Srinagar cafe serves Bun Maska, Irani chai with a side of FIFA World Cup

A lot can happen over a Bun Maska and Chai in downtown Srinagar’s Irani Cafe, where football matches are screened every night for the sports enthusiasts who gather here to cheer for their favourites in the ongoing FIFA world cup.

A couple from Srinagar have introduced Mumbai style Irani Chai and Bun Maska at their Irani Bakery and Cafe at Hotel Downtown located at the entry of the old Srinagar city, also known as ‘downtown’. Usman Azad, an aeronautical engineer, who now runs the family business and his wife Ambreen Mir, an MBA, who just left her corporate job, have started this cafe in their hotel to attract youngsters who can enjoy the Parsi traditional snacks with the football game. They also have a customised menu for a group of friends or a family ranging from Rs 699 to Rs 1,299.

“Parsi cafes are a dying legacy and this is our effort to reintroduce it to people here in Kashmir and if this is a success financially, we will open branches in other parts of the country as well…and what better way to introduce the cafe to youngsters than a football match,” Azad told ET.


Srinagar, one of the biggest cities in the Himalayas, with a recorded history of over 2,500 years, located on the banks of river Jhelum and between Anchar Lake and Dal Lake, has a decades-old culture of playing football. Many football clubs and the players from this city have made a mark at the national and international level.

“This is our tribute to the game and this city. We hope that the youngsters and the families will come here to enjoy the football world cup matches and keep coming for our special menu as well,” said Mir, who runs the cafe. A big screen in the cafe is surrounded by a decorative string of flags of the countries playing the FIFA world cup. A dummy football world cup trophy and a miniature statue of Cristiano Ronaldo adorns the entrance of the eating space of the cafe.

“Till now, we saw people staying until midnight for the matches of Ronaldo and Messi. We are getting many queries on social media about the schedule, menu as well as the space for bigger groups," said Mir. This month-old cafe has already started trending on social media with its videos and pictures getting thousands of like and shares.

“I just enjoyed a small football party here when DRC and Portugal match ended in a tie. This is our little football universe where you can come and enjoy the game whenever you want," said Hayan Manzoor, a teenager who plays in a college football team.