Unpacking Kuwait City’s Midnight Wi-Fi Café: A Digital Nomad’s 3 a.m. Confession

here’s the thing about kuwait city: it’s not on most people’s radar until you land there with a expired visa and a half-eaten falafel from a street cart that tasted like regret. i found myself in a tiny café called arabica haven at 2:47 a.m., burning my laptop battery chasing a deadline, and the only person there was a man in a thoub ’ rummaging through garbage bags behind the counter. the weather? i just checked and it’s 13.68°c, feels like 11.99°c because the ac is broke and the windows are open to what smells like a clogged drainage system. no wifi password on the wall either, so i asked the barista. ‘no charging,’ he said, grinning. ‘this is kuwait.’

neighbors? if you get bored, istanbul is just a flight away. but seriously, the city’s a hidden gem for solo travelers who like their coffee bitter and their history darker. i overheard something at the mall yesterday-a local vendor said never drink the tap water here, even though everyone does. irony?

overheard rumors: someone told me that the souq behind fish market alley sells vintage military uniforms for $15. another guy swore the quranic radio station plays at 5 a.m. like it’s a thing. i paid $20 to hear someone rant about oil prices while watching a camel eat a street sign. weird country? maybe. memorable? absolutely.