From ultra-chic showrooms, specialised boutiques and fashion week runways, the UAE is no stranger to all things luxury fashion. But taking it one step further, a handful of brands have married couture with cuisine in the Emirates with unique food ventures.
Just last month, Ralph’s Coffee – the cafe by American fashion house Ralph Lauren – made its debut in the country with the opening of its Mall of the Emirates branch. It follows other fashion houses with concept cafes around the emirates, such as the Blue Box Cafe by Tiffany & Co and Kate Spade Cafe pop-up, both tucked inside Dubai Mall.
Fashion houses venturing outside of the industry is common, with many companies branching out into the profitable hospitality and residential markets in the last decade. Bulgari, Fendi and Armani, for example, have stakes in real estate.
These companies are incorporating their signature elements, from design to brand ethos, in such projects, offering fans a different way to immerse themselves in the elevated lifestyle offering. Here are some to check out in the UAE.
Kate Spade Cafe
The newest addition is a pop-up cafe bearing Kate Spade branding. Located inside Bloomingdale's in Dubai Mall, the stylish venue is dressed in green, the American brand's “heritage hue”. Blocks of red and pink also feature in the interiors, and the menu comprises speciality drinks and branded treats.
Guests can indulge in a variety of hot and cold beverages, including a Kate Spade matcha drink with crushed Oreo, honing in on the green theme. There are also cupcakes with green icing served in stylish cups.
Unlike other spots in this list, however, Kate Spade Cafe is a temporary pop-up, open until June 30.
Daily, 10am-midnight; Dubai Mall; katespade.eu
Ralph's Coffee
The first coffee shop by Ralph Lauren opened in New York in 2014. It has since grown to have locations in major cities around the world including London, Paris and Tokyo. Last month, Dubai joined the ranks.
The Instagram-worthy spot sits next to Polo Ralph Lauren on the first floor of Mall of the Emirates. The colour green is also a dominant element in the cafe, as well as hints of gold and other timeless design choices that exude the brand's all-American style. Signature roast blends are on the menu, as well as pastries and other sweet treats such as carrot cake, chocolate cake and Ralph's brownie.
Daily, 10am-midnight; Mall of the Emirates; @ralphscoffee on Instagram
Blue Box Cafe by Tiffany & Co
Located inside the Tiffany & Co boutique at Dubai Mall's Fashion Avenue, the cafe is aptly designed with an overarching blue palette. The jewellery brand also uses plentiful sparkling embellishments to light up the venue, while serving French-inspired New York classics, led by French chef Marion Lefebvre.
There are currently four such cafes in the world – 5th Avenue flagship in Manhattan, Harrods in London, 1 Peking Road in Hong Kong and now at Dubai Mall.
Daily, 10am-midnight; Dubai Mall; blueboxcafedubai.com
The Bulgari Lounge
The lounge in the luxurious Bulgari Resort Dubai is decorated with relaxed furniture, giving it more of an elegant living room vibe than a restaurant or cafe. Modern Italian comfort is the headline here, as guests are surrounded by art coffee table books and wall hangings inspired by Bulgari's rich heritage.
On the menu are Italian creations, from a delicate cream-custard-filled puff pastry from Piedmont to the classic cassata cake with Sicilian origins. There's the Tuscan speciality profiterole as well as a flourless Neapolitan torta caprese, served alongside coffee and tea.
Daily, 8am-11.30pm; Bulgari Resort Dubai; bulgarihotels.com
Armani / Caffe
Muted blues and greens characterise the chic open-plan cafe at Dubai Mall's Fashion Avenue, taking inspiration from Giorgio Armani's signature look. There's a central service island with gold accents, surrounded by plush seating booths.
The dining spot serves Italian classics such as burrata with tomatoes and pesto; lobster spaghetti; and lemon risotto with marinated baby courgette and red Sicilian prawns. Hot and cold drinks are available as well as a variety of branded sweet treats.
Monday to Thursday, 10am-midnight; Saturday to Sunday, 10am-1am; Dubai Mall; armani.com
Forever Rose Cafe
Not exactly in the realm of fashion, but the luxury florist that originated in London, has successful coffee shops in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The photogenic spot is known for its quirky sketch-like design from the interiors down to the furniture and tableware. Of course, flowers are a big element of the spaces.
The menu takes international inspiration when it comes to cuisine, but the regional aspect is palpable with dishes such as risotto musakhan, umm ali French toast, dolma short rib and baklava cheesecake.
Sunday to Thursday, 8am-10pm and Friday to Saturday, 8am-midnight at The Galleria Al Maryah Island; Monday to Thursday, 8am-midnight and Friday to Sunday, 8am-1am at Boxpark, Dubai; foreverrosecafe.com
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
