A proper wine list in the old Jewish quarter
Taberna La Tana is on Placeta del Agua, a small square in the Realejo, Granada's medieval Jewish quarter. The Realejo sits south of the cathedral and the Gran Vía, below the Alhambra hill, between the city centre and the university district. It is a residential neighbourhood with almost no tourist infrastructure — narrow streets, the sound of fountains in private courtyards, a population of residents who chose it because it is quieter than the Albaicín.
La Tana won a Best Wine Bar award. The wine list runs to approximately 300 references covering Spanish and international producers. This is a serious list in a city where wine bars tend to offer a short Spanish selection and consider the matter settled.
The bar does not have the kind of wine-list bravado that makes eating there a test of knowledge. The staff navigate the list well and give recommendations based on what you are eating and what you want to spend. The range includes bottles under €15 that are genuinely interesting alongside older vintages and less familiar D.O. regions.
The food
The kitchen runs Andalusian tapas with above-average care. The boquerones en vinagre — fresh anchovies cured in vinegar, then dressed with garlic and parsley — are the house benchmark. The quality of a bar's boquerones reveals the sourcing: they require good fresh fish, proper curing time, and correct seasoning. The version here is consistently cited by regulars as among the best in the city.
The salmorejo at La Tana is made with langoustines, which places it closer to a composed starter than to the cold tomato soup it resembles in simpler versions. Salmorejo is a Córdoban preparation — thick blended tomato, olive oil, garlic and bread — normally served cold with jamón and hard-boiled egg. The langoustine version adds sweetness and textural contrast that earns the upgrade in price.
The artisan cheese and charcuterie board paired to the wine selection is the obvious choice for a long Saturday lunch: a spread of Spanish and occasionally French cheeses, cured meats, and a carafe chosen by the staff to match. For a more specifically Granadan selection, ask if they have jamón de Trevélez on the board — the Sierra Nevada mountain-cured ham is the regional standard.
Lunch or dinner and the opening hours
La Tana opens at 12:30 for a continuous lunch service until 16:00, then reopens at 20:30 for dinner until midnight or later. This is a split schedule that suits the Spanish eating pattern and the neighbourhood clientele. The Saturday lunch sitting, when the Realejo is at its most residential and least tourist-frequented, is the best version of the place.
Prices run €12–20 per person, which buys you a serious meal with a glass or two of wine from the full list.
Booking and logistics
The taberna is small. On weekend evenings — particularly after 21:00 in summer — it fills up. Booking ahead via the website is practical; the website at tabernalatana.com lists current contact details. Walk-in is fine for weekday lunches. The Alhambra is a fifteen-minute walk uphill from Placeta del Agua, which makes La Tana a logical stop after a morning visit before the afternoon crowds dissipate.
