Guidebook for Granada
Food Scene
Excellent steak restaurant, white tablecloth / high end. Most upscale restaurant in Granada (still very inexpensive by US stanards) with excellent service, located just behind Cathedral. Their grilled sausage appetizer is to die for, and fabulous beef and pork are cooked right in front of you. All high end and delicious, and they also have great pastas and seafood options as well. Open for lunch and dinner.
El Zaguán
Excellent steak restaurant, white tablecloth / high end. Most upscale restaurant in Granada (still very inexpensive by US stanards) with excellent service, located just behind Cathedral. Their grilled sausage appetizer is to die for, and fabulous beef and pork are cooked right in front of you. All high end and delicious, and they also have great pastas and seafood options as well. Open for lunch and dinner.
Famous breakfast and lunch spot, right across from San Francisco convent. Only open until 2:00 with extensive menu of both American and Nicaraguan favorites with huge portions! Kathy's often has ingredients that are difficult to find in Nicaragua and can feel comforting while on vacation. The enormous club sandwich with slices of Velveeta comes to mind! They also have excellent local breakfasts with great gallo pinto too. Something for everyone, and very close to the house, just across from San Francisco church
12 locals raden deze aan
Kathy's Waffle House
Calle El ArsenalFamous breakfast and lunch spot, right across from San Francisco convent. Only open until 2:00 with extensive menu of both American and Nicaraguan favorites with huge portions! Kathy's often has ingredients that are difficult to find in Nicaragua and can feel comforting while on vacation. The enormous club sandwich with slices of Velveeta comes to mind! They also have excellent local breakfasts with great gallo pinto too. Something for everyone, and very close to the house, just across from San Francisco church
Great little restaurant / bar inside Hotel Casa San Francisco. Good for mini plates (don't miss the pork sliders and chicken tamales), appetizers and drink specials - and very close to Casa Romantica
Bocadillos Tapas Kitchen & Bar
Great little restaurant / bar inside Hotel Casa San Francisco. Good for mini plates (don't miss the pork sliders and chicken tamales), appetizers and drink specials - and very close to Casa Romantica
Great breakfast offerings, salads, sandwiches. Large portions, pretty expensive for Granada but excellent quality. Very popular with expats and tourists
38 locals raden deze aan
The Garden Cafe | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Calle CervantesGreat breakfast offerings, salads, sandwiches. Large portions, pretty expensive for Granada but excellent quality. Very popular with expats and tourists
Local favorite, famous for Guapote (fish from Lake Nicaragua). Great ambiance with dirt floors and delicious food. Recommend taking a taxi because it's a little far out (through not great neighborhoods). Even the President eats here when he's in town! They also have good steak and chicken dishes, as well as children's plates
8 locals raden deze aan
Restaurante Las Colinas
Local favorite, famous for Guapote (fish from Lake Nicaragua). Great ambiance with dirt floors and delicious food. Recommend taking a taxi because it's a little far out (through not great neighborhoods). Even the President eats here when he's in town! They also have good steak and chicken dishes, as well as children's plates
Technically coffee shop, but also has excellent limited food menu. High end prices and offerings. Hit or miss hours
Espressionista
Calle Real XaltevaTechnically coffee shop, but also has excellent limited food menu. High end prices and offerings. Hit or miss hours
Pizza, calzones, salads, etc. Surprisingly good and portions are large. Delivery available (menu can be found online or in house manual)
TelePizza
Calle El ArsenalPizza, calzones, salads, etc. Surprisingly good and portions are large. Delivery available (menu can be found online or in house manual)
Mediterranean food, popular with locals and tourists alike. Great lunch spot for salads, sandwiches and wraps. Hummus, falafel, kebabs are all great. Vegan options available
16 locals raden deze aan
pita pita
Calle CervantesMediterranean food, popular with locals and tourists alike. Great lunch spot for salads, sandwiches and wraps. Hummus, falafel, kebabs are all great. Vegan options available
