Testimonials Phare de Vie reopens with support from Orange Business

The lights are on again at the corner of Torhoutse Steenweg and Gistelse Steenweg in Bruges. The restaurant Phare de Vie has begun a new chapter under the leadership of Feten Abdellaoui, her sister Imma Maki and her brother Houssem. Backed by experience and strong family ties, they serve authentic Maghreb flavours refined with Belgian influences. 

Feten Abdellaoui is no stranger to the profession. For many years she ran the Bruges restaurant Lumière, which closed following a separation. “The idea of opening a new place had been on my mind for a while,” she says. “I simply enjoy cooking, welcoming people and making them happy with my dishes. When we saw this building, we knew immediately: this is it.” 

The restart did not come without challenges. The building had been vacant for several years and needed to be fully prepared in a short time. “We worked every day for a month to get everything ready. New equipment, new interior, everything had to be right.” 

The secret ingredient: connectivity 

Anyone entering Phare de Vie today may not immediately notice it, but technology is there everywhere behind the scenes. “From the cash register system to reservations, to the powerful Wi-Fi for our customers and even the lighting: everything is connected,” says Abdellaoui. That dependency makes a stable and high-performing solution essential. “Without a solid connection, everything would stop here. From the beginning, we decided not to compromise on that.” 

Through her network, she reconnected with Kevin Noyez, account manager at Orange Business. “I’ve known Kevin for 15 years, from my first job in hospitality. It immediately felt familiar. I knew everything would be fine with him.” That personal guidance makes a difference in a fast-moving sector. “If something happens, I know exactly who to call,” she says. “Kevin even comes by in person when needed. That gives me peace of mind. I want to focus on my business and my customers, not on technical matters.” 

Without a solid connection, everything would stop here. 

Solutions that grow with the business 

Phare de Vie is a spacious venue, but growth happens step by step. Scalability is built into the flexibility of the technological solutions. “For us, it was important not to have to start over every time we grow,” Abdellaoui explains. “What we have today is ready for the future, so we know we won’t hit limitations later on.” 

Even in unexpected situations, everything runs as normal. “Orange Business has provided a solution that allows us to keep working via 4G if something goes wrong with the network. You only notice these things when you need them, but they are essential.” 

Administration under control 

Beyond operations, management also plays a role. In a busy hospitality business, administration needs to remain simple. “Internet, Wi-Fi, fixed and mobile telephony… everything is with one provider. That keeps things clear,” Abdellaoui says.  

Through the Orange Business app, she can easily track usage and invoices. “I can view everything the way I want: detailed or at a high level. I never have to search. Everything is structured in one place. That simply works better.” 

I want to focus on my business and my customers, not on technical issues. 

Focus on what matters 

At Phare de Vie, everything revolves around experience. Mediterranean dishes, a warm atmosphere and attention to quality form the foundation. These values are also what Abdellaoui recognises in Orange Business. “Of course, pricing needs to be right, especially for starters like us,” she says. “But reliable quality and service matter even more. I feel that Orange Business is fully aligned with that mindset.”