My UAE: Zayed Al Falahi’s caffeine hit with C House Lounge Cafe

A profile of the Emirati entrepreneur Zayed Al Falahi, who runs the C House Lounge Cafe in Marina Mall.

Zayed Al Falahi, the man behind the C House Lounge Cafe at Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The National

Finding a special place that you can habitually visit helps to relax and refresh your mind. For Zayed Al Falahi, that place is his own cafe. At the west entrance of Marina Mall, the C House Lounge Cafe stands out with its stylish decor.

The mottos of the Italian franchise are to serve the best coffee and provide a good atmosphere with delicious food and a memorable vibe.

“There are more than 40 C Houses around the world,” says Al Falahi. “They are very popular. I have been to the one in Milan.”

Before deciding on his first business, Al Falahi did in-depth research to make sure that the restaurant business was really his passion. During his breaks while working at Abu Dhabi Marina Operating Company, he would go to C House on Khalifa Street to relax. He’d been to many coffee shops, but C House was always top of the list. It was for this reason he decided to open a franchise.

There are currently three C House branches in Abu Dhabi; the others are on Khalifa Street and Muroor Road. Al Falahi chose Marina Mall because it’s a popular destination with visitors of all nationalities. “There was no ‘lounge’ in Marina Mall,” he says. “C House is a place where people can sit and eat quietly.”

With the business now one year old, the Adnoc senior business-planning analyst has done his own survey to determine the level of customer satisfaction. So far, he says, he’s succeeded in his mission. “Customer satisfaction is important to me,” he says.

Al Falahi has also worked hard to make the menu appeal to all tastes. “We included new dishes in the menu to suit local and international cultures,” he says.

Frequent customers will be familiar with seeing Al Falahi sipping his favourite coffee. The place has a special place in his heart; he makes sure to visit it almost every day to ensure that everything is going according to plan.

What's your favourite dish in your cafe?

I love seafood, but there is a salad named after me. The salad contains potato, black olives, mozzarella, pickles, cherry tomatoes, arugula and lettuce. A few ingredients – potato and pickles – didn’t suit my taste, so I asked to substitute them with other ingredients. I eat this salad often, so some employees gave it my name.

What are your priorities for C House?

I have a lot of ideas. With the support of my team, I continuously try to improve the quality of service and we also try to create new food items every now and then.

Apart from your cafe, where do you like to relax?

Nowhere except C House. I like to sit there and refresh my mind.

What are your hobbies?

I like travelling. I like going to Germany, Italy and London.

What's your motto?

I follow [the motto] where there is a will, there is a way. You can’t achieve anything in life without struggling. The more you face hurdles, the stronger you should become.

What are your plans for C House?

I want to advertise the cafe around Marina Mall, because the location might seem a little difficult to find for some people.

Do you have any upcoming projects?

I am working on two businesses; both are related to food. I’d rather keep the rest confidential, but soon they will see the light.

What's your favourite coffee?

I like several: single-shot espresso, latte and caffè macchiato.

How much coffee do you drink daily?

About six to eight cups.

Who is your role model?

That would be Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan.

What's your favourite book?

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.

What’s your favourite sport?

Diving.