BBrood aka Brood is one of those cafes in Uganda that grows on you. Particularly, the Naalya Branch is a well-kept secret, the kind you wouldn’t ever want to give away. From the ideas that brood here to the encounters that happen, it’s a place that lives to its name.
But then, recently I did notice that most of Brood’s clientele tend to be men, precisely, middle-aged men. There are also some middle-aged women, but the numbers are skewed to the males. I asked a friend if they’d observed this, and their eyes opened up.
What really makes Brood stand out? The secret is in how they have designed this place with simplicity yet assurance. This ‘Assured Simplicity’ is seen in their tables, in the layout of the place, in the approachability of the service counter and the people. At the end of it all, it’s designed to make you see it as another extension of your home, a place you can always quickly walk to. You are meeting a friend and don’t know where to catch up? Just have that at Brood.
Think of it as Antonios in its great days. I suspect Brood is more about ideas and people brooding these great ideas and conversations, and the coffee and pastries are just an excuse. One of the things people notice in most cafes and lounges is something called ‘time pressure’ and ‘space pressure’. It’s the idea that as you occupy our space, order something and also if new clients pour in, you better get moving. Brood doesn’t have that, it’s not implied, not even in a subtle way.
But hey, these are our initial thoughts, we shall keep observing the space.