Café
Mai Shayi Coffee
A Nigerian specialty coffee company that grows, roasts and serves its own Plateau State Arabica, with two cafes in Asokoro including a late-opening flagship.
Mambaah Cafe
A garden cafe in the Creative Hub at Maitama Amusement Park, with a red courtyard, a Northern Nigerian-style tea room and a programme of creative events.
At a glance
- Type
- Garden cafe and tea room
- Area
- Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Good to know
- Outdoor courtyard
- Tea room with floor seating
- Events and workshops
- Indoor seating
Why we recommend it
Mambaah Cafe is one of the most distinctive cafes in Abuja. It sits in the Creative Hub at Maitama Amusement Park on IBB Way, surrounded by trees and greenery, and is designed to feel like a rustic cabin in the woods. The centrepiece is a red outdoor courtyard, while indoors there are wooden accents, warm lighting and soft music. The effect is calm and quite unlike the glass-fronted mall cafes of Wuse 2.
The most unusual space is the Shayi Room, a tea room inspired by traditional Northern Nigerian dining, with floor seating, low tables and cushions. Tea is a speciality, with an extensive list of flavours and blends served in a ceremonial style, and the menu also covers coffee, shared platters for groups, traditional Northern Nigerian dishes, light snacks and international favourites. It is a good place to try northern flavours in a relaxed setting.
Mambaah also works as a community space. The Creative Hub hosts events, workshops and networking sessions for artists, writers and entrepreneurs, and yoga classes and wellness workshops are often held in the courtyard. The quieter indoor areas suit people who want to read, study or work for a few hours, while the courtyard is popular with photographers and anyone looking for a striking backdrop.
It suits solo visitors, friends catching up over tea, small creative groups and anyone who wants a break from the city's traffic. Prices are moderate. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit; weekends and event evenings bring more people. Check the cafe's social media for upcoming workshops and current opening times before you go, as the programme changes regularly.
Shayi is the Hausa word for tea, and sitting on cushions over a pot of tea in the Shayi Room is a gentle introduction to Northern Nigerian hospitality. Maitama Amusement Park also houses other food businesses, such as The Breakfast Company in its left annex, so you can make a morning of it.
Maitama Amusement Park is in the leafy Maitama district, a short drive from the Transcorp Hilton and Millennium Park. Combine a visit with a walk in Millennium Park or lunch at one of the restaurants of Maitama and Wuse 2.
Mambaah Cafe FAQs
Where is Mambaah Cafe?
In the Creative Hub at Maitama Amusement Park, IBB Way, Maitama.
What is the Shayi Room?
A tea room inspired by traditional Northern Nigerian dining, with floor seating, low tables and cushions.
What is on the menu?
Teas and coffee, shared platters, Northern Nigerian dishes, light snacks and international favourites.
Is it good for working or studying?
Yes, the indoor spaces are quiet and suit working or reading.
Does it host events?
Yes. The Creative Hub runs workshops, networking events, yoga classes and wellness sessions.
Is there outdoor seating?
Yes, in the red courtyard surrounded by greenery.
When is it quietest?
Weekday mornings tend to be calmer than weekends and event evenings.