Andalusia’s Sierra Nevada natural park is known for its cured jamons and meaty stews – but that doesn’t mean non-carnivores will be short of places to eat when visiting. Below, Culture Trip brought together the best places to head for vegetarian food in Spain’s largest natural park.
Located well off the tourist track, in the Alpujarran village of Mecina-Fondales, L’Atelier is the only purely vegetarian restaurant in the Sierra Nevada. Run by French couple Michele (Maître D’) and Brigette (chef), it offers a small but international selection of meat-free dishes to be enjoyed on a terrace with spectacular views. Must-tries are the curry, samosas, risotto and the cinnamon-flavoured sangria.
This classy restaurant in Lanjarón (the first Alpujarra village you reach on the road from Granada) features on our list of the best restaurants in the Sierra Nevada, period. Asador Parque‘s menu offers several tasty options for non-carnivores, with the veggie paella and the mushroom risotto being particular favourites. Customers here also love the food’s elegant presentation, the views and the homemade desserts.
Vegetarians visiting the beautiful village of Capileira should check out Taberna Restauranta La Tapa, a charming Alpujarran-style eatery just off the main square. The menu isn’t totally vegetarian, but there’s an excellent selection of meat-free platos available, such as couscous with walnuts and raisins and a delicious olive paté. Super-friendly owners and a cosy ambience make dining here even more of a pleasure.
Ruta del Mulhacén, a rustic eatery in Pampaneira with a spectacular terrace, proves that Alpujarran cuisine is not off-limits for vegetarians. Available here are meat-free versions of regional classics, such as Alpujarran stew with vegetables and fennel and patatas a lo pobre – fried potatoes served with scrambled egg, green peppers and tomato sauce. There are also several veggie options on the main menu – the cream soup of in-season vegetables is delicious.
Located in the beautiful town of Lanjarón, Hotel Alcadima’s restaurant was declared one of the top five in Spain for vegetarians by Trivago in 2015. It’s easy to see why: non-meat eaters are presented with a wide choice of imaginative dishes, including spaghetti sautéed with vegetables and soy sauce, aubergine pie and a veggie paella. An impressive selection of locally-made beers and wines completes Alcadima’s offering.
Badia is one of the most popular hangouts in the skiing town of Sierra Nevada itself (also known as Pradollano) and boasts a big terrace overlooking the slopes. The menu features meat and fish dishes as well as several vegetarian options, including Manchegan-style ratatouille (also called pisto) served with fried eggs and parmesan cheese with pear mostarda. For a decadent post-meal beverage, order the Bombardino.
Situated in Trevélez, the highest of the Alpujarras settlements, Meson La Fragua is one of the Sierra Nevada’s standout restaurants. In addition to several meat-free options on the main menu, there’s a vegetarian section featuring flavour-packed dishes such as aubergine lasagne and Neopolitan-style spaghetti. All can be enjoyed from a terrace with humbling views of the surrounding mountains. The restaurant is attached to an excellent hotel of the same name.
