A Cup of Tradition to Keep You Warm
By Nawal Ali
Nov/Dec 25
As winter’s icy grip takes hold, seeking solace in a café becomes a ritual. Muslim-owned cafés in the United States have masterfully crafted spaces that blend exceptional beverages with a welcoming atmosphere for the whole community. These establishments offer taste and tradition through their genuine coffees, teas, and pastries. Here are 12 Muslim-owned cafés across the nation that promise warmth and comfort during the colder months.
West Coast
Barakah Café — Garden Grove, Calif.
Barakah Café sits quietly inside the Islamic Society of Orange County, but its small space leaves a lasting impression. This tiny coffee shop contributes to the upkeep of one of the most important mosques in the area as 100% of its proceeds go towards mosque maintenance. Their signature Pina Colada Matcha Latte blends pineapple and coconut with matcha. Its tropical brightness cuts through the cold while sumptuous pastries filled with dates or drizzled with honey offer a sweet companion. This café is the kind of place that becomes part of your weekly rhythm rather than just an occasional treat. During Ramadan, it invites late night coffee seekers a place to satisfy their cravings and spend time with their community.
Kasbah Moroccan Café — Portland, Ore.
Housed in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown, Kasbah Moroccan Café is an establishment deeply rooted in Islamic heritage. Owner Chef Naji Bouhmid’s journey from the royal kitchens of King Hassan II in Fez, Morocco, to Portland’s streets reads like an adventure novel; he traveled the world as a chef for members of parliament and professional athletes before landing in Minnesota to work alongside renowned chefs. Finally, he settled in Portland.
Today, his Moroccan Spiced Coffee combines rich espresso with cardamom and warming spices, creating a blend that transports you straight to the souks of Fez. For something refreshing, opt for the traditional Mint Tea which pairs cool mint with the aromatic blend of fresh green tea. Seated in the cozy interior with a pastry in hand, visitors take in Chef Naji’s warm hospitality as though Morocco and Portland are fused into one, if even for a brief moment.
Café Sabah — Renton, Wash.
Café Sabah brings Turkish tradition into a town already filled with coffee options, but owner Hasan Ari’s story adds a deeper meaning to every cup served. The café is in fact named after Ari’s wife, Sabah, who inspired him to share Turkish hospitality with the people of Renton
The Turkish Coffee arrives in a small cup, strong and aromatic and meant to be savored slowly, prepared with the traditional method that Hasan brought from his homeland. Pastries like pistachio kadaif add texture and sweetness to any visit, each recipe carrying generations of Turkish culinary tradition. The cold wind might blow outside, but inside, time passes blissfully as one delicious cup naturally becomes two.
East Coast
Qahwa Café — Sterling, Va.
What happens when a group of young people decide their community deserves more than just a place to pray or pass through? At the All-Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center, the answer came in the form of Qahwa Café, a coffee shop imagined, built, and sustained by local youth who wanted a gathering space of their own.
From crunching numbers and drafting floor plans to experimenting with branding and design, they took on all the work required of opening a coffee shop with a dedicated entrepreneurial spirit. The space was originally only 900 square feet, yet with late nights and many hours of volunteer labor, they transformed it into something grand.
Today, Qahwa Coffee is both a café and a symbol. It is a place to order a specialty Hazelnut Latte or a pour-over brewed with beans from Maryland-based roaster Ceremony Coffee. It is also a place where conversations spark, friendships form, and community grows. Under the guidance of manager Naeem Muhammad, the café hosts regular events that reflect the same youthful energy that brought it into being. These programs connect, educate, and uplift all who encounter them.
Shibam Coffee — Pittsburgh, Penn.
Shibam centers its identity around Yemeni coffee, prepared with care and presented with a modern touch. This café is part of a franchise originating in Dearborn, Mich. and gets its name from the ancient city of Shibam in eastern Lebanon, known as the place of mud skyscrapers.
The café’s Shibam Latte layers lightly roasted Yemeni coffee with qishr (a traditional Yemeni beverage made from the dry husk of coffee cherries), cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon. The result is spiced, aromatic, and perfectly suited for early winter mornings. “The coffee shop gets packed past sunset,” barista Madalyn Pfug told Table Magazine. (Emma Riva, “Shibam Coffee: A Night Owl’s Refuge,” Table Magazine, 2024.) She noted that this is especially true during Ramadan as the local Muslim population designated the café as their go-to spot for iftar . Honey cakes and milk cakes also line the counter, and before long, the stop for coffee feels like a lifetime membership in a most welcoming club.
Café Rumi — New York, N.Y.
Café Rumi, located in New York’s financial district, offers more than just a place to enjoy a warm beverage. It invites patrons into the rich tapestry of Persian culture. Inspired by the timeless poetry and mysticism of Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, the 13th-century Persian poet and philosopher, the café serves as a sanctuary for reflection and connection. Among the cafe’s specialties, their Rose Chai stands out. It blends black tea with cardamom and cinnamon and is finished with delicate rose petals. While sipping your tea you might encounter a bit of poetry on the bookshelves or performed on the café’s small stage. In a city known for rushing, Rumi slows the pace, making room for thoughtful reflection between tantalizing sips.
