Granada's most storied table, on Lorca's old café corner — book Plaza del Campillo for Antonio Torres's rabo de toro on a birthday.
About Chikito
Book the plaza terrace in summer and the back dining room the rest of the year — Chikito is the table you take visitors to when you want the real Granada, not a tasting menu. It stands on the Plaza del Campillo corner where the Café Alameda once was, the spot where Federico García Lorca and the El Rinconcillo circle traded verses in the 1920s; a life-size Lorca statue was set at the corner in 2015. Chef Antonio Torres runs the kitchen, and the dish people come for is the rabo de toro at €26.50, slow-braised oxtail the city measures by.
The Kitchen
Chikito trades on Granada itself rather than on a star. Antonio Torres cooks regional Andalusian dishes with an Arab-Andalusian undercurrent — the food of the city, set down without reinvention. The rabo de toro, braised until it falls off the bone and finished in its own reduced sauce, is the plate locals measure the kitchen by at €26.50. Around it sit the remojón granaíno, the orange-and-cod salad at €16.75; habas con jamón, the broad beans with Trevélez ham that mark a Granada spring; fried fish from the coast at Motril; and the free tapa that still arrives with every drink at the bar.
This is a taberna at heart, a busy front bar and a fuller dining room behind. Reckon on €40 to €55 a head with wine for a sit-down meal, less if you graze tapas at the counter. The wine list stays close to home, with sherries from Jerez and reds from the Granada and Ronda hills. It is honest, generous cooking, and the kitchen has had decades to settle into it.
The Room
Chikito sits on Plaza del Campillo, by the Fuente de las Batallas and a short walk from Puerta Real and the cathedral. The front is a classic Spanish bar, loud at the counter where regulars stand for a drink and a tapa. The dining room behind is calmer, lined with old-Granada photographs and lit warmly, tables close enough to feel social. For a celebration, ask for a table on the plaza terrace; in summer it goes first, so book or go early. Dress is relaxed — this is a city institution, not a special-occasion temple.
Best for a Granada Birthday
Book Chikito for a birthday because it hands visitors the real Granada in one room: a lively bar, a proper dining room, a free tapa with the first round, and a famous oxtail to anchor the table. The plaza terrace is the seat to request in summer, so book or go early. It is atmospheric without being expensive, so a group can eat and drink well without a punishing bill. For more, see our best Spanish restaurants worldwide and the best Spanish restaurants guide.
Not for
Not for diners chasing modern tasting menus or a quiet, refined room: Chikito is a busy traditional taberna, loud at the bar and built around classic Andalusian plates.
Frequently Asked
Is Chikito worth it?
Yes, if you want traditional Granada cooking rather than fine dining. Chikito has fed the city for decades on the site of Lorca's old cafe, and its rabo de toro at €26.50 is a local benchmark. The room is atmospheric and the value is strong. Come for the institution and the oxtail, not for cutting-edge plates.
How hard is it to book Chikito?
Not very, but worth doing for dinner and essential for the summer terrace. Chikito takes reservations by phone on +34 958 22 33 64, and the dining room behind the bar usually has space midweek. Weekend nights and warm evenings on Plaza del Campillo fill quickly. Walk-ins can graze tapas at the front bar without a booking.
What is the dress code at Chikito?
Relaxed and casual. Chikito is a Granada taberna, so smart-casual or even neat everyday dress is fine, and there is no jacket requirement. Locals treat it as an everyday institution rather than a dress-up occasion. Dress for comfort on the terrace in summer, when the plaza stays warm late into the evening.
What is the average meal price at Chikito?
Plan for roughly €40 to €55 per person with wine for a full sit-down meal. The signature rabo de toro is €26.50, starters and tapas are cheaper, and grazing at the bar costs far less. A free tapa arrives with each drink in the Granada tradition. It is solid value for the location and the history.
Is Chikito good for a birthday?
Yes. The mix of a lively bar, a warm dining room and a famous oxtail makes it an easy choice for a celebration, especially on the summer terrace. Book ahead for groups and request a plaza table. See our best birthday restaurants for more ideas across other cities.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Chikito
By phone · +34 958 22 33 64
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Practical Information
AddressPlaza del Campillo 9, 18009 Granada, Spain
NeighbourhoodPlaza del Campillo (near Puerta Real)
ChefAntonio Torres
CuisineTraditional Andalusian
SignatureRabo de toro · €26.50
Average spend€40-55 pp with wine
Dress CodeSmart-casual
HistoryOn the site of Lorca's Cafe Alameda
