Walid Merhi
Beverage Consultant
Starting as a barback at a Lebanese resort 23 years ago, Walid has taken part in revolutionizing the bar scene and introducing the modern cocktail movement in Lebanon and the MENA Region. He has since designed tools, invented techniques, redesigned essential bar equipment, and upgraded the norms of bar functional layout to elevate the service standards and quality, inspiring bartenders, mixologists, and connoisseurs worldwide. Since 2002, Walid has managed to pin countless places on the map through his diverse and timeless expertise, raising the bar for service standards on a global scale. While some of these places drew remarkable attention internationally due to the impressive bar menus that Walid designed, others went on to be listed as one of Lebanon’s top cocktails destinations.
Since 2015, Walid has been heading the Beverage Program at Baky Hospitality – a leading Hospitality Firm in Cairo, Egypt – where he succeeded in bringing several of the outlets to the top of the world’s 50 best. Not only did Walid succeed in bringing Baky Hospitality worldwide recognition, but he also changed the face of F&B and Hospitality in Egypt, introducing world-class concepts and practices to the local bar scene and culture.
Co-founder of Ferdinand Gastro-Bar and one of the Top 30 Bartenders in the world, Walid’s passion for the bar, the land, and the crowd continues to thrive in this ever-evolving industry.