Have you ever tried an ice cream called Booza? It’s a mouthwatering Syrian ice cream that leaves you wanting more!

A few weekends ago Rania took us to a beautiful Syrian cafe a fifteen minutes walk from North Acton tube station, hidden in an industrial park. From the moment we walked into the cafe it felt like we were transported into the heart of Damascus from the smell of the food to the sound of the music. The place was ordained with a beautiful collection of ordainments, including floor tiling, middles eastern water fountains, windows with coloured glass panels, a collection of rare books adorned the walls and chess boards on each table. It was a wonderful tribute to the Middle Eastern culture. 

Rania, Lee, Will & Benin were already tucking into their fatteh when we arrived. I didn’t want to feel left out and ordered the same. Fatteh is flatbread covered in yoghurt, chickpeas and olive oil. Served with spring onions, pickles and radish which you dip into the fatteh. Asiel ordered Mufarakeh bil lahmeh – fried egg and mince meat. We accompanied our breakfast with refreshing mint tea. The fatteh was delightful – so creamy, flavoursome and delicious. The Mufarakeh bil lahmeh was incredible with so much flavourful spice igniting our tastes buds and creating a party in our mouths, and I saw in the corner of my eye that Asiel was doing his happy dance. We washed our breakfast down with their delightful mint tea which we thought cleansed our palate for our next course- Syrian ice cream.

Levant is a family run business, the owner comes from a family renowned for their cheeses, yoghurts, qishtah and also booza. The owner started learning from a young age getting his first wooden pestle at the age of 10, and from there he learnt and developed his skills in creating his perfect Boozas.

We initially came here to visit the cafe for their Booza. This mouthwatering dessert resembles the texture of mochi, with a deliciously chewy and stringy consistency. We had the pleasure of trying all the flavours available – rose, mango, pistachio, chocolate, double ashta, and rose petals. My personal favourites were the rose petals, strawberries, and mango flavours. 🤤

We got the opportunity to witness the fascinating process of how this ice cream is made. Scrapping ice cream from the sides of the chilled canisters (which they imported from Syria as there is nothing like it here). The man pounded the ice cream and added crushed pistachios into the mix and then continued to pound the ice cream. After, the ice cream is formed they rolled it into a cylinder shape and display them on the shop floor.

We also tried their Nabulsia Knafeh which is made with spun pastry, soaked in a sweet, sugar-based syrup, layered with cheese and topped with pistachios. It was served warm, when we tucked into the dessert the flavours were divine – sweet and savoury, we loved the melted cheese. We accompanied it with another round of mint tea and some of us had the Arabic coffee which absolutely mesmerised our tastebuds – bold and spicy. 

Despite the marathon worthy calorie count, the breakfast was heavenly and worth indulging in. Levant, holds a special place in our hearts. From the moment we stepped foot inside, we were captivated by the warm ambiance and the tantalizing aromas wafting from the kitchen. The authentic Syrian cuisine surpassed all expectations, leaving us craving more. The attentive staff made us feel like family, adding to the overall delightful experience. We wholeheartedly recommend visiting Levant to savour the flavours of Syria and indulge in an unforgettable dining adventure.

Since visiting we’ve been recommending Levant Book Cafe friends and family. We spent hours playing games and catching up and they never told us to leave which is unheard of in London coffee shops!