Time-Travel in a Cup: Shabandar Café, Baghdad’s 106-Year-Old Literary

Step into Shabandar Café (est. 1917) and you’re not just ordering coffee—you’re sipping on Baghdad’s soul. Nestled in Mutanabbi Street (the city’s bohemian book-lover’s paradise 📚), this legendary spot has survived wars to remain the heartbeat of Iraqi intellectuals, poets, and dreamers. ✨ Why It’s Magic: • Walls whisper history 🖼️: Faded photos of 1920s Baghdad, scratched wooden tables where debates about art and revolution once raged. • No Wi-Fi, all vibes ✍️: Where conversations flow like the Tigris, uninterrupted by screens. • Bookish bonus 🏮: Outside, antique bookstalls sell Arabic poetry and rare manuscripts—haggle like a local! ☕ Must-Try: Iraqi coffee (thick, cardamom-kissed, served in brass pots) "Same-same but different" Iraqi tea (locals swear you can taste the history—we just taste sugar 😉) ⏳ Pro Tip: Go mid-morning when the street buzzes with booksellers and scribes. By 4PM, the market naps—return at dusk to see lanterns glow. #BaghdadUnfiltered #TimeCapsuleCafé #IraqiHeritage #WhereWritersDrink #AntiInstagramCafé #LostInThePages