REPORT: Women find some respite in Libya's 'families only' cafes

Fashionable cafes springing up in Libya's capital are shutting out single men and catering for women looking for a break from the tensions - political and personal - crowding in around them.

The cafes with European names and bright decor seem a world away from the city's traffic-clogged and still violent streets. In a socially conservative society, they also offer privacy and protection from unwanted advances.

On a sunny afternoon, groups of women were seen sitting outdoors and having animated conversations at “At Home” cafe, which offers a stunning view over the Mediterranean.

The cafe's manager, Abdulhameed Ghreetly, said he preferred catering to families because they are “less of a headache” than the cafes for young men.

Many female customers also find the families-only cafes more inviting.

“If I go with my friends, we chat about our problems and change our mood,” said 27-year-old Haneen, eating a late breakfast in the busy La Rambla cafe.

“A family place is more comfortable, there's no harassment or flirting,” she added.

One cafe owner said he was offering the Libyan families what they wanted.

“For our social traditions and our thinking as a conservative people, you feel that the families want a private place. A man with his wife and kids want to sit in a public area and he prefers not to have youths nearby,” said Abdulhameed El-Turki, owner of the Garden café.

“Eighty percent of the cafes have adopted the family-only model, because the profit is better than in youth cafes,” he added.

Most of Tripoli's economy has been in free fall since major battles between rival factions in 2014 left the country divided with competing governments.

The female clients are offering some respite - managers say they spend more on fancy coffees and juices than the espresso-sipping men, often ordering the pricier items on the menu such as pastries, pancakes, and milkshakes.

Some see the cafes as heralding a return to relative normality - their owners say they have had little trouble from armed groups known for extortion and theft. Upmarket shops, some with international brands, have opened in smarter neighborhoods.

Opinion is split on what the cafes say about Libyan society.

For some they are a sign of increasing openness - Libyan women have little chance to socialize outside the home.

For others they are a reminder of the limits on women in a country where outdoor public spaces are dominated by men.