Is Kabul's restaurant boom over with the arrival of the Taliban?
In 2001, Kabul’s old city and its major commercial area Shahr-e-Naw hosted only a handful of restaurants. For ordinary Kabulians, there was almost no place outside their homes to socialise or meet friends over coffee or desserts.
The advent of satellite TV and fast speed Internet coupled with more and more Afghan youth travelling abroad for education, business and tourism changed the lifestyle of many Afghans. The urban youth frequented these spaces to socialise along the Western margins, meeting friends and family. “We wanted Slice to be a place where the youth come after work for comfort. We offered them coffee, pastries, internet and board games,” Amiri toldSome restaurants have winded up their operations and posted ads outside to rent out their space for other businesses. Since last month, the business has suffered at both the branches of Slice Bakery. On any given day prior to the Taliban's takeover, Amiri said the two cafes attracted up to 1,600 visitors per day.
Slice Bakery did have a good run in the initial months and it soon became the talk of the town. Young Afghans visited it for coffee and pastries as well as meetings and debates. “Just a few women visited our cafe during the first days of Taliban seizure of Kabul but they are not coming now.” “A few days after the Taliban took control of Kabul, they visited my shop and inquired about me,” Shahi said.
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