Generosity
The heart of Levantine hospitality. Measured not by quantity, but by how people feel.
Our Story
ZAYA began with belief.
Some restaurants begin with a location. Others with a business opportunity. ZAYA began with recognising exceptional talent, and creating a home where it could flourish.
Why We Created Zaya
A place where heritage feels alive
Our journey started when we met Chef Adnan Haidar. From the very beginning, we recognised something exceptional - cooking that was technically accomplished, but carried a sense of generosity that defines the Lebanese table.
Together we imagined a restaurant inspired by the forests, mountains and olive groves of Lebanon. Where contemporary design would meet timeless hospitality, and traditional recipes would evolve without losing their soul.
What ZAYA Means
Some names have a definition. Ours has a feeling.
ZAYA evokes the landscapes that inspired our restaurant. Ancient olive groves across rolling hills. Cedar forests in the mountains. Long tables filled with family, laughter and food prepared with patience.
Like the olive tree - a symbol of peace, resilience and abundance for thousands of years - ZAYA is rooted in tradition while continually looking towards the future.
“Great restaurants fill tables. The greatest become part of people’s lives.”Doron & Valeria Zilkha, Founders
What We Believe
Our values are not aspirations. They are promises.
Authenticity
We honour tradition with honesty, allowing it to evolve through contemporary craftsmanship.
Craftsmanship
Excellence is found in the smallest details. Nothing is accidental.
Community
We aspire to become part of the fabric of West Kensington.
Respect
For our guests, our team, our suppliers, our ingredients and our traditions.
Curiosity
Tradition should never stand still. We remain curious, always evolving.
Why West Kensington
Woven into the daily rhythm of the neighbourhood
From the beginning, we knew ZAYA belonged in West Kensington - one of London’s most diverse and welcoming communities, shaped by its residents rather than passing trends. We do not aspire to be a destination visited once. We aspire to become part of people’s lives.
We sit on the corner of North End Road and Edith Villas, a few minutes from West Kensington station and within walking distance of Earl’s Court, Holland Park and Olympia London. An independent restaurant, not a group or a chain, cooking Levantine and Middle Eastern food for the people who live and work around us and for anyone in West London who has been looking for it.
Reservations
Become part of our story
Lunch, dinner, cocktails, or a quiet morning coffee. Reserve in the dining room, or bring ZAYA home.
137 North End Road · West Kensington · London W14 8XU