Near the end of last month, Boston was hit by a major snowstorm, forcing everything — stores, restaurants, and schools — to close. When we are put in situations like this, we seek the comfort of home. Fortunately, the comforting warmth of Café Bonjour, located in Downtown Crossing, is a 10-minute walk from campus. 

Café Bonjour is an authentic Moroccan and French restaurant that serves Moroccan dishes and drinks made from scratch, including my favorite, mint tea. The restaurant’s food is authentic, as it prepares and serves food the way I would eat it back home. 

There is a sense of belonging we feel in my home country of Morocco, whether with friends or family, and I feel the same joy and comfort every time I visit Café Bonjour. During the snowstorm, I felt homesick, and going to Café Bonjour cured that sickness. 

I’m not used to freezing weather, the snowstorms, and the large puffer jackets. During this time, all I crave is the warm climate of my country. Moroccan food is a pivotal part of our culture and a source of pride for our community. From the couscous filled with some of my favorite vegetables and a savory taste that I had every Friday with my family, to the tajine covered in olives and homemade onion sauce, with special spices, to the mint tea called “atay”. Each meal at home was carefully prepared, with every item curated in a unique way, using particular seasonings and cooking techniques. These meals are cultural staples, having been passed down from generation to generation; the same recipes and rituals are still used today. 

Moroccan mint tea stands out among other teas for its rich, aromatic blend of gunpowder green tea, fresh spearmint, and sugar. The gunpowder green tea on its own is bitter at first, but it becomes sweet when the mint and sugar are added. It’s both refreshing and energizing; the fresh mint soothes your throat, making it a crucial part of Moroccan breakfast and afternoon tea. The tea is poured from a traditional teapot called a “Barad,” made of stainless steel with special designs, and is supposed to be poured into the cup from as high as possible, a tradition dating back to the Berbers, the indigenous people of North Africa. At home, mint tea is always served when guests come over as a sign of hospitality. 

The last time I had Moroccan mint tea was when it was cold, with my family, by the fireplace. We were laughing, talking about some of our favorite childhood memories, and lost track of time.  

When I first came to Boston, I didn’t find a restaurant that served authentic Moroccan mint tea. But since I discovered Café Bonjour a few weeks ago, it has always lived up to my expectations, extending to me the sense of hospitality I fondly recall gifting my own guests as a child.

After the snowstorm, my friends and I went to Café Bonjour and were greeted by Moroccan employees, reinserting me back into my culture and transporting me back to the atmosphere of home. I was also able to speak to them in my native language, Moroccan Arabic, also known as Darija, further enhancing the feeling that I was no longer in the frigid concrete city of Boston, but somewhere familiar and nostalgic. 

The Moroccan mint tea they offer is served in traditional teapots. The ratio of tea, mint, and sugar is perfect, making it some of the best tea I’ve had, even coming close to what my mother used to make for me.

The staff put in immense effort to make customers feel included by being friendly and welcoming. They recognized the cafe as a space to connect, offering different recommendations for places to go in Boston. The restaurant is always busy every time I go, with people laughing and enjoying moments with their friends and families. The inside is cozy and intimate, with wood-paneled walls that reminded me of a traditional Moroccan café. The café’s atmosphere, the sound of Darija spoken around me, and the smell of tea made me feel as if I were talking with my friends and family back home.

 Although Café Bonjour is a great place for Moroccans who seek a home away from home, the comfort you will encounter goes far beyond cultural familiarity, thanks to the employees’ welcoming energy. It also offers anyone the chance to experience the warmth, authenticity, and care that define Moroccan culture and tradition.