Opening October 7, 2022
Beit Kanz is a Lebanese cultural hub that includes a Lebanese terroir shop, an artisanal boutique and a café-restaurant. Here, all our senses embark on a journey that connects us with the heritage and skills of Lebanon.
On Sursock Street in Beirut, stands a unique heritage building, shaded by jasmines and citrus trees. Built between 1880 and 1940, it offers a visual feast of architectural styles: local, Ottoman, Art-Deco, with exquisite woodwork, and a splendid array of patterns and colors. This Beiruti house embraces the spirit of Kanz: mindful of the past, while resolutely focused on the future. Severely affected by the August 4, 2020 explosion, the building was carefully restored by Kanz’ parent organization, Beit el Baraka, who raised funds specifically for the restoration and preservation of this building. Although funds were collected for the sole purpose of preserving the building, this was no charitable hand-out: in exchange for funding and directing the works, Beit el Baraka negotiated with the owners the exclusive use of the ground floor space for a five-year term, entirely free of charge. Also, the refurbishment and decoration works were funded by a group of philanthropists who believe in the vision and mission of Kanz: transforming Beit el Baraka’s beneficiaries to producers, and creating jobs. Every piece of furniture, wood, marble, wallpaper, tiles, mirrors, lighting, paint, glassware, cutlery and fabric were all generously donated. All of the café’s furniture and clay serving pots and plates were produced by Lebanese artisans with special needs in Beirut, the Shouf, and Tripoli. This is how Kanz makes resources go further to positively impact more people.
The Gourmet Shop features the complete range of Kanz ethical products, handcrafted by more than 1000 Lebanese women in 53 villages, using recipes that combine ancestral skills with the creativity of renowned chefs, using seasonal and natural home-grown ingredients. Kanz brings together food, traditions and skills that weave our culture while focusing on practices with a low environmental footprint, and high social impact.
The boutique is a platform that showcases the elegant talent of local artisans, bringing their remarkable artistic skills to world attention: from physically challenged potters in the Shouf, to visually impaired wicker weavers in Beirut, embroiderers and couturiers in Baalbek, coppersmiths in Tripoli, fine glass blowers in Tyre, soap makers in Saida, woodworkers in Hadath, and many more. Here, Lebanese craftsmanship is promoted by encouraging more craftsmen and women to produce Lebanese handicrafts, using their heritage techniques with a modern artistic direction (in collaboration with Beirut Bloomers).
The café is a journey in time, a culinary adventure that celebrates Lebanon’s most precious treasure: its land. Ever since the dawn of agriculture 12,000 years ago, the inhabitants of Lebanon engaged with their fertile land, producing a treasure (Kanz in Arabic). Lebanon is part of the Fertile Crescent, and it’s from this land that farming first emerged. Beit Kanz’ menu celebrates Lebanese ancestral culinary heritage by depicting the historical background of every seasonal dish on its menu (Developed with Heritage and Roots’ historian Charles al-Hayek).
“Beit Kanz is a hub that allows us to honor our heritage, celebrate our culinary traditions, and share our collective knowledge. It is a place of dialogue, food, craftsmanship, history, music, and arts. With all proceeds going to support Beit el Baraka’s 226,000 vulnerable families of retirees and children, Kanz aims at achieving scalable and lasting change in Lebanon’s rural areas by providing sustainable solutions that tap into Lebanon’s boundless opportunities, and transmit the skills needed for Beit el Baraka’s beneficiaries to become self-sufficient producers. This venture was made possible by wonderful philanthropists who believe in the importance of preserving our cultural heritage, and who believe in empowering women producers, and perpetrating artisanal craftsmanship. All proceeds made by Kanz are fully donated to Beit el Baraka.” –Maya Ibrahimchah, Kanz Beit el Baraka founder.
Open from 8am to midnight
All week
Google Maps: Beit Kanz
For reservations please call 81 777 098