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Bagdad Cafe
(Formerly Sidewinder Cafe)
The Bagdad Cafe in Newberry Springs, California, is a quirky and legendary stop along the old Route 66. Once the Sidewinder Cafe, it was made famous by the 1987 German movie Bagdad Cafe. It was that cult classic film of all time that put this little desert diner onto the tourist itinerary of all those visiting Route 66.
It captures something of the spirit of the Mojave Desert: offbeat atmosphere, faded exterior, eccentric memorabilia hung everywhere inside. It has now become a place of pilgrimage for both fans of the film and road trippers on the Mother Road. People tend to leave trinkets behind or sign their names on walls, thereby leaving a part of themselves in this stop on the road.
The joint thrives, despite its desolate location, as an oasis of nostalgia, survival, and the unfettered spirit of the open highway. It is not merely a cafe but evidence-a sign, if you will, since you enjoy the synonyms!-of Route 66's enduring magic.
