Restaurants
Self described as bringing innovation and creativity to a traditional Japanese social dining experience, KOYO is the newest opening from Solutions Leisure, the parent company behind brands including Lock, Stock & Barrel, STK and Asia Asia. Accepting reservations from August 5, the playful Japanese restaurant will present a culinary experience that inclues a range of tempuras, katsu sandos, sushi, robata and yakitori dishes against the backdrop of ‘kabuki’ style arts and entertainment. It’s located inside the InterContinental Dubai Marina. @koyodubai
Ruya restaurant has brought a slice of Anatolian cuisine to the UAE with its first eatery at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Dubai Marina. The menu has been designed by executive chef Colin Clague and features Anatolian classics with a contemporary twist. Spread over 800 square metres of the hotel, the restaurant can seat 240 diners in its Mediterranean-themed indoors and outdoor terrace that overlooks the Dubai Marina.
With a name like Spice Emporium, it’s no surprise to see that the Westin Dubai’s Thai restaurant qualifies comfortably as one of the city’s ‘hotspots’. While meat, poultry, and vegetable dishes are on the menu, the restaurant specialises in seafood, with spicy deep-fried cod and hot seafood soufflé packing a particularly potent punch. And just as the fiery flavours transport the diner to Bangkok, the décor of the restaurant – tables of dark wood, evocative artwork and open kitchens where flames leap into the air – ensures that the authentic ambience of Thailand is carried through the whole experience.
Fish Beach Taverna is one of Dubai’s latest seafood establishments, with an ambiance reminiscent of sitting at a cafe in Santorini. Adorned in blue and white decor, Fish Beach Taverna serves up authentic Aegean sea fare that is traditional along Greece and Turkey’s coastline. With today’s ever-popular sharing culture in mind, this restaurant offers small plates along with fresh daily catches that the chef is ready to cook up to your liking.
A spectacular view is sure to set the tone for an impressive business meeting, and the one from high on the 52nd floor of the Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel – looking out over Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah – is hard to top. Once diners have torn themselves away from the floor-to-ceiling windows, they can look forward to modern classics such as prawn cocktail, herb-crusted rack of lamb, and crème brûlée with a hint of espresso to leave guests office-ready after a sumptuous meal, which is available from Sunday to Thursday between 12-3pm and is priced from AED90 for two courses.
In 2001, Vineet Bhatia became the first Indian chef to earn a Michelin star for his restaurants in London and later Geneva. He lends his name to this Dubai-based outfit inside slick Grosvenor House, where he’s crafted a contemporary menu consisting of Indian dishes with Western influences. The smoked seas starter is the only way to kick off the meal; it includes honey-basted tandoori salmon, fennel scallops and chutney hammour. Make sure you save room for the refreshing desserts, including the rose petal and vanilla bean smoothie. +971 4 317 6000
Celebrity UK chef Gary Rhodes has been a fixture in the Dubai dining market for so long that he’s practically a local. His latest venture, launched last year, is an ode to British culinary classics, set inside a crisp white interior that is decidedly proper, with elements such as delicate wallpaper, lattice screens and fake grass all adding to the English vibe. The Welsh rarebit with smoked haddock creates an air of nostalgia with each bite, and is served with a simple salad. +971 4 317 6000
After a summer of renovations, the landmark beach club has relaunched even bigger and better than before, adding 2,000 sqm of leisure areas. Boasting a 39-metre-long glass-fronted infinity pool and an expanse of private beach-front, the venue is also home to fresh-focused kitchen, serving an international menu that includes everything from Lebanese mixed grills to lighter salads. Known for its ability to attract major music acts (Fat Boy Slim’s recent set was the gig to be seen at), day loungers are encouraged to linger into the evening, with the poolside still open for a dip long after sunset. +971 4…
