Granada for under £100 a night
WE POUND THE STREETS ... YOU REAP THE REWARDS!
EvEr fancied a trip to Morocco but weren’t quite sure how you’d cope with the hustle and bustle? Then a trip to Spain’s Granada could be your perfect test run. This city feels like the illegitimate child of Spain and Morocco. Just wander the hilly, cobbled streets that snake through the souk-like shops in the Albaicín (old Moorish quarter) — it’s like a bumpy, hassle-free Marrakech without the dust. Yet, head to the cathedral and sit in a sunny plaza with a frosty bottle of Alhambra reserva (local beer), and you couldn’t be anywhere else but Andalusia.
Where to stay
÷ Room Mate Leo
Part of a group of swish design hotels, room Mate Leo is possibly the funkiest hotel in Granada — think giant abstract paintings, elaborate gold, leaf-shaped lamps, and geometric wallpaper. Less than 500 metres from the cathedral, it comes with 33 hip, spacious rooms, a sun- drenched terrace, and free pocket wi-fi devices you can carry around the city.
Doubles from £52, room-matehotels.com ÷ Hotel Palacio de Los Navas
On a quiet street close to Granada’s former Jewish quarter, realejo, sits this 16th- century palace, now an adorable, threestar boutique hotel, with 19 bright rooms, decorated with nature prints and terracotta floors.
B&B doubles from £52, hotelpalaciodelosnavas.com ÷ Shine Albayzin this 16th-century mansion sits opposite the slow-flowing Darro river, which divides the alhambra and the albaicín neighbourhood. all 12 well-finished rooms have tasteful modernist decor (creams, whites and greys). request one looking out to the alhambra — you won’t be disappointed.
Doubles from £69, shinealbayzin.com ÷ Gar-Anat Hotel
OnCE a shelter for pilgrims, now a pretty, three- star boutique hotel with 15 rooms wrapped around a courtyard in a gorgeous 17th-century building.
Doubles from £55 (room-only), hotelgaranat.com
Where to eat
÷ La Fontana
YOu’rE going to need a good breakfast to tackle Granada’s extreme gradients, so pull up a chair at La Fontana. this tapas/ flamenco bar-come-cafe, blessed with an idyllic sunny terrace, is just a few steps from the pretty Darro river and has alhambra views ( just about). the local breakfast choice is a simple tostada with tomato (from £1). ( barlafontana.com). ÷ Los Diamantes
DOn’t expect silver service at this small, tatty tapas bar on Calle navas. it’s loud, messy and busy, but you don’t come here for a relaxing, sit-down meal. Famous for traditional fried fish, so share a half racion of lightly battered prawns (from £9) or calamari (from £7) for lunch. if you can’t get a table, sit at the bar and bark your order (beers £1.70) at frantic bartenders and see what tapas turn up. Don’t be politely British about it or you’ll be waiting all night. ( barlosdiamantes.com) ÷ El Tabernáculo hiDDEn away amid the touristheavy trail of underwhelming tapas restaurants on the wrong side of Calle navas, sits a cosy, cavernous bar. Bartenders won’t greet you with open arms, but it’s a place to enjoy no-nonsense tapas, such as grilled pork, rice and fried fish, free alongside a frosty bottle of alhambra reserva (£2.60).
Calle Navas, 27, 18009. ÷ La Botillería a tYPiCaL mid-level spanish restaurant with marble bar tops, classic, neutral decor, and waiters in black-tie. tables outside and meaty raciones aplenty (big plates from about £9). But if you want to make the most of the free tapas, pull up a stool at the bar and watch small plates (mini-burgers, local olives etc) appear with every new glass of wine (from £2.40) or beer (from £2). ( labotilleria.es)
How to get there
EasYJEt ( easyjet.com) London to Granada from £56 return.