The table at the heart of Levantine cooking.

What Levantine Really Means – More Than a Cuisine

A feeling, not a definition. Levantine is not something you define. It is something you feel – in the warmth of bread being torn and shared, in plates placed at the centre of the table, in the quiet understanding that food is meant to bring people together. Time slows. Conversations unfold naturally. Nothing is rushed, nothing is staged. Levantine does not demand attention…it welcomes you in.

A space shaped by movement and connection

Rooted along the eastern Mediterranean coast, the Levant is far more than a place on a map. It is a cultural space shaped by movement, exchange and human connection. For centuries, people, ideas and flavours have crossed paths here, creating a cuisine that is open, layered and deeply alive. Recipes were never fixed; they evolved, travelled and adapted, shaped as much by memory as by place.

The table at the heart of everything

At the centre of Levantine cuisine is the table itself. Food is rarely served for one. Dishes arrive together, meant to be tasted, passed and returned to. Eating becomes a shared rhythm, where flavours move freely and conversations follow their own pace. This way of dining creates space…a space to linger, to connect, to enjoy the simple pleasure of being together.

Joy you can taste

The joy of Levantine cooking lies in its honesty. It does not rely on spectacle or excess, but on ingredients that speak for themselves. Good olive oil, ripe vegetables, fresh herbs, a gentle touch of citrus. Spices are used with restraint and intention, not to dominate, but to add depth and warmth. Freshness meets softness, brightness balances richness. The result is food that feels generous without being heavy, expressive without being overwhelming.

What Levantine means to Eighty Nine

This is what Levantine means to Eighty Nine. Not a trend, not a style, but a way of thinking and cooking. We believe in clarity over complexity, in craftsmanship over effect. Our dishes are created to be shared, just as moments are meant to be shared – unforced, unhurried and genuine. At Eighty Nine, dining is not a sequence of courses, it is a moment to arrive, to stay, to feel at ease. Levantine, for us, is about honest ingredients, thoughtful hands and the quiet joy of eating together.