or two at each.

I found myself doing this, and naturally,

my dinner was sorted out just by bar-hopping!

🟦 Hihihohi Travel Tip

In Granada, instead of filling up at one spot, try hopping between tapas bars and enjoying a drink or two at each. It's fun to compare the different atmospheres and tapa styles at each place!

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2. 3 Granada Tapas Must-Try Spots at a Glance

The three places I visited each had

distinctly different charms.

Spot	Highlight
Los Diamantes Bar Los Diamantes	Seafood tapas, different tapa with each order
Bar Poë Bar Poë	Choose your own tapas, a place I revisited years later
Bodegas Castañeda Bodegas Castañeda	Vermouth and free tapas, bustling local bar vibe

All three spots are located in Granada's Old Town,

making it perfect for a tapas tour in the evening,

hopping from one to the next.

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3. Los Diamantes, A Seafood Tapas Hotspot

📌 Bar Los Diamantes

​

✔ Location : Pl. Nueva, 13, Centro, 18009 Granada

✔ Opening Hours : 12:00 PM - 11:30 PM

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First up is Los Diamantes.

I stopped by because it was close to AMC Granada, where I was staying,

and it's a renowned seafood tapas spot

with branches all over Granada.

Here, when you order a drink,

the bar automatically serves you a tapa.

With my first drink, I received

fried anchovies.

I had high hopes since it was a seafood place,

but when they first brought out the anchovies,

I was a little disappointed.

But then, the surprise began with the second drink.

Second was **calamari, fried squid**.

Third was **mussels**.

Fourth, and finally, **shrimp** appeared.

Each time we ordered a drink,

the tapas kept changing,

which made it so much fun

to anticipate what would come next.

In the end, we each drank **four glasses**.

Among the three places I visited,

Los Diamantes was **where I had the most enjoyable experience**

**of Granada's free tapas culture**.

However, the place is truly bustling.

With many customers and staff constantly on the move,

rather than a quiet dining atmosphere,

**it's better to think of it as a place to enjoy**

**a lively, bustling local tapas bar atmosphere.**

​

🟨 Heehee Hohee Travel Tip

When I visited, the tapas came out in this order: anchovies → squid → mussels → shrimp. The specific tapas might vary, but it was always exciting to wait for the next tapa with each additional drink.

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4. Bar Poë: A tapas gem revisited after years

📌 Bar Poë

​

✔ Location: C. Verónica de la Magdalena, 40, Centro, 18002 Granada

✔ Payment: **No card payments, cash only**

✔ Hours: Currently temporarily closed, confirmation required before visiting

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Next up is **Bar Poë**.

I first visited this place

in 2018.

I had such a delicious memory of it

that when I returned to Granada a few years later,

I naturally gravitated back to it.

While traveling, I don't usually make an effort

to revisit restaurants I've been to before,

but **Bar Poë was a place I truly wanted to go back to**.

What makes it different from Los Diamantes is that

**you can choose your own tapas!**

​

Looking at the menu, there was everything from chicken and pork,

to fish and even vegan options.

📌 **The Tapas I Chose**

Number	Menu
No. 1	Chicken with Coconut Sauce and Polenta
No. 2	Spicy Thai Chicken
No. 5	Pork and Pineapple Skewer

After continuously eating fried and ham-based tapas,

I started craving something more substantial, like a proper meal,

and Bar Poë's menu composition was delightfully different

from other tapas bars, which I really appreciated.

It's particularly **memorable because I revisited it**

**years after my first visit in 2018**.

However, when I visited,

**card payments were not accepted.**

​

The menu also clearly states 'NO CARD PAYMENTS,'

so it's a good idea to have cash ready.

🟥 Heehee Hohee Travel Tip

Bar Poë is currently temporarily closed, so make sure to check if it has reopened before visiting. When I visited, card payments were not possible. According to the menu, an additional tapa was 2.30 Euros, and a ración was 8 Euros.

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5. Bodegas Castañeda: For an Authentic Local Bar Vibe

📌 Bodegas Castañeda

​

✔ Location: C. Almireceros, 1, 3, Centro, 18010 Granada

✔ Hours: 11:30 AM – 12:30 AM

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Third on the list is **Bodegas Castañeda**.

The first thing that catches your eye as you walk in is

the row of huge oak barrels behind the bar!

With people standing at the bar enjoying drinks and tapas,

this was the place among the three where the **local bar atmosphere**

**felt strongest**.

They say this place is famous for wine and jamón,

but I only tried the vermouth and free tapas.

When I ordered a drink,

tapas came along with it.

A seafood rice dish,

looking much like paella, was served.

It had mussels,

and even came with bread,

so even though it was free tapas,

it was surprisingly quite filling.

But what truly stuck with me was

the bustling local bar atmosphere.

When I visited, it was absolutely packed,

to the point where just finding a spot to stand

felt like a victory.

The staff seemed incredibly busy,

so at first, they appeared a little gruff,

but when it came to ordering, they were friendly

and service was quick.

It was a bit too chaotic for me,

so I only had one drink before leaving,

but if you want to experience the vibrant, bustling atmosphere of a local bar in Granada,

it's definitely worth a visit.

🟩 Heehee Hohee Travel Tip

Bodegas Castañeda is less about a quiet sit-down meal and more about enjoying a drink and free tapas while standing at the bar. Because it's often crowded, if you're looking for a relaxed dining experience, it might feel a bit overwhelming.

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6. Granada's Top 3 Tapas Bars: Which One Was the Best?

All three are tapas bars,

but their atmosphere and the way you enjoy them were quite different.

If you're craving seafood tapas, Los Diamantes is your spot.

If you prefer to choose your own tapas, Bar Poe is perfect.

And if you want to savor vermouth and immerse yourself in a true local bar vibe,

Bodegas Castañeda is an excellent choice.

I particularly enjoyed Los Diamantes,

where we each had four drinks,

truly savoring the fun of seeing the tapas change

– from anchovies to squid, mussels, and shrimp.

Bar Poe was so memorable that I revisited it

after several years,

and Bodegas Castañeda, what truly stuck with me was

the bustling local bar atmosphere itself,

enjoyed with a glass of vermouth.

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In Granada, instead of finishing your evening

at just one place,

try hopping between several tapas bars,

enjoying one or two drinks at each.

Each place has a different vibe,

and there's a real joy in anticipating which tapas will be served next,

it was my absolute favorite way to spend

an evening in Granada!

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▼ Near Los Diamantes:

Review of AMC Granada Accommodation ▼

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▼ How to Book Alhambra Palace and Recommended Itinerary ▼