In Dubai Design District, where numerous studios and showrooms are located creatively, one restaurant cannot be defined. In this case, Mediterranean cuisine is juxtaposed with curated retail products, coffee in the morning flows into an evening Aperitivo drink, and design objects are intermixed with freshly made viennoiserie. The terrace overlooks Burj Khalifa’s towering form while inside, conversations flow over lingering breakfasts and painting lunches, exactly as the Bloomsbury Group once gathered in Virginia Woolf’s London.
This is The Lighthouse, a concept that stands at the intersection of food and design, navigating both disciplines with equal conviction. Founded in January 2017 by Hashem Montasser and Hany Bassiouny, two former finance professionals who abandoned spreadsheets for the more unpredictable rhythms of hospitality, it has grown from a single location in Dubai Design District into a UAE phenomenon spanning multiple cities and contexts.
The Founders’ Journey
Hashem Montasser spent over 15 years building successful asset management businesses for EFG-Hermes and Aventicum Capital in Dubai and Doha, following earlier stints at Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan in New York and London. Harvard College has given me a Bachelor’s Degree with a Dual Concentration in Economics and Near Eastern Languages and Civilization. I have also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. The educational background offers a promising future of success in Finance.
Hany Bassiouny traveled a similar path through finance powerhouses before both men recognized that passion for good food and design could not be satisfied through investment portfolios alone. They took 6 months to develop the concept and spent the next 12 months developing a Business Plan, revising drafts until they had a polished plan, preparing Business Presentations, working collaboratively with designers on Written Values, Colour Schemes, and Logo Designs, etc. Montasser’s continued travels to Europe, the USA, Asia, and the Middle East for research, to study other similar businesses, and to find ways they successfully incorporated both Dining and Retail were pivotal. “The Lighthouse” was established after months of careful research and analysis that identified an unmet need within Dubai’s Cultural Landscape. The Vision for “The Lighthouse” began to take shape once Chef Izu Ani, from the famed restaurants “La Serre” and “La Petite Maison,” joined as a partner. Having been in Dubai for some time prior to joining forces with Chef Izu and the Lighthouse Partners, Chef Izu quickly grasped our concept and brought so much to us through his expertise in Mediterranean cuisine, adding to our Vision. The triumvirate brought complementary expertise: Montasser and Bassiouny’s business acumen and design sensibility, Ani’s culinary mastery and hospitality experience.
The Multilayered Name
There are three meanings of The Lighthouse that create a multi-dimensional picture of this brand’s identity. The first reference is The Lighthouse of Alexandria (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), which was located in Egypt (where Montasser was born) and illustrated what was possible with human achievement in Architectural and Engineering technology, demonstrating the ship’s safety in arriving at its designated port.
The second importance of the lighthouse metaphor is that it depicts The Lighthouse as the point where food and design come together, offering both food and beverage (F&B) and retail experiences under one roof. It is a place where customers can find a full range of ways to engage in a holistic cultural experience of both food and design.
Third, personal tragedy informs the name. Montasser’s mother, the late Dr. Malak Hashem, who passed away in 2009, spent her life as an educator and wrote her thesis on Virginia Woolf, author of the seminal novel “To the Lighthouse.” This tribute ensures her legacy of curiosity and excellence continues through the establishment.
The last reference to the lighthouse as a place for gathering is in honor of Virginia Woolf, who, along with many members of the Bloomsbury Group, would meet for discussion and companionship over food such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Woolf’s “lingering breakfasts” and “painting lunches” exemplified the role that well-prepared food played in their interactions and as motivations for intellectual discourse. This is the foundation of The Lighthouse’s Philosophy.
The Design District Flagship
The original Dubai Design District location, founded in 2017, established the template that subsequent openings would adapt. The venue is an official food outlet for Mediterranean cuisine, boasting a spacious interior designed by the UAE-based interior architecture firm AAC, and a terrace overlooking both the Burj Khalifa and Business Bay.
From opening hours at 8 AM through evening service, the space accommodates a range of activities: morning coffee and laptop work on mod-inspired Beetle Chairs by Danish furniture maker Gubi, a leisurely lunch with friends, and a sunset aperitivo at the mezze bar. By evening, nu-disco lounge music curated by Mykonos icon John Hanlidis transforms the ambiance for eclectic crowds seeking sophisticated nightlife without nightclub intensity.
The retail selection follows principles of minimalism, timelessness, and functionality. Glassware, serveware, travel and lifestyle accessories, books, and papeterie from international and regional designers rotate through approximately 5-10 new brands added yearly. Los Angeles-based M.Cohen accessories and Boy Smells candles claim exclusive availability in the UAE through The Lighthouse, attracting customers seeking items unavailable elsewhere.
The Culinary Identity
The Mediterranean-inspired menu created by Chef Izu Ani incorporates Soul Food with Middle Eastern staples, making this cuisine accessible and sophisticated throughout the day. Each item is served for breakfast with our own freshly baked bread varieties and an extensive selection of viennoiseries, including fresh croissants, brioche, danish pastries, and more, all baked on-site daily.
The signature dishes of Chef Izu Ani highlight the variety of options offered by the restaurant: spicy tomato shakshouka as a brunch option for spicy lovers, fish carpaccio of sea bream for seafood lovers, grilled lamb cutlets for those craving some comfort at home, and baked sea bass wrapped in vine leaves with ras el hanout and harissa for a real taste of the Mediterranean spicing. The mezze bar menu functions as an international tapas selection, perfect for sharing or indecisive diners seeking variety.
