When it opened its doors in February, Arwa Yemeni Café brought more of Yemen than just that country’s legendary coffee to Sunnyvale. It also brought that country’s indigenous one-humped camels to the city — possibly the first dromedaries to ever visit the South Bay city.

And crowds came out to see them.

The café was packed, with a line running far into the parking lot, just to glimpse the animals — coffee could wait. Arwa had its ribbon-cutting, attended by Sunnyvale luminaries including Mayor Larry Klein, earlier in the week.

The camels came from much closer home than Yemen, however. Their home is Earth and Sun Camels in Temecula, CA.

“They’re amazing,” said Zakariya, 7. “I would like to ride a camel.”

“They’re very social, they love attention,” said cameleer David Chompff. “They’re very affectionate if you’re kind and gentle with them.”

Arwa is the newest outpost of the chain that started in Richardson, TX, by four partners Samir Irani — who previously owned coffee shops and bistros in the South Bay — Mohamad Alneser, Ahmad Badr and Mohammed Alrai. Irani visited an Arwa café in Texas and brought the idea of opening the café back with him to California.

“Arwa” means “beautiful woman” in Arabic and is also the name of Queen Arwa al-Sulayhi, who ruled Yemen from 1048 until her death in 1138, and was known for her enlightened rule. Queen Arwa came from Haraz, a region known for exceptional coffee.

The café’s location is a former Peet’s Coffee, but its décor transports visitors far from Silicon Valley. The design of the roomy restaurant is inspired by Queen Arwa’s palace in Yemen, featuring marble floors, white walls, intricate cut-outs and tall arches.

Signature drinks include the Yemeni Latte with a camel stencil on top, a date palm latte with date syrup and white chocolate, and pistachio and Biscoff lattes. The café bakes its own pastries, as well as milk cakes and cheesecakes.

Arwa’s opening is one of several new Yemeni cafés in Silicon Valley. Last year alone, Milyar Cafe debuted in Santa Clara and another Yemeni chain opened in Redwood City and Mountain View.

The “morning joe” that starts our day is believed to have been first brewed in Yemen. Tradition has it that Sufi monks were the first to brew coffee, which they drank to stay awake during nighttime prayers.

By the 15th century, Yemen’s port city of Mocha (Al-Mukha) was the world’s principal coffee trading hub and that dominance continued through the 17th century. It was so dominant that “mocha” is now a synonym for coffee.

Arwa is at the corner of Tasman Drive and Fair Oaks in Sunnyvale (650 Tasman).

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