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Spanish Bars
It's always thirsty weather on the Costa Tropical, which is why there is usually a pub or a bar of some kind within twenty paces of wherever you happen to be standing at any given moment.
Bars in Spain are not the same as bars in the rest of Europe. Broadly speaking there are two types of bars here: "family" pubs and late bars. The former usually sell food, and give free tapas with drinks. These are called "family" pubs, not because they are family-owned (though they often are), but because they are frequented by entire families. Foreigners are often shocked to see young children in Spanish bars late at night. But this is quite normal in Spain, where the distinction between day and night isn't as important as it is in other countries, and where bars have traditionally been places where families meet up and neighbours socialize. Spanish pubs - especially in small towns - function almost as community centres. What foreigners also tend to forget is that Spaniards never sleep! Well, apart from taking a little siesta in the afternoon, while all the visiting Englishmen (not to mention mad dogs) are out in the hot midday sun getting burned to a crisp.
Late bars don't open until around 9pm, and only begin to fill up with people at between 11pm and midnight, closing at three or four in the morning (many people then go on to night-clubs). Very few Spaniards go out before midnight during the summer months, and it is not unusual to see bleary-eyed revellers rolling out of all-night clubs into the bright noon-day sunshine.
Tapas Bars
Most bars in the south of Spain give a free tapa - a food snack - with every drink ordered. This can be anything from a slice of bread and cheese or jamon (bacon), to a small burger with french fries. Many bars offer a selection of tapas - typically up to five items - with a different tapa served with each successive drink ordered. Many Spaniards visit tapas bars instead of having dinner. Eating in this fashion is called picar (or el mordiscar) in Spanish. Basically it means eating a number of small snacks (between drinks!) instead of having one large meal.
As the weather on the Costa Tropical is warm almost year-round, it is usually possible to eat and drink outside in the open air.
Drink Prices
In general, the prices of alcoholic drinks in Spain are lower than in most other European countries. In view of the fact that drinks are usually served with a free tapa, going out for a drink in Spain represents very good value for your money.
Buying alcoholic drinks in shops and supermarkets is also substantially cheaper in Spain than in most other countries. Wine, in particular, is very cheap, with prices starting at less than 1 euro for a bottle.
Smoking in Bars
Pubs in the south of Spain have the option of allowing, or prohibiting, smoking on the premises. There is a sign on the door of every pub stating whether smoking is permitted. "Se puede fumar aqui" means smoking is allowed, while "No se puede fumar aqui", or "Prohibido", means the pub has a no-smoking policy. The majority of pubs have opted to allow smoking.
Pubs in Granada city
As mentioned above, there are thousands of pubs and bars in the Granada and Costa Tropical area, and obviously we cannot list them all here. Instead, we have focused on pubs that are well-known or distinctive in some way - in other words, pubs with character, or which are likely to be of interest to foreigners for one reason or another. Most of the bars listed here are "international", which is generally taken to mean that staff speak or at least understand English, and the music is not confined to Eurovision-style Spanish pop songs.
We should mention that pubs spring up and disappear like mushrooms in the south of Spain, so we apologise in advance if any of the bars recommended here no longer exist by the time you go to look for them. We have listed only bars that have been around for at least several years, so hopefully they'll still be in existence by the time you visit them. However, if you discover any of the information here - or, indeed, on any page of this website - to be inaccurate or obsolete, please let us know by email and we will make whatever updates may be necessary. This website is updated daily. You can also post your comments, recommendations and reviews on our message board. Do you know of a great bar in the Granada / Costa Tropical region not listed here? Tell us about it.
 Hannigan & Sons (Granada)
This typical Irish pub is popular for its selection of cask-conditioned draught beers and the Sky Sports coverage. The beers are kept in barrels in a cool and separate temperature-controlled cellar. The pub is dimly lit and decorated in dark wood. Lots of foreigners come here for the great choice of beers (and the draught Guinness and Murphys), the TV, the relaxed atmosphere and the friendly company. Soft drinks, cocktails and coffee are also available. You'll hear mainly rock music, interspersed with traditional Irish music.
Location: Cetti Meriem, Granada (city centre), 18001. Phone: (+34) 958224826
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 La Tertulia (Granada)
A tertulia is a place where like-minded people - traditionally intellectuals and free thinkers - gather together to share ideas and discuss literature, music, painting, philosophy, science and other subjects of interest, over a coffee or a glass of wine.
Now in its 27th year, La Tertulia offers a full programme of live music, poetry readings, plays, experimental theatre, jam sessions, discussions, dance, comedy and so on. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. Location: C/ Pintor López Mezquita 3, Granada.
Click here to visit La Tertulia website.
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 Poë (Granada)
A British-owned bar in the centre of Granada known for its excellent tapas (served in small earthenware dishes). The house specialty is chicken stew with polenta. However, Poë is even better known as a late night hangout for some of the city's most interesting and colourful characters: writers, painters, musicians and so on. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly - more like a private party or get-together than a public bar. Recommended.
Location: c/ Paz, Granada. Click here to visit Poë website.
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El Son (Granada)
Probably the best late night music bar in Granada. Cuban rum cocktails a specialty. Very mixed crowd (all ages, and definitely all types) and a friendly, party atmosphere. The music is mainly Latin American salsa and Son Cubano - the "Sound of Cuba" (watch video) and Flamenco - with the occasional Frank Sinatra or Van Morrison interlude. On weekends there is a downstairs cavern-style dance floor. The music here is electro/techno. Don't expect to hear much English spoken at El Son.
