Nightlife! Music! Stay! in Granda
There are plenty of bars around Granada that will whet your appetite for more. Bars or as commonly known in the local tongue, Bodegas, are at the street corners, in hotels and on hilltops around the region, with the oldest bar in Granada being the Sabanilla bar. Its attraction is that for every drink ordered, there is a free-of-charge tapa.
These bars light up the night life in this region, opening until midnight. However, early hour drinking can be done at the university’s student section. These bars are alive with pub and disco patrons, especially during the summer.
Other kinds of night life can be found at the splendidly restored cinema-turned-disco after the movies end while a cultural centre not only displays Arabic culture pieces, but also offers live Arabic music that livens up the place.
There are dance areas such as the Salsero Mayor, which specializes in Latin jazz, Salsa and Merengue. The streets are usually jam-packed with drinkers during the weekend evenings, whereas there is also a gay and lesbian bar that is not exclusive which offers drinks, music and dancing.
Granada music
Flamenco performances are available to tourists with the most popular shows being the Los Jardines Neptuno performed at Calle Arabial near the south end of the town. The performances are crowded in the summer; thus, it is a better option to view this in the winter when the crowd is thinner and the atmosphere is more intimate with a log fire. There are also live jazz performances in the flamenco bars that provide a great and lively atmosphere to pass the time.
Granada is not unlike many Andalusia cities that have a substantial gypsy or Gitano population, many of whom are Spain’s best music talents, such as flamenco singers, dancers and guitarists. These gypsy clans originally inhabited the Sacromonte hill cave homes while performing the zambras for tourists.
These can turn out to be nasty experiences as the tourists often lose a lot of money for some dance and diluted sherry, while ladies can be leered at if you’re pulled into their cave haven. Do not take too much money with you if you want to experience this local environment.
Accommodation
The Alhambra Palace would be the most luxurious and popular place to stay in Granada with its exquisite interior inspired by that of a palace; the whole hotel is spacious and rich with ornate stonework of Moorish heritage. Its unique Islamic tiles of marble and other ceramic works set the whole hotel in awesome splendor with a fantastic view over Granada and Sierra Nevada.
Meanwhile, Hesperia Granada is not too far off in popularity as this newly renovated historic building is located right at the town center. It is at an excellent location for one to explore the surroundings of Alhambra and the old part of Granada while soaking in the magnificent Andalusia landscape.
The more luxurious ‘Hospes Palacio de los Patos’, was previously a palace that has been UNESCO-certified and is a protected heritage building in Granada. This 5-star accommodation boasts of contemporary but stylish rooms of historic value.
The Alhambra Palace has a historical complex, the ‘Parador de Granada’, which allows tourists to stroll through the garden grounds to enjoy the intimacy and serenity of the environment. There are plenty of great art pieces and exceptional furniture inside the building.