Our new series features Syrian cafés and restaurants in Melbourne and the Syrian Australians who have established them.
We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Safi Ayoush, the Syrian Australian owner of Raqwa Café and Beer Garden. Safi was born in Australia, but he spent his formative years in Syria, hence his close connection to Syria.
Safi hopes to attract members of the Syrian community to Raqwa Café and create an atmosphere that reminds them of their time in Syria. He also hopes to attract the wider Australian community to come and experience the tastes and flavours of Syria as well as the live music played by Syrian musicians, Samir and Sargon.
Safi works to introduce many positive aspects of Syrian culture, bringing them to life in his Melbourne Cafe. In this interview, he speaks about his aspirations for Raqwa and what motivates him to foster an environment where Syrians can feel at home and others can experience the taste of Syrian culture in Australia.
Apart from being the owner of Raqwa, Safi is also the director of SHAAM Group that organised, in 2017 and 2019, the Melbourne and Sydney Shaam Film Festivals, which a Syrian film director, actors and actresses attended. (In Arabic, Shaam refers to Greater Syria.) The Shaam Film Festival is featured in the 2017 issue of the ‘Beloved Syria’ magazine. Articles on the festival can also be found online on our website here and here. Scroll down to see photos and videos of Raqwa cafe.
Safi is also the Senior Head Coach for the Whittlesea Ranges Football Club. He also has provided support to the Olympic Syrian National Football Team as an assistant coach.
Featuring the Syrian singers, Samir and Sargon.
Featuring the Syrian singers, Samir and Sargon.
Featuring the Syrian singers, Samir and Sargon.
Featuring the Syrian singers, Samir and Sargon.
Written and edited by Sarah Nachar and Susan Dirgham.
