Welcome to
Mesopotamia
Taste the authenticity of traditional Kurdish cuisine in the heart of Cape Town’s vibrant Green Market Square.

From the Beginning

About Us

Welcome to a cultural wonderland where colourful carpets, lamps, music and tastes tell a story from another time and place.

Baran Kalay, the Kurdish owner of Mesopotamia, introduced his cultural trademarks to Cape Town in 1993. Baran wanted to pay tribute to Kurdistan with his Mesopotamia experience. The menu, music and style of the restaurant tell you a story about the Kurdish people.

The Mesopotamia experience offers outside seating right on the square and with amazing views over the city from its upstairs terrace. Enjoy the belly dancers, comedy shows and a variety of entertainment while dining from the finest authentic food.

150 Number of seats

1267

Number of private events

30 years

Number of years operating

Delicious

Specialties

Delight in a wonderful Mezze menu offering a variety of Kurdish, Turkish and Mediterranean dips filled with flavour, each served with homemade, freshly baked bread. Choose from a range of traditional dishes from Turkish Pide and stews to fine wine selections and desserts.

Starters

Mains

Desserts

TASTE TRADITION

Starters
Kibbeh
R75.00
Traditional Mediterranean delicacy. Coated stuffed meatballs.
Mains
Spicy Chicken Pide
R115.00
Kurdish flatbread filled with cheese, chicken, red pepper, green pepper and mushroom.
Mains
Alinozik
R190.00
Spicy beef served on top of Turkish aubergine puree and garlic yoghurt.
Mains
Chicken Cokertme
R155.00
Spicy chicken served with shredded potatoes, garlic yoghurt and special home made chef's sauce.
Mains
Pideli Kofte
R145.00
Traditional meatballs served on top of fried garlic bread topped with chefs tomato sauce.
Mains
Beef Kebab
R175.00
Beef fillet grilled to perfection served with rice and potatoes.
Desserts
Baklava
R65.00
Layered pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup or honey.
Desserts
Sütlac
R55.00
Traditional baked rice pudding made with short grain rice and milk served with a side of ice cream.

OPEN ALL DAY

Breakfast
Shakshuka
R90.00
Traditionally made omelette with tomatoes, green and red pepper served with freshly baked bread.
Breakfast
Breakfast Platter for Two
R120.00
Boiled eggs, sliced tomatoes, feta, butter, sausage, potatoes and jam.
Lunch
Falafel Wrap
R75.00
Falafel wrap served with chips.
Salad
Tabbouleh
R75.00
Authentic tabbouleh salad made with onions, parsley, tomatoes, mint and quinoa.

Our Services

Embrace exotic and diverse Kurdish and Middle Eastern cuisines. Expect authentic, quality food made from the best ingredients, bringing people together to create unforgettable experiences.

Dine In

Al fresco dining in Cape Town’s vibrant Green Market Square. Discover the authenticity and cultural experience in our upstairs seating area.

Private Celebrations

Need a private venue for a personal celebration? Book your private event updates with exclusive use of the restaurant and the terrace area overlooking the square.

Events

Mesopotamia has hosted over 1200 events with their versatile event space both downstairs and upstairs, offering a wide range of venue options for any size.

Delivery

Enjoy your favourite Mesopotamia dishes in the comfort of your own home. Order through Uber Eats and enjoy selected delicacies.

Shisha

Lounge

Intimate and relaxing shisha lounge in the heart of the city centre. We use imported Turkish shisha which is considered the best in Cape Town We have our own resident Turkish shisha master Open from 9am until late (liquor license until 2 am)

Our

Staff

Baran Kalay is the original owner and still involved in the running of the business. New ownership includes Huseyin Batkin and Musa Okatan both originally from Turkey but with years of international experience and will take over the day to day operations of the group. The new international chefs are Fatih Gur and Musa Akdemir, they believe in authentic ingredients and cooking from the heart.