Insider Information
Getting updated news is almost impossible here. People will announce an event the same day it occurs or the day after. So I will use this section to give my opinions on relevant things.
Most of the cultural events we have are usually at Tres Mundos located just north of the central park. They finally established a website that has their schedule of events. No guarantee of accuracy.
Click Here for Tres Mundos Schedule
For movies you have to go to Managua. There is a movie theater in Granada but not a very good one.
Click here for Managua movie schedule
My Favorite Restaurants
We have quite a few good restaurants but I will comment on some of my favorites. Like many things in Nicaragua I can not guarantee consistent quality or level of service.
Cueva del Tigre (Cave of the Tiger)
Even though it is on the crater edge road to Catarina about 10 miles outside of Granada, this is my favorite restaurant for value and tastiness. You are right over the Laguna Apoyo looking down at Granada far below. The views are phenomenal and if you are lucky, you will see paragliders floating by. Try the family platter or the filete de pollo de la plancha. I love this place! Best onion rings in the country.
Mombacho Villas
Their fish is the best and I am not a fish person. The food is OK and the prices are high but you are on the lake with stunning views of the lake, the islands and the volcanoes. This is where the new pontoon planes land. With the lake breezes and views I could stay there all day. A side of Granada many people miss. Go to the Asese Harbor but at the entrance turn right on the dirt road and it is about 100 meters on your left.
EL Zaguan
Probably the finest Nica restaurant in Granada, located behind the cathedral at Central Park. The only restaurant I know where the service is consistent and top-notch. The food is good and high-priced. Try their signature steaks - I like the Nicaraguita. For appetizers, get the grilled sausages. If this was in the states, this is where you would take your prom date.
Ciudad Lounge
The food is fantastic here but high-priced for local expats. This might be a finer restaurant than the Zaguan but smaller menu. Wonderful quiet place for those special occasions. Prices lower on Mondays and Tuesdays.
El Camello
Usually I am not one for middle eastern food but it is very good here. Very simple place, good prices.
Hotel Dario
We avoided this place quite a while because of the white tablecloth covers and the very high prices. We tried it again and found the food to be excellent at lowered prices. Take someone with you that has conversational skills since the restaurant is usually empty. Don't know why that is but I suggest they get rid of the white tablecloth covers. There aren't that many classy people in Granada yet.
Bistro Estrada
HIghly under-rated place. The food is very good and reasonable prices if you get the daily special. Wonderful atmosphere. Good value for a classy place.
Hacienda
Most of the restaurants are on the main drag, Calle Calzada, but Hacienda is located directly across from the San Francisco Church next to Kathy's Waffle House. The food gets mixed reviews but it is so quiet and peaceful there that we have adopted it as our neighborhood bar. We especially like the mini churrasco, the open faced steak sandwich and the sausage appetizers.
Garden Cafe
Probably the most popular restaurant in town for breakfast and lunch and they now have monthly concerts. I would tag it as California eclectic. Great sandwiches and salads! The tables surrounding the beautiful patio make for a pleasing experience. Just one block off Calzada. Great couple running it.
Los Chocoyos
This is the restaurant in Hotel Casa San Francisco right around the corner from Kathy's Waffle House. It is small but has some excellent dishes especially the steaks.
The Garage
A Canadian couple runs this out of their home. Open weekdays 11:00 to 7:00. Located on Coralles near the Bohemian Paradise hotel. One of my wife's favorite places. Small menu but excellent food at good prices.
Charley's Restaurant and Bar
This place is a little out of the way but has excellent German food. Yes, we're talking weiner schnitzel and venison. Just jump in a taxi and say "Take me to Charly's". Everything we have had here has been excellent.
O'Shea's Bar
What? An Irish bar in Granada? Yup and the food is pretty good. Wednesday night is trivia night which is very popular here. Get there early to have a seat. My personal favorites are the Ceasar salad with chicken and chicken basket with fries.
Kathy's Waffle House
In earlier days this was where the expats gathered for breakfast and lunch but there is more competition now. Small lunch menu but still has an excellent breakfast and possibly the best gallo pinto in Granada. Recently under new management that supposedly will start a dinner menu.
