Our Story

Cafe Bassam’s first location was in Gaslamp, Downtown San Diego. Cafe Bassam has served and fostered its local community for three generations. Owner Bassam Shamma’s mission statement is to deliver a classy but also a friendly environment where friends and lovers can have a nice chat and share memories together.

Cafe Bassam originally started as an antique shop, providing excellent customer service in a luxurious and vintage atmosphere. Initially, the Shamma family gave free coffee to customers while they were shopping. Customers loved Shamma’s home-brewed coffee and enjoyed the antique shop’s atmosphere. From the positive feedbacks, Shamma decided to open up a cafe which provides craft coffee and European vibe that one cannot usually find in cafes located in California.

Cafe Bassam seeks to connect with the community by offering variety in menu. While delivering excellent coffee, there are more than hundred kinds of tea flavors, daily selection of spirits/wine, homemade sweets, savory dish, and cigar collections.