The Lowdown on Granada, Spain.

Buying Stuff, Culture, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Living Abroad, Music and Clubs, Secret Stuff, Sports, Where to Stay

March 18th, 2003 | The lowdown by Lucy Morgan

Om Kalthum.

Om Kalthum serves up Arabic style tapas in a comfortable, homely setting on Calle Jardines to the south of Plaza Real. Small portions are free with your drinks, or you can opt to get a bottle of wine and 6 tapas for 10 euro. They also serve bocadillos and raciones (larger portions of tapas) for 2 euros and up.

Some of the best dishes they serve are pureed vegetables (aubergine, cauliflower, courgettes) with yoghurt served on a piece of toasted bread. The range of vegetarian options is impressive (especially in meat loving Andalusia) but the chicken and beef tapas are very popular too. The atmosphere is excellent, the crowd being an eclectic mix of locals, foreign students and North Africans enjoying an authentic taste of home.

Omkalthum gets very busy from about 9pm so be prepared to stand; later the crowd spills out into the street. A great place to start the night or to include in a tapas run along with neighbouring bar Poe.

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