Casa Granada Bar / Restaurant

La Latina / Lavapiés, Madrid –

Situated on the top floor of an old building is Casa Granada, a former apartment converted into a laid-back bar where a diverse clientele gathers for drinks, tapas, and a pleasant view of Madrid.

Once patrons locate the side street and the discreet sign next to the door of this unassuming residential building, they need only ring the bell and wait for one of the waiters to buzz them in.

A quick elevator ride to the sixth floor gives way to a narrow passage cluttered with crates of empty wine bottles and embellished with a mosaic of the Alhambra – the final outpost of the Moors and a stunning, castle-like structure in the city of Granada from which the bar takes its name.

The bar area, just inside the small but comfortable main room, is usually alive with bustling waiters shouting orders into the kitchen and chatty customers talking about sports and life while sipping tinto verano (red wine mixed with sweetened fizzy water).

Wide windows provide a view of Madrid and natural lighting for the simple Andalusian décor, comprised of a few white-clothed tables and glass china cabinets displaying Spanish memorabilia.

The most coveted space at Casa Granada, however, is the narrow, wraparound terrace where friends and couples crowd around iron tables to engage in lively discussions. Since this balcony faces west, it makes for a perfect perch from which to enjoy a pitcher of sangria while watching the sun set over Casa Granada and the entire city of Madrid.