The Jazziest of Places in Karachi: Zelin’s Coffee Shop, Cafe Oxford, Street and Café Grand opposite Metropole Hotel. Places that were frequented by the city’s artists and literary icons. Funny how everything nice has found its utility in past tense. However closure of Cafe Grand did not mean a touch of commonplace to this area as it has happened to other localities. Perhaps due to VIP movement in the area. It probably did help in generating funds for a recent restoration project of Edward House. You must have noticed it. Stop by and have a closer look sometime.
Cafe Grand was famous for its confectionary items. Mr Herbert Cumper, the baker-in-chief ran the cafe along with his catering business. Edward House was built in 1910 and its architect was none other than Moses Somake. The assignment might not be as grand as opposed to his other undertankings but even his routine project has eleganace. The balustrading on the roof makes it look even more attractive.
It is contentious if Moses Somake designed the adjacent Victoria Mansion but the two buildings do have similarities. Along with Lotia and Metoropole they make the area look royal. Cafe Grand was closed way back but a sign board indicated its existence till mid 2000. Now both the building house offices, shops and few residential blocks.
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- One Architect. Two Masterpieces.
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- A rare sight in this area. Though you will find plenty around M.A. Jinnah road
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- O you little thing of beauty
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- The neighbor since good times
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- Basking in morning sunshine
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- Few resident apartments
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- The restoration upclose
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- Tangled
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- Closed
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- Somake’s Pillars
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- That Green Lively thing
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- Metropole shall not be anymore 😐
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- Nigar Weekly Head Office is here
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- Photo Credit: Memon913 on flickr
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- Photo from good old days
The Karachi Walla 
Can you show me which part of the building was Cafe Oxford please? I think it is the same place my great grandparents (from the north east of England) ran some time in the early part of the 20th century. Their daughter, my grandmother, was married in Holy Trinity Church and my mother subsequently born in Karachi.