Desserts like passion fruit and yuzu cheesecake, apple and olive oil cake with housemade malt ice cream, tiramisu, saffron milk cake with whipped cream, and TLH Umm Ali with malt ice cream close meals with creative interpretations of classics. The wine, cocktail, and beer menu provides thoughtful pairings without overwhelming selection anxiety.
This approach, somewhat hipster in sensibility, guarantees quality coffee, imaginative food creations, and strong health-conscious options, including vegan choices. The menu identity prioritizes nutrition and ingredient integrity while maintaining broad appeal across dietary preferences and restrictions.
The Expansion Strategy
At the time of the opening of the Mall of Emirates location in April 2021, this aggressive growth strategy can be attributed to the success of The Lighthouse at the Dubai Design District (D3); this was the first of two locations, which opened with seating for 115 diners in its main area, and had a desirable terrace that overlooked the beautiful glass dome of the Mall of Emirates. This placement within a major shopping destination introduced The Lighthouse to different customer demographics while maintaining brand consistency.
Nakheel Mall on Palm Jumeirah and Yas Bay Waterfront in Abu Dhabi followed, both launching in Q4 2021. The Abu Dhabi location features a bakery, an art-filled dining space with Library Bar, and a waterfront terrace for alfresco dining and happy hour on the promenade. An exclusive Chef’s Table provides a private dining option for discreet events.
The design of Dubai Hills Business Park was led by the well-respected architectural firm Archer Humphryes Architects. They designed an environment that feels both warm and inviting and also refined and sophisticated, combining modern aesthetics with a warm hospitality feel, making it an excellent venue for social events or a night out.
The Lighthouse, which opened in Riyadh, is also in Saudi Arabia, with locations in the Diplomatic Quarter and Solitaire Mall. The new Diplomatic Quarter restaurant was designed with inspiration from the surroundings, incorporating elements of heritage and innovation. The space combines indoor and alfresco dining, welcoming guests from early morning to late-night gatherings.
In addition to offering signature menu items through delivery with third-party delivery services like Deliveroo as well as direct-to-home services, The Lighthouse has also managed to reproduce the menu quality in a way that allows dining at home, with minimal sacrifices in quality, allowing guests to enjoy freshly made pastries, oven-baked pizzas, and pastas, and menu favorites.
The Cultural Integration
When The Lighthouse opened in 2017, there was no cultural hub-meets-restaurant venue in Dubai like those found in many other cities worldwide, and while there did exist a collection of art galleries to look at, restaurants to eat from, and shops to buy from there was no holistic destination that brought all three of these industries together within one space for visitors and locals alike.
The Lighthouse creates a unique dining, shopping, and social atmosphere in which the various experiences (food and drinks, shopping, socializing) complement one another by providing an environment where Art formed through Gallery collaborations with Christie’s, the Art Dubai group, and Vitra is presented in ways that align with the Lighthouse’s vision. Visitors to the Lighthouse are encouraged to return regularly due to the ever-changing schedule of Monthly activations or events that coincide with menu rotations.
The walls display pieces from artists with regional perspectives, either commissioned or acquired. This curatorial approach treats the restaurant as an evolving exhibition space, where design objects, artwork, and food are given equal consideration as elements of a complete sensory experience.
As an independently created concept for an experiential Restaurant, The Lighthouse supports other local creators by featuring a range of homegrown designers, artists, and makers through its Retail collection inside and outside of the Middle East region. This philosophy of the Lighthouse supports the development of emerging talent and strengthens the entire Creative Community Ecosystem by creating opportunities for established and emerging artists to work together to help create a positive impact on the World.
Brand partnerships are established on shared values of Craftsmanship, Innovation, and Cultural Contribution rather than a focus on Commercial Opportunity. Every collaboration must demonstrate a mutual commitment to shared values, and this approach also creates consistency across the various points of contact with the Lighthouse. This means that regardless of whether a customer is visiting for an order of Food or Drinks, browsing for books, or attending an Event, they can expect a consistent Aesthetic and Framework Philosophy across all areas of interaction with The Lighthouse.
A Lifestyle Manifesto
The Lighthouse operates as a lifestyle brand rather than a restaurant group. The future focus is on developing the business model (philosophy) to assist customers in filling gaps in their daily experiences. Expanding into the new market of Riyadh is not simply a matter of geographic expansion, but an opportunity to bring our Mission to a New Culture and Market eager for our unique blend of Culinary Innovation, Thoughtful Design, and A Spirit of Community.
The last 8 years have seen The Lighthouse succeed as a growing Brand in an increasingly competitive & saturated environment. In Dubai, the volume of new F&B concepts launched and closed at a dizzying rate.
The Lighthouse has sustained growth over the last 8 years, proving that the business model is sustainable and successful. By not having to choose between food and design, food and retail, or cafe and gathering space during the day or night, we have been able to create a Brand that exists in a category of its own.
This is dining where buying a birthday gift, working on a laptop, enjoying sunset drinks, and reserving a table for dinner all happen in the same carefully considered environment. As one of Virginia Woolf’s intellectual legacies, the original concept of a cafe where she and her male financial contemporaries realised that some of the greatest investments cannot be quantified in numbers but are measured in community experiences sparked by relationships built with customers, and by the way beauty is delivered to customers on every perfectly presented plate delivered through the table.
