Why Muslim-owned coffee shops are Indy's best late-night hangouts

Yahoo

23-04-2025

Central Indiana's hot new late-night spots are Muslim-owned coffee and dessert shops.
While most Indianapolis-area attractions and restaurants close early — and the only activities available late involve alcohol — these coffee shops are filling the gap for late-night social spaces. Even after the pandemic, restaurants are still closing early and late-night activities remain sparse outside of bars.
Drinking alcohol is forbidden in the Islamic faith. Muslim-owned coffee shops create social spaces that are family-friendly and alcohol-free — and they're growing in popularity. Central Indiana is home to at least eight Muslim-owned coffee and dessert shops.
They have often been my go-to spots for late-night study sessions as I finish my senior year at Butler University. Beyond campus or my home, there is nothing open in the evenings where I can get work done. But with caffeine and ample seating, Muslim-owned coffee shops have helped.
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One of them, Turkish chain Mariam Coffee, is open until 9 p.m. during the week and midnight on weekends in Fishers. It also has a Broad Ripple location open until 7 p.m. every night.
'I think it gives you options,' Mariam Coffee co-owner Renee Stella said. 'It's not even just the Muslim community. I mean, I know of a lot of people who choose not to drink alcohol. And this provides a fun safe place that you can go and just relax … Families come as well, you know, and so I think it's important to have a family friendly place … I think that's really our niche.'
As a Muslim, these coffee shops have given me the opportunity to spend time working and socializing in spaces that center around community. There is something special about conversations over coffee in a space where I am surrounded by people who come from similar walks of life.
Mariam Coffee last month adjusted operations for the Islamic month of Ramadan — a time when many Muslims seek out places to socialize after late-night prayers. The coffee shop was open past midnight on some evenings. Regardless of the time of year, though, Mariam Coffee creates a social space late at night for all ages.
Yemeni-owned Yafa Golden Coffee in Noblesville also offers late-night spaces — with an emphasis on traditional pastries and baked goods.
'We're Muslim, which means that we don't drink,' Assistant Manager Abdullah Ali said. 'But at the same time, it doesn't just just start with Muslims. It's for everyone. Like, if you come here on a Friday night, you'll see people from all different countries, from all races … You'll see people from everywhere. And that's the goal.'
The Yafa experience is different from that of your typical franchise coffee chain. Yafa has an in-house bakery and serves up traditional Yemeni pastries and other desserts all day. From honeycomb pastries to croissants, Yafa provides baked goods that are fresh and made in house.
Muslim-owned coffee shops merge culture with coffee, introducing Hoosiers to tastes they may have otherwise remained unfamiliar with. Coffee and tea are key parts of nightlife within many Muslim countries and cultures.
Melt 'n Dip, a Lebanese franchise with a location in Fishers, is focused on chocolate-based desserts, in addition to its assortment of teas and coffee. Jibran Durrani, one of Melt 'n Dip's three owners, said the novelty of desserts and drinks draws customers in. The Dubai chocolate trend, which has taken social media by storm, has been a big hit for Melt 'n Dip in particular.
'We have people coming in telling us that they drove three hours to come try this,' Durrani said. 'We have all kinds of food [in Indianapolis], and we felt like dessert was one thing that was missing, especially a late night type of place, because a lot of late night culture kind of revolves around alcohol.'
Melt 'n Dip has created memories for me, and I often consider it a place to go for moments of celebration and joy.
While alcohol-free spaces have always been popular among Muslims, there has been a shift toward Americans as a whole drinking less, especially among younger people. Non-Muslims make up the majority of Melt 'n Dip's crowd, with Muslim teens and young adults often showing during later hours.
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Durrani and his partners find that their business model, one that is inclusive of the needs of those who do not drink alcohol, serves them well.
As the food and restaurant industry continues to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and business hours continue to remain shortened, these coffee shops are providing spaces for socialization that are open late but still alcohol-free.
As more and more Muslim-owned coffee shops appear in Indiana, and across the nation, these business owners want people to know that they are not just providing their customers with coffee, but with spaces to unwind and socialize. In the Central Indiana region, Muslim-owned coffee shops provide Hoosiers with alternatives to late-night social activities that would typically involve alcohol.
Muslim-owned coffee shops are serving Indiana with coffee, confections and community.
Contact IndyStar opinion fellow Sadia Khatri at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What's open late in Indy? Muslim coffee shops. | Opinion