Calle Calderería Nueva (New Caldereria Street), Granada

New Caldereria Street is one of the liveliest narrow lanes connecting central Granada with the lower Albaicín. Also known as Tea House Street, it is particularly famous for its tea houses and shops offering Arabic and international teas, juices, smoothies, cakes, crepes, pastries, and North African and Middle Eastern-inspired goods. Visitors will also find rugs, fabrics, spices, ceramics, leather goods, and, in some establishments, hookahs.

The street’s modern character reflects Granada’s long-standing links with the Islamic Mediterranean, although visitors should not mistake the present shops for an untouched medieval bazaar. Much of what tourists see today is a contemporary commercial culture that draws consciously on Granada’s Moorish heritage and its modern North African community.

For visitors, the main pleasure comes from the change in atmosphere. Within a short distance of New Square and the Cathedral district, broad streets and monumental buildings give way to a steep, narrow, cobbled lane filled with colorful textiles, lanterns, and the aromas of tea, spices, Middle Eastern and Indian dishes, and Andalusian sweets. Small tables often occupy the fronts of tea houses, making the street a popular place to stop for mint or Arabic tea, a juice, a crepe, or a pastry. Vegetarian and Middle Eastern options are also widely available.

The lasting impression is one of aroma, color, and lively street life: fabrics draped over balconies, the enticing smells of different cuisines, and the exotic perfumes of dozens of teas. It is an atmosphere that feels distinctly different from the monumental center of Granada.