New snack bar Arabesque delights Schmalkalden with Syrian specialties!

New snack bar Arabesque delights Schmalkalden with Syrian specialties!

Something is happening in the culinary sector in Schmalkalden. With the opening of the new snack bar “Arabesque” at Reihersgasse 28, Syrian cuisine in Thuringia is being enriched. The snack bar was officially opened on August 11, 2025 and is already very popular. Operator Wissam Alkatib and his wife Nashwa Alsamsam bring their passion for Syrian cuisine to the heart of Thuringia.

Wissam, who came to Germany as a refugee in 2014, and his wife followed the call of the people of Schmalkalden, who had been asking for an Arabesque for a long time. The couple already runs a café of the same name in Meiningen and with this move to Schmalkalden they have taken the next big step in their gastronomic career. The snack bar offers a tempting menu with specialties such as falafel, hummus, manakish, kibbeh and balah al-sham. Here, the typical spices of Syrian cuisine such as cumin, saffron and cardamom are experienced to the fullest.

A place of meeting

However, the “Arabesque” snack bar should be more than just a place to eat well. Wissam and Nashwa have set themselves the goal of creating a meeting place that connects cultures and promotes exchange. This is part of a general trend in which gastronomy serves as a means of integration. Many initiatives, for example from Munich, report similar approaches where refugees are involved in the catering industry in order to reduce prejudices and start conversations with each other, as Deutschlandfunk documents.

The opening of the “Arabesque” was honored by various representatives from politics and administration, including Schmalkalden's alderman Christoph Zimmermann. The city has not only achieved a new culinary offering, but also a step towards integration and an opportunity to revitalize the cityscape.

A touch of home

At a time when change is very popular, the snack bar represents an oasis of traditional Syrian cuisine. The Alkatib couple impressed the jury of the “FreiRaumScholarship” with their concept, which aims to fill empty spaces with innovative catering offers. With a total of four applications for the location, the Syrian couple ultimately won the contract, which sends a clear signal: not only food, but also humanity is very important here.

The snack bar is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but expansions to the menu and adjustments to opening hours are already being planned by the end of the year. It will be interesting to see what else Wissam and Nashwa will conjure up from their kitchen over time.

Cologne is known for its diversity and, above all, its openness to new things. The “Arabesque” is an impressive example of how gastronomy can build bridges between cultures. Enjoy the Syrian delicacies and support local entrepreneurs who are living their dream with a lot of passion and commitment!