AtayaCaffe

AtayaCaffe’s Story
Ataya is Senegalese tea. But it is much more than a drink: it is a way of meeting, of being together – a shared moment. A daily ritual best performed in the shade of a giant tree. Ataya can last as long as three hours. With the excuse of drinking all “three rounds,” the guests chat and relax as time flows lightly by. This ritual is for everyone – men, women and children (who get the third, lightest batch). This is the common thread that unites our stories: passing time together in  harmony. Conviviality, so deeply rooted in us, is the gift we wish to give our guests. A piece of our native land transported to Berlin, Ataya is born of an encounter, a love story, a fusion of two cultures – Italy and Africa.

Meet the protagonists: Bachir, a musician and composer from Senegal, passionate about good food and a connoisseur of the cuisine of his native land… and Elisabetta from Sardinia, a professional chef with fifteen years’ experience, who has made her passion her profession. We both hail from lands known throughout the world for their tradition of hospitality – a tradition we feel we represent. Through Ataya, we wish to celebrate the sun and the vitality of our native lands, through two things that make everyone’s heart beat fast – food and music. Ataya is a way of saying thanks – and paying homage to Berlin, which has allowed us to realize the dream we have carried in our hearts for so long.

At Ataya, we try to make you feel at home. It’s like a living room, warm and welcoming, whose décor evokes stories and memories of faraway places – an island of peace tucked away in a corner of Prenzlauerberg. We believe that a tranquil and welcoming atmosphere encourages creativity and new ideas. Our bright, sun-lit salon is an ideal place to work – while sipping organic tea, enjoying a delicious piadina or a shot of quality espresso. And when hunger calls, feel free to choose from our exquisite lunch menu: fresh pasta – with both classic and more adventurous sauces, always fresh and tasty – vegan dishes, salads, fruit and veggie shakes and juices… and our special highlight: Saturday brunch Menu. On sunny days, enjoy a fruit smoothie at our comfy outside tables, as you watch the swaying dance of the trees across the street.

We have an idea of what food can tell us; each of our dishes has a story. Food nourishes not only the body. Ingredients should be selected and cooked with awareness and respect. At Ataya, this awareness begins with a choice: all our food is vegetarian/vegan. Our coffee is fair trade, our selection of teas informed, our creamy hot chocolate… will warm up your winter afternoons, and our deserts are in the best Italian tradition.

Each of our dishes is a chapter of our story – because for us, food is memory. We both come from cultures with great culinary traditions; the clanging of pans and ladles mixing delicacies – this was the rhythm of our childhood. Our families cooked at least twice a day, and the aromas would reach as far as our neighbors’ homes, who would come over with some dish of their own to offer in exchange.

We use simple Mediterranean ingredients: good extra virgin olive oil, tomato sauce made from rich, sun-ripened tomatoes, salt from the Mediterranean Sea, bread – a basic element of our cuisine, brought straight from Sardinia, which we use to create simple but delicious dishes like the lasagna from carasau bread and vegetables… And last but not least, our fresh pasta, always accompanied by innovative salads, with organic, local fruit and vegetables. Our menu also includes classical Senegalese dishes, and of course, classic deserts like tiramisu.
Our favorite childhood dishes – in our memory always prepared with love and wisdom – we dedicate to our smallest customers. Ataya has a children’s corner, where the little ones can pass the time with games, books and toys.

Not just food:
We decided to fill our café with products dear to us: special breads, Italian biscuits – but also traditional, hand-woven Senegalese mats and kitchen utensils such as wooden bowls and plates, objects we choose individually and import directly from Sardinia and Senegal. They can become precious to you as well, as decorations for your home, or as gifts to someone special…)

Ataya Catering
We place special emphasis on our catering services, which we have been offering for years, for companies as well as private customers: parties, ceremonies, professional brunches and more. Depending on your plans and needs, we can deliver to a place of your choice, or host your event in our café. We are happy to offer our expertise to help you find the best solution for any event. Just send us an email!

Ataya Workshop

Our cooking workshops present an alternative, personal way of asserting ourselves in the kitchen space – an issue we feel particularly strongly about. Our vegan/vegetarian cooking workshops address particularly relevant issues of alimentation, and encourage an informed (and tasty!) approach toward nutrition. For more information on our dates and programs, please send us an email.

Musical workshops

Music is the other pillar of Ataya’s soul. Our musical workshops aim to familiarize the Western ear with African rhythms; in addition, we also teach instrument-building from recyclable materials, and offer a space in which children can familiarize themselves with traditional African instruments… For more information, please send us an email!

Good vibes