Midwest
Tary — Chicago, Ill.
Based on the original café in Kazakhstan, Tary introduces flavors from Central Asia into Chicago’s café scene. “We use only organically sourced products, with 25-30% imported from Kazakhstan, including various types of tea, tary (millet), nabat (traditional candy sugar), kurt (dry fermented milk product), and others,” owner Symbat Zharkynkyzy told The Astana Times. (Aiman Nakispekova, “Tary Cafe Brings Kazakh Culture in Heart of Chicago,” The Astana Times, 2023) The Latte Irimshik combines espresso with a soft Kazakh cheese, creating a creamy drink with a slight tang that surprises those tasting it for the first time. Alongside it, house-made boorsok, or fried beignets, and kattama provide a sweet taste of the country. Minimalist in style the cafe is enveloped in gorgeous decor that puts visitors in mind of the broad Central Asian steppes while inside this cozy coffee shop .
Yafa Golden Coffee — Noblesville, Ind.
In the heart of Indiana’s Muslim district, Yafa Golden Coffee is dedicated to Yemeni coffee and Yemeni culture. The café was founded by Abdullah Ali and his family who hail from the small city of Yafa, Yemen. They cultivate coffee on their family farms in Yemen, bringing the beans to America to roast in-house. This process creates an unmistakable aroma that sets Yafa’s coffee apart in Noblesville. Their Yafa Special mixes espresso with cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, producing a cup that feels layered and warm. Pistachio macaroons and Dubai chocolate bars give a sweet balance, turning a single drink into a fulfilling culinary experience. On snowy evenings, Yafa feels less like a stop along the way and more like the destination itself.
Kitab Café — Detroit, Mich.
This café, founded in Jan. 2023 by couple Asma Almulaiki and Ahmed Alwhysee, was created to provide a welcoming, inclusive environment for the local community. The name “Kitab,” meaning “book” in Arabic, reflects the founders’ original vision of combining a bookstore with a café.
The 5 Spice Latte is a favorite, blending espresso with a mix of spices while the pastrami sandwiches and chocolate cupcakes give guests a chance to enjoy their lunch with friends. With a bookstore on the premises, Kitab Café is as much a meeting place for friends and acquaintances as it is a place to discover new food and drinks in Detroit’s culinary scene.
South
Haraz Coffee House — Orlando, Fla.
Haraz Coffee House brings Yemeni coffee culture to Orlando with bold flavors and commercial confidence. The Pistachio Latte is a rich, creamy, and nutty beverage and pairs naturally with the selection of pastries such as saffron cakes or cheesecake. The café’s gulf-inspired interior is filled with vibrant conversation and the constant hum of espresso machines on the go.
If you can’t make it to the Orlando location, this franchise has many other locations to visit. Founded in 2018 by Hamzah Nasser, Haraz Coffee House has expanded rapidly, with over 30 locations across the U.S. and more in development. The brand emphasizes sourcing the finest beans and honoring traditional craftsmanship to bring the bold, authentic flavors of Yemen to every cup. As the company states on its website, “Haraz Coffee is on a mission to share the rich heritage of Yemeni coffee with the world.”
Baladi Coffee — Kennesaw, Ga.
In Kennesaw, Baladi has become a gathering place rooted in the meaning of its name: baladi translates to “my homeland” in Arabic. The café was founded by a Palestinian–Egyptian family who wanted to bring the tastes and traditions of the Middle East to the Atlanta suburbs.
Baladi Coffee serves drinks that feel as restorative as they are flavorful. The Ginger Turmeric Latte is both savory and spiced, a combination that warms the body during those winter months. A modern menu of desserts such as chocolate strawberries laced with pistachio cream offer a delectable addition to the whole ensemble. Baladi does not just offer relief from winter. It restores a sense of balance with a classy, Middle Eastern touch.
Muslims of the World — Plano, Texas
Muslims of the World (MOTW) Coffee & Pastries was founded on the belief that coffee can create connection. It grew out of the social media project called Muslims of the World by Sajjad Shah to counter stereotypes and share authentic stories about Islam across Plano and beyond. The project evolved into a café rooted in community. “Coffee was the bridge we could use to bring people together,” Shah told The Table Underground. (“Muslims of the World: MOTW Café,” The Table Underground, 2024.)
Today, each MOTW café carries that same spirit, combining hospitality with a mission to create spaces where culture and conversation flow as easily as the coffee itself. The Date Cardamom Latte is their signature drink, combining the richness of espresso with the sweetness of dates and the warmth of cardamom. MOTW is part of a growing franchise that brings halal-friendly coffee and pastries to communities across the country. And if you miss one location, there’s plenty of others around the city to enjoy.
Nawal Ali is a public health graduate from Chicago with a background in development. She is currently researching Islamic culture in Central Asia.
Disclaimer: Mentions of the cafés above are not a formal endorsement by Islamic Horizons.
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