This Middle Eastern Café in Back Bay Is On the Market

Cafe Jaffa is on the market. / Photo by Jacqueline Cain

Attention: Anyone who has ever dreamed of owning a cozy restaurant in the heart of Boston. Cafe Jaffa, a longtime Middle Eastern establishment located just off a central stretch of Boylston Street in the Back Bay, is up for sale.

After 27 years of serving shawarma, falafel, baklava, and more, the owner is retiring and selling the business, according to a real estate listing that notes the space is prime for a new concept. The $350,000 sale includes a beer and wine license, furniture, and equipment, such as two gyro machines and a charcoal grill. The 2,650-square foot property is a lease good through 2028, encompassing the 56-seat dining room, an open kitchen, and a 1,200-square foot basement prep area.

The narrow dining room boasts exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and hardwood details. Since 1991, Cafe Jaffa has been a comfortable spot to relax with a Turkish coffee; or tuck into a plate of hummus and pita; a lamb kebob; or the popular chicken shawarma salad punched up with spicy zhoug. It earned a Best of Boston nod for Middle Eastern dining in 1999.

The café is a popular spot among students, professors, and other Back Bay locals. Situated next door to Select Oyster Bar and a public alley, Hynes Convention Center is visible from Jaffa’s entranceway, and it’s in close proximity to the Marathon Finish Line.

While it’s on the market, Cafe Jaffa remains open, business as usual, every day for lunch and dinner. For more information on the sale, contact the owner through the listing.

48 Gloucester St., Boston, 617-536-0230, cafejaffa.net.

Photo by Jacqueline Cain