The Verdict
Los Diamantes opened on Calle Navas in 1942, founded by the father of today's owner, Pepe, and kept in the family across generations; Pepe has run the bar since 1978, with his wife Encarna Bustos long managing the Navas counter herself. It remains the reference point for Granada's tradition of a free tapa with every drink, as Granada Digital and the bar's own history record.
The draw is pescaíto frito — fried fish straight from the coast: boquerones, calamares, gambas and chopitos — eaten standing at a packed bar. A round of drinks with tapas runs roughly €17.50–20 per person, and the fried fish has been the bar's signature for decades.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is built on the fryer. Pescaíto frito — boquerones, calamares, gambas, chopitos — comes out hot and salty, the free tapa that lands with every caña or glass of wine. A house Russian salad and grilled prawns round out a short menu, recipes the founding family has kept for generations.
The Room
Los Diamantes is a stand-up tapas bar at Calle Navas 28, on Granada's busiest tapas street just off Plaza del Carmen. It is loud, tiled and crowded, with diners three-deep at the counter most evenings. There are now sibling branches across the city, but the Navas address is the 1942 original.
Best for a Casual Night Out
Los Diamantes is for a lively, low-cost Granada evening: drop in for a drink and the free fried-fish tapa, then order a couple of raciones. It works best standing at the bar with friends, early or late, when the Calle Navas crowd is at full volume and the fryer never stops.
Not For
Not for a quiet, seated dinner or anyone after table service and a tasting menu. It is a stand-up bar — crowded, noisy and fast. Diners who want a calm room with reservations should book Atelier Casa de Comidas or Las Tomasas in the Albaicín instead.
Reservations
Los Diamantes does not take reservations at the Navas original — it is walk-in only, busiest from about 8.30pm, and you should expect to stand. A drink brings a free fried-fish tapa, and a full round of raciones lands around €17.50–20 per person. Sibling branches around Granada offer more seating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Diamantes really free tapas?
Yes. Every drink ordered at Los Diamantes comes with a free tapa, almost always a plate of pescaíto frito — fried fish such as anchovies, squid or prawns. The bar, open since 1942, is one of the venues that defines Granada's free-tapa custom, where the tapa is included in the price of the drink.
What is the signature dish at Los Diamantes?
Pescaíto frito — freshly fried fish — is the signature: boquerones (anchovies), calamares, gambas and chopitos (baby squid), served hot and salty. It has been the bar's identity for decades, alongside a house Russian salad and grilled prawns.
How much does Los Diamantes cost?
Los Diamantes is inexpensive: because each drink includes a free tapa, an evening of a few drinks with their fried-fish tapas plus a ración or two runs roughly €17.50 to €20 per person. It is a stand-up bar with no cover charge, busiest in the evening on Calle Navas.
Where is the original Los Diamantes in Granada?
The original Los Diamantes is at Calle Navas 28 in central Granada, on the city's main tapas street just off Plaza del Carmen and the Ayuntamiento. Founded there in 1942 by the family of current owner Pepe, it now has sibling branches around Granada, but the Navas bar is the first and most famous.
Also in Granada
Explore the full Granada dining guide, or compare it with Chikito and Atelier Casa de Comidas.