​Your relatives and friends now only politely smile when they get yet another box of dates when you visit? Think twice and come visit Baitak Bazaar and the adjacent coffee place. Make people genuinely smile and take some time off to relax with friends and family.

Have a chat with friends in the traditional Arabic seating area surrounded by antique items, beautiful ceiling lamps, carpets and colorful lanterns. Shop at the bazaar and find the perfect gift to bring back home: traditional clothing, oud perfumes, wood-carved camels, dolls, incense, tea sets, wooden boxes, hand-made bags and jewelry and so much more.

Stop by the adjacent coffee shop and enter in a parallel time and space. Play board games, pool, challenge your friends to karaoke, while enjoying fresh fruit juice, tea, coffee and Middle Eastern sweets. The walls are covered with music memorabilia, assorted objects that make the scenery unique. You can also take your order outside and sit on the extra-large chairs.

Nice to know: on Friday evenings between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., at least once a month, an Egyptian singer performs for the local crowd.

Baitak Bazaar and the coffee shop are open Saturday to Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. They are reachable by phone at (012) 802 4022.

A guest piece by Annie Parenteau, Communications Specialist, Marketing and Communications Department.