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La Cantine du Faubourg
La Cantine du Faubourg always takes us back to the vibrancy of The City of Lights. There’s usually a faint hint of truffle oil in the air combined with the buzz of the enthusiastic and typically stylish crowd that the chic, French lounge attracts. We arrive on Thursday evening and remember that it’s impossible to switch off from the surroundings here. Eclectic sounds shift from Eighties and Ninties to Arabic and current hits whilst contemporary artworks and video projections cover the folds of draping fabric from ceiling to floor. The menu is vast and can cater to tastes that are not typically French. The meal began with a light and delicious personal favourite: the sea bass ceviche followed by the flavourful monkfish with buttered leeks and yuzu, a recommendation from the staff that we highly appreciated. lacantine.ae
Artistic highlights: The current selection of east-meets-west artworks are the accomplishments of Kokian who was the first to showcase works at the original venue in Paris over 15 years ago. A source of Instagram-worthy stimulation for diners, think street-style graffiti art with a social commentary punch.
Best for: Dinner to dancing. As the evening moves on this venue becomes increasingly lively and mingling is encouraged. This space remains one of Dubai’s hippest hotspots for lunch and dinner so prior booking is advised.
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Intersect By Lexus
At the entrance, imposing glass doors and a motor-mottled staircase lend a distinctly futuristic feel to this surprisingly small restaurant, where academia and automobiles blend seamlessly. The comfortable lounge, inviting eatery, exclusive library and inspiring garage space regularly hosts art installations. Developed by Masamichi Katayama, a world-renowned interior designer, it’s like no other place in Dubai. High attention to detail is unmistakable, with bamboo walls a design representation of the Lexus Spindle Grille and cushy banquettes made from the same leather used in the Lexus LFA supercar. Friday’s à la carte brunch features unlimited starters, one entrée and unlimited desserts, all served alongside live music. A happy marriage of simple tastes and hearty textures, the cuisine is clean and healthy. The standout dish – octopus with heirloom tomato and romesco sauce, which was beautifully rich and creamy. lexus-int.com/intersect
Artistic highlights: A wall built entirely of 1,500 miniature Lexus cars, which span the history of the brand. Although Intersect by Lexus takes a few design risks, petrol heads will certainly feel at home.
Best for: A lazy weekend for luxury lifestyle seekers with an interest in design, art, music and technology – a comfortable destination between work and home.
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Plantation Restaurant & Terrace
Located in JBR’s Sofitel Hotel, Plantation offers up authentic European and Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on dishes cooked in traditional cast iron cassolettes. Parquet flooring, dark wooden furniture and rustic ceiling fans give the laid-back space a colonial vibe, while the restaurant’s sloping glass roof and adjacent palm-lined outdoor terrace creates a conservatory-like atmosphere. The restaurant had a quiet and cosy ambience when we experienced it on a Friday evening. We tried a selection of dishes including the Saint Jacques, which consisted of delicious pan seared scallops served with fennel purée, as well as the Haricot de Mouton (a braised lamb cassolette dish), followed by the light and incredibly tasty poached cod. sofitel-dubai-jumeirahbeach.com
Artistic highlights: The restaurant regularly displays artwork by local and international artists. Their current exhibition ‘Shadows of Ramadan’ by Jordanian sculptors Bassam Al Selawi and Maysoon Masalha runs until mid-September. It consists of 19 ceramic and resin sculptures that create spectacular wall shadows when lit from a certain angle.
Best for: An intimate catch up, excellent service and hearty European-Mediterranean food.
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Bazxar
Merging art and food is no easy feat, but Bazxar in DIFC is achieving just that. Before you indulge in its ‘food market restaurant grape bar’ concept, take a moment to enjoy the Middle East’s spin on urban dining. Incredible, contemporary art from The Timeless Gallery decorates the walls, injecting vibrant personality into the venue. Sumptuous, padded yellow benches line the room as well as beautiful grained white marble tables, which are positioned around the edge. We take our seats in preparation of a Sunday night culinary journey, with eyes eagerly set on the restaurant's open kitchen. To begin our meal, we opt for a colourful watermelon flatbread that combines goat’s cheese, truffle, cured beef and evaporated balsamic, which we soon discover plays a tantalising game on our taste buds. Afterwards we enjoyed a succulent blackmore picanha with anticucho sauce that was cooked to perfection, which was followed by an aromatic Flowers in Clouds dessert that we guarantee will satisfy even the most insatiable sweet tooth. bazxar.com
Artistic highlights: The Timeless Gallery’s black and white portrait prints with their strategic placement of colour.
Best for: A younger crowd with an inquisitive mind that enjoys the quirks of urban dining. It's also suitable for an after-work affair with friends or colleagues.