On main tourist street (La Calzada) but has better food than most on the strip. Sit inside (beautiful courtyard through the main entrance) instead of outside to get away from the street musicians and vendors
8 locals raden deze aan
Nectar
Calle La CalzadaOn main tourist street (La Calzada) but has better food than most on the strip. Sit inside (beautiful courtyard through the main entrance) instead of outside to get away from the street musicians and vendors
Italian food and one of the only restaurants with wine on Calzada. Pastas, pizzas, seafood
7 locals raden deze aan
Mona Lisa
Calle La CalzadaItalian food and one of the only restaurants with wine on Calzada. Pastas, pizzas, seafood
Update: Temporarily closed. Excellent food in a quaint environment. Two professional chefs create high end dishes and a great experience. Steak frites, burgers, fish and pork dishes with excellent service
TASTE APARTMENT
Calle CorralesUpdate: Temporarily closed. Excellent food in a quaint environment. Two professional chefs create high end dishes and a great experience. Steak frites, burgers, fish and pork dishes with excellent service
Open for lunch only, and looks inconspicuous with its small outdoor white sign and red cursive letters, but "El Garaje" is one of the best kept secrets in Granada! This place has amazing fresh daily specials, from crisp salads and delicious sandwiches to spicy soups and unique flavors from all over the world. Menu changes daily with only the freshest ingredients and this expat favorite is a fantastic lunch spot for both locals and tourists
16 locals raden deze aan
Restaurante El Garaje
512 Calle CorralesOpen for lunch only, and looks inconspicuous with its small outdoor white sign and red cursive letters, but "El Garaje" is one of the best kept secrets in Granada! This place has amazing fresh daily specials, from crisp salads and delicious sandwiches to spicy soups and unique flavors from all over the world. Menu changes daily with only the freshest ingredients and this expat favorite is a fantastic lunch spot for both locals and tourists
Off the beaten path but famous with locals, La Frontera has the best burger in Granada! Cuban sandwich is excellent too. Top ratings on Tripadvisor and very Granadino, La Frontera will require a taxi but is worth it if you're craving a juicy burger in Nicaragua!
9 locals raden deze aan
La Frontera
Off the beaten path but famous with locals, La Frontera has the best burger in Granada! Cuban sandwich is excellent too. Top ratings on Tripadvisor and very Granadino, La Frontera will require a taxi but is worth it if you're craving a juicy burger in Nicaragua!
Pan De Vida
406 C. La CalzadaGreat breads, pastries and coffee - don't miss the cinnamon rolls!
My personal favorite in town. Organic locally grown produce, made to order chef specials that change daily, and the only place in town with a high end wine selection. Owner is incredibly nice and always willing to chat with visitors about Granada, his farm and restaurant, moving from the US and any other topic. Just lovely people and great food - can’t go wrong here
Miss Dell's Kitchen
Calle El CaimitoMy personal favorite in town. Organic locally grown produce, made to order chef specials that change daily, and the only place in town with a high end wine selection. Owner is incredibly nice and always willing to chat with visitors about Granada, his farm and restaurant, moving from the US and any other topic. Just lovely people and great food - can’t go wrong here
Shopping
La Colonia
Grocery Store
Local artisan market where you can find leather goods, wooden bowls, pottery, hammocks and all kinds of Nicaraguan souvenirs
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Masaya market
Calle del MercadoLocal artisan market where you can find leather goods, wooden bowls, pottery, hammocks and all kinds of Nicaraguan souvenirs
Kind of like a cross between Target, Walmart and Dollar Tree. Maxi Pali has all the staples or anything you may have forgotten to pack
6 locals raden deze aan
Maxi Pali Granada
Calle NuevaKind of like a cross between Target, Walmart and Dollar Tree. Maxi Pali has all the staples or anything you may have forgotten to pack
