Yamama wins ‘hidden gem’ award

We know it as the tasty café bar on Parliament Street, but Yamama is now officially a ‘hidden gem’.

The Middle Eastern café and bar which just opened last year is an independent, family run business – sisters Futoon and Noura Qusairy moved to study in Liverpool from Irbid in Jordan. 

The space developed from working with refugees in the city by supporting them to give them a space for a creative outlet – the sisters worked with artisans to produce sustainable fashion and art, mostly derived from their Jordanian heritage, which is available to buy. Yamama is an Arabic word for a dove found in the region, which represents freedom and peace. 

Their aim is to create a multicultural space. The Yamama menu serves a variety of dishes with a wide brunch selection along with drinks and tasty pastries that are inspired by traditional Middle Eastern flavours. We love some of the menu favourites including chicken and lamb shawarmas, labneh on toast, shakshuka and chicken tagine along plus the hot and cold mezzes with perfectly-crisp falafel. Their signature dish – inspired by their grandmother – is zait and zaatar. 

Alongside its variety of colourful Middle Eastern-inspired dishes and drinks, Yamama hosts local artists, gigs and other events – and is the venue for our Baltic Triangle Book Club.

Yamama is open Monday – Thursday 9am- 5pm (closed on Tuesdays). On Saturdays and Sundays it’s open from 10am-5pm.