Rogan Café is a popular destination in Misfat al Abriyeen developed by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism

In a bid to boost tourism, three Omani youth have set up a coffee shop in the picturesque heritage setting of Misfat al Abriyeen in the wilayat of Hamra in Dakhliyah governorate.

Called Rogan Café, the recently opened shop has became a popular destination amongst visitors to the area.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Ahmed bin Suleiman al Abri, a partner of the café, said, “We set up the café in November 2020. It was not an easy venture. We faced certain challenges as the mountain is located on high altitude in the village of Misfat al Abriyeen.”

Talking about the unique name he said, “Rogan is the name of a fort built before the advent of Islam by Persians. We wanted to retain this historic name with the café so that visitors to the Misfat al Abriyeen will remember the fort and its rich history.”

The café overlooks the aflaj, old Omani houses and castles, and allows visitors to enjoy the picturesque Omani nature while having a sip of coffee. 

“We offer all kinds of hot drinks including coffee, tea, nescafe, and juices from 9am to 9pm.”

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism along with Al Misfat al Ahlia Co has developed the heritage village of Misfat al Abriyeen.

The main components of the development project included restoration of the main gate of Misfat al Abriyeen and preserving its original features. 

“The village’s iconic mud houses were also restored, and a bakery and a restaurant serving authentic Omani cuisine for tourists were set up,” Abri said.

While domestic visitors continue to come to the café, the café owner lamented that due to the coronavirus pandemic, “there are no international visitors at present”. 

“We are planning to include some light snacks to the menu. We also have plans to open more outlets by the same name at different heritage sites of the sultanate,” he said.