San Juan del Oriente is one of the small pueblos that make up "the white towns" (los pueblos blancos) and this is where all Nicaraguan pottery is made. If you see someone selling vases in Granada, it came from here. You can go inside some of the homes and watch the entire process, which has been passed down from generations. They don't use machines or paint - only locally harvested clay and other materials. Some will let you try your hand at the pottery wheel and show you the kilns, how they etch the designs by hand, and where they source the colors (different types of bugs and plants, etc). These "tours" are usually free of charge, but it's a good idea to give a small tip
12 locals raden deze aan
San Juan de Oriente
San Juan del Oriente is one of the small pueblos that make up "the white towns" (los pueblos blancos) and this is where all Nicaraguan pottery is made. If you see someone selling vases in Granada, it came from here. You can go inside some of the homes and watch the entire process, which has been passed down from generations. They don't use machines or paint - only locally harvested clay and other materials. Some will let you try your hand at the pottery wheel and show you the kilns, how they etch the designs by hand, and where they source the colors (different types of bugs and plants, etc). These "tours" are usually free of charge, but it's a good idea to give a small tip
Soy Nica
Calle La CalzadaHigher end shopping for locally made leather products
Essentials
Supermercado La Unión Granada
Calle La InmaculadaGrocery Store
Drinks & Nightlife
La Calzada
Tourist street full of bars and restaurants
Bit of bar with a bit of "upscale" nightclub in Granada, Encuentros is a great place to have drinks away from the regular Calzada crowd and street vendors, and they will usually stay open as long as people are there. Occasional live music or DJ
10 locals raden deze aan
Encuentros
Calle La CalzadaBit of bar with a bit of "upscale" nightclub in Granada, Encuentros is a great place to have drinks away from the regular Calzada crowd and street vendors, and they will usually stay open as long as people are there. Occasional live music or DJ
Right around the corner from Casa Romantica, La Hacienda always has the best breeze in town and a fantastic patio! Some nights they have live music, and always serve good basic bar food as well as to go beer, wine, sodas and liquor (in case you forget to go to the store until it's late at night :)
La Hacienda
Calle CervantesRight around the corner from Casa Romantica, La Hacienda always has the best breeze in town and a fantastic patio! Some nights they have live music, and always serve good basic bar food as well as to go beer, wine, sodas and liquor (in case you forget to go to the store until it's late at night :)
Sightseeing within Granada
Important landmarks around colonial Granada
Cathedral San Francisco
Iglesia de La Merced
Guadalupe Church
Calle La CalzadaCatedral de Granada
Area Attractions and Activities
Some are in Granada city and others are within an hour’s drive. Julio can provide customized private tours or help coordinate activities
Mombacho volcano has multiple hiking trails, coffee farm tours and zip line adventures
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Mombacho
Mombacho volcano has multiple hiking trails, coffee farm tours and zip line adventures
ChocoMuseo Granada
Calle AtravesadaChocolate factory tours
Dona Elba Cigars
Cigar tours, manufacturing, shopping
Parks & Nature
365 volcanic islands in Lake Nicaragua - panga boat tours are a fun way to spend a few hours and see private luxury homes, local fishing spots, restaurants and wildlife
11 locals raden deze aan
Las Isletas de Granada
365 volcanic islands in Lake Nicaragua - panga boat tours are a fun way to spend a few hours and see private luxury homes, local fishing spots, restaurants and wildlife
Incredible day or night, only about 20 minutes from Granada. Can drive right up to crater, so it's a good tour for all ages and physical abilities. One of the only active lava flows in the world! Night tours on limited basis 5:30pm - 7:30pm
112 locals raden deze aan
Masaya Volcano
Incredible day or night, only about 20 minutes from Granada. Can drive right up to crater, so it's a good tour for all ages and physical abilities. One of the only active lava flows in the world! Night tours on limited basis 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Beautiful views at Catarina lookout or you can swim, paddle boat and kayak around this freshwater crater lake
Apoyo Lagoon
Beautiful views at Catarina lookout or you can swim, paddle boat and kayak around this freshwater crater lake