In the hectic pace of today’s life, home is a cosy place associated with love, peace and the joy of sharing time, emotions and delicious food with those we care about. NAHATÉ Dubai is just such a place — your perfect home away from home.
Family restaurant and club founded by Sam Florentsev and Jenya Makeeva, who have created a second home for friends, partners and any guest, a place where everyone feels relaxed and special, and the gastronomic offer performs at the highest level.
The motto of the creators — “MORE THAN HOME” — speaks of the security, tranquility and love that comes from within a home and extends beyond it. It’s like your best friend’s flat where you don’t have to “be somebody” but just be yourself. Jenya and Sam, endowed with incredible vitality and a desire to communicate to the best of their ability, have created an atmosphere where comfort is key and guests feel at ease.
The interior of the restaurant, which covers an area of over 1000 square metres, has also been lovingly designed, where every centimetre has been carefully considered. NAHATÉ Dubai occupies the entire third floor of the Capital Club building on the Podium Level at DIFC.
Stepping out of the lift you enter an elegant lobby, which flows into the reception area and on to the luxurious living-dining room. There are also two private rooms for private club members only.
The interiors are the culmination of months of intensive work by Jenya with talented designers, experts and artists such as Yana Svetlova, Zahar Paints, Alterna, Zuma Design and others.
Together they have created an apartment-like sanctuary where guests can enjoy drinks, dinner, and dancing against a backdrop of hand-painted walls, bespoke carpets, exotic animal bas-reliefs, and porcelain ornaments assembled on the walls. Bespoke crockery, carefully selected cutlery and glasses combine beautifully with a variety of vintage serving dishes to create a homely atmosphere.
NAHATÉ Dubai‘s menu is contemporary cuisine with inspiration from around the world, developed by Executive Chef Daniel Baratier in tandem with Brand Chef and Chef Patisserie Yazid Ichemrahen that delights, evokes emotions and brings new memories. Daniel has worked in prestigious kitchens in Paris and around the world, including the renowned Sergent Recruteur on Ile Saint Louis and Les Déserteurs in the bustling 11th arrondissement, while Yazid is an award-winning patissier whose background includes prestigious brands such as Balmain, LV, Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris and more.
Daniel and Yazid share the owners’ philosophy of comfort yet gourmet food, full of flavour and love, created to be shared around the table with loved ones, just like at home. They have developed several versions of the menu for different occasions, including a night menu. There are also vegetarian and gluten-free dishes.
According to Sam and Jenya: “The cuisine has been strongly influenced by the years both chefs have spent abroad, working in kitchens from the US and Canada, the Caribbean and France to Asia and the Middle East. Through their life stories, they have instilled NAHATÉ Dubai’s core values of internationality and openness. With the simple belief that the modern world has no boundaries, when you dine with us, you can travel through time and space from the comfort of your armchair and discover familiar and new flavours, individually and in combination.”
We started our evening at NAHATÉ, seated behind the bar, with cocktails from renowned mixologist Andrei Bolshakov, who for many years has been creating innovative drinks in the world’s most exciting bars, combining new flavours and inventively reinterpreting old classics. Andrey, who is also an ambassador of Baccarat Bar, has developed four signature cocktails, which are served in crystal glasses of the iconic French House of Baccarat, and are available to everyone.
-FLOATING MIRAGE — Bombay Sapphire, feijoa, green apple, soda (150AED) — a cocktail from the Baccarat series.
This refreshing blend of gin, feijoa, and green apple is so light you will think you can taste the air. A rework of the classic Gin Tonic in the Harmonie highball, it offers an unexpected burst of flavour, like a cooling breeze in a desert.
-DEWY OASIS — sauvignon blanc, sparkling wine, mint, umeshu, St. Germain (150AED)
The balanced delight of Spritz served in the Harcourt glass is a joy for the tastebuds. Its vibrant hues and fresh sweet-sour flavour capture the essence of water in its purest form, the region’s most precious element.
Our acquaintance with the food began with POTATOES AND CAVIAR — Grenaille potatoes, cream cheese, black caviar (195 AED) — one of the guests favorite snacks that is on all menus, including a night menu.