Nuestro Mundo
An interesting restaurant with a huge menu run by an expat. It is the corner place next to the alcadia (city hall). I can't speak for all of their food but the burger, tuna salad and egg salad sandwiches are really good.
Las Colinas
Las Colinas is a very popular fish restaurant. I'm not a fish person so I can't get excited about it. It is on the south side of town so you will need to take a taxi. The people here rave about it.
Burgers, In General
Yes, many different types of meals are available but once in a while you have to have a good old cheeseburger. There is not one in Granada that is better than all the rest. It depends on your mood. Some people prefer McDonalds while others like Wendy's. We have none of those chains in Granada but we have some good burgers.
If you like them big and sloppy then Kathy's Waffle House will fit your needs. Garden Cafe has an excellent burger, my wife likes the Jalapenos burger. The Road House has great burgers but they sometimes use cheese-whiz for the cheese. Yuck! I also like the burgers at The Hot Dog Connection on Atravesada. Also, try the great burgers at Kelly's Bar (good fries), Hotel Dario and Nuestro Mundo.
Pizzas, In General
There are four places in town with pretty good pizzas. My favorite topping is sausage or Italian sausage which is rare here so I actually prefer when my wife makes them. We also have a friend that makes a mean pizza but we will not tell you who he is because we want it for ourselves.
Our favorite pizza place is TelePizza on Calle Arsenal across from Tip Top. They are the best value and the salad is excellent. Don Luca's on Calle Calzada is also very good. Many people prefer Mona Lisa on Calle Calzada which has the most authentic Italian pizza though we like ours crisp. They actually have sausage but not in the quantities I need. Also, "El Pizzaiole" just off Calzada across from Garden Cafe.
Chinese, In General
Would you believe we have several Chinese restaurants? Our favorite is the one on Martirio just off Calzada. The pork, shrimp and chicken dishes are great but the egg roll is wonderful. Not much to say about the one on Caimito. We also have a sushi place near the Market.
Fritangas
Fritangas are the little BBQ grills you see all over the streets of Granada. They sell a meal of chicken, pork or beef with cabbage salad and fried plaintain chips or maduras. They are then wrapped in a banana leaf and the food is very good. Not bad for around two bucks.
Most of the cultural events we have are usually at Tres Mundos located just north of the central park. They finally established a website that has their schedule of events. No guarantee of accuracy.
Click Here for Tres Mundos Schedule
For movies you have to go to Managua. There is a movie theater in Granada but not a very good one.
Click here for Managua movie schedule
My Favorite Restaurants
We have quite a few good restaurants but I will comment on some of my favorites. Like many things in Nicaragua I can not guarantee consistent quality or level of service.
Cueva del Tigre (Cave of the Tiger)
Even though it is on the crater edge road to Catarina about 10 miles outside of Granada, this is my favorite restaurant for value and tastiness. You are right over the Laguna Apoyo looking down at Granada far below. The views are phenomenal and if you are lucky, you will see paragliders floating by. Try the family platter or the filete de pollo de la plancha. I love this place! Best onion rings in the country.
Mombacho Villas
Their fish is the best and I am not a fish person. The food is OK and the prices are high but you are on the lake with stunning views of the lake, the islands and the volcanoes. This is where the new pontoon planes land. With the lake breezes and views I could stay there all day. A side of Granada many people miss. Go to the Asese Harbor but at the entrance turn right on the dirt road and it is about 100 meters on your left.
EL Zaguan
Probably the finest Nica restaurant in Granada, located behind the cathedral at Central Park. The only restaurant I know where the service is consistent and top-notch. The food is good and high-priced. Try their signature steaks - I like the Nicaraguita. For appetizers, get the grilled sausages. If this was in the states, this is where you would take your prom date.
Ciudad Lounge
The food is fantastic here but high-priced for local expats. This might be a finer restaurant than the Zaguan but smaller menu. Wonderful quiet place for those special occasions. Prices lower on Mondays and Tuesdays.
El Camello
Usually I am not one for middle eastern food but it is very good here. Very simple place, good prices.
Hotel Dario
We avoided this place quite a while because of the white tablecloth covers and the very high prices. We tried it again and found the food to be excellent at lowered prices. Take someone with you that has conversational skills since the restaurant is usually empty. Don't know why that is but I suggest they get rid of the white tablecloth covers. There aren't that many classy people in Granada yet.
