There’s a Aljibe snack stand between the Alcazaba and the Nazarid Palace that serves excellent coffee for 1.10 euro a cup and has ready- made ham sandwiches for 2.90 euro. This is where we had lunch after we’d toured the Alcazaba and were waiting for our appointment time at the Nazarid.Palace. It is located on a wide plaza that overlooks the mountains and the city below-quite a view! Check it out on the photo. There are many benches around the area in shade under trees and it’s just a convenient spot to have a quick lunch to fortify your self before seeing the splendor of the Alhambra. For 12 euros for the three of us, we had a budget lunch and had more time to explore the Alhambra, though not enough to see the Generalife palace.
While you’re in the Catedral and Capilla Real area, do visit the Bib-Rambla, a plaza that was the site of Moorish silk making and selling during the pre-Reconquista era. This area is still known by its Moorish name, the Alcaceria. We stopped at an outdoor table at the CAFE BIB RAMBLA, # 3 on the Plaza Bib-Rambla where my husband had the "Gigante" ice cream cone shown in the photo while I merely had tiramisu. Such hardship foregoing ice cream, but tiramisu is even better I think. With a mineral water for him, the bill was 7.20 euro, and the service was efficient, We really enjoyed the beauty of this historic plaza with its numerous flower stalls and surrounding statues and fountains as a pleasant pause after our visit to the adjacent Capilla Real .
If you’re in the Allbaicin do drop by the CASA PASTELES, Plaza Larga 1 (tel 958 27 89 97). Indulge! We did - we bought six different pastries, 3 that we enjoyed in the bright, clean café, and another 3 that served as breakfast before an early morning departure the next day. Their custard filled pastries melt in your mouth and cost .80 or .85 euro a piece. Their coffee was also very good. This establishment is popular with locals and visitors alike and is open from 8-22 daily. This gleaming, clean shop is recommended by Rick Steves.
Also in the Plaza Larga is a restaurant called LA PORRONA where we had a paella lunch (OK) and my husband had the best Spanish olives he’s ever tasted. At our el fresco table, we enjoyed the comings and goings of many patrons of the Casa Pasteles on the north end of the Plaza that we visited immediately after our lunch for coffee and dessert. My partners enjoyed a pitcher of sangria that they said was refreshingly light. The tab ran under 50 euro for three. The restaurant inside is filled with flamenco memorabilia. Pictures and menu for this restaurant can be seen on this website under restaurantes.