What is a Shawarma? 

It is a popular Arab meat dish consisting of meat cut into thin slices, stacked in a cone-like shape, and roasted on a slowly-turning vertical rotisserie. Never heard of it before? Well there are hardly any places in Thimphu that serve Shawarma but we found the right spot to enjoy this delicious Arab barbecue. 

Three friends, bounded by their love for food, music and beer, founded caferealillusions . It is a Restro Bar & Cafe located right downstairs to Le Meridien. “We used to be in a rock band called “The Real Illusions,” and we used to spend a lot of time together with good music, food and lots of beer,” But with time and family, the guys shared about how little they could spend time like the good old days.

“Over drinks, we would always talk about owning a place with good music, food and beer,” After more than a decade, over drinks again…the boys talked about making their wish come true. “And that’s how we started Real Illusions Restro Bar. A restro bar named after our band to keep the passion within us alive and the name as well. And here we are with our second venture, Cafe Real illusions.”

So go to Real Illusions, enjoy their Shawarma, their beer and take time to reminisce about the good old days of college and reconnect with your old mates. CHEERS!

Go to their page on instagram here

Google map directions here