Convento de las Comendadoras de Santiago in the Albayzin of Granada sells cloistered-nun convent sweets through a turn, with bizcochos and yemas baked daily.
Why locals love it: Cloistered nuns sell bizcochos and yemas through a wooden turn; you ring the buzzer and never see the baker face to face.
Tip: Ring the buzzer once; the nuns pass the order through a wooden turn so there is no face-to-face contact.
Address: Calle Santiago 8, 18010 Granada
Why locals love it: A hidden Albayzin carmen with one of the citys quietest Alhambra-view terraces, set back from the Mirador San Nicolas crowds.
Tip: Front balcony tables carry a 10 percent surcharge; the back terrace has the same view at no markup.
Why locals love it: A restored carmen restaurant in a back alley of the Albayzin with a leafy patio terrace and Alhambra view few travellers find.
Tip: The terrace fills first; reserve specifying terraza for the Alhambra view.
Why locals love it: A working-locals plaza bar in Albayzin running spiced snail broth in winter, with no terrace view or tourist signage.
Tip: Snail broth runs October to March only; outside winter the bar runs flaming chorizo.
Why locals love it: A second cloistered-nun turn in central Granada, selling olive-oil mantecados and yemas de Santa Teresa in handmade boxes.
Tip: Pre-order Christmas surtido boxes by phone; smaller mantecado packets are walk-in only.
Why locals love it: A British-run tapas counter that breaks the Granada free-tapa monoculture with Thai curries, Portuguese piri-piri and Indian flavours.
Tip: Cash preferred; the kitchen runs evenings only and tapas rotate every drink, so order multiple.
Why locals love it: A hidden Albayzin carmen with one of the citys quietest Alhambra-view terraces, set back from the Mirador San Nicolas crowds.
Tip: Front balcony tables carry a 10 percent surcharge; the back terrace has the same view at no markup.
Why locals love it: A restored carmen restaurant in a back alley of the Albayzin with a leafy patio terrace and Alhambra view few travellers find.
Tip: The terrace fills first; reserve specifying terraza for the Alhambra view.
Why locals love it: A working-locals plaza bar in Albayzin running spiced snail broth in winter, with no terrace view or tourist signage.
Tip: Snail broth runs October to March only; outside winter the bar runs flaming chorizo.
Why locals love it: A Sierra-Nevada-Pinot-Noir wine bar on a Cuesta del Caidero alley locals walk and tourists do not, pouring only Granada-province bottlings.
Tip: Closed Mondays; the Sierra Nevada Pinot Noir flight is the order if you want a Granada-only tasting.
