Café Pirates – Baramulla

Cafe Pirates is the first themed cafe of north Kashmir based on ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film series. It mostly serves continental cuisine and beverages apart from freshly brewed coffee.

Cafe Pirates started as a concept year back between Faisal and Irfan when they were studying in Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi and materialized in 2018. They contacted a trustworthy and dedicated friend Abid who would partner and manage the cafe. Multiple themes were put on table and Pirates was finalized. The basic idea of the cafe is to create a public sphere in north Kashmir while providing delicious food. Cafe has a dedicated stage and does regular events featuring renowned artists from and outside Kashmir.

Zero Miles – Sopore

Zero Miles Café has become a place where friends and families alike could stay for hours listening to the heart-warming gyawun of Kashmir and eat good food cooked with love.

Khan, a 28-year-old budding entrepreneur from Nowpora village of district Bandipora of Jammu and Kashmir laid the foundation of ZERO MILES – GRILL AND CAFÉ; a place that changed the ambience of the apple town, attracting people across Sopore.

Setting up a success like “Zero Miles” with no experience in restaurant business, everybody wondered what his inspiration was. Khan’s resilience has been his own inspiration.

“Love for my community and to serve them has been one of the driving forces and has always inspired me to establish a mark.

For a food place, to stand amidst growing tension and war, is not only difficult but also involves risk. But Zero Miles is an epitome of peace which despite remaining closed during the curfews and shutdowns, continues to provide helpline services to many a youth that needs it.

Kupwara – Lords

Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket stadium in Srinagar may be in a mess but the remote Kashmir town of Handwara has got its Lords. A Lord’s cricket ground theme based café has opened at Handwara.  The cafe is built around the architecture of Lords Cricket balcony – the home of cricket and is thus known as Lords – the home of food. It is a unique blend of tasty food and cricket.
Inside the cafe, the setting is as inviting as the food. With the walls lined with memorabilia from the cricket world together with the taste bud tickling food, the Cafe provides a space for cricket fans and food lovers alike.Inside the cafe one can see posters of cricketers likeViv Richards to Akram and Imran Khan to Tendulkar each with a unique caption. Lords Cafe is a venture by young Kashmiri aiming to make a name by creatively blending his passion for cricket and good food.”It’s a pragmatic way of attracting all age groups as cricket with its fan base and friendly rivalry allows people to have fun whilst enjoying the great food we serve” said Saqib Rehmaan, General Manager, Lords Cafe. With ever increasing need for people to find good places to spend quality time, Lords cafe provides a creative edge in all aspects. With the ambience that reminds you of childhood dreams and the food that keeps you wanting more, it’s a perfect place to explore an array of things.

Shopian – café costa nostra 

Visiting Shopian with friends or relatives, you will be hosted in a different ambience at Cosa Nostra- the only fast food outlets that serve a variety of cuisine apart from traditional Wazwaan, in this famed apple town. Irfan Zargar, a young graduate who runs this restaurant, says it was an accidental happening that he started this venture.

“In the past, I was many times made fun by my friends from other parts of state by saying that I belong to a town, that has a big name and reputation but does not have a good place to eat,” he says. “Now, at least I can serve different food items like Biryani, Momos, Tandoori items and many more.

Opening of historic Mughal Road few years back, which remains now open for summer season every year, has widen the scope of fast food in Shopian, as thousands of local visitors not only travel through this road but also visit it as a picnic spot along with some other places in summer season. “It was an opportunity for a successful food venture to cater the huge rush of the picnic goers apart from catering to local population.

Irfan believes that one of secrets for emerging, as a successful entrepreneur in this small town was to offer quality food on cheaper prices “in a new trendy way”. “I know starting any business is not so easy, so to ensure success and at the same time making a customer base, I devised a strategy to attract my customers,” he explains.

Irfan has also started free home delivery services to cater the demands of customers. “I have started free home delivery services within three- kilometres of radius,” he says. Irfan has presently a good number of employees in these two units and is planning to expand his services in near future. “Kashmir has a tremendous untapped market potential in several sectors, and utilizing these avenues can definitely lead the youth of Kashmir to lead progressive life,” he says.

Anantnag – Parsa’s

Parsa’s, the popular kathi roll venture of Kashmir, opened its sixth franchise in Anantnag town. The franchise is run by two young businessmen from Anantnag, Khalid Bashir and ZahidBhat both having a management degree from Cardiff University London and Mysore University. Parsa’s, the popular kathi roll venture of Kashmir, opened its sixth franchise in Anantnag town. The franchise was inaugurated by family of two owners in presence of all the franchise owners of brand Parsa’s. The outlet is located at Laizbal along the KP Road area in Anantnag town. Parsa’s is known for its pocket-friendly rates and quality food. “Both of us worked outside gained lot of experience and finally decided to return back to hometown and contribute to the business sector here” said Khalid Bashir. At the occasion, MD Parsa’s Javaid Parsa said he plans to open four more franchise upto the end of the current year.