Alon Shaya

Born in Israel, raised in Philadelphia, and a proud New Orleanian, Alon Shaya has always had a deep love and appreciation for food and the singular way restaurants anchor their communities. In 2017, he and his wife, Emily, founded Pomegranate Hospitality, whose restaurants include Saba (New Orleans), Safta (Denver), Miss River and Chandelier Bar at Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, and Silan at Atlantis Paradise Island. Spring 2024 marked the debut of Safta 1964 at Wynn Las Vegas, a limited-run residency and the prequel to Safta. In 2025, Shaya announced the expansion of the Pomegranate Hospitality brand with Safta’s Table and Ceci! Italian Lounge.

Shaya, a two-time James Beard Foundation Award winner, has been named one of the “50 People Who Are Changing the South” by Southern Living and one of the “50 Most Influential Jews in America” by The Forward. He is the co-founder of the Shaya Barnett Foundation, which provides culinary education and resources to high school students, and spearheaded the Rescued Recipes initiative with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, which has raised over $850,000 to date.

Notable Accolades:

• James Beard Foundation Award Winner - Best Chef: South and Best New Restaurant
• Southern Living’s 50 People Who Are Changing The South
• MICHELIN Guide Denver - Safta
• New York Times’ “The 25 Best Restaurants in New Orleans” - Saba
• Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America - Miss River
• James Beard Foundation Award Finalist - Chandelier Bar
• Spirited Award Finalist: Best U.S. Hotel Bar - Chandelier Bar
• Tulane University’s Distinguished Entrepreneurs of the Year Award
• New Orleans CityBusiness’ ICON Awards
• CityBusiness’ Hospitality and Tourism Power List