After arguing with her husband during a stop in the Mojave Desert, German tourist Jasmin grabs her suitcase, gets out of the car and sets off down the dusty road that will lead her to the Bagdad Café, a rather run-down motel-petrol station-bar run by Brenda. The place is frequented by colourful characters, including Rudi, a former Hollywood set painter, and Debby, a glamorous Gothic tattoo artist, with a melodic background of Johann Sebastian Bach played on the piano by Sal Jr., Brenda's son. Thanks to her patience and empathy with everyone she meets at the café, aided by her love of cleanliness and her sleight of hand, Jasmin gradually transforms the place and all the people who are part of it.