Bistro Estrada
HIghly under-rated place. The food is very good and reasonable prices if you get the daily special. Wonderful atmosphere. Good value for a classy place.
Hacienda
Most of the restaurants are on the main drag, Calle Calzada, but Hacienda is located directly across from the San Francisco Church next to Kathy's Waffle House. The food gets mixed reviews but it is so quiet and peaceful there that we have adopted it as our neighborhood bar. We especially like the mini churrasco, the open faced steak sandwich and the sausage appetizers.
Garden Cafe
Probably the most popular restaurant in town for breakfast and lunch and they now have monthly concerts. I would tag it as California eclectic. Great sandwiches and salads! The tables surrounding the beautiful patio make for a pleasing experience. Just one block off Calzada. Great couple running it.
Los Chocoyos
This is the restaurant in Hotel Casa San Francisco right around the corner from Kathy's Waffle House. It is small but has some excellent dishes especially the steaks.
The Garage
A Canadian couple runs this out of their home. Open weekdays 11:00 to 7:00. Located on Coralles near the Bohemian Paradise hotel. One of my wife's favorite places. Small menu but excellent food at good prices.
Charley's Restaurant and Bar
This place is a little out of the way but has excellent German food. Yes, we're talking weiner schnitzel and venison. Just jump in a taxi and say "Take me to Charly's". Everything we have had here has been excellent.
O'Shea's Bar
What? An Irish bar in Granada? Yup and the food is pretty good. Wednesday night is trivia night which is very popular here. Get there early to have a seat. My personal favorites are the Ceasar salad with chicken and chicken basket with fries.
Kathy's Waffle House
In earlier days this was where the expats gathered for breakfast and lunch but there is more competition now. Small lunch menu but still has an excellent breakfast and possibly the best gallo pinto in Granada. Recently under new management that supposedly will start a dinner menu.
Nuestro Mundo
An interesting restaurant with a huge menu run by an expat. It is the corner place next to the alcadia (city hall). I can't speak for all of their food but the burger, tuna salad and egg salad sandwiches are really good.
Las Colinas
Las Colinas is a very popular fish restaurant. I'm not a fish person so I can't get excited about it. It is on the south side of town so you will need to take a taxi. The people here rave about it.
Burgers, In General
Yes, many different types of meals are available but once in a while you have to have a good old cheeseburger. There is not one in Granada that is better than all the rest. It depends on your mood. Some people prefer McDonalds while others like Wendy's. We have none of those chains in Granada but we have some good burgers.
If you like them big and sloppy then Kathy's Waffle House will fit your needs. Garden Cafe has an excellent burger, my wife likes the Jalapenos burger. The Road House has great burgers but they sometimes use cheese-whiz for the cheese. Yuck! I also like the burgers at The Hot Dog Connection on Atravesada. Also, try the great burgers at Kelly's Bar (good fries), Hotel Dario and Nuestro Mundo.
Pizzas, In General
There are four places in town with pretty good pizzas. My favorite topping is sausage or Italian sausage which is rare here so I actually prefer when my wife makes them. We also have a friend that makes a mean pizza but we will not tell you who he is because we want it for ourselves.
Our favorite pizza place is TelePizza on Calle Arsenal across from Tip Top. They are the best value and the salad is excellent. Don Luca's on Calle Calzada is also very good. Many people prefer Mona Lisa on Calle Calzada which has the most authentic Italian pizza though we like ours crisp. They actually have sausage but not in the quantities I need. Also, "El Pizzaiole" just off Calzada across from Garden Cafe.
Chinese, In General
Would you believe we have several Chinese restaurants? Our favorite is the one on Martirio just off Calzada. The pork, shrimp and chicken dishes are great but the egg roll is wonderful. Not much to say about the one on Caimito. We also have a sushi place near the Market.
Fritangas
Fritangas are the little BBQ grills you see all over the streets of Granada. They sell a meal of chicken, pork or beef with cabbage salad and fried plaintain chips or maduras. They are then wrapped in a banana leaf and the food is very good. Not bad for around two bucks.
