The bar with a suit of armour
La Riviera occupies a spot on Calle Cetti Meriem, a short street connecting the cathedral area to the lower end of the Albaicín in Centro. The bar's calling card is the suit of armour standing in one corner, the kind of detail that sounds like a gimmick until you are actually inside and the rest of the place makes it feel oddly coherent. The décor is eclectic without trying too hard, and the bar does not need any single gimmick to pull people in.
In Granada, every drink order comes with a free tapa, and La Riviera's range is one of the better ones in the area: jamón croquetas that are properly creamy inside, small espetos, conservas variadas (quality tinned fish opened at the counter), and slices of queso ibérico that arrive with a drizzle of honey on good nights.
The drink list
The bar carries an unusually wide selection for its size. Draft beer from Spanish and international labels, several wines by the glass including local Andalusian reds, and a decent range of spirits if you stay later into the evening. The emphasis is on giving you options rather than defaulting to whatever is on the pump. Prices sit at the lower end of the Granada scale: around €2.50–4 per drink depending on what you order.
Atmosphere and crowd
The atmosphere is relaxed without being static. The mix of locals and visitors is roughly even, which is unusual for a bar this close to the cathedral. Tables fill at lunch and again from 20:00. The staff are straightforward and quick, not particularly interested in upselling you on anything. The bar stays open until 1:00 AM, a little later at weekends.
Calle Cetti Meriem
The street itself is worth knowing about. It links the cathedral end of town to the start of the climb up into the Albaicín, and it has a concentration of decent bars for its length. La Riviera sits near the middle of it. If you are planning an evening that starts near the cathedral and moves up toward the Albaicín, this is a logical first stop.
