Boasting as it does a rich Moorish heritage, Granada is home to some fantastic Arabic restaurants, serving everything from Moroccan to Lebanese cuisine. Read on for our pick of the best Arabic places to eat in this enchanting Andalusian city.
Located on a hidden side street in the heart of Granada’s Moorish quarter, Restaurante Arrayanes may make you temporarily forget that you’re in Spain. The street itself and the beautiful interior decoration are heavy with North African influence, while the kitchen serves some of the best Moroccan food in Granada. Standout dishes are the beef tagine and the hummus.
As its name suggests, this cosy restaurant is the place to come if you’re after authentic Syrian cuisine when in Granada. Given that all the food here is freshly prepared and beautifully presented, the prices are excellent, with most mains coming in at around €6–€7 (US $7–$8). Customers also love the friendly service and the homemade lemonade.
Located in one of the busiest areas of Granada, Libanés Samarkanda is a great place to come if you’re after a Lebanese meal while sightseeing. The kitchen serves a range of fresh and tasty dishes – the falafel and lamb-based mains are delicious – which can be enjoyed in an intimate interior or out on the small terrace. Don’t leave without trying a refreshing glass of ayran – a mix of yoghurt, water and salt.
Babel is a trendy restaurant that’s very popular with students and artists. Although its menu isn’t limited to Arabic cuisine, there is always a good selection of such dishes available, including spicy pork and lamb skewers, tagines and hummus. The rest of the menu features dishes from all over the world and offers a great choice for vegans and vegetarians. Arrive early to get a table.
This small restaurant boasts a premium location near a square from which you can enjoy some of the most spectacular views in Granada. Its star mains are the pork tagine, which repeatedly leaves customers lost for words (in a good way), and the couscous options, particularly the chicken dish. It’s a real family-run establishment with a cosy, welcoming ambience.
Arabic restaurant El Sultán is one of the best-value restaurants in Granada’s touristic centre. The menu del día, in particular, takes some beating in this part of the city: for €11 (just under US $13), you receive two courses, a generous helping of pitta bread, a drink and tea. Also highly recommended are the pork tagine and the hummus, which is served with a refreshing salad.
If you’re hunting for a kebab after a night out in Granada, there’s no need to slum it. Marchica – located on a street in the centre that feels as if it’s been transplanted straight out of Morocco – does the best shawarmas (grilled meat wraps) in the city. Especially delicious are the chicken and beef varieties, which are also cheaper than at similar establishments nearby.
