Sheroes Cafe Agra

One of the highlights of my recent solo road trip to Agra, was stumbling across this awesome place called The Sheroes Hangout. 

A cafe that employs women who have fought back for life and survival through heinous chemical burns and are now, on a course to define themselves as 'fighter's. It is a small but significant step in making our society better, in Agra. This cafe was an initiative that would imbue those who had faced unfair tragedy befall them and to not be defined by it. I was there at off hours, around 4:45 PM, so there weren't many customers there. But many wanderers did stop by to take pics of the place, and there were some hipsters who dropped by, clearly having read of the place on social media. Here's the link to their Facebook page, check it out for more information on the place and upcoming events.
https://www.facebook.com/SheroesHangout/timeline

It had both indoor and outdoor seating arrangements. As I later found out, they also had music performances sometimes in the evening, in the outside seating area. The walls were beautifully decorated with colorful graffiti designs. The wicker-chairs and the window beads add to the indie feel of the cafe. On the back wall, were some souvenir handicrafts for purchase on one side, and a clothing lineup, designed by a woman who was also an acid attack survivor. The inside wall was lined with books, catering to a plethora of reading interests.

I wasn't too hungry but I didn't want to leave without ordering anything. So I had the cheese sandwich, but I think they used a brand that I don't like so I didn't enjoy it. But I do recommend that you try their pasta and the beverages. I can vouch that the virgin mojito was an elixir in that heat.


When it came to leave, I came to know of another unique aspect to the cafe. There is no price list. You pay what you think the food and experience was worth. Which did put me under pressure as I was trying to cut back on cash expenses but didn't want to seem like a cheapskate. I kept asking the ingenue behind the counter for a rough figure, but she didn't offer any solutions to my dilemma. I ended up paying 200, praying that it was just enough.

As I was leaving, around 5:30 PM, a group of 11 German tourists entered, and more people were coming in, suggesting that the cafe was doing well after all. Though incipient, the Sheroes Hangout has a bright future ahead and hopefully will start branching out to other cities. I do urge you to go there if you're ever in Agra, and enjoy a nice cool beverage.

Another thing I'd like to share with you regarding this experience, is that I respect their bravery to get on with their lives in this nation that thrives on labeling you and creating a stigma around tragedies befalling women. And while I note that this place embraces their handicap, I would not define them by it. They are people who have had more than their share of bad luck in their past. That is why, I say that the Sheroes Hangout really is a great place to chill in Agra, with good food and great ambiance, and while the staff are sheroes in their own right, visit the place not for that, but for the great cafe that they run.

As always, thanks for reading and feel free to share and comment.


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