Moving from the bar counter to the main room, a sumptuous dinner awaited, with the soothing sounds of the piano accompanying throughout the evening.
From the Starters series we tried two bestsellers:
-TOMATO TARTARE — DOP San Marzano tomatoes, chives, tobiko, black caviar (190 AED)
-KING CRAB PIZZETTE — king crab,
avocado, tobiko, black caviar (300 AED)
Starters were served with SELECTION OF BREADS (3/6 pcs — 10/20 AED) — wide variety of home-baked breads like Baguette, Black baguette, Borodinsky bread, multi-seed wholegrain.
The best way to accompany your starters is Champagne, which is presented here in a wide variety, both in bottles and by glass.
From the Pasta series we tried SIGNATURE SPAGHETTI — champagne and yuzu sauce, gremolata (120AED) Additionally — Caviar (50g/650AED)
From the Fish series:
-LARGE JAPANESE SCALLOPS — shio koji, morels, samphire, sake-marinated red caviar (310AED)
Cocktails can be enjoyed not only at the bar or in the lounge, but also at a stand-out table at NAHATÉ Dubai — the first ever Baccarat Chef’s table, created in collaboration with the iconic French house.
A magnificent crystal chandelier, the centrepiece of the main dining room, overhangs a mirrored red table adorned with Baccarat collections embodying the art of the table. A set menu is served here with desserts made to order by Yazid Ichemraen. This experience is only available by special order. The spirit of sharing light and joy synonymous with Baccarat blends seamlessly with the ethos of NAHATÉ Dubai, a timeless symbol of sophistication and elegance.
From Meat series:
-AUSTRALIAN WAGYU MB7+ — beef tenderloin, Korean mustard, caramelized soy sauce (550AED)
Perfectly goes with MASHED POTATOES — potatoes, butter (40AED)
This dish can be elegantly accompanied by a cocktail from the Baccarat menu:
-GOLDEN EMBER — bourbon, Hennessy VS, red vermouth, benedictine, coffee tincture, Massena coupe (150AED)
Every drop of this cocktail glows like an ember, stirring up emotions and leaving a trace of light. A novel twist on the classic Vieux Carré in the Massena coupe, it dances like a flame on the tongue, captivating and intense.
As well as a cocktail from the Light series:
-ORGANIC BLOODY MARY — mezcal, vodka, garlic, lemon, tomatoes, signature spices (90AED)
Every meal at NAHATÉ Dubai is like rediscovering the flavours of home, wherever you are. The signature desserts at NAHATÉ Dubai are a perfect example of this philosophy — a happy combination of sweet ideas and purely individual creations.
Signature desserts & Baccarat signature:
-NAHATE SIGNATURE — banana, hazelnuts, almond praline, chocolate (for 4-6 per/490AED)
-SCANDAL — panna cotta, red berry sauce, caramelized pistachios (180AED)
-BACCARAT SIGNATURE — yogurt ice cream, chocolate sauce
Rounding out the evening , we tried a few more captivating cocktails from Light, Medium and Strong section:
-MANDARIN SGROPPINO — pisco, sparkling wine, mandarin sorbet (90AED)
-KILLER IN PINK — Patron Silver, wild strawberry, yoghurt, blood orange, yuzu (90AED)
-TRUFFLE NEGRONI — Hennessy VS, Martini bitter, Cocchi barolo, di torino, truffle (90AED)
Another collaboration that enhances the NAHATÉ Dubai experience is the first ever Jacob & Co. private cigar lounge, created in tandem with world-renowned jewellery and design brand Jacob & Co. This intimate space offers a luxurious setting and discreet environment where cigar lovers can spend time with other connoisseurs. It also hosts private evenings and nights with world-class stars and the hottest new talent.
NAHATÉ Dubai
Address: Building 3 (3rd floor), Gate Village 8, DIFC, Dubai, UAE
Opening hours:
Sunday-Wednesday: 18.00 – 00.00
Thursday-Saturday: 18.00 – to the last guest
Instagram: @nahate_dubai
Text: Marina Timo
Photo courtesy: EATWEEKGUIDE
