The cafes in Peshawar have changed a lot over the last few years. Not long ago, “going out for tea” meant a cup of qehwa in Qissa Khwani Bazaar or a karak chai at a roadside Quetta hotel. Today, however, you can also order a flat white in Hayatabad, gelato in Gulbahar or kunafa at midnight. Students fill the cafés on University Road, families head to Shami Road in the evening, and the old city still pours green tea from brass kettles, just as it has for over a century.
This guide lists 25 cafés, dessert shops and tea houses across Peshawar. For each one, we give the area, the address as published and what to order. So whether you need a quiet place to work, somewhere for a first meeting or a sweet stop after dinner, you’ll find a good option here.
Please read before you go: We gathered these details from public sources, including food-delivery listings, travel guides, news features and Zarrasha’s own Peshawar pages. Cafés in Peshawar open, move and close often, and several well-known ones have closed recently (see the list below). So please confirm the location, timings and menu before you visit. We don’t list prices because they change often. Halal food is the norm in Pakistan, but if you need certainty, ask the café. Zarrasha delivers food, groceries and gifts in Peshawar, and gifts in Islamabad.
Quick answer: For coffee, try Gloria Jean’s in Hayatabad or Tim Hortons on Shami Road. For a long sit-down meal with friends, go to Café Crunch in University Town. For dessert, choose Black Cafe Gelato House in Gulbahar or Layers Bakeshop. And for something truly Peshawari, drink qehwa at the old Qehwa Khana in Qissa Khwani Bazaar.
Best cafes in Peshawar at a glance
| Café | Area | Known for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloria Jean’s Coffees | Hayatabad Phase 1/2 | Specialty coffee, molten lava cake | Meetings, brunch |
| Tim Hortons | Shami Road, near Garrison Park | Coffee, Iced Capp, Timbits | Quick coffee, families |
| The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf | Peshawar (check branch) | Ice Blended drinks | Coffee lovers |
| Café Crunch | Old Jamrud Road, University Town | Courtyard, steaks, panini | Long hangouts |
| Black Cafe Gelato House | Ishrat Cinema Road, Gulbahar | Gelato, waffles, pizza | Dessert after dinner |
| Layers Bakeshop | University Road, Shami Road, Hayatabad | Three Milk cake, sundaes | Cake and coffee |
| Crave Bake Shop | University Town | Brownies, éclairs | Sweet treats |
| Qehwa Khana | Qissa Khwani Bazaar | Green qehwa from brass kettles | Heritage and tourists |
| Peshawar Tea House | Tehkal | Chai | Budget tea break |
| Quetta Chaye | Hayatabad Food Street | Karak chai, paratha | Late nights |
Best Coffee: Cafes in Peshawar for a Proper Cup
International coffee chains reached Peshawar later than Lahore or Islamabad. Even so, the city now has several, and they’re often the most reliable choice for espresso drinks.
Hayatabad
Gloria Jean’s Coffees
Address
Phase 1 / Phase 2, Hayatabad, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Espresso drinks, iced coffee, crème brûlée espresso chiller, molten lava dessert, plus soups and light meals such as Mexican steak. Reviewers often mention its free almond cake with coffee. Weekend brunch is a good time to go, although it gets busy.
Shami Road and Peshawar Cantt
Tim Hortons
Address
Shami Road / Sher Khan Shaheed Road, near Garrison Park, Peshawar Cantt
Menu highlights
Drip coffee, lattes, Iced Capp, donuts and Timbits, as well as breakfast sandwiches. Since Garrison Park is next door, it’s handy for families who want a walk and a coffee.
Other coffee chains
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Address
Peshawar (listed on food-delivery apps; confirm the branch location before visiting)
Menu highlights
Ice Blended drinks, espresso classics, teas and pastries.
Dunkin’
Address
Khyber Road, Peshawar (the older University Town branch is listed as closed)
Menu highlights
Donuts, coffee and breakfast sandwiches. For the freshest donuts, go earlier in the day.
Sit-Down Cafes in Peshawar for Food and Long Chats
Not everyone wants only coffee. In fact, many of Peshawar’s most popular cafés serve full meals, so people come for dinner and stay for hours.
University Town and University Road
Café Crunch
Address
45 Old Jamrud Road, University Town, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Chicken panini, stuffed chicken steak, jalapeño steak, nachos, BBQ platters and cheese naan. Its breezy courtyard makes it one of the best places in the city to sit for a long evening. However, reviews mention uneven quality on busy nights, and some say it takes cash only, so carry cash.
