A café turned memorial to a young Omani artist

Nasaq Café, tucked away in a quiet Al Mawaleh neighbourhood in Muscat’s suburbs, is no ordinary coffee shop à la Starbucks, Costa Coffee or Second Cup. An upscale coffee bar in its own right, it also doubles as a creative space for artists, but perhaps most importantly, a celebration of a brother’s love for his artist-sister, Sahar, whose untimely passing in a tragic road accident enshrines the very idea behind Nasaq.

During a recent visit to this delightful outlet, I found that my dear cousin Sahar’s vivacious energy and artsy spirit resonating in the cosy settings of the café. Adorning the four walls of the café were her paintings — a tribute to the prodigious talent of a young Omani girl snatched away from us at barely 20 years of age.

I fondly remember dropping off my dear cousin at her college in the morning. She had this outsize canvas frame that she could barely carry. “Painting is one thing that I’m really good at, I think!” expressing her all-consuming passion for art that dominated her life and dreams, tragically cut short in a road mishap just over seven years ago. Out of that family heartbreak was born Nasaq Café — the brainchild of her older brother Mohammed as an enduring tribute to his artist-sister.

“The idea behind Nasaq took off late in 2016, soon after Sahar’s passing’’, says Mohammed al Oufi.

“I was in constant turmoil ever since I lost my sister two years ago. It was during this time that a wonderful teacher inspired me to turn this grief into something positive to honour the memory of Sahar. One thing that stands out about Sahar — and most people who were close to her will concur — is about her incredible love for colours and art. Although resources were limited, she created fascinating pieces of art. Nasaq Café is a celebration of her relatively short from creative life.”

An engineer by training, Mohammed began the task of educating him — literally from scratch — about the business of coffee-making. His deep dive into all things coffee covered the numerous types of beans, the specialised art of processing the beans, and other exotic aspects of the craft.

Seeking to position Nasaq Café as a niche outset, Mohammed and his baristas are now adding speciality coffees to their offerings, which have grown in scope from the traditional espresso variations and cold-blended drinks to include new trends like CBD infusions, cold brew, ready-to-drink and with all manner of non-dairy additions. Indeed, serving quality coffee and snacks in a trendy, relaxing atmosphere can be a hugely successful endeavour, he adds.

But it’s not this exciting menu alone that draws all manner of customers to this chic café. “There are people who come simply to immerse themselves in the atmosphere offered by the café, amidst the profusion of paintings and other works of art displayed all around. It’s an opportunity for them to banish any negative energies, simply by surrounding themselves with the positive colours exuded by these artworks.”

Managed by Angham, a talented Omani artist herself, Nasaq Café also serves to underscore the importance of art in Omani culture and the local community. Many young artists — professionals and amateurs alike — are beginning to take an interest in Sahar’s craft. As a magnet for young artists, the café is evolving into a hub for creativity, in a sense. Not only adults, but young children too, are gravitating to the café to share their creative works of art.

“Painting is a way for children to do many important things’’, adds Angham. “It helps them convey ideas, express emotion, use their senses, explore colour, experiment with new processes and outcomes, and create aesthetically pleasing works and experiences.”

During my visit, I also observed that Mohammed shared a warm and lively relationship with the staff of the café. They were more like family members than co-workers. The atmosphere was celebratory, jolly and positive — a setting into which patrons felt part of.

“When choosing my team, I care about their values, people skills and their capacity to work as a team. I think that great energy and positive customer experience are what appeals to our patrons the most, no matter the gender of the service provider. However, having female baristas in the cafe adds a sense of inclusivity to customers’’, Mohammed points out.

The young entrepreneur hastens to add, however: “Nothing comes easy for sure, especially in today’s difficult times amid the pandemic and the economic downturn. But I think with knowledge, experience and determination, we can overcome these challenges. When you are conversant with your craft and show determination to follow through on your knowledge, then success is bound to follow.”

Nasaq encapsulates many things. In Arabic, Nasaq translates as ‘consistency’ and ‘repetition’. But it also has connotations of beauty and art. “We chose it because it is related to specialty coffee in the sense of consistency in grind size, bean ripeness and roast level. It also relates to art in the sense of beauty’’, Mohammed explained.