Dubai has always been a second home to me. Maybe it’s the glimmering skyline that feels like an architectural fever dream, or maybe it’s the food scene, the true heart of this ever-evolving metropolis. Few cities in the world can claim a culinary mosaic quite like Dubai’s; with a population where 90% are expats, the dining culture draws from every corner of the globe, like the pages of a passport come alive on a plate.
Savour The Spectacle At Krasota
On my most recent trip, I began my culinary sojourn with a wild ride for the senses. Think Cirque du Soleil, but for your taste buds, and every bite is a main event. By the time my scallop dish arrived, glistening like a tiny pearl in ocean foam, bordered by the briny pop of sea urchin and the crisp crunch of sea asparagus , I wasn’t sure if I should eat it or frame it. It’s the kind of dish that makes you contemplate life’s small, exquisite joys. The theatrical flair doesn’t stop at the plate.
At Krasota (located at the Address Downtown Hotel) drama pours from every corner like a shimmering waterfall of excess. Behind me, kaleidoscopic projections danced across the curved walls. Above, a server in glowing robes wove in and out of the tables like an ethereal spirit. Just when I thought I’d gotten my bearings, a new scene erupted with dizzying visuals, a dystopian cityscape set to pulsing electronic beats, followed moments later by serene underwater vistas.
It’s like dining inside a sci-fi opera that’s written in taste notes rather than music, and I, adventurous eater and admittedly sucker for spectacle, was hooked. But Krasota is as much about its hefty price tag as its culinary cirque. At Dhs3,000 a couple sans drinks, you aren’t just paying for dinner; you’re investing in a full body indulgence worthy of Dubai’s gilded reputation. Whether the experience warrants shelling out some moolah depends on your appetite for both gastronomic innovation and boundary-defying artistry. For me, well, I was ready for the plunge, because the journey had just begun!
Epic Eats And Dazzling Settings
I stumbled upon a new slice of paradise that felt straight out of Europe, aka Jou Jou Brasserie. Nestled in the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, Jou Jou doesn’t try to seduce you; it sweeps you off your feet before you’ve even had your first bite.
Picture this: a sun-dappled terrace that has the easy glamour of a Provençal courtyard and interiors sleek enough to make you reconsider every piece of furniture you’ve ever owned. Architect Tristan du Plessis has spun straw into gold here, but it’s the food that stands tall like the Eiffel Tower itself.
The menu is unapologetically Mediterranean, starring dishes that command your attention as boldly as an artist in Montmartre painting under the midday sun. Take the octopus carpaccio, thinly sliced into ribbons so delicate they might shatter if you so much as breathe on them, kissed by a tangy espelette pepper vinaigrette. Or the lobster mafalde pasta, every bite a symphony of crustacean richness tempered by semi-dried tomatoes that bring just enough sweetness to the party.
If Dubai’s dining scene were a play, Coya would be the show stealing lead with flawless charisma and just enough drama to keep you hooked. Since 2015, this thriving Peruvian powerhouse at the Restaurant Village right next door to the resort hasn’t just delighted, it’s dazzled. Walking in feels like stepping into another world, one where opulence meets intrigue. Think moody hues, gilded wood panels, antique mirrors glowing like hidden relics, and bursts of vibrant blooms reminding you this place doesn’t do subtle.
The menu? A masterpiece. Seasonal dishes keep things fresh, but staples like zingy ceviche and smoky beef skewers are non-negotiables. And then there’s ‘that guacamole’, mashed tableside with the kind of theatrical flair that could make even an avocado blush. Save room for the sweetcorn pavlova, though, a dessert cut from gold. Oh, and the pisco bar? ‘It’s never just a drink,’ they whispered, sliding over yet another bespoke concoction. By this point, you’re hooked , because at Coya, the atmosphere isn’t a backdrop; it’s a character in the story. And you know you’ll be back for the sequel.
Jaa And Sushi, A Culinary Dream
Dubai has a certain knack for transforming dining into theatre, and nowhere is the show quite as spellbinding as at ‘Mimi Kakushi’. Right next to Coya, this Japanese restaurant-bar feels like stepping into a dreamy time warp, 1920s Osaka’s jazz scene splashed with a bold touch of modern Dubai. Think ‘Great Gatsby’, but make it sushi. The space hums with a sultry, sepia-tinted glow; the kind of place where you’d expect to find Hemingway scribbling in the corner (if Hemingway did wasabi martinis). Cocktails don’t just arrive; they make an entrance. The now legendary ‘Kori Kakushi Martini’ arrives encased in a literal ice block, think of it as performance art at sub-zero degrees. It’s all very ‘Omakase meets Broadway with a dash of Bond. ‘And then there’s the food, Chef Kim Vladimir dances between tradition and daring twists.
At the table next to me, someone gasped audibly at the arrival of those perfectly caramelised bone marrow tartare buns. For me? The prawn popcorn tempura stole the show, crunchy, delicate, unapologetically indulgent. But Mimi Kakushi isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a mood, a moment, a passport to another era. If I could bottle its essence, I would. Just be warned: you’ll leave feeling like a character in your own jazz-age novella, martini in hand. Stay a little longer, and who knows, Osaka might not be the only jazz scene you’re dreaming of.
Fresh Seafood Meets Minimalist Elegance at Sakhalin
The Russians have left more than their footprints in the sands of Dubai; they’ve rewritten its culinary playbook. Sure, the headlines may bemoan skyrocketing property prices, but if Sakhalin, Dubai is anything to go by, we’ll happily live in a city where Russian chefs rule supreme. Enter Boris Zarkov, Alexey Kogay, and Vladimir Mukhin, the dynamic trio behind Sakhalin, now making waves at the glamorous J1 Beach. Sakhalin Dubai isn’t here to scream at you with chandeliers made for the Met Gala.
Instead, this is minimalist elegance at its most refined. Think palettes of serene whites and sandy hues, staff who glide rather than walk, and seating that practically whispers, “Order the oysters.” Inspired by Russia’s Sakhalin Island, a meeting point for Japanese and Russian cultures, the restaurant is an homage to seafood so fresh it could probably send postcards from the tank.
The menu’s expansive and unapologetic, but it’s not vulgar; it’s an invitation to explore at your leisure, from Dibba Bay oysters that taste like the ocean kissed your lips, to Artichoke Carpaccio that transforms the vegetable into a work of art. (It’s light but addictive, the kind of dish that makes you rethink your relationship with carbs.) Then, there’s Black Cod Miso, the kind of buttery, fall-apart perfection that bridges comfort food and haute cuisine without breaking a sweat. In short, Sakhalin’s kitchen doesn’t just cook, it crafts.
By the time we hit dessert, which is less sugar rush, more international poetry in pastry, we couldn’t help but marvel at the journey this place offers. The Matcha Montblanc was delicate yet indulgent, while the Raspberry Pavlova just might be the most beautiful mess you’ll ever taste.
And don’t even start me on the cocktails at the outdoor bar, it’s where the magic happens, but let’s save that for another sip. For now, consider Sakhalin Dubai a siren call for anyone ready to elevate their dining game. All in all, In this rich tapestry of culinary artistry, every venue narrates a unique story, making dining in Dubai an unforgettable adventure.
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