Granada | Spain

"Oh Morocco is cool, yea Sevilla is great, but Granada, well, Granada is something else. Granada is really special, you'll see" ~ rental car agent @ the Renfe Station

She was not wrong. In fact she was completely accurate. Voicing her own strong opinion - her statement stuck with me. It was a welcome conversation as we retuned the rental car despite the fact that we were running late. We needed to grab a taxi and check into Hotel Casa 1800 before making our way to Alhambra. We had a ticketed time an hour prior to closing at 8pm. (You have to book in advance, and this was the only time slot we could get while we were here!)

After spending time in the city streets you feel it. Granada is special, something beyond, 10/10, our favorite on this trip. It's not bragging or in your face, it's sneaky stunning and casually hip. 

After our hurried arrival and rush to Alhambra we slowed it all down. We wandered. We ate good food. We leisurely shopped. We drank. We stayed out late. 

Can we move here? That's the vibe. Granada totally gave us "European city we could live in vibes". 

From the bright, clean streets of Centro with unique and pretty fountains in abundance, to the winding narrow pathways as you climb or descend the Albaicin, there's so much leisurely wandering to be had in Granada.

GRANADAAAA we love you so. 

Eat here: Pimienta Rosa | Atelier Casa de Comidas

Drink here: Mama Samba | Lemon Rock | Bar Chaplin | Calle Elvira area | 

Sad we missed: Bar Axia "heart of the Albayzin" (it was closed! situated on a charming old school plaza, looks like a perfect tapas bar stop.) Las Tomasas - originally had a dinner reservation but called an audible as timing / location didn't work out. 

Views: El Huerto | Plaza de San Nicolas

Dinner was a miss here: La Cuchara de Carmela. I guess we had high expectations and none of us were in love with our meals. 

Stay here: Hotel Casa 1800. A really unique hotel tucked in a cave like setting between the exact neighborhoods you want to be for exploring - Albaicin + Centro. A beautiful continental breakfast spread is included. The rooms felt cozy yet elegant. 

Granada - leisure, late nights + fountains. Group consensus favorite.