Our Story
Our Family
Our Story
In September 2025, we opened the doors to Bella Aurora Cafe in the heart of downtown Aurora, but our story began long before that—in a kitchen filled with the aroma of freshly ground coffee and my mother's baklava baking in the oven.
Bella—beautiful in so many languages. We chose this name because beauty is universal, just like the desire to gather, to share, and to feel at home. Bella Aurora: the beautiful cafe in Aurora, a place that welcomes every culture, every story, every guest.
In Iranian culture, there's a sacred tradition called "mehmooni" where hosting guests isn't just hospitality—it's an act of love. Growing up, I watched my parents transform our home into a place of warmth and connection. I remember grinding coffee beans manually, the meditative rhythm of it, then brewing fresh coffee for our guests. They'd take that first sip and smile. "This is incredible," they'd say. "You should open a cafe one day."
My mother's hands were always creating. For every celebration, every wedding, every gathering, she baked. Her baklava became legendary in our community—delicate layers of phyllo, perfectly sweetened, made with a care that you could taste. People didn't just ask for the recipe; they asked her to bake for their own special occasions. They begged her to sell them.
When my parents retired and moved to Canada, my mom started baking from home again. Word spread quickly. People were overjoyed to have access to her creations once more. That's when we realized: this gift, this love of feeding people and bringing them together, it needed a home beyond our kitchen.
As a software engineer, I spend my days in the digital world. But I've always loved coffee—the ritual of it, the craft, the way a perfect cup can pause time. My parents brought something even more precious: decades of cooking and baking skills, honed through countless gatherings and celebrations. Together, we created Bella Aurora, a space where East meets West, where traditional Iranian warmth embraces international flavors, and where every guest becomes part of our family.
We keep our menu international because good food, like good company, transcends borders. But we prepare everything with the attention and skill my parents brought from Iran. Nothing here is frozen or pre-made. Every sandwich is built fresh, every dish cooked with intention, every ingredient chosen for quality. We source our coffee from Hatch, a local roaster we trust and admire. Our breads and meats come from local suppliers who share our commitment to excellence.
When you walk into Bella Aurora, we want you to feel what we felt growing up: that sense of being home, of being welcomed, of being seen. We've created a cozy space where families can spend hours together, where friends can catch up without rushing, and where you can work on your laptop or lose yourself in a book. My favorite time is when the sun streams through our wide windows, filling the space with warmth and light—it's as if the cafe itself is embracing you.
What makes us different isn't just our Dubai Crepe or our Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte (though you absolutely must try both). It's that we add our love into every cup and every plate. It's that when you're here, you're not a customer. You're our guest. And in our culture, that means everything.