This Saudi Café in Virginia is Breaking American Nightlife Rules

Mornings? Chaotic. Coffee gulped between red lights, inboxes flooded before the first sip could settle, and the threat of scalded tongues before your day had the chance to begin. But late-night coffee? That’s different. That’s when the real conversations happen. That’s when time slows, when the clink of cups and the hum of voices fill the air like a steady heartbeat. In the Middle East, coffee is an excuse to stay a little longer. To talk. To exist together. And that’s exactly what Shotted Speciality Coffee is about.

You don’t expect to find Saudi hospitality in a mall in Virginia, USA, but then again, Shotted isn’t your typical coffee shop. It started when a handful of Saudi students, thousands of miles from home, found themselves asking a simple question: "Where do we go after 7 PM?" In the US, the answers were loud, dimly lit, and often wrapped in clouds of hookah smoke or the sticky buzz of alcohol. None of it fit. So, they created their own answer.

“We couldn’t find a place to take our families and friends to gather,” says Bander Alhenaki, the founder of Shotted. “So, we created it.”

In 2019, Shotted was not a coffee shop, It was a cart. A small, modest thing wheeled out during university meet-ups, handing out free coffee to homesick students craving more than caffeine. What started as a hobby grew into something bigger. Festivals, farmers' markets, then mall kiosks, until it grew roots as a fully-fledged cafe. Not just a place to grab a latte, but a space carved out for community, with a zero-proof atmosphere.

“Our goal was never just to serve coffee,” Bander explains. “It’s about creating an atmosphere where people can connect.”

Shotted. Sounds edgy, right? Maybe a little rebellious? That’s the point. They wanted to flip the script “'Shots' usually means alcohol, we wanted to reverse that into a positive meaning of espresso” Bander, tells SceneNowSaudi. Same buzz, different energy.

But Shotted didn’t grow alone. There were mentors, like Bander’s former entrepreneurship professor who went from grading papers to shaping business plans. The Saudi Embassy showed up with support, and even Her Royal Highness Princess Reema played a role in boosting their cultural mission.

Convincing malls to stay open later wasn’t exactly easy, but now, Shotted stays open until 11 PM on weekdays and midnight on weekends, a little oasis for hangout outside the typical nightlife venues.

Walking into Shotted, you wouldn’t know it’s Saudi. It isn’t shouting its origins; it’s whispering them. The dallah of Saudi coffee sits quietly on the counter, oud melodies woven into playlists alongside indie beats. Only when you ask, when curiosity brews alongside your Spanish latte, do you discover the story behind the space.

“When people enjoy the vibe, they naturally get curious,” Bander says. “That’s when we get to share our story.”

The surprise isn’t just in the decor. It’s in the coffee itself. Saudi coffee isn’t thick and dark like Turkish brew; it’s light, spiced, almost tea-like. And the dates - rather than the chewy Medjool variety most Americans know, they receive sukkari dates, golden and sweet, dissolving like honey on the tongue.

“They always say, ‘Wow, these are not the dates I know,’” Bander laughs. “Some even take boxes home.”

And then there’s the dessert lineup. Their pistachio basbousa is nutty, sweet, and just the right amount of chew. The San Sebastian cheesecake? A café celebrity. And Bander’s personal weakness? The sticky, warm, ridiculously indulgent date toffee pudding. “It’s like a hug in dessert form,” he says.

Shotted doesn’t just serve coffee; it holds space. On Saudi National Day, the cafe transforms: traditional outfits, complimentary Saudi coffee, dates, and laughter spilling over tables. “It’s about community,” Bander says. “Celebrating who we are and sharing that joy with everyone.”

There’s a kind of quiet rebellion in Shotted’s mission. In a world where nightlife often defines social spaces, here’s a cafe proving you don’t need alcohol to feel alive, or a party to feel connected. Just good coffee, warm conversation, and the occasional surprise - like realising the best dates aren’t on your calendar, but on your plate.

Future plans? Shotted wants two stores in every US state within the next decade. Ambitious? Sure. But then again, all revolutions start small. Some even start with a coffee cart.