In Kuwait, Lebanese dining has long been woven into the rhythm of everyday life. It is the cuisine of family lunches that stretch into late afternoons, of lively tables layered with mezze, charcoal smoke rising from the grill, warm bread passed from hand to hand, and conversations that linger long after dessert is served.
Yet at Li Beirut at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya, the experience is moving beyond nostalgia alone. Under the leadership of newly appointed Chef Ali Awada, the restaurant is embracing a more personal expression of Lebanese hospitality and generosity, one deeply rooted in culture and engraved in memory through moments shared around the table.
A Childhood Shaped by the Lebanese Table
For Awada, the story begins in Beirut, in his grandmother’s kitchen. “It was never only about the food,” he says. “It was the feeling around the table, the warmth, the sharing, the care that went into every dish. That feeling stayed with me.” Those early memories would shape a career that eventually brought him to Kuwait, a country he now considers a second home after more than a decade spent building his culinary journey across some of the region’s leading hospitality and dining destinations. Today, as Head Chef of Li Beirut, Awada returns to the cuisine closest to his heart, bringing with him an approach that honours Lebanese culinary traditions while introducing subtle contemporary touches shaped by years of experience in Kuwait and across the GCC. “Lebanese cuisine is about balance and simplicity,” he explains. “It’s rooted in the land and the seasons, but above all, in the spirit of sharing and bringing people together around the table.”
A New Chapter for Li Beirut
Since opening in 2024, Lï Beirut has established itself as one of Kuwait City’s most vibrant Lebanese dining destinations, known for its open kitchen, live music, and warm atmosphere that transitions seamlessly from relaxed breakfasts and leisurely lunches to lively dinners overlooking the city skyline.
Under the leadership of Chef Ali Awada, the restaurant now enters a new culinary chapter, one that further strengthens Li Beirut’s identity through a deeper celebration of Lebanese culture, authenticity and the comforting flavours that evoke the feeling of gathering around a family table at home. The new menu focuses on elevating familiar Lebanese classics through refined techniques, thoughtful presentation and carefully layered flavours, while remaining deeply respectful of tradition and the emotional connection guests have with the cuisine. The Chili Pepper Prawns Hummus offers a refined twist on the traditional Levantine staple, layering velvety chickpea purée with subtle spice, seafood richness and delicate sweetness, while the Crunchy Golden Arayes reimagines one of the Levant’s most familiar comfort foods through crisp breading, yogurt and tahini dip, pomegranate seeds and toasted pine nuts, bringing new texture and refinement to a deeply nostalgic dish. Elsewhere, the Citrus Kebbeh balances brightness and richness through hummus muhamara and caramelised walnuts, while signature mains such as the Samke Harra, baked in a sea salt crust and finished with coriander, pine nuts and confit garlic, reflect the menu’s balance between authenticity and refinement.
Alongside the core menu, Lï Beirut is also introducing signature dishes dedicated to different days of the week, creating moments of discovery inspired by the traditions of Lebanese homes and family gatherings. From slow cooked classics to dishes deeply rooted in Levantine family traditions, the weekly specials celebrate the kind of cooking often associated with gathering around the table at home. “The flavours should feel genuine,” says Awada. “I don’t believe in overcomplicating Lebanese food.” The evolving culinary identity of Li Beirut also reflects Kuwait’s longstanding relationship with Lebanese cuisine, one shaped by authenticity, gatherings, and shared experiences around the table.
From relaxed breakfasts and leisurely lunches to vibrant evenings accompanied by live music, the restaurant has been designed as a destination guests can return to throughout the day, where every experience feels both warm and thoughtfully refined. What ultimately defines this new chapter of Lï Beirut is its sense of sincerity. In a city deeply connected to Lebanese dining, the restaurant distinguishes itself through an experience that feels genuinely personal, one rooted not only in flavour, but in emotion, memory and the art of making people feel at home.
The Luxury of Feeling at Home
For Awada, luxury has little to do with excess. It is found instead in consistency, care, and the ability to make guests feel genuinely welcomed to a warm home experience from the moment they arrive.
“When guests place their trust in you, you must live up to it in everything that you do,” he says. “For me, it is about creating moments where people feel connected, satisfied, and genuinely cared for. I want every guest to leave feeling as though they have experienced something deeply familiar, yet elevated in a meaningful way.”
At Li Beirut, that feeling now arrives in many forms: in the scent of grilled bread emerging from the open kitchen, in the brightness of citrus and herbs layered across a table of mezze, and in dishes that carry the comfort of home into one of Kuwait’s most elegant dining rooms.
For more information, follow @libeirutkuwait on Instagram.
