Seven years ago, Cindy Nehme and Pamela Siryani arrived in Barcelona carrying a city they did not yet know how to name in another language. They did not speak Spanish. They had no network. What they had was Beirut, its food, its rituals, and a deep belief that hospitality could become a language of its own.From that belief, Bērytī was born.
Tucked into the streets of Gràcia, Bērytī is not simply a Lebanese bistro. It is a place where memory is cooked slowly, where recipes are inherited rather than invented, and where a table becomes a form of belonging.
On December 16, after years marked by uncertainty, loss, and rebuilding, Bērytī was awarded Best International Restaurant by the Barcelona Gastronomic Society. The award was presented to Cindy and Pamela by Beatriz Nubiola, Tourism Coordinator of Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy 2025.
“Our kitchen is an extension of our families,” said Pamela. “We cook what our mothers and grandmothers taught us. Many of our ingredients come directly from Lebanon; handmade, artisanal products prepared by women across the country. It’s our way of keeping Lebanon alive in every dish”.
For Cindy, Bērytī’s mission extends beyond the plate. “For many Lebanese and Arabs arriving in Barcelona, Bērytī is the first place they come to,” she said. “It’s where they hear their accent, recognize flavors, and feel seen. And for Barcelonans, it’s an invitation into the real Lebanon: generous, layered, and deeply human”.
Over time, Bērytī became a quiet refuge; a meeting point for a community far from home, and a cultural bridge between Beirut and Barcelona. This award is a testament to Lebanese resilience carried abroad, to women building something lasting with care rather than noise, and to a culture that traveled, adapted, and thrived, even far from home.
