Instead, the couple is elegantly captured in a series of black and white photographs adorning the café’s back wall, a poignant tribute to the late maternal grandparents of Sharifah Samira Albana, who co-founded the café with her paternal cousin Sharifah Athirah.
“We used to go back to Tehran every year for a month to visit my grandparents and when we were coming up with the name for our brand, I was like, ‘Fari & Ali’! It’s a way to remember them,” Samira, 31, told FMT Lifestyle.
The café itself emanates an Iranian allure, with its Persian blue façade, ceramic tiles embellishing the counter walls, and an array of decorative textiles. Its inviting ambiance is further enriched by the inclusion of memorabilia from Samira’s grandparents’ house, instilling a warm and homely charm.
The idea to open the café came to Samira after her mother suggested she sell her delicious cream puffs online. That was back in 2020 during the pandemic.
And what a brilliant idea it was! Her online sales were through the roof, and once she realised it was a sustainable business, Samira took a leap of faith with Athirah to open Fari & Ali.
To keep its Persian dining experience authentic, the café sources key ingredients like saffron, cardamom, rosewater, and pistachios directly from Iran.
This commitment to quality is reflected in their ever-changing menu, dictated by the freshest available ingredients. “Whatever ingredients we have today, that’s what we will make,” said Athirah, 33.
FMT Lifestyle recently tried some of their signature Persian offerings starting with their classic Iranian breakfast. This meal consisted of freshly baked flatbread with black sesame seeds and nigella seeds, sheep cheese, butter and an assortment of walnuts, freshly sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, watermelons and spiced boiled egg.
The best way to eat it is to simply spread the butter and cheese over a small piece of bread and top it with walnuts. Pure magic in your mouth.
Make sure to order the refillable Persian chai for breakfast, served in a narrow-waisted glass. The aromatic black tea, complemented by a side of hard Persian sugar cubes. Savour the tea with a sugar cube in your mouth, a Persian tradition maintained with the use of a samovar, a traditional tea-making heating vessel.
For something heartier, indulge in the Caspian Tuna Croissant, featuring tuna from the Caspian Sea mixed with mayo, shallots, corn, and dill pickles. Encased in a buttery croissant, this savoury delight brings a taste of the sea to your palate.
While the café offers a wide selection of cakes and pastries, one that particularly stands out is the Persian Love Cake.
For starters, the cake is a beauty to behold. A glossy sugary glaze covers the cake and sprinkled over it, like a bed of jewels, are chopped pistachios and rose petals. And as you cut into a slice of the Persian Love Cake, a hint of dreamy rosewater and cardamom is released.
However, the true star has got to be the irresistible Persian cream puff. Light, pillowy, and filled with a decadent yet subtly rose-scented cream, each bite is akin to indulging in a cloud of sweetness. For chocolate enthusiasts, an equally tempting alternative awaits.
Cap it off with the Fari & Ali Special, an iced black coffee topped with saffron and rose whipped cream. The flavoured cream adds an interesting depth to the coffee but the flavour profile may not be everyone’s cup of tea, ahem, coffee. A must-try nonetheless.
The Saffron and Rose Cooler also shouldn’t be missed. This simple concoction of saffron-infused rose water, soda and sugar is refreshing and a great thirst quencher on hot, sunny days.
Overall, Fari & Ali’s Kitchen is not only a celebration of Persian flavours, it is also a heartfelt homage to family roots. Highly recommended.
Follow Fari and Ali’s Kitchen on Instagram.
Fari & Ali’s Kitchen
65G, Jalan Medan Setia 1,
Bukit Damansara,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours:
- 8am-5pm (Tues-Fri)
- 8.30am-5.30pm (Sat & Sun)
- Closed on Mondays
Contact: 011-2340 9838