85 Best Restaurants in Andalusia, Spain

In the heart of the Judería, this pretty little restaurant serves a modern interpretation of Sephardic cuisine—with organic dishes that are more exotic than the usual Andalusian fare—and a kosher menu. The many vegetarian options include gazpacho with mango and artichoke hearts in saffron sauce; and the siniya (trout baked in vine leaves with pomegranate and mint) is delicious. Try a bottle of kosher wine, and for dessert choose the orange ice cream. Two tasting menus (€80 or €95 for two) are also available. The romantic atmosphere is compounded by two violinists playing Sephardic music on the patio on weekends.

Down a side street off the Avenida de la Constitución, this historic bar (formerly a wine store) takes you back to 19th-century Seville, and it is still run by descendants of the family that established it in 1850. Locals pack the place at lunchtime, when popular dishes include menudo con garbanzos (tripe with chickpeas) and albóndigas de choco (cuttlefish croquettes). The wine list is, as you would expect, extensive. There are two bar areas: the largest fronts the store and looks out onto the street, and the other is home to huge ceramic wine barrels and tiled walls.

Geared toward a tourist clientele, this place is always packed, noisy, and fun, and there is live Spanish guitar music on the roof terrace most summer nights. Antiques and some wonderful old oil paintings fill this three-floor labyrinth of rooms just around the corner from the mosque, near the Judería. A full selection of tapas (from €6) and house specialties includes cochinillo (crispy suckling pig) and the solidly traditional rabo de toro. The croquetas de jamón are reputedly the best in town. Bookings are taken only through the website.

True tradition (castizo itself) comes into its own at this busy venue serving regional dishes such as garbanzos con coles (cabbage with chickpeas) alongside more modern plates like the popular berenjena andalusí (eggplant with dried tomato and pistachios), plus daily fish specials and the rice dish of the day. The open kitchen gives you a frontline view of your meal in the making. Sit at the bar for tapas or at a table for larger dishes. Be sure to visit the domino-tiled bathroom.

The only restaurant with a Michelin star in the city has chef León Griffioen at the helm, placing local produce under the Dutch microscope and creating dishes themed around the history of Cádiz. With just eight tables in minimalist surroundings, the restaurant, decked in black and gray, offers a tasting menu (€105 for 10 dishes, €130 for 12; pairing options available) that comes with several surprises, including an \"olive\"—it's one explosion of flavor after another on vibrantly presented plates.

The lively Juda Levi Plaza, surrounded by a maze of narrow streets and squares, lies at the heart of the Judería and makes a great spot for indulging in a little people-watching and a well-earned break. Sit outside here with a drink or, better still, an ice cream, sandwich, or snack.

Around the corner from the cathedral, this is one of Granada's longest-established fish restaurants. Catch-of-the-day fish and shellfish, fresh from the boats at Motril, are displayed in the window at the front of the tapas bar, adjacent to the cozy wood-paneled dining room. Fish both frito (fried) and parrillado (grilled) are good choices, and this is the only place in Granada serving angulas (glass eels). If it's chilly, you can warm up with caldereta de arroz, pescado y marisco (rice, fish, and seafood stew). There are tables outdoors overlooking a busy plaza.

Tucked away on the riverfront in Triana next to Puente del Cristo de la Expiración, this modern venue advocates local produce in traditional Andalusian recipes, showcased in a menu that changes on a weekly basis, along with a long wine list of Andalusian wines. The long narrow interior has striking wood-paneled walls with a verdant vertical garden in the middle, while outside dining takes in panoramic views of the river on the intimate terrace.

The name suggests grilled meat, but this restaurant in the heart of the Judería serves much more. In the colorful bar try sharing plates (from €5) such as the berenjenas crujientes con salmorejo (crispy fried eggplant slices with thick gazpacho), while in the restaurant opt for the supremely fresh grilled fish or the steak, which is the best in town, particularly the namesake churrasco ibérico (grilled Iberian pork, served here in a spicy tomato-based sauce). There's alfresco dining on the inner patio or upper-floor terrace when it's warm outside—also the season to try another specialty: gazpacho blanco de piñones con manzanas y pasas (a white gazpacho made with pine nuts, apple, and raisins). Save some room for the leche frita con helado de canela (creamy dessert with cinnamon ice cream).

