Berdees Coffee Shop

Berdees Coffee Shop

When one hears any mention of Shisha lounges, especially in the bustling city of London, some of the images that haunt the mind would include intimidating looking crowds puffing smoke, speaking in Arabic and other Middle-Eastern languages, staring at foreigners entering such places as though they aren’t welcomed. Which sort of reminds me of scenes where a stranger enters a cowboy saloon. However such is not the case in all Shisha lounges as one particular establishment that caught my attention, Berdees.

An Iraqi-Egyptian cafe founded in 1997, that happened to be the first Shisha lounge in the UK. Due to the multiculturalism that occurd in Britain Berdees has somehow assimilated into this significant change. Unlike most similar establishments such as those found on the streches of Edgware Road. Arabs, Asians, English, Jews to mention a few intermingle amidst the smoke filled tents of Berdeees. A reminiscent of Baghdad’s Golden Age, as I, a regular jewish customer would put it. One would never feel as welcomed in any other such places than a fine yet simple establishment as Berdees. Even its name Berdees harbours a rather interesting history, that I shall leave it to those who are lucky enough to venture to it to find out.


The important thing is not what you put in the pipe, but who is with you while you're smoking. . . it's a complete experience. . . at Berdees we promise, you find the good people, the old people, the interesting people. As long as there is a need for company and friendship, as long as people want to stop and think, there will be Berdees to serve you.