Location: Joaquín Costa, 13, Granada. Tel 958225605
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Camborio (Granada)
This is the place to go if you want to dance until 8am in the morning.
The discotheque is situated in Sacromonte, which is famous for its caves, and Camborio itself is a labyrinth of caves which include a dancefloor, a bar and some small rooms cut into the side of the caves to give quieter, more private spaces. There is a terrace and a large patio garden with seating, both providing panoramic views of the Alhambra. Camino del Sacromonte.
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Makeba (Granada)
Tiny atmospheric "smoking allowed" joint close to the Plaza Nueva, just off the Calle Elvira. If Bob Marley were alive and lived in Granada, this would be his local. The music is, of course, reggae.
Placeta De La Siller
ía, 7 , Granada.
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6 Colours - Over-the-top camp bar and dance club with a mainly gay clientele. Fun, party atmosphere.
c/Tendillas de Santa Paula 6 (near the San Agustín market)
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Acero - Metallic and modern.
Naranjos, 4, Granada, 18010
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Babylon - Hot reggae, cool place.
Placeta de la Sillería, 5, Granada, 18001
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Barra Fija - Fun place to dance.
Sócrates, 12, Granada, 18002, Tel +34 607 581 238
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Bay-Bay - Cosy and cookie.
Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, 71, Granada, 18002
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Beefeaters - Open until dawn.
Martínez de la Rosa, 33, Granada, 18002
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Bicicleta - Opens late for the young ones.
Sol, 15, Granada, 18002, Tel +34 619 748 604
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Black is Beautiful - Nice and posh.
Martínez de la Rosa, 27, Granada, 18002, Tel +34 676 429 273
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Candela - Tapas bar frequented by artists, musicians, journalists, translators, teachers and others of that ilk. Easygoing atmosphere and friendly crowd. Popular with gays and bis, but mainly non-gay.
Santa Escolastica No. 9, Realejo, Granada.
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Bóveda (La) - Historic setting.
Carrera del Darro, 51, Granada, 18010
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Cinco Lunas - With a trendy modern design.
Plaza del Poeta Luis Rosales, s/n, Granada, 18001
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Colors - Small but fun. Popular with gays.
Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, 67, Granada, 18002, Tel +34 630 121 150
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Corner (The) - Scottish pub.
Elvira, 24, Granada, 18010, Tel +34 958 210 163
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D'cuadros - Lively tapas bar with young clientele, especially at night.
c/ Conde Infanta, Granada.
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Estrella (La) - Great music.
Plaza Cuchilleros, 6, Granada, 18009, Tel +34 958 226 042
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Fondo Reservado - Great fun and always crowded.
House music, drag shows and party nights. Gay-friendly/mixed clientele.
Cuesta de Santa Inés (close to la Plaza Nueva), Granada, 18010
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Ghetto - Great disco-bar.
Pintor López de Mezquita, 9, Granada, 18002
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Gustav Klimt - Trendy bar.
Imprenta, 3, Granada, 18001
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Irish Pub - Spanish-owned Irish-style tavern.
López Mezquita, 9, Granada, 18002
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La Riviera - Choose your own tapa.
Cetti Meriem, Granada, 18001
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Latitud-0 - Typical student bar.
Sócrates, 11, Granada, 18002
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Marilyn - Student party nights.
Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, 63, Granada, 18003, Tel +34 616 169 817
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Mystic - Good music selection.
Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, 80, Granada, 18002
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Nivel - Simple and tidy.
Martínez de La Rosa, 16, Granada, 18002
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Paladium - Daily specials.
Martínez de La Rosa, 20, Granada, 18002, Tel +34 626 405 611
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Pata Palo - Historic and radical.
Plaza de los Naranjos, 2, Granada, 18001, Tel +34 958 290 293
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Percha (La) - Open day and night.
Trajano, 1, Granada, 18002, Tel +34 958 521 169
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Perfil - Colourful and dark.
Rosario, 10, Granada, 18009
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Planta Baja - Lots of space.
Horno de Abad, 11, Granada, 18001, Tel +34 958 207 607
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Rey Momo - Pretty watering-hole.
Carrera de Darro, 5, Granada, 18001
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Rincón de San Pedro - Nicely-located bar and dance club with a rear terrace facing the Alhambra. Dance music and occasional floor shows (mostly drag acts). Open until 4am. Mixed gay/non-gay crowd.
Carrera del Darro, 4, Granada, 18010
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Sal (La) - Granada's longest-running gay (mainly lesbian) bar. Originally the venue was almost exclusively lesbian, but now attracts a more mixed crowd.
Santa Paula 11 (near the San Agustín Market).
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Terminal - For twenty-somethings who like to dance.
Trajano, 5, Granada, 18002, Tel +34 649 006 363
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Tweeter - Buy a barrel of beer with your mates.
Martínez de la Rosa, 17, Granada, 18002
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Versus - Glamour pusses and drag queens.
Carrera del Darro, 25, Granada, 18010, Tel +34 958 226 903
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Zoo - El Zoo is a dance venue that opens late and stays open till 7 or 8am. Dark, glitzy and clubby, with wall-to-wall mirrors, good disco lighting and a better-than-average sound system. The crowd is almost exclusively gay. The club is also frequented by "lifestyle" couples.
Moras 2 (behind Fuente de la Batalla), Granada.
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