A growing number of Muslim-owned cafes, restaurants and small businesses in the Boston area are staying open later this month for Muslims to gather in the evenings.
During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins this week, Muslims around the world fast from dusk to dawn, avoiding food and water. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam meant to encourage Muslims to focus more on practices that bring them closer to God.
Ali Javid, whose family runs the newly opened MOTW Coffee and Pastries in Quincy, a name that stands for “Muslims of the World,” said the extended hours are meant to help fasting Muslims come together. He said because most Muslims also don’t drink alcohol, cafes and restaurants that offer alternatives late at night are welcome.
“You can come here, you can grab a cup of coffee, food, or just come hang out, relax, get your mind off things, and then prepare for the next day,’’ he said. “Because it’s going to be a long day the next as well.”
The Quincy cafe joins a small but growing list of Muslim-owned restaurants staying open late around the Boston area during a time when observers increase their time practicing prayer, reflections and gratitude.
Among them, the Luxor Cafe in Cambridge and the Black Seed Halal Grill in Boston will be open between midnight and 3 a.m. Boston City Hall also will be hosting a Ramadan Night Market for two nights this month following what city officials say was a “high demand” for a one-day event last year. The evenings will feature local vendors, henna, mocktails, halal food until 1 a.m.
Hawa Yusuf, a civic engagement project manager for the city of Boston, works with community partners to put on events. This year, Boston Community Social will be running the Ramadan Night Market.
Last year, the market drew over a thousand people to City Hall, and organizers had to turn people away due to reaching the building capacity.
“There is a large Muslim community here, it’s just not well documented,” said Yusuf.
In Allston, a group of Turkish eateries also plans to stay open until 3 a.m. every night during Ramadan for a second year in a row. The three restaurants — Turkish Lazuri Cafe, Lazuri Chicken ‘N’ Pizza and Lazuri Bakery — are all halal, a form of preparation that adheres to Islamic guidelines and avoids cross-contamination from alcohol or pork.
The restaurants are owned by the same Muslim family. Co-owner Kenan Canca says last year the restaurants often reached maximum capacity, with lines of people out the door.
Two years ago, he said, it was hard to find a coffee shop that accommodated Muslims during Ramadan. The food scene has significantly changed since then.
“Now that these spots opened up, you can not go to just one, you can just go to the next one. You can go cafe hopping now,’’ he said. “You haven’t seen such a thing like that, you know, beautiful.”
MOTW Coffee and Pastries opened in Quincy at the beginning of February, part of the MOTW franchise that has locations across the country. The cafe chain grew out of a social media movement to combat Islamophobia and promote unity.
Javid said some customers have enjoyed learning about the cafe’s origins.
“They’re very intrigued,” he said. “They find it very wholesome.”
Javid says his family hopes the cafe can be a place for everyone to gather, regardless of religion.
“Our goal is to bring culture together. Doesn’t matter who you are, what you are, color of your skin,’’ he said. “We want you to come here, have a cup of coffee with friends, yourself, enjoy, relax, and just have a good time.”
The cafe is decorated with Muslim art and a mural that depicts the Boston skyline merging with a mosque in Lahore, Pakistan. Patrons can enjoy Middle Eastern–inspired drinks like Yemeni chai and pastries like date cookies, as well as an assortment of samosas. Everything is halal.
“After you break your fast, everyone just wants to do something,” he said. “You work throughout the day, you’re tired, you are exhausted, you finally get to eat, and you go for prayer. … After prayer, people just want to hang out for a little while.”
