Black Tap Dubai Festival City opened in February 2019 and delivers a downtown New York vibe with graffiti art, indulgent burgers, and over-the-top CrazyShake milkshakes.
Located on the Waterfront Level of the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, this venue is the third UAE outpost of the cult New York burger brand. The design channels urban street culture, featuring a signature wall mural by graffiti artist Fumero, a longtime Black Tap collaborator. The interior blends industrial textures, neon accents, and hip-hop nostalgia, creating a high-energy space that feels both edgy and inviting.
Key highlights:
• Craft burgers made with premium ingredients and bold flavor combinations.
• CrazyShake milkshakes stacked with candy, cake slices, and colorful toppings—part dessert, part art installation.
• Casual dining layout with waterfront views and a social, upbeat atmosphere.
Black Tap Festival City complements the brand’s other Dubai locations at Jumeirah Al Naseem and Rixos JBR, offering a more laid-back, family-friendly vibe while staying true to its New York roots.
Beach Buns at Atlantis The Palm is a retro-chic beachfront diner serving indulgent comfort food with playful design and high-energy vibes. It opened in 2020 following a full redesign by Bishop Design.
Located on the shores of Palm Jumeirah, Beach Buns is a bold reinterpretation of the classic American diner, infused with Dubai’s flair for spectacle. The venue was transformed by Paul Bishop and his team to attract foot traffic and social media buzz, replacing a previous F&B outlet that lacked appeal. The design blends vintage Americana with contemporary beach culture, using vibrant colors, neon signage, and cheeky branding to create a space that’s both nostalgic and Instagram-ready.
Key design features include:
– Oversized graphics and playful typography that echo 1950s diner aesthetics.
– Open-plan layout with indoor-outdoor flow, encouraging casual gatherings and beachside lounging.
– Custom lighting installations and bold color blocking to energize the space and enhance visual impact.
Menu highlights:
– Colossal cheese-injection burgers, loaded fries, and oversized sweet shakes.
– A cheeky, pun-filled menu that complements the venue’s irreverent tone.
Beach Buns is part of Atlantis The Palm’s broader strategy to diversify its dining portfolio with experiential, youth-friendly concepts. It sits alongside high-end venues like Nobu and Hakkasan, offering a more casual, high-volume alternative that still delivers on brand theatrics.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas is a contemporary beachfront sanctuary on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, blending modern Arabian architecture with natural elegance and cultural resonance.
Set along a pristine 9-kilometer stretch of white sand, this five-star resort offers a refined yet relaxed atmosphere, just minutes from the Saadiyat Cultural District—home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and other world-class institutions. The resort’s design features modern Arabic architecture, towering palm-lined walkways, and tranquil water features, creating a seamless connection between built form and the surrounding coastal landscape.
The property includes:
– 327 rooms and suites and 13 private beach villas, each styled with contemporary interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame views of the Arabian Gulf.
– A strong eco-conscious ethos, with design and landscaping that protect the nesting grounds of the endangered Hawksbill sea turtles native to Saadiyat’s shores.
– Seven dining venues, including Turtle Bay Bar & Grill and Si Ristorante Italiano, each designed with distinct architectural identities and open-air layouts.
– Zen the Spa, a wellness retreat with Moroccan and Turkish hammams, and a design language that emphasizes natural textures and soft lighting.
The resort’s layout encourages exploration, with meandering garden paths, open courtyards, and beachfront lounges that invite guests to unwind in a setting that feels both expansive and intimate. Whether for leisure or events, Saadiyat Rotana offers a compelling blend of cultural proximity, environmental sensitivity, and modern luxury.
Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort opened in January 2017 and is the region’s only art-inspired luxury property, blending Arabic bohemian aesthetics with modern architectural flair.
Nestled between the rugged Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman, Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort was designed by Stickman Tribe to evoke a sense of serene sophistication. The resort’s architecture draws subtle inspiration from traditional mud houses, while its interiors reflect a fusion of modern bohemian, Arabesque, and Art Deco styles. Natural light and monochrome palettes serve as a canvas for over 50 curated art pieces from international artists, strategically placed throughout the property to create a gallery-like ambiance.
Signature design elements include:
– A Berber carpet-inspired pool floor, anchoring the outdoor space with cultural texture.
– Statement art installations in public areas and guest rooms, reinforcing the resort’s identity as an immersive art destination.
– Al fresco balconies with rattan lounge chairs, offering panoramic views of the marina and ocean.
The resort features 180 guest rooms and suites, each styled with Arabesque décor and designed for relaxation and visual harmony. Guests can enjoy watersports, culinary experiences, and wellness offerings in a setting that feels both remote and refined.
Noir at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates is a sultry, Art Deco-inspired lounge bar that channels 1920s New York glamour with cinematic flair and moody sophistication.
Originally known as The 1897, Noir underwent a dramatic transformation led by Bassos Design in collaboration with Aukett Fitzroy Robinson International. The design brief aimed to create a luxurious nightlife venue that redefined lounge aesthetics in Dubai. The result is a space rich in dark woods, plush furnishings, and geometric lighting, evoking the opulence of the Jazz Age while maintaining a contemporary edge.
Key artistic features include:
– Classic film projections on the outdoor terrace wall, adding a nostalgic, cinematic ambiance.
– Art Deco light fixtures that cast a warm, intimate glow across the lounge.
– A central bar designed as the focal point, with spatial planning that encourages intimate gatherings and fluid movement throughout the venue.
Located within the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal is a Renaissance-inspired waterfront resort with Venetian design elements and lush landscaped gardens, offering a visually rich and culturally evocative experience.
Set along the Grand Canal and facing the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi blends classical European architecture with Arabian artistry. Designed by Smith Firestone Associates, the resort features ten stately buildings arranged in a crescent formation, echoing the layout of a Venetian village. The interiors showcase Murano glass accents, marble floors etched with Venetian gate motifs, and grand staircases that evoke the elegance of Italian palazzos.
Spanning 57 acres, the property includes 506 luxury rooms and suites, plunge pool villas, and Rabdan villas, all surrounded by manicured gardens, babbling fountains, and reflective pools that enhance the tranquil ambiance. The lobby and public spaces are adorned with artful water features and soft lighting, creating a serene yet opulent atmosphere. The resort also houses a 10,000-square-foot ESPA spa, multiple fine dining venues, and a ballroom with intricate detailing that reflects the fusion of East and West
Atlantis The Royal is a contemporary hotel in Dubai featuring two connected buildings designed by IBI Group and KPF Architects. The structure includes sky-courts that serve as landscaped terraces, some with private infinity pools. Key artistic features include the dramatic Firefalls water-and-flame entrance display, a 40-foot Droplets installation in the lobby representing desert rain, and a striking 21-foot jellyfish tank with 2,000 creatures in Heston Blumenthal’s Resonance restaurant. Additional aquariums with video backdrops enhance the entrance area.
