The best tea shops in Granada
The Nasrid legacy is still very much alive in Granada despite the passage of time. One of the best ways to experience it is through the many tea shops that you will find around the city, especially in Calle Elvira, in the most central area and the Albaicin neighborhood, par excellence, neighborhood of the Granada tea shops. In all of them you will find a wide variety of aromas, teas and traditional Arab sweets, such as baklavas-sweets made of puff pastry, nuts and honey-, which will flood your senses with delicious flavors to share with friends, partner or family.
To say “teterías” in Granada is to talk about a very peculiar and characteristic part of the restaurant scene in this city. Not only for the gastronomic experience, but also for the magic that surrounds these places, and its rich decoration is one of the best attractions to dive completely into that Nasrid essence we were talking about.
Lattices, lamps of shapes and crystals of a thousand colors, cushions typical of the souks, pointed arches and doors and tables carved in wood with a multitude of geometric elements typical of its ornamentation are some of the most characteristic elements that we can find.
Tea ceremony
In your visit to the city, in the area teterías granada, you will be able to see with your own eyes that the fact of having tea becomes a social act.
Tea (shāy in Arabic) it is traditionally drunk as a gesture of friendship and offered to the other party as an act of courtesy before doing business or at any social gathering. In fact, in many Arab countries, refusing a cup of tea is considered an offense.
It is also very common that tea is accompanied by the ”shisha” / ”narguille”, in order to purify the environment with its smoke. As you can discover in our Free Tour of the center, there is no better experience to live this atmosphere than going into the old Calle Calderería or, as it is known here, “the street of teashops” in the Albaicín neighborhood.
The perfect environment to disconnect
As you can see, tea shops in Granada are a perfect place to strengthen relationships, spend a good time with friends and loved ones. But, above all, to relax with the environment, its hospitable atmosphere, its rich aromas of incense and essential oils and its melodic Arabic music in the background.
Top 10 Tea Shops in Granada
- Generalife Tea Shop – This tea shop is located in the Generalife Gardens, which are a must when visiting Granada. The tea shop itself is beautifully decorated with traditional Andalusian tiles and furniture. The selection of teas is also very good, with a wide variety of black and herbal teas.
- Kasbah Granada Tea Shop Restaurant – This tea shop is located in the historic center of Granada, near the Alhambra Palace. The Kasbah Granada has a beautiful decoration in its interior, in addition to having two floors. The decoration of this place is based on half-pointed arches inside, decorated with inlay, colored Bohemian glass lamps and large mirrors that take us to an orientalist atmosphere. The restaurant also serves traditional Arab dishes such as: narguiles, oriental and aphrodisiac teas, smoothies and natural juices, Moorish pastries, crepes and cakes.
- El Basha Tea Shop – This tea shop is located in the neighborhood of Calle Elvira. It is a great place to relax with friends over tea and delicious Arabic pastries. The interior decoration is inspired by Moroccan design, which makes you feel as if you were in one of their famous Moroccan tea shops.
- Cafeteria Tetería Oriente – This cafeteria is located in the eastern part of Granada, in the Plaza Fray Leopoldo. It is an ideal place to stop for a cup of tea before exploring the nearby hiking trails. The café has a cozy atmosphere and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. You can also enjoy views of the beautiful square and the Arco Elvira gate.
- Tetería Palacio Nazarí – This tea shop is located on Calderería Vieja street, which is one of the oldest tea shops in Granada. The tea shop is very cozy with a very intimate touch as it is not located in the most crowded street of Granada (the street of the tea shops). This makes it an indispensable place for a romantic date, because of its location there are not many people at the entrance. If you are looking for an authentic and quiet experience with a very personal treatment, this is definitely your place to try a good tea.
- La Oriental Tea Shop – This tetería is located in Granada’s Albayzín neighborhood, known for its Moorish architecture and stunning views of the city. The tetería itself is decorated with beautiful Moroccan tiles and serves delicious Arabic pastries and desserts. It is the perfect place to enjoy a sweet treat after exploring the Albayzin neighborhood. It is a tea shop highly recommended by the natives of Granada, as well as enjoying very good reviews given its excellent services and its wonderful menu of products.
- El Folclore Andalusi Tea Shop – This tea shop is located in the neighborhood of Calle Elvira in Granada, known for its specialization in cachimbas or shishas and the high range of flavors in them. In addition, the cakes are homemade by the owner herself. It is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the traditional Andalusian culture. They also serve delicious crepes in case you get hungry while enjoying your tea. As a curious fact this tea shop was the scene of a video of the rappers Vicio A Vicio 2, made by the production company, Alh Red.
- Tetería Palmira Restaurant – This restaurant/tea shop is located in Elvira Street. It is the ideal place to go if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy a moment of relaxation. Their specialty: hummus, roasted eggplant with oil, and couscous. You can also find other delicacies in their extensive menu.
- Caravan Coffee&TeaShop – This hybrid coffee and tea shop is located in the center of Granada, near Plaza Nueva, on Calle Calderería Nueva. It is a good place to stop for a coffee or tea if you are exploring the city center on foot and want to stop for a break. They have an extensive menu with hot and cold drinks, as well as light snacks such as sandwiches and salads if you need something to hold you over until lunchtime.
Its positive points are the exquisite treatment of the staff and the 100% natural fruit juices with vegetable milk alternatives. You should also try the avocado, almond, apple and honey smoothie. It is a very bright and pleasant place to hang out with friends or family.
- El Bañuelo Tea Shop – This tea shop occupies a former Moorish bathhouse dating back to 1492. It’s one of the most unique places on our list and definitely worth a visit if you’re interested in history or architecture (or both). They serve traditional Arab and Moorish snacks, as well as an impressive assortment of teas. The views of the Alhambra from their little terrace and their really nice and cozy inner courtyard are worth mentioning.
We hope you enjoyed our roundup of the best tea shops in Granada, whether you’re looking for an authentic Nasrid experience or just a cozy place to relax with a cup of tea,
“If we have missed any of your favorite tea shops, feel free to leave us a comment, so we can complete this wonderful guide to the best tea shops in Granada!”