Tapas from €2, menú del día from €10, free tapas with your drink — eating on a budget in Granada is not a compromise, it is the local way.
Granada is one of the most affordable dining cities in Andalusia — and eating cheaply here means eating authentically. The menú del día (set lunch menu) is the budget traveller's secret weapon: for €10–12 you get a starter, main course, dessert, bread and a drink at most traditional restaurants. Many bars in the old town still serve a free tapa with every drink — a practice that has survived in Granada long after most Spanish cities abandoned it. Order a caña (small beer, ~€1.50) and a plate of olives, croquetas or salmorejo arrives unrequested. The Mercado de San Agustín and the stalls around the Alcaicería offer quick meals for €8–12. Around the Plaza de la Universidad and the Realejo, student-friendly tabernas serve generous portions at prices that reflect the local economy, not the tourist one. The key rule: if the menu is only in English, walk on.
100% vegan in the Albaicín, run by a mother-daughter team using ecological produce. Generous portions at budget prices. Book ahead — only a few tables.
Granada locals' pick for navajas (razor clams) and fresh fish in Centro. Two sites, flexible portions, budget-to-moderate. Good for solo diners and groups.
Three courses, bread, and wine for €10. La Nueva Bodega near Granada Cathedral is where locals eat lunch — construction crews, students, and office workers.
Plant-based, gluten-free friendly restaurant in Granada's Centro. Health-conscious menu, moderate prices. Popular with digital nomads and wellness travellers.
100% vegan in the Realejo, walls painted by local artists. Salmorejo, vegan paella, handmade burgers. Creative Andalusian plant-based cooking around €20 a head.