Arabic Coffee (Gahwa) in Bahrain: Traditions and Where to Try It

Gahwa, or Arabic coffee, is very different from the espresso-based drinks most visitors know. The beans are roasted lightly, ground and boiled with cardamom, and sometimes saffron, cloves or rosewater. The result is pale gold, aromatic and slightly bitter, and it is served without milk or sugar.

Gahwa is usually poured from a dallah, a traditional brass or steel pot, into small handle-less cups called finjan, and served with dates to balance the bitterness.

Hospitality is central to gahwa. The host pours a small amount, about a third of the cup, and will keep refilling as long as you hold your cup out. When you have had enough, gently shake the cup from side to side before handing it back. It is polite to accept at least one cup and to take it with your right hand.

In a cafe the ritual is more relaxed, but the same spirit of slow conversation applies.

Bu Khalaf Coffee Shop in Muharraq is a piece of living history: a simple, budget-friendly coffee house where locals have gathered for generations. It closes between about 12:30pm and 4pm and on Fridays, so plan around that. House of Coffee, also in Muharraq, celebrates the same culture in a more styled setting.

Muharraq's old town is part of the UNESCO-listed Pearling Path, so a coffee here pairs perfectly with a walk through the restored houses.

Bindaira Café serves Arabic and Turkish coffee with dates and kunafa at branches in Seef, Adliya, Al Aali Mall and City Centre. Woodbury & Co in Tubli mixes Arabic coffee with a specialty menu, and Kafed in Manama offers a modern fusion of Arabic and contemporary coffee.