Art, Dialogue, & Community: Bengaluru's Cafe Zubaan Serves Up Far More Than Food

In the busy lanes of Koramangala, there is a cafe that serves Middle Eastern Fare and plays classic Hindi songs like ‘Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha’ and Ghazals that invites you to slow down and connect to yourself, and hopefully to others. The medium of choice they suggest is dialogue. From discussing Cinema as Resistance for their latest edition of community event titled 'Kahwa Aur Kitabein' to Poetry healing session with the Marham Poetry and Music organisation — Zubaan is a place where one can have the chance to speak their truth, to listen to moving poetry, and to taste Levantine fares.

After all, Zubaan means tongue; that which lets you experience flavour, but also allows you to express. Founded by husband-wife duo Jasna and Labeeb, the former who is also the founder of the fashion label Tree and Poetry, Cafe Zubaan is described as a home-art cafe. While Bangalore has a million cafes, what sets Zubaan apart is the slow, sensorial pace they promote. 

From hand-picked flowers that grace the tables to mellow music that invites you to slow down, Cafe Zubaan has been curated lovingly by the founders, almost like an extension of their home. For those with a Middle-Eastern connection (like many of our generation do), it is a place that could evoke nostalgia. From authentic Falafels and Kahwa to Saudi Champagne and Maqloob, the Levantine Cuisine they offer has been carefully curated as well. 

Conversation is at the heart of a quaint cafe in Bangalore. From stocking books that speak about intersectional politics to hosting dedicated discussions around it, Cafe Zubaan is as much a community space as it is a culinary establishment. The biggest stand-out from them is their monthly lecture and community table series.

Titled ‘Kahwa Aur Kitabein’, they invite renowned speakers to speak on important topics — from understanding the portrayal of the marginalised in movies through Bahujan filmmaker and academic researcher Jyoti Nisha to 'Food, Assertion, and Solidarity' with renowned home Chef Gautam (@gonzogarbanzo). For the founding duo, the vision was always to create a space that offers a chance to have conversations that can spark emotion, and hopefully create change through their community.

They are also hosting community dining experience of ‘Food Less Travelled’ project, aimed at discovering overlooked and underappreciated cuisines. Cafe Zubaan is the perfect setting to talk about Yemeni cuisine, which is not just rich in a heritage of flavour, but also suffused with notions of resilience, culture and connection.

While the seats may be limited for their community experiences, Cafe Zubaan is a space in a city of culinary experimentors, that inspires you to nourish your mind as well as your stomach. From the poems of Faiz that accent their walls to the authentic flavours and meaningful conversation they dish out, Zubaan is an inspiring example of how taking a chance on 'radical' ideas can often yield the most beautiful results. 

Follow Cafe Zubaan here.

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