Granada Vegetarian + Vegan Options

Granada vegetarian and vegan options have improved greatly over the past few years. Although the choice isn´t huge there some tasty options if you know where to go.

Of cause some of the typical tapas in Granada are local favourites such as Ham Croquettes (croquetas de jamón) or pork in tomato sauce (carne en salsa). For a vegetarian or vegan visitor it can be tricky to order food. Especially for non spanish speakers.

Stating that you are a vegetarian doesn’t always get the message across. Tuna (atún) bacon (beicon) and Ham (jamón) may be handed to you. (believe it or not!) Things have got better recently but some of the more traditional places won´t work for true vegetarians.

When booking any activity, it is always best to contact ahead of time with any special requests, flexitarian, vegetarian, vegan to check that they can accomodate your needs. 

If you are vegetarian or vegan travelling to Spain or maybe you live here, hopefully this blogpost will come in handy. If your Spanish is limited here are a few ´safe´ options you can remember.

Most of these dishes will be readily available in Spanish restaurants and bars.

Spanish food for Vegetarians

• Ensalada de queso de cabra – Goats cheese salad
• Pimientos del Padron – Small green fried peppers
• Tortilla Española – Potato & Onion omelette.
• Tortilla de Espinacas – Spinach omelette.
• Revoltillo de esparragos – Eggs & asparagus.
• Croquetas de boletus o queso – Croquettes filled with mushrooms or cheese.
• Esparragos & Alcachofas – Asparagus and Artichokes. Easy to find in Granada as it´s locally produced
• Ensalada mixta. Mixed salad. – Make sure they don´t put tuna or bacon on it.
• Pisto con huevo – Ratatouille style vegetables with fried egg.
• Arroz a la cubana – Fried eggs with rice and tomato puree.
• Berejenas a la miel – Fried Aubergines and honey.

• Garbanzos y espinacas – Chick peas and spinach.
• Tomate alinado – Sliced Tomato with garlic and olive oil.
• Paella de verduras – Rice with vegetables
• Risotto de queso, Risotto de verduras & Risotto de champiñones – Risottos are seen on many menus. Cheese, mushroom and vegetable varieties are easily found.
• Gazpacho & Salmorejo. Cold tomato puree. This is very popular in Summer, Salmorejo is slightly thicker as it has breadcrumbs. Often served with egg and ham.
• Queso y membrillo. Cheese and quince jelly. (More about Quince fruit here)
• Patatas bravas & Patatas a lo pobre. Thick cut fries with slightly spicy tomato sauce, a lo pobre is with green peppers.
• Ensaladilla Rusa (Remember to double check no prawns or tuna are in their version) This is a creamy Potato salad with mayonnaise, peas, hard boiled eggs….
• Setas or Champiñones. Mushrooms
• Falafel, Hummus or Guacamole Harder to find, but some places are now serving these dishes.

Granada Vegetarian restaurants

• El Piano offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten free food. Its a local favourite in the Realejo, find them open daily on Calle Santiago 2.
• Raices, Avda Pablo Picasso 30, Granada. A true vegetarian restaurant since 1982 with a large selection of tofu, salads and vegan options. (Closed on Sunday night)
• El Hicuri C/Santa Escolastica, Granada. A large selection of vegetarian dishes. A recommendation is the ´Heura al ajillo´
• La Goma Calle Gracia 40 (closed Sundays) Lots of Vegetarian and Vegan options. Many organic products. Can get dishes to take away.
• Il Gondoliere C/Martinez Campos 23, Granada. They have a huge selection of pizzas and pastas. On the menu Vegetarian options are clearly marked. You may even personalize your own toppings if you prefer.
• Bella Kurva Calle San Jerónimo, 19, They offer a casual atmosphere, excellent veggie sushi and fabulous craft beer. 
• Om Khalsoum, C/Jardines, Granada. Moroccan tapas. Choose falafel, hummus, aubergine paste, baked potatoes with spinach, cous cous… Get there as soon as they open at 8pm as it gets busy.
• Noodle Restaurant Calle Principe lots of delicious Asian dishes with tofu, noodles and vegetables. 
• Paprika, Cuesta de Abarqueros, 3, Granada. A separate vegetarian menu with tofu and seitan options.
• El Botanico, C/Malaga, Granada. They have a vegetarian curry, great salads and vegetarian noodle wok.
• Wild Food Plaza Isabel la Catolica – A Large selection of Vegetarian and Vegan options. Creative and fusion cuisine.
• Vinos and Rosas Calle Alvaro de Bazán, next to San Agustin Market, This restaurant serves local food direct from the market and has plenty of vegetarian and vegan options everyday.

Vegetarian places in Granada province

• Hotel Alcadima  in Lanjaron – Varied choice of food with some vegetarian options
• Ruta del Mulhacen in Pampaneira – Great selection for vegetarians at this typical Alpujarra restaurant
• Mirador la Taha in Pitres. Lots of vegetarian options here too
• La Cantina Verde in Polopos, run by a Dutch couple, they serve tasty vegetarian food, usually locally sourced. There are always a couple of non-veggie choices too. Check they are open before as they reduce their opening times at quieter times of the year. 
• L´Atelier in Mecina Fondales, Las Alpujarras in Granada province. Gourmet vegetarian and vegan meals with fresh organic local produce from Granada. They are open from Mid March until end September. Closed on Tuesdays, open from 7pm to 11pm and lunchtimes on weekends 1pm – 4pm. Please book ahead: 00 34 958 857501

Vegetarian resources for Travellers

• Eco Eco Organic Supermarket Calle Moral de la Magdalena, 37 – Large specialist store stocking Vegetarian, Vegan and Organic food. 
• Magia Arabica, Calle Salamanca – Specialist Coffee Shop serves OatMilk, Rice and Coconut Milk and has a selection of Vegan cakes and bakes.
• Terra Market Calle Cruz stocking organic vegan and vegetarian goods. Food, Cleaning supplies, cosmetics and more (Mainly plastic free)