Located along the leafy Holland Park Avenue, just a few steps away from Holland Park station, Arab Quarter is a little local gem with a “secret garden” for a coffee or dessert stop. Opened daily till 10 pm, it’s become an especially popular spot for a late coffee or tea, complemented by a delectable selection of traditional Middle Eastern desserts that’s freshly made on-site each day.
Arab Quarter: A Celebration of Traditional Middle Eastern Desserts from Palestine, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon
Inspired by the street cafes in Old Jerusalem, Arab Quarter has a simplistic but charming interior, with a little Arabic courtyard garden at the back that instantly transports you away from the hustle and bustle of London. Stepping in, you’d find an alluring display of various desserts and sweet treats by the counter, such as knafeh, baklava, Qatayef (Arabic sweet dumplings), etc. This dessert menu highlights the diverse sweet offerings from different parts of the Middle East, specifically those from Palestine, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Yes, Arab Quarter is fully halal.
Holland Park (Central line) is the nearest station to Arab Quarter.
Looking for more coffee shops near the area? Check these out too:
The Food at Arab Quarter (what we ordered)
Date of visit: July 2025
Knafeh Nabulsiyah (£9.50)
Knafeh Nabulsiyah is a Palestinian version of kunafeh originating from Nablus in Palestine. It features a layer of traditional Nabulsi Cheese at the bottom, topped with a rose syrup-soaked semolina sponge, baked till lightly crispy on top and sprinkled with pistachios and pine nuts. The cheese was mild to taste and laced with a lightly savoury touch, offering a lovely oomph against the sweet sponge layer. Whilst kunafas are typically rather heavy to taste, this was delightfully light and delicate. You can taste the love and care with every bite, and it was, all in all, a lovely little sweet treat.
Arab Coffee (£4)
The coffee comes served in a cezve that reminded me of Turkish coffee. It was lightly foamy on top, and was rich and smooth to taste. The coffee was strong, but not as intense as Turkish coffees, and was steeped with a touch of cardamom.
Arab Quarter Review Summary
All in all, Arab Quarter is a charming local cafe in Holland Park that’s perfect for a little pit stop. We had the courtyard all to ourselves in the afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed our little sweet treat with a cup of coffee. It’s certainly a spot worth popping by if you’re around the area!
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