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In the heart of Baghdad’s historic Mutanabbi Street, Shabandar Café stands as a living museum of Iraqi resilience. Owned by 84-year-old Mohamad al-Khashali for six decades, this iconic spot has survived wars, loss, and rebirth—embodying the soul of a nation through its aromatic tea and walls lined with sepia-toned memories.
The Story Unfolds: Since 1963, Shabandar’s photos have frozen time, showcasing al-Khashali’s family and Baghdad’s intellectual golden age. Poets, artists, and students once debated here under flickering lanterns—a tradition that continues today.
Rising from Ruins: In 2007, a car bomb tore through Mutanabbi Street, killing four of al-Khashali’s sons and destroying the café. His wife passed soon after. 'I lost everything except hope,' he recalls. Yet, like Baghdad itself, he rebuilt—renaming the café to honor his family and all blast victims.
Legacy Brewed Strong: 'This café is my life,' al-Khashali says, stirring sugary chai. 'My sons are here in every brick.' Today, students sip mint tea beside elders debating politics, proving culture can’t be bombed away.
The Story Unfolds: Since 1963, Shabandar’s photos have frozen time, showcasing al-Khashali’s family and Baghdad’s intellectual golden age. Poets, artists, and students once debated here under flickering lanterns—a tradition that continues today.
Rising from Ruins: In 2007, a car bomb tore through Mutanabbi Street, killing four of al-Khashali’s sons and destroying the café. His wife passed soon after. 'I lost everything except hope,' he recalls. Yet, like Baghdad itself, he rebuilt—renaming the café to honor his family and all blast victims.
Legacy Brewed Strong: 'This café is my life,' al-Khashali says, stirring sugary chai. 'My sons are here in every brick.' Today, students sip mint tea beside elders debating politics, proving culture can’t be bombed away. 
