“You won’t find a more authentic Lebanese food experience.”

Hany Harb

This is my promise to patrons who visit Ali Baba and BABA restaurants: an experience that is rooted in the rich culinary tradition of the Levantine while also drawing inspiration from classical French cuisine.

I always considered myself an entrepreneur as well as a chef. Having started from the very bottom of this industry, I held onto the dream of owning and running my own chain of restaurants during the years I spent travelling around Europe and South America, where I worked alongside Michelin-starred chefs. I still travel extensively to learn more about cultures, cuisines and ingredients, while also researching and perfecting new culinary techniques.

On the other hand, my passion for spreading Lebanese culture through cuisine was acquired closer to home; directly from my mother Nadra and my father Abdul Rahman, who were the first to serve authentic Lebanese dishes to diners in Malta in 1987.

Today, I am chef-patron of Ali Baba and with the help of my wife Claudienne Harb, we have overseen its radical transformation from deli shop to one of Malta’s foremost establishments specialised in Lebanese cuisine. This was a dream come true for us both and with the opening of BABA in 2020, a street food outlet and delivery service, the Hany Harb group is ready to spread its wings even further.