Café di Milano
Address
Basement, Amaan Center, Main University Road, Peshawar (older listing; please confirm it’s still open)
Menu highlights
A casual café menu of coffee, snacks and continental dishes, popular with students.
For more food on this stretch, see our University Road and University Town restaurant guide.
Gulbahar
Black Cafe Gelato House
Address
1 Ishrat Cinema Road, opposite HBL Bank, Gulbahar, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Gelato in flavours such as kulfa, pistachio and Oreo, plus waffles, sundaes and milkshakes. It also serves a full menu of pizza, burgers (including the Brittle Burger), shawarma and BBQ such as koobideh. Read our full Black Cafe Gelato House menu guide.
HBK Arena
Voila Cafe
Address
HBK Arena, Peshawar
Menu highlights
A café with drinks and snacks. Check the current menu on the delivery apps before you go.
WeDrink
Address
HBK Arena, Peshawar
Menu highlights
A drinks-focused counter, a good stop while you walk around HBK Arena.
Dessert Cafes in Peshawar
If you have a sweet tooth, Peshawar has plenty of choice. Most dessert places are bakeries with a few seats, so they also work as quick cafés. For cakes to take home, see our full bakeries in Peshawar guide.
University Road and University Town
Layers Bakeshop (UTC Plaza)
Address
UTC Plaza, University Road, University Town, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Three Milk cake, Ferrero Rocher cake, Red Velvet, Nutella cake, cookies, tarts and sundaes.
Crave Bake Shop
Address
Near Spogmay Plaza, University Town, Peshawar (other branches on Ring Road, Nasir Bagh Road and Warsak Road)
Menu highlights
Brownies, cupcakes, éclairs, mousse and donuts.
Macaron Bakers
Address
University Road, Tehkal, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Cakes, pastries and plated desserts.
Bata Kulfi
Address
University Town, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Traditional kulfi, a cooler and lighter option on hot summer evenings.
Shami Road and Bashirabad
Layers Bakeshop (Peshawar Cantt)
Address
Cravings Food Park Road, Shami Road, opposite Garrison Park, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Three Milk, Red Velvet, German Fudge and Milky Malt cakes, plus sundaes and muffins.
Burning Brownie
Address
Sher Khan Road, Bashirabad, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Brownies and dessert boxes.
Hayatabad and Ring Road
Layers Bakeshop (Hayatabad)
Address
Deans Heights, Civic Centre, Phase 2, Hayatabad, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Dubai Dreamcake, Three Milk cake, Nutella and Ferrero Rocher cakes.
Bread Chef
Address
Yousafzai Road, Phase 3, Hayatabad (also on Sher Khan Road, Bashirabad)
Menu highlights
Cakes, pastries and bread, as well as pizza, burgers and grilled snacks, so it works as a casual café.
Brookie
Address
Main Ring Road, Achini Payan, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Brookies (brownie-cookie bars) and other baked desserts.
Kunafa spots
Kunafa by Ikhwan
Address
Peshawar (listed on delivery apps; confirm the outlet location)
Menu highlights
Hot kunafa with cheese and syrup. In addition, look out for the “Dubai chocolate” kunafa-style desserts that have become popular recently.
Kunafa by Sanoo
Address
Peshawar (listed on delivery apps; confirm the outlet location)
Menu highlights
Kunafa and Middle Eastern sweets.
Chai and Qehwa: Traditional Cafes in Peshawar
Long before coffee chains arrived, Peshawar had its own café culture. People met over qehwa (green tea with cardamom) or strong milky chai, and many still do.
Qissa Khwani Bazaar
Qehwa Khana
Address
A narrow lane off Qissa Khwani Bazaar, old city, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Green qehwa brewed with cardamom in large kettles and brass samovars. Locals say the tea house is 120 to 130 years old. It’s the best place to understand why Qissa Khwani is called the “Storytellers’ Bazaar”, so it should be the first stop for any visitor.
Tehkal
Peshawar Tea House
Address
Tehkal, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Milky chai and doodh patti with light snacks, a good budget stop near University Road.
Quetta-style chai
Quetta Chaye
Address
Hayatabad Food Street, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Thick karak chai, paratha and egg paratha. It’s one of the easiest late-night tea stops in Hayatabad.
Quetta Peshawar Cafe
Address
City and Zaryab Colony branches, Peshawar
Menu highlights
Karak chai and paratha in a no-frills setting.
