Iqraa Downtown

Iqraa Downtown is one of central Baghdad's newest cultural-and-commercial destinations, set on a restored block right next to Mutanabbi Street and the historic Al-Qishla compound. The development blends heritage facades with modern interiors and contains: an indoor gallery showing sculpture and painting by Iraqi artists, a large public library with reading rooms, a pedestrian walkway lined with cafes and restaurants, a mix of local Iraqi and international retail brands, and — opened most recently — a small five-star boutique hotel. It is at the centre of the wider 'Baghdad Downtown' regeneration initiative and has quickly become one of the city's signature stops for visitors who want to see the new energy of old Baghdad.