A Haven of Hospitality

NHM Online presents L.A. Culture in a Cup, a year-long initiative celebrating stories of the diversity of Los Angeles and its people through the lens of the beverages and their significant vessels that bring us together.

Step inside Sana’a Cafe at a bustling Hollywood intersection, and the frantic pace of Los Angeles immediately begins to slow. Named after the capital city of Yemen, the ancestral homeland of coffee cultivation, this cafe is designed to be a sanctuary.

For founders Sadeq Alaqel and Bassery Alraishi, taking over a former corporate coffee chain location was a bold challenge. They transformed it into a space that honors the deep, communal roots of Middle Eastern cafe culture... We spoke with Alaqel to understand how a family's journey from Yemen to California helped create this Hollywood gem.

We spoke with Alaqel to understand how a family's journey from Yemen to California helped build a thriving space that keeps its doors open late into the night, pouring patience and tradition into every cup.

Los Angeles is home to so many immigrant stories, and ours is one of them. It felt like a place where we didn’t have to choose between who we are and where we wanted to go — we could be both.

Sadeq Alaqel

A visual centerpiece of the cafe, the wall behind the counter features the 99 names of God in beautiful Arabic calligraphy. For Sadeq and Bassery, it sets an immediate tone of peace and reflection—and frequently serves as a backdrop for community members to photograph, share, and reflect upon the meaning of home.

Photo courtesy of Sana’a Cafe

How did your personal journey to Los Angeles begin?

Los Angeles is home to so many immigrant stories, and ours is one of them. I moved to the United States around 2002 when I was nine years old. My family came here looking for opportunity and stability, and for better schools, while still holding onto our culture. Back then, Yemen was a country everybody wanted to visit, but as the years went on and civil war broke out, it became very tough to go back. We originally lived in Connecticut, but California is one of the biggest hubs for Middle Eastern people. L.A. felt like a place where we didn’t have to choose between who we are and where we wanted to go — we could be both.

How did Sana'a Cafe come to be?

Sana’a began with the desire for a space that felt familiar to us yet open to everyone. We were sitting around looking at maps of L.A., searching for locations. We found a recently closed Starbucks at a high-traffic intersection and decided to challenge ourselves. It was a new concept, and our coffee was unknown to many people here, so we thought it was going to be very hard.

Because it was a new concept and our coffee was unknown to many people here, we expected a significant challenge. However, we saw few places celebrating Yemeni coffee culture, which is centered on slowing down, sitting together, and connecting. So, we decided to build it ourselves. A few months after our opening, the crowds began to arrive. Because we opened during the holy month of Ramadan, guests would visit at night after a day of fasting. We stay open until 3:00 a.m. during Ramadan, and by midnight the cafe is completely full. People wanted a place to socialize, hang out with friends, and relax after breaking their fast.

Taking over a former Starbucks on a bustling Hollywood intersection was a major leap of faith for the founders, who knew introducing an unfamiliar coffee concept to the neighborhood would be difficult. However, the risk was worth the reward to create a sanctuary for their community. "Yemeni coffee culture is about slowing down, sitting together, and connecting," shares Sadeq. "We didn’t see many places like that here, so we decided to build it ourselves."

Photo courtesy of Sana’a Cafe

If the story of Sana'a Cafe could be poured into a single cup, what would we be drinking?

Our Yemeni coffee and our Adeni chai. They represent patience, tradition, and hospitality. Back home, having chai is symbolic of relaxing—people just come in and chill over a cup of chai. It’s not meant to be rushed — it’s meant to be shared. 

A beautiful symbol of patience and Middle Eastern hospitality, Adeni chai is a warm, spiced tea is designed to spark conversation. As Sadeq notes, "It’s not meant to be rushed—it’s meant to be shared."

Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County

That’s exactly what Sana’a is about. Getting the recipe just right was actually a community effort in itself. Because every family makes their chai a little differently, we spent a lot of time experimenting with different spice blends. We invited our whole team, our cousins, and our friends to constantly taste-test the variations and give us feedback until we landed on the perfect flavor profile.

What is your first memory of having these traditional drinks?

I remember having it at home, watching it being made, and sitting with family while it was served. It was never just about the coffee or the tea itself—it was about being together. Because of our roots back home, having chai is meant for relaxing. Bringing it here to Los Angeles is symbolic; we wanted a space where people could just come in, chill over a cup of chai, and kill the night together with their friends. Even today, I make my own tea at home. I don't want to serve just another standard cup of black tea with milk; I want the flavor to feel like a secret. That’s the exact feeling of home we wanted to bring into Sana'a.

At Sana'a Cafe, the elegant presentation of their beverages is a direct reflection of traditional Middle Eastern hospitality. Served from a classic glass teapot on a beautiful gold platter, the ritual of pouring the tea brings Sadeq right back to his roots. "I remember having it at home, watching it being made, and sitting with family while it was served," he recalls. "It was never just about the coffee—it was about being together".

Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County

How does the community come together at your cafe?

People come here to meet, work, talk, and just exist. You’ll see students, creatives, families, and neighbors all in the same space. Sana'a naturally became a gathering spot where people feel comfortable staying and connecting. We designed the space so people could feel that intention. The wall behind the counter features the 99 names of God in Arabic, and people from the community will come in, take photos, and share what it means. It gives that feeling of home to everybody who walks in.

Sana'a Cafe also serves as a vital late-night hub for the neighborhood, staying open until 1:00 a.m. on weekends and extending to 3:00 a.m. during the holy month of Ramadan. For many in the community, the cafe provides an essential alternative to typical nightlife. "It's not like they can go to bars, or drink, or anything," Sadeq notes of his diverse customer base. "They wanted a place to socialize and hang out and be."

Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County

What do you want Angelenos to feel when they visit Sana’a Cafe?

We want people to feel welcome and at ease. We want them to leave knowing that Sana’a is more than a café; it is a space rooted in culture, community, and intention. Even if they visit only for a coffee, we hope they leave feeling something more.

Culture and intention are woven into every detail at Sana’a Cafe, right down to the vessel you hold. The cafe’s unique logo integrates traditional Arabic lettering, allowing Angelenos to carry a piece of Yemeni heritage with them into the busy city streets.

Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County

Explore more from Sana'a Cafe

Experience the hidden treasures of Yemeni coffee culture and enjoy a warm cup of Adeni chai by visiting Sana'a Cafe in Hollywood, or follow the cafe’s journey as it expands across California.

What is your L.A. Cup story?

Do you know an L.A. beverage crafter who connects with your community? Would you like to share your favorite experience at Sana’a Cafe? Join the conversation by tagging @NHMLA with #LACultureinaCup; your story could be featured next!"