Hangout Areas With the Most Cafes in Peshawar
If you’d rather wander than pick one café, these areas have several options close together:
- University Road and University Town: student cafés, bakeries and fast food, busy until late
- Shami Road and Cravings Food Park: Tim Hortons, Layers and family dining, right beside Garrison Park
- Hayatabad (Phases 1–3 and the Food Street): coffee chains, Bread Chef and late-night chai
- HBK Arena: newer cafés and drink counters in one place
- Qissa Khwani Bazaar: qehwa, history and old-city street food
Recently Closed Cafes in Peshawar
Older lists still recommend these places, but recent listings show them as permanently closed. So please don’t plan a visit around them:
- Chaaye Khana, Ali Tower, University Road, Tehkal
- Books & Chai, Niaz Plaza, University Road
- Wakhan Cafe and Bakers, Street 7, Phase 1, Hayatabad
- Dunkin’, School Road, University Town (Dunkin’ on Khyber Road is still listed)
Which Café Should You Choose?
| If you want… | Go to |
|---|---|
| A quiet place to work | Gloria Jean’s (weekday mornings) or Tim Hortons |
| A long evening with friends | Café Crunch |
| A family outing | Tim Hortons or Layers on Shami Road, then Garrison Park |
| Dessert after dinner | Black Cafe Gelato House or Layers |
| A late-night chai | Quetta Chaye, Hayatabad Food Street |
| Something truly Peshawari | Qehwa Khana, Qissa Khwani Bazaar |
| Something on a student budget | Peshawar Tea House or Quetta Peshawar Cafe |
Tips for Visiting Cafes in Peshawar
- Best times: Cafés stay quiet in the morning and fill up after Maghrib. On Friday and Saturday nights, expect waits at the popular ones.
- Family sections: Many cafés have family seating. If you’re with family, ask for it when you arrive.
- Cash vs card: Chains accept cards. Smaller cafés and tea houses, however, may prefer cash.
- Wi-Fi: Most modern cafés offer Wi-Fi, but speeds vary, so don’t rely on it for an important video call.
- Dress: Modest clothing is the norm, especially in the old city.
- Ramadan: During Ramadan, most cafés open only after iftar and then stay open late.
- Summer heat: On hot days, choose an air-conditioned café in the afternoon and save the courtyard cafés for the evening.
How to Plan a Cafe-Hopping Evening in Peshawar
- Start in the old city in the late afternoon. Drink qehwa at Qehwa Khana in Qissa Khwani Bazaar, then walk through the bazaar.
- Move to Shami Road at sunset. Walk in Garrison Park and get a coffee from Tim Hortons nearby.
- Have dinner in University Town. Settle into the courtyard at Café Crunch for steaks or a panini.
- Go to Gulbahar or University Road for dessert. Choose gelato at Black Cafe Gelato House or a slice of Three Milk cake at Layers.
- Finish with late-night chai. End the evening with karak chai and paratha at Quetta Chaye on Hayatabad Food Street.
Craving Café Treats at Home? Order with Zarrasha
You don’t always need to go out. With Zarrasha, you can order food online in Peshawar, including desserts, cakes and snacks, and get groceries delivered too. Live in Hayatabad? Then see our Hayatabad food delivery page. Want to surprise someone? We also deliver cakes, flowers and gifts in Peshawar, and gifts in Islamabad.
- 📱 Download the app: Zarrasha on Google Play
- 💬 WhatsApp: +92 334 0724724
Looking for a full meal instead? Our Peshawar restaurants list covers 34 places, from Namak Mandi tikka to Kabuli pulao.
FAQs About Cafes in Peshawar
What are the best cafes in Peshawar for coffee?
Gloria Jean’s in Hayatabad and Tim Hortons on Shami Road are the most reliable choices for espresso drinks. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf also appears on delivery apps in Peshawar.
Which area of Peshawar has the most cafés?
University Road and University Town have the most cafés and dessert shops. Hayatabad, Shami Road and HBK Arena come next.
Where can I drink traditional qehwa in Peshawar?
Go to Qissa Khwani Bazaar in the old city. Its Qehwa Khana is said to be well over a century old and still brews green tea in brass kettles.
Are there family-friendly cafes in Peshawar?
Yes. Tim Hortons and Layers on Shami Road, Gloria Jean’s in Hayatabad and Black Cafe Gelato House in Gulbahar all suit families. Many cafés also have family seating.
Which cafes in Peshawar are open late?
Quetta-style chai cafés, such as Quetta Chaye on Hayatabad Food Street, usually stay open late. Hours change often, however, so check before you go.
Is Chaaye Khana in Peshawar still open?
Recent listings show the University Road branch of Chaaye Khana as permanently closed. So check before visiting.
Can I get café desserts delivered in Peshawar?
Yes. You can order cakes, desserts and food across Peshawar through the Zarrasha app or on WhatsApp.
