How did the journey of Al Khawaja start?
The journey started on July 15, 2020, once we opened Jnaynit Al Khawaja amid Lebanon’s monetary disaster and the Covid-19 pandemic. Initially launched as a summer time pop-up in Faqra, it was meant to supply a peaceable escape from Beirut’s unrest. Furthermore, the idea got here from a partnership between Elie Mhanna and me, rooted in our shared expertise and want to create one thing comforting. Though it began as a short-term concept, the Beirut explosion and airport closures pushed us to proceed. Moreover, its success impressed us to open Al Khawaja Achrafieh in 2022, adopted by Samkit Al Khawaja in 2025.
What makes every Al Khawaja idea distinctive and what expertise do you goal to supply company?
To start with, Al Khawaja Group proudly owns three distinct eating venues throughout Lebanon, every providing a singular culinary expertise. First, Jnaynit Al Khawaja opened in 2020 in Faqra, providing rustic mountain attraction with BBQs, saj and sweeping terrace views. Subsequent, in 2022, Al Khawaja launched in Achrafieh, inside a Nineteen Sixties villa serving refined Lebanese delicacies with lush gardens for each season. Then, in 2025, Samkit Al Khawaja debuted in Batroun’s harbor, providing contemporary seafood immediately sourced from native fishermen alongside the coast. Lastly, Samkit presents two menus, conventional Lebanese seafood and trendy dishes, delivering an genuine, elevated portside eating expertise by the ocean.
How do the completely different Al Khawaja venues complement each other below one model?
Each Al Khawaja Group idea is designed to create a definite emotional reference to every visitor it welcomes. Particularly, Jnaynit Al Khawaja in Faqra gives rustic attraction and scenic views, attracting ski lovers in winter and households throughout summer time. In the meantime, Al Khawaja in Achrafieh blends custom with trendy magnificence, drawing professionals, metropolis residents and vacationers. Lastly, Samkit Al Khawaja in Batroun fosters authenticity and belonging, the place company emotionally join with fishermen, the ocean, and sincere coastal delicacies.
How do you stability custom and innovation throughout your manufacturers?
The innovation shines by at Al Khawaja Achrafieh, the place traditional Lebanese delicacies is elevated inside a sublime setting inside a fantastically preserved heritage constructing, providing a complicated city eating expertise. Equally, Samkit Al Khawaja innovates by immersing company within the vibrant coastal life-style. Company dine alongside the working port with boats coming and going, whereas sustaining a refined, up to date environment. This considerate stability honors custom whereas creating contemporary, immersive experiences that deeply join company to Lebanon’s wealthy tradition and distinctive environments.
What’s subsequent for Al Khawaja Group?
Our group’s imaginative and prescient is to broaden and diversify by introducing complementary ideas each inside and outdoors Lebanon. Consequently, this technique helps us interact a broader viewers whereas preserving our roots and honoring the essence of our culinary heritage. In flip, it permits us to ship genuine experiences.
