The First Impression - YOU Magazine, The News International

The First
Impression

DATED: [1-APRIL-2008]

Interior decoration gives customers their first impression of a cafe. Nicely decorated, Kahva is not just a place to imbibe but dine too...

By Waqas Hasan Sharif

Photography by
Naqeeb ur Rehman

The two elements present in successful restaurants are delicious food and a dynamic and memorable ambiance.

Today, the new coffee houses - and they are plenty @ Zamzama - offer a mid-way solution for the younger generation of yuppies who can afford to pay for an over-priced drink, croissant or a sandwich in a relaxed environment. Recently, Karachi has seen the opening of 'Kahva', another trendy cafe, at SMCHS.

The interior of Kahva is quite airy and bright. It focuses on lighting, colour, intelligent furniture layouts, floor plan design, ingenious decoration and accessories. The focus was on creating something that's very simple yet unique.

Kahva is a joint venture of Arman and Sharay Shams who are childhood friends. "We have come up with Kahva to offer the people in SMCHS and nearby localities a comparative, if not better, ambiance and dining experience - keeping in mind the relatively price sensitive nature of this market," says Arman, an IBA graduate.

"Interior decoration gives customers their first impression of a cafe. If you are opening a new cafe, you should stress on the looks of your setup. Exterior and interior both are important aspects but your customers will spend more time inside your restaurant, so interior designing consideration is more important," he adds.

It's interesting to note that the basic interior designing has been done by Arman and Sharay themselves. "We've worked around a wooden floor, dark wood and leather trimmings and blended them with lightly coloured walls adorned by various paintings to create a cosy, yet comfortable and rich atmosphere."

Furniture is one of the most integral parts of creating an ambiance. The furniture at Kahva basically includes sofas or couches which relaxes your mind and body. They worked closely with Mrs. Saima Shahbaz, a furniture designer, in choosing the right kind of furniture - from initial design to fabric selection to production of their furniture.

According to Arman what sets Kahva apart is that they offer their guests the best of both worlds - fine dining and gourmet coffee. The cafe also has Wi-Fi and fast Internet connection provision, for the busy ones to have their meetings and discussions over a cup of coffee. "There is no other place that offers its customers a lounge area for coffee lovers as well as a dining section with a full course menu. We have seating capacity of 62 which is a rarity in other cafes of Karachi."

Arman believes that effective decor does not require spending a lot of money. "People will feel more relaxed and comfortable if the decor is not too rigid or grand.

Though primarily a cafe which offers a variety of coffees, it is the food menu that catches the eye here. It is exhaustive. "Though the coffee shops serve great coffee, the biggest complaint against them is that they don't have good food to go with the coffee. They mostly have microwaved dishes. At Kahva we offer a wide range of options from chicken to seafood, steaks, pastas and sandwiches. Also, we specialise in grilled entrees. We have coffee tables for the customers coming in for a quick snack and their daily intake of caffeine. Dining tables to cater to the lunch and dinner crowd, and lastly a large lounge with comfortable leather sofas where customers can kick back and relax while sipping on their cocktails," informs Arman.

The dynamic duo vow to maintain the quality and high standards of the cafe in future.

This coffee place is like a comfortable home and stress-free zone not only for youngsters but for elders too... So, go and enjoy it with a cup of fresh coffee or a yummy dessert.