The Women Co. is not only a cafe but also a strong advocacy centre for gender equality.

Many times I’ve spent complaining about the restaurants I’ve been to ---- sometimes the ambience is unpleasant, and at other times the jarring upbeat music is too loud.  In fact sometimes it appears as if there are hardly any eateries in the city that can put your mind at ease. But if you step into The Women Co., which was established by Neha Banu Shah and her sister, in Pulchowk, you’ll find yourself relaxing and taking a deep breath in the open and enjoying the minimalistic decor of the cafe. You will enjoy the pastel lavender coloured walls, the absence of heavily alcohol laden air that most restaurants seem to have, and a series of spunky framed quotes hanging on the walls that make you want to stop and read them. The place puts you at ease, as if stepping into the familiar surroundings of your home.

But as relaxing and calm as the place is, it is also equally invigorating. One might be inclined to ask what the name of the cafe supposedly means. The logo is coloured in the iconic rainbow colours signifying the LGBTIQ rights, the  word ‘women’ is in the name, and a keen observer may even notice an ‘equals to’ sign in the form of a moustache and a lip. This ultimately led me to question Neha about the origin of the cafe and the story behind it.

Over a steaming cup of Cappuccino, Neha emphasized, “My cafe came as a way to voice out and connect various social issues, especially those related to gender, whether that is LGBTIQ, or the issues related to male harassment that people are not outspoken about.” Having worked in the developmental sector since the past eight years, and in organizations such as the Blue Diamond Society and YUWA, Neha recalled that a significant part of her previous jobs was witnessing a lot of gender imbalance in the society, which affected her profoundly.

Rather than opting to form an NGO as many would, Neha and her sister chose a completely different and unprecedented outlet to express what they were passionate about. Neha was further inspired after she represented Nepal in Global Change Makers 2017, and witnessed how corporate giants like Coca-Cola, or Apple coordinated with organisations such as UNICEF or the UN to work on solving society’s issues – proving that the corporate sector and social organisations, although seemingly unlikely, partners can harmoniously work in a society to solve issues.

But do not be mistaken in thinking that gender equality has been combined with the cafe just for ‘attraction,’ because Neha has applied the principle through and through. From the staff she has hired from various gender to the eye-catchy quotes on the walls of the cafe – she has made sure that her cafe will make you think and raise the essential ‘why’ on the issues related to gender. She repeatedly stresses, “I wanted to create a space for people who are into productive thinking, innovative ideas or who just want to engross themselves in a book.” Personally I am smitten with the corner room of the cafe, which is designed for book lovers. You can even borrow some books from the small personalized library in the room, provided you return the book within fifteen days. You need not even pay for borrowing books!

What better way to spend a day than reading in the pleasant ambience of the cafe, while enjoying the delicacies the cafe offer. You might especially want to spend your mornings here.  The healthy yet delicious array of breakfast options will ensure a dashing start to your day. The breakfast options include the scrumptious American pancakes served with caramel sauce. The consistency is just about right-- soft and fluffy, perfect with a dip of the sweet caramel sauce. But nothing can beat egg benedict served with mouth-watering blend of Hollandaise sauce, made from melted butter, egg yolks and a tiny dash of lemon juice, with French Garden Greens. The sauce gave a creamy richness to each bite of poached egg and bread, leaving a cheesy aftertaste on the tongue and making one want more. The cafe also offers a healthy option of detox drinks for people who like to eat/drink healthy – from carrot, avocado to celery, according to the season.  But the unusual and tempting list of food on their menu, from Rose Momo to Chicken Waffles, might tempt you to order more than what you can eat. 

It is the smallest details -- the minimalistic decor, or their non-alcoholic bar named ‘Oh my Goodness’ that has a huge ‘What good are you doing today?’ written across on the board -- that make one believe that everything in the cafe has been meticulously planned and executed with a personal touch. Moreover, as Neha states, it takes courage to ask, raise your voice, or simply ask, Why?’ when faced with many societal issues even if you might not get an answer. The Women Co. is courageous in asking ‘Why?’ against gender violence, and it has been successful in making one ‘think’ immediately when one steps in the cafe.