A Living Archive of Conversations and Memory

Founded in 1917, Shabandar Café has long been more than just a place to drink tea. Located in the heart of Al-Mutanabbi Street, it became Baghdad’s cultural salon — where poets, intellectuals, writers, and everyday citizens gathered to debate politics, share stories, and exchange ideas.

For over a century, the café has stood as a witness to Iraq’s turbulent history: from the optimism of the early 20th century, through decades of upheaval, to the tragic bombing of Al-Mutanabbi Street in 2007 that left its walls scarred but not silenced.

Today, Shabandar Café continues to serve as a living memory space — a site where collective identity is negotiated through storytelling, and where resilience is poured alongside every cup of tea.

Shabandar is not only a café, but a testament to Baghdad’s enduring spirit: a reminder that dialogue, culture, and memory outlast even the most difficult of times.