Tired of going to the same beach clubs and restaurants every weekend? Then you’ll be very excited to hear that J1 Beach will soon be opening right here in Dubai. Bringing “the spirit of the Riviera” to the UAE, complete with three new beach clubs and 10 new restaurants to Jumeirah 1 (where La Mer used to be), there’s everything you could possibly want to fill your diaries – trendy beach bars, gourmet cuisine and on-point interiors included. Here’s what we know so far…
African Queen
African Queen at J1 Beach will offer dining in a chic yet casual setting for the first time outside of its original home in the South of France. Think: traditional Mediterranean food with a unique touch created under the direction of Chef Thierry Paludetto. The menu will include dishes like filet au poivre, salade niçoise with tuna belly made tableside and artichokes with vinaigrette and parmesan.
Almayass by the Sea
Almayass by the Sea will serve fusion cuisine with Lebanese and Armenian influences. Fans of the brand will be able to savour mezze-style delicacies including manti, mixed grilled platters and hummus and halloumi galore. The restaurant made its debut on the Beirut dining scene in 1996 and has branches in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Riyadh.
Bâoli
Bâoli, one of the new restaurants at J1 Beach, is all about modern Japanese cuisine with subtle Asian flavors and innovative concoctions. The jungle-themed restaurant will combine serene aesthetics with a bold, lively atmosphere, much like its current locations in Miami and Cannes.
Chouchou
Chouchou will open its first location at J1 Beach and will provide visitors with a beach, pool lounge amd members-only beach house. The club will also have a restaurant that offers sophisticated, modernised family-style French food.
Gigi Rigolatto
A restaurant with two terraces, a garden, a bar, a swimming pool, a children’s circus and a wellness centre are all part of Gigi Rigolatto. Direct beach access will also be available. In the summer of 2021, Gigi Rigolatto debuted in St. Tropez, serving Tuscan-inspired cuisine in a Mediterranean outdoor setting.
Gitano
Fans of Mexican food, this one’s for you. Gitano first opened in the Mexican jungle’s tropical region before setting up shop in Tulum, Miami and New York. Its next spot will be at Dubai’s J1 Beach, where its menu will feature some of the best Mexican dishes outside of Mexico served alongside upbeat music, dinner and dancing.
Kaimana
Kaimana, which means “spirit of the ocean” in Polynesian, will provide a dining experience with flavours from Asia and Polynesia. Enjoy flame-broiled pulehu short ribs with fragrant furikake rice and a tropical Pacific salmon salad with avocado, tomatoes, scallions and tangerine dressing. All that with a beach and a private pool to boot.
La Baia
La Baia, an Italian eatery from Manhattan, New York, draws inspiration from the Amalfi Coast and will soon open its second international location right here in Dubai. Its simple yet elegant setting with both indoor and outdoor dining areas features spectacular sea views in addition to sunbeds and – of course- delicious pizzas.
LÚNICO
At J1 Beach, LÚNICO will be an all-encompassing voyage into the world of Spanish-Mediterranean food. Its aim is to wow visitors with its food and live entertainment, and it’s positioning itself as the ultimate destination for a fantastic, food-fuelled night out.
Mūn
The first Mūn to open in the UAE (it’s currently located only in Paris), we can’t wait for this serene new Asian eatery to hit our shores. A tribute to Asia, Mūn will be located in a secluded oriental beach garden and will feature a sharing-inspired menu.
Sakhalin
Regional and far-eastern ingredients are blended with Mediterranean and Asian recipes and cooking methods to create “MediterrAsian” food at Sakhalin, which is all about presenting gastronomy as a form of art. There will be a fountain, a terrace with a view of the beach and an illuminated roof to transform the space from day to night. Not to mention a menu by chef Alexey Kogay that offers dishes like goldfish rolls, black caviar, truffle and golden nori and tiramisu.
Sirene by Gaia
The Greek-Mediterranean concept from Izu Ani and Evgeny Kuzin is coming to the shore with the opening of Sirene by Gaia. Providing an all-day lavish beachside experience, there will be everything from live entertainment and a packed events calendar to stunning contemporary aesthetics and mouthwatering dishes inspired by the Med.
Needless to say, we are very excited for the debut of J1 Beach in 2024. Watch this space for more info…
