‘Somni’ is located on C/ Rafael Alberti, this is the most elevated offering from Hiba Malek and Nazir Hanna, the Syrian-Spanish couple who created Miracle, recognized as the best gluten-free restaurant in Spain. Somni’s culinary proposal has the advice of Tándem Gastronómico, the firm of Michelin chefs Carito Lourenço and Germán Carrizo, as well as the prestigious cocktail creations of Iván Talens. Somni’s interior design bears the signature of Pablo Sánchez, from the Leca and Leco studio.

The Nou Campanar neighbourhood, in Valencia, celebrates the opening of a restaurant that is revolutionizing signature cuisine for any dietary condition. ‘Somni’ promises to be one of the most outstanding gastronomic novelties of the year in the city. Located at Calle Rafael Alberti, 1, the new project of the Syrian-Spanish couple formed by Hiba Malek and Nazir Hanna represents the natural evolution of gluten-free cuisine towards a more gastronomic, elegant and mature concept. It is also the restaurateurs’ second concept after ‘Miracle’, in the Cedro area, recognized as the best gluten-free restaurant in Spain by the prestigious Celicidad Ranking. Here they reveal their roots much more, which intermingle with all the recipes of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, to achieve more elaborate dishes suitable for any type of diner, but also and above all, delicious.

“In life, some dream of climbing mountains, others of wealth; some only dream of being able to enjoy some impromptu beers or a quality meal with a group of friends. Somni comes so that they can be free,” explains Hiba. With this, she announces that the restaurant is conceived as an inclusive space, designed for all audiences—including people with celiac disease—where eating well does not depend on restrictions. “We are here to respond to diners with gluten intolerance, but we are also an attractive option for those looking for tasty, different, and quality cuisine. Only, in addition, with a guarantee of safety,” she adds. Instead of talking about limitations, it offers the opportunity to explore new flavours, techniques, and textures.

The interior design of Somni is one of the key elements of the project and is an essential part of the experience that the restaurant proposes. Designed by Pablo Sánchez, from the Leca and Leco studio, the space has been designed to transmit the warmth and hospitality that define its owners, Hiba Malek and Nazir Hanna. The design incorporates clear reminiscences of the Middle East and connects with the Syrian roots of the couple through different elements: ceilings inspired by traditional architecture, niches integrated into the walls, or the jasmine perfume that envelops the place and that is part of its sensory identity. The space also highlights handcrafted work, with ceramic pieces created by Sara Antolín—also responsible for shaping the brand and the visual universe of Somni—along with the Syrian-inspired jewellery of Nadine Kharouf, which also build the aesthetic universe of the place. Also noteworthy is the sita craftsmanship, from the Darmisak brand. Among the most unique details of Somni are the restrooms themselves, where the restaurant also wanted to incorporate a children’s bathroom, reinforcing that inclusive desire that runs through the entire proposal: that each person can feel comfortable, safe, and welcome here.

Somni is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., serving lunch and dinner, to be the meeting point for business lunches, family gatherings, or special dinners. The project reaffirms Hiba and Nazir’s commitment to offering a safe, accessible, and worry-free space in Valencia. “Somni was born from a very simple idea, but very important to us: we believe that eating well should not be a privilege, but a possibility for everyone. There are people who have to think too much before sitting at the table, and we wanted to change that reality,” explains Hiba Malek. In this sense, they highlight the importance of “taking a further step” after the experience at Miracle. Somni is that step: a restaurant where gluten-free cuisine is not only a necessity for some people, but a gastronomic choice to enjoy.

Mediterranean Cuisine with Middle Eastern nuances

Somni’s gastronomic proposal is based on contemporary Mediterranean cuisine, enriched with delicate nuances of the Middle East, which allows it to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, Miracle. The result is a balanced, aromatic and personality-filled menu, where tradition and creativity coexist. With the culinary advice of Carito Lourenço and Germán Carrizo, chefs of Tándem Gastronómico, with a Michelin Star at Fierro, the project incorporates technical rigor and signature cuisine. In addition, it has a cocktail proposal under the advice of Iván Talens. The fundamental premise is to create gluten-free Syrian cuisine recipes, but without losing sight of local products and the peculiarities of the Mediterranean pantry, composed of seasonal vegetables, fresh fish, meats, or Valencian rice dishes. Thus, among some dishes, the following stand out:

• Smoked eggplant mutabal with pita bread
• Green hummus with roasted vegetables and pita bread
• Potato and sweet potato latkes with brava sauce
• Rice in llanda with Iberian pork loin and boletus mushrooms
• Fideuá with thin noodles, prawns, and mussels
• Beach squid with fennel and herb oil
• Slow-roasted suckling lamb pie
• Orange blossom white: horchata & tiger nut milk
• Green hummus with roasted vegetables and pita bread.

“We are very excited to participate in such an ambitious project, with a lot of heart and commitment to instilling healthy eating habits and respect for a gastronomy that will mark a turning point in Valencia,” explains Carito Lourenço. As she details, the gastronomic proposal will be based “on highlighting the product, with nods to Syrian cuisine, intermingled flavours, and suitable for celiacs. Tiger nuts, rice dishes, seasonal pumpkin… a menu with a strong presence of market produce.” All of this represents a very strong identity: “Somni aims to revolutionize Valencia and the neighborhood. It is a dream, the dream of Hiba and Nazir, who have managed to transmit it to the rest. Our real challenge is for the diner to experience it in the same way.”

Regarding the advisory team that ‘Somni’ has, two more names stand out in the cocktail and service sections. Among Iván Talens’ cocktail creations, highlights include combinations such as the Cafetí (Spanish brandy macerated with spices, espresso coffee, coffee liqueur, and cinnamon syrup) or the Cucumber Smash (vodka, lime juice, cardamom bitters, and cucumber syrup). The cocktail service is operational to complement the lunch and dinner services, but also for those who prefer to have a cocktail at the bar without having to eat. On the other hand, the presence of the service advisor, Carmen González, who has been in charge of planning the services, schedules, and various daily processes that are so vital and useful for the restaurant staff, stands out.

A Grand Opening Event that Celebrates Incompatibilities

Somni celebrated its grand opening on Thursday, February 5th, with an event that brought together more than 140 guests, including press, neighbours, friends, and influencers from the Valencian gastronomic scene. The evening, conceived as an immersive experience, revolved around the idea that gives meaning to the project: that in real life there are incompatibilities that seem irreconcilable, but that in dreams—and now also in Somni—find a space where they can coexist in harmony. Throughout the night, this premise was transformed into a game and conversation through different activations spread throughout the space, such as incompatibility tests or a kind of ‘confessional,’ where attendees could confess to the camera what, in theory, they don’t fit with. The experience was completed with a very special souvenir for the guests: a small bottle with the aroma of Somni jasmine, one of the most characteristic elements of the place. A symbolic gesture so that each attendee could take home a fragment of the restaurant’s sensory universe.

The opening event brought together more than 140 guests, including press, neighbours, friends, and influencers from the Valencian gastronomic scene.

With this, Somni is now a reality in ‘Nou Campanar’. A unique restaurant designed for everyone where Hiba Malek and Nazir Hanna eagerly await welcoming each and every one of the people who decide to try their dishes, focused on gluten-free proposals of Syrian cuisine made with local produce. Somni is born, and now it will grow, as the home for all people. A restaurant that the neighborhood and the city needed. The dream has come true.

Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

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