Egyptian Designer Mohamed Fares Brings the ‘Black Cab’ Back to London

When entrepreneurs Kareem Samir and Kaniz Mostaffa first moved to the UAE to start their conceptual coffee shop, BLK Cab, they wanted to bring a taste and a touch of their home city, London. Fast forward from 2017 to 2025, and the partners sought to bring BLK Cab back to its conceptual birthplace. But how does one reinvent one of London’s most ubiquitous and famed cultural icons, the black cab, through a contemporary café experience in the Black Cabs’ hometown itself?

After establishing BLK Cab in Dubai with over 11 branches, inspired by the aesthetic of London’s iconic cabs, the partners turned their attention to opening a new branch in the heart of the city that inspired it all - London. They enlisted the expertise of Egyptian designer Mohamed Fares, the co-founder of Alchemy Studio, and founder and chief designer of MF & Associates. Fares, alongside Nada Hesham, head of MF & Associates’ sister company I’M Branding, took on the challenge of reimagining BLK Cab in a fresh and “non-cliché” way for the discerning Londoner trodding down Oxford Street.

From the outset, Fares and Hesham sought to weave together elements of London’s metropolitan history with BLK Cab’s evolving identity. “When approaching the design of the space, we wanted to capture the essence and timeless appeal of the cab conceptually. The London Cab is not only a mode of transport but also an enduring symbol of British culture,” Egyptian Designer Mohamed Fares tells SceneHome.

To reflect that, Fares and his team used materials such as leather and brushed metal finishes to honour the cab itself. “We used leather upholstery in key areas to mimic the luxurious yet practical interior of the classic black cab. Leather, which has a refined, robust character, speaks to the comfort of the cab and its long history of service.” Fares explains. The deep, rich tones of the leather were paired with brushed metal accents to evoke the aesthetic of the London cab’s industrial roots.

Central to the London store’s identity is the use of stainless steel, an element that Fares highlights as the main character of the space. “The defining element of the store is undoubtedly the metallic aesthetic, which creates a sleek, modern look while reflecting the timelessness of the cab,” Fares notes. This use of reflective metal creates a sense of depth and movement, allowing the space to shift as customers navigate through it.

“The store’s design is almost like a physical manifestation of these handpicked, curated ideas - each item and surface is carefully chosen to reflect the human connection to the objects we keep, and the stories we tell,” Fares tells SceneHome.

But it wasn’t just about creating a cab-inspired aesthetic. Along with Hesham, Fares - who, following the collaboration became a business partner at BLK Cab - wanted to create a space that encouraged conversation and interaction, a core element of BLK Cab’s identity. Interactive surfaces play a key role in drawing people in. “The mirrors reflect not just the space but the people within it, making everyone feel like they’re part of the experience,” Fares explains.

One of the most personal elements in the London store is co-founder Kareem Samir’s bike, which sits as a statement piece front and centre, framed as a ‘lost belonging’. This idea of lost belongings became a central theme in the store’s narrative, inspired by the stories of Londoners leaving behind items in the cabs. “We magnified this idea when Kareem brought in his Saint Laurent bike,” Fares laughs.

Nada Hesham, who led the branding for the project, explains that the concept of ‘lost belongings’ and ‘cabbie stories’ are part of the brand’s new identity. “BLK Cab is about capturing those moments of reflection that people experience during cab rides,” Hesham tells SceneHome.

The colour palette reflects this narrative, with rich olive green tones replacing the expected black. “We wanted something nostalgic, something everyone can relate to,” Hesham says. Alongside the stainless steel, they incorporated elements inspired by London’s signage and underground, creating a story connected to the city’s culture.

For Kareem Samir and Kaniz Mostaffa, expanding BLK Cab to London wasn’t just about geographical growth, it was about bringing the concept back home. The partners missed the simple joys of London, from its parks to its cabs - their muse. “We’ve always said BLK Cab is about the journey,” Samir says.'

With London being the conceptual birthplace of the brand, bringing it back felt like a homecoming of sorts. Yet, this new branch was not just about recreating the Dubai experience in London, it was about elevating the brand’s story to reflect its roots in a more nuanced way. “Our London store is BLK Cab 2.0. We’ve worked to omit the obvious elements and focus on the experience,” co-founder Kaniz Mostaffa shares, adding that the London space represents the best iteration of the brand.