A 19th-century Qajar caravanserai built into the Vakil Bazaar, restored as a working teahouse and a small market for carpets and crafts. The central courtyard, with its octagonal pool and the original brick vaulting overhead, is one of the most photogenic spots in Kerman.
The teahouse runs along one side: backgammon, water-pipe, glass cups of saffron tea, plates of dates and rosewater sweets. The stalls along the other arches stock kilims and pile carpets — Kerman is one of Iran's great carpet-weaving centres, and the workshops in the surrounding alleys still produce most of what is on sale. Negotiation is expected.