Cover Rikas' debut dining outlet, La Cantine du Faubourg
Rikas' debut dining outlet, La Cantine du Faubourg
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From botanical brasseries to vinyl-led bistros, discover the curated world of Rikas Hospitality and four Dubai dining hotspots you need to book now.
In a city that changes at a dizzying speed, Rizwan Kassim, the founder of hospitality group Rikas, remains one of its most deliberate architects. The Parisian entrepreneur arrived in Dubai over a decade ago with a singular, perhaps slightly stubborn, vision: to bring the soul of the Saint-Honoré dining scene to the desert.
It wasn’t an overnight conquest, though. Kassim famously spent two years navigating the intricacies of local landlords before opening La Cantine du Faubourg in 2015. On opening night, with the budget stretched to its limit, he chose to launch on his daughter’s birthday—a gamble on family and intuition that birthed the Rikas Hospitality Group.
Today, Rikas is a powerhouse of over 16 concepts, yet it retains the intimacy of a family-run passion project.
In Kassim’s eyes, Dubai is the ultimate transit hub; a place where you can wake up in the UAE but dine in Shōwa-era Osaka or a sun-drenched Slavic villa. For the discerning diner, Rikas proves that while French technique is the group's backbone, its heart is global—allowing you to eat your way around the world without ever leaving "the 04." Here are our favourites.
Above At Mimi Kakushi, Eastern traditions flirt with Western decor
Above The bar boasts an impressive cocktail list, we love the Shadrach Martini
At Mimi Kakushi, Eastern traditions flirt with Western decor
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Mimi Kakushi: 1920s Osaka Refined
Decked in dark woods, stained glass and tropical plants, Mimi Kakushi at Four Seasons Resort at Jumeirah Beach is a portal to the ‘Jazz Age’ of 1920s Japan. The space whispers of a time when Eastern traditions first flirted with Western art deco. It is a favourite of the city’s creative set, who flock here for the Minami Jazz Nights on Wednesdays, where live saxophonists compete with the clinking of cocktail glasses.
The culinary offering, led by Chef Gilles Bosquet, pivots from traditional sushi towards ‘fun-dining’ Japanese fusion. The wagyu and foie gras gyoza with truffle butter is an exercise in pure decadence, while the Kagoshima Wagyu beef donabe—rich, smoky, and deeply comforting—is the ultimate power-lunch staple.
Tatler Tip: Request a table near the live jazz ensemble, and pair your meal with the Shadrach Martini, served at a crisp -20°C for the ultimate palate cleanser.
Above The stunning poolside setting of Maison Revka
Above The restaurant specialises in a rare genre: high-society Slavic sould food
The stunning poolside setting of Maison Revka
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Maison Revka: the Slavic soul of the Delano
Earning the Tatler Best Restaurant Design accolade at the 2025 Tatler Best of Middle East awards, Maison Revka at Delano Dubai is a dramatic departure from the city's minimalist trends. Designed to evoke a Slavic mansion, it is a tapestry of red velvets, crystal chandeliers and a ‘cathedral of light’ stained-glass roof. This is where the social elite retreat to private cabanas by the pool before moving inside for a theatrical dinner.
The menu is a rare find: high-society Slavic soul food. Expect an array of exquisite caviars served with warm blinis, and the signature smoked salmon ‘Revka’, carved table-side. The evening ends with their legendary cloud-like pavlovas, served in a room that feels like a shared secret among the world’s most well-travelled.
Tatler Tip: Book one of the three exclusive pool cabanas with private plunge pools for a day-to-night transition that feels truly Côte d'Azur.
Above Eugene Eugene is a lush sanctuary in central Dubai
Above Its menu honours classics, best enjoyed during the waning light of sunset
Eugene Eugene is a lush sanctuary in central Dubai
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Eugene Eugene: brasserie as a botanical garden
Celebrating its second anniversary at the Kempinski, Eugene Eugene has matured into one of the city’s most chic sanctuaries. Inspired by Parisian orangeries, it is a glass-walled greenhouse filled with lush greenery and marble. It’s the ‘see and be seen’ spot for a refined business lunch or a languid Sunday brunch.
Under Chef Giuseppe Pezzella, the menu honours the classics: the Cordon Bleu deluxe is a nostalgic triumph, and the bluefin tuna tartare with watermelon gazpacho provides a refreshing counterpoint to the desert heat. It is a masterclass in ‘l’art de vivre’.
Tatler Tip: Request the Greenhouse section during the Golden Hour. The natural lighting is unparalleled for those who appreciate the aesthetic as much as the appetisers.
Above Chez Wam is welcoming, chic and relaxed
Above The food is elegant but comforting, making it easily accessible
Chez Wam is welcoming, chic and relaxed
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Chez Wam: a chef’s personal invitation
The name is a play on ‘Chez Moi’ (French slang for ‘at mine’), and it truly feels like the private home of a very cool friend—one who happens to be a Michelin-pedigree chef.
Chef Hadrien Villedieu has curated everything here, from the playlist to the ‘French Touch’ DJ sets on Thursday nights. The food is laidback and rhythmic: the fried camembert with black garlic has reached cult status, and the confit duck ravioli is a nod to Villedieu’s French heritage. With a Purple Rain cocktail in hand and 80s R&B on the speakers, it is the perfect final stop on the Rikas world tour.
Tatler Tip: Secure a spot at the six-seater Chef's Table for an 11-course journey that feels like an intimate dinner party hosted by Villedieu himself.