Chef Nuria de la Torre's menu combines local staples with unusual partners. The lasagna has a venison base, asparagus pairs with smoked sardines, and Iberian pork steak comes with piquant Canary Island mojo picón sauce. The short but sweet dessert menu includes pineapple infused with ginger and cured goat’s cheesecake, plus a daily special. LP vinyls serve as placemats, the menu sits tucked inside Asterix albums, and corks line the walls checkered with cookbooks and Granada memorabilia. Book ahead for a guaranteed table.

A stone’s throw from the Cathedral sits this undiscerning eatery famous for its signature tortitaco (a shrimp fritter-taco hybrid), paellas, choice of tapas, and value lunch menu (€12, weekdays only). The lofty ceilings and bare brick walls are functional rather than inspirational and there’s no outside terrace, but the prices, deliciousness, and friendly service more than compensate.

With a privileged spot a block north from the cathedral, this central restaurant offers two dining spaces: the traditional inside patio, where wood, mirrors, and tasteful lighting create an intimate but airy space, or the pleasant terrace outside. The cuisine combines Andalusian dishes with a modern touch, with menu items such as bloody gazpacho, Idiázabal blue cheese risotto, and red tuna tartare. The baked cheesecake is a favorite dessert.

With the sights of the Judería on the doorstep, this is a good central spot for a quick bite in a typical Córdoba patio setting that's particularly pretty at night. Tapas and sharing plates make up the menu, where star turns come from the magret de pato (duck breast) and bacalao al carbón (chargrilled cod).

Simply but tastily does it is the maxim here, one of the standout venues on the bustling restaurant strip. Julio and his chef have taken traditional recipes and fresh produce to create a menu combining local favorites (such as remojón granadino (cod and orange salad) and plato alpujarreño (meat, potatoes and egg) with Spanish classics like pulpo a la gallega (octopus) and croquettes. Dining is intimate, with fairy lights and trailing bougainvillea, and there’s a small outside terrace.

Founded in 1670, this lovely spot serves a classic selection of dishes, such as the pavía de bacalao (fried breaded cod), a superb salmorejo (a puree consisting of tomato and bread), and espinacas con garbanzos, all in generous portions. The views of Iglesia de Santa Catalina out the front window upstairs are unbeatable, and your bill is chalked up on the wooden counters as you go (tapas are attractively priced from €3). This is a big favorite with locals, so be prepared for the crowds.

Traditional Andalusian cuisine comes in generous portions (tapas and sharing plates) at this popular venue with a small terrace opposite the Basílica de Santa María. Stars on the menu include carrillada al oloroso (pork cheeks), bacalao con crema de guisantes (cod with pea puree), and arroz con leche (rice pudding). Fresh seafood, caught on the nearby Atlantic coast, also features in the daily specials.

Even if you aren’t a vegan, the plant-based menu won’t disappoint at this quirky restaurant, located just a block east of Casa de los Tiros. You’ll find a good choice of food such as vegetable lasagna and seitan cordon bleu. Sit inside and take in the vibrant murals, or sit outside on the quiet terrace, blissfully sunny in winter and shady in summer.

With a young vibe and a vast and inventive menu (which changes seasonally), this tiny restaurant offers a welcome change from Seville's typical fried fare. The owners' haute-cuisine ambitions are reflected in excellent service and lovingly prepared food—but not in the prices. Typical dishes include baby shrimp churros, smoked potato salad, rabbit ribs with garlic fries, and fresh fish from nearby Cádiz. Reservations are available for weekday lunches only; at any other time, put your name on the waiting list and pop to the Azotea bar across the road for a drink and generous tapa (€5) while you wait. La Azotea has two other venues (Calle Mateas Gago and Calle Zaragoza, both open all day, every day), but the original offers the best local vibe.

