Tetería Al Andalus

Tetería Al Andalus on Calle Camelias in central Melilla occupies a cultural space that is distinct from the surrounding Spanish bar scene. As a traditional Moroccan-style tea house, the venue serves no alcohol; the menu instead revolves around a broad selection of mint teas, herbal infusions, and flavoured teas served in ornate glass cups, accompanied by Moroccan pastries such as chebakia, kaab el ghzal, and honey-dipped sweets. Hookah pipes are available for those who choose to smoke, completing the tea-house experience drawn from North African tradition.

The venue directly reflects Melilla's unique position as a Spanish city bordered on three sides by Morocco. A significant part of the city's population traces roots to Moroccan culture, and the tetería serves an important social function for this community while also attracting visitors and Spanish residents with an interest in the cross-cultural dimension that defines Melilla. The interior is decorated with Andalusian-Moorish tilework, carved woodwork, and lanterns that create a warm and distinctive atmosphere, clearly differentiated from the tiled floors and television sets of nearby cafés and bars.

The clientele is cross-generational and diverse: groups of young people socialising in the evenings, families in the afternoon, and older residents for whom the tea ritual is a daily habit. The atmosphere is contemplative and unhurried. Ambient music, when played, tends toward Andalusian or Arabic recordings at a low volume. The dress code is inclusive and informal; visitors of all backgrounds are welcome.

Opening hours run daily from 10:00 to 01:00, making the tetería one of the later-closing establishments in its category. Prices are modest at €3–€8 for tea and pastries, with no cover charge. No reservations are required; seating is walk-in throughout the day and evening. The venue stands as a representative example of how Melilla's dual cultural identity — Spanish in governance, deeply connected to Morocco in daily life for a large section of its population — manifests in its social spaces, offering visitors a quiet and genuine introduction to this aspect of the city.