The newly designed shoes come in pastel desert hues and feature a woven red and white heel cap that is inspired by the checkered pattern of traditional Arabian fabrics.
Over the past few years Al-Benawi has made a name for herself as one of her generation’s most creative designers.
The newly designed shoes come in pastel desert hues and feature a woven red and white heel cap. (Supplied)
She blends traditional tailoring with contemporary perspectives, working out of her design studios in Jeddah and Dubai to bring together eastern and western influences.
Minaa Cafe is a specialty coffee spot in Al-Balad, on the left side of Bait Naseef, the well-known historic Hijazi house. It stands out as one of the most interesting concept cafes in the area.
At the weekend, I headed to Al-Balad as I usually do to enjoy the atmosphere around iftar.
And of course, after iftar comes coffee time. I am not usually picky with cafes, but this time my friend — who was visiting from Riyadh and is a passionate cafe explorer — insisted that we visit Minaa Cafe.
The cafe is about a 15-minute walk from Al-Bay’ah Square. The walk itself was part of the experience, as we passed through some of the most visually charming alleys of Al-Balad.
When we arrived, we found the cafe tucked inside one of the old historic buildings. To enter, we had to climb a narrow staircase that led up to the small space.
The moment we stepped inside, I was surprised by the cosy interior, featuring a blue and white wood-and-cement theme inspired by Jeddah’s coastal identity.
Despite its very small size, Minaa Cafe offers much more than just coffee. (AN photo by Nada Hameed)
The name Minaa, which translates to sea portal in Arabic, reflects this maritime inspiration.
Despite its very small size — barely accommodating seven people — it offers much more than just coffee.
The space has a strong artistic touch and even includes a small concept store on the side.
There you can find T-shirts featuring characters that represent the people behind the cafe, who are also the ones working behind the coffee counter.
The cafe is owned by Jeddah’s well-known latte artist, Mohammed Jojo, and if you are lucky, you might even get your brew prepared by him during your visit.
I ordered my usual flat white, this time with coconut milk, and it was excellent. What truly stood out, however, were their freshly baked cookies.
They are made on order and served with a Mastic-flavored soft serve on the side, which adds a unique local twist to the dessert. The combination was so good that I ended up ordering another one for my friend to try.
Opened in 2023, Minaa Cafe also offers small souvenirs including keychains and magnets inspired by elements from Al-Balad, and miniature sailing ships, allowing visitors to leave with a little piece of the experience.
For more information, you can visit their Instagram page: @minaacoffee.