Just off Calle Puentezuelas, this authentic patio complete with original pillars serves specials such as house cod (with prawns and clams), best enjoyed with a cerdito (a \"little pig\" ceramic jug of sweet white wine, so named for its snout pourer). This is a busy venue, especially on weekends, and reservations aren't accepted, so arrive early (1:30 pm for lunch or 8 pm for dinner) to snag a table. You can also put your name on the list and order a tapa at the bar while you wait.

A block north of Plaza de la Candelaria and on one of Cádiz's narrow pedestrian streets, La Candela is a good place to try local fare with a modern twist. The tuna tartare comes with a fried egg, the chicharrones de pulpo (cold octopus) are melt-in-the-mouth tender, and several dishes come tempura-style or have Asian touches, such as the Bo Ssam pork. There's also a value tasting menu (€44; prebooking essential). Be sure to try one of the homemade desserts—the cheesecake and chocolate coulant are particularly good.

Not too far from the Giralda, this family-run restaurant has been making a name for itself with fresh fish dishes for more than two decades. The owners hail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda downriver, and the ingredients come from their hometown and always include swordfish, sea bass, and anchovies. House specials are the sopa de galeras (garlic soup with shrimp), alcachofas con gulas (artichokes with eels), and stuffed squid. There's also a daily stew dish, usually fish-based. Eat inside at the slightly prim tables in one of the dining rooms, outside on the more informal but tiny street terrace, or perch at the bar for a tapa or two (from €3.50).

Expect cheap, cheerful, and lively dining at this small venue, a couple of blocks south of the castle and usually packed with locals. On the menu are the usual Córdoba staples including oxtail, but the specialties here are the saquito de boletus (mushroom pastry) and carrillada de cerdo (roast pork cheek).

It feels as if you could be outside at this bright venue on the river whose fresh interior comes with miniature wall gardens—there's even an herb garden in the middle. Local produce takes center stage on the short menu, where you'll find a mix of traditional and modern dishes including house specials such as wild sea bass ceviche, salmorejo with tomato ice cream, and cream of lemon. The wine list is good, and the by-the-glass selection runs particularly long. Service from the young staff comes with a smile.

One of the more sophisticated establishments on Plaza Bibrambla, this restaurant champions Andalusian produce, with the emphasis on seasonal and local goods. They include Pajuna cattle beef and pink tomatoes, in recipes taking the Mediterranean as their theme. You dine under the original wooden beams on comfy moss-green armchairs. The kitchen is open from 1 to 11 pm, and booking is advisable.   

With more than 170 stalls of fresh produce, Cádiz's main market provides an illuminating insight into the types of local fish and seafood, as well as seasonal treats. It also has a rincón gastronómico (gastro-corner) with several stalls serving dishes based on the produce available in the market. Highlights include El Freidor del Mercado, where you can try the city's famous fried fish served in paper cones, and Las Niñas Veganas, with vegan and gluten-free options that include a delicious dish of the day. At all venues, you can perch at the bar or at one of the outside tables.

Just off the Plaza del Arenal, this rustic meat restaurant is always packed with young locals who crowd around the bar for cheap and generous tapas (from €3). Oxtail stew, fried chorizo, black pudding, and pig's-cheek stew come in huge portions, resulting in an incredibly inexpensive meal. Choose table service to try the excellent oxtail sirloin or other type of meat, barbecued or grilled on hot stones.

This Bajo de Guía landmark, with a large terrace overlooking the water, serves delicious tuna tartare, chocos (cuttlefish), and exquisite locally caught langostinos de Sanlúcar, particularly recommended when washed down with a glass of local manzanilla. The dining area overlooks the large, busy tapas bar.

The downstairs bar here serves simple tapas, but it's the upstairs restaurant that makes it worth a visit. The rustic dining room is decorated with wall paintings and hunting trophies, and the kitchen serves regional produce and dishes---try the pimiento de piquillo relleno de jabalí y gurumelos (wild boar and a type of mushroom stuffed red pepper ), lomo de jabalí (boar tenderloin), or the outstanding ham; chestnut stew is the standout for dessert. Vegetarian and organic menus are available.