Dubai’s New Culinary Hot Spot

 
With over 90 dining venues, many new to market outlets and a signature restaurant from internationally acclaimed chef, Pierre Gagnaire, Dubai Festival City is set to become the Middle East’s most eclectic dining destination. Sarah Campbell reports.
 

 
Dubai Festival City (DFC), the new waterfront mixed use development hugging the shores of Dubai Creek, is fast becoming the city’s new dining hot spot. With new elements coming on line periodically, DFC is undergoing a progressive opening. Its two-storey Crescent Walk and Festival Square opened on March 1. Canal Walk, a 450-m waterway that meanders through DFC’s diningand entertainment district, followed in April.
 
Restaurants, cafés and more
 
Once fully completed, DFC will offer a selection of 90 F&B outlets spread across four areas:

• �Canal Walk,
• �two themed dining pavilions called Hub & Taste and Trade Routes,
• Festival Marina
• and the shopping mall food court

 

 
“Festival Waterfront Centre has a great location, on the historic Dubai Creek, minutes away from the airport and situated between two main bridges: Garhoud Bridge and Business Bay Crossing,which is a new 13-lane bridge with three dedicated lanes leading to Dubai Festival City, one of them leading to the basement parking of Festival Waterfront Centre,” says Tom Miles, senior generalmanager retail, DFC. “The variety of choices, the downtown atmosphere and waterfront setting will also have a significant input.” Linked directly into the main body of the shopping centre, Canal Walk is fully serviced by a fleet of traditional Arabic water taxis – abras, offering a secluded haven from the bustle of the city. International restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and bistros on Canal Walk will provide al fresco waterside dining with beautiful views of the marina, as well as indoor dining, on two levels of terraced walkway.
 
DFC will also feature a number of world renowned steakhouses as well as cutting edge fine dining outlets, many of which will be fully licensed restaurants. “In addition, DFC also boasts a 23-unit foodcourt that will appeal to all its visitors,” explains Miles.
 
The lively waterfront atmosphere will give life to a new downtown cafe culture with renowned and new-to-market food and beverage outlets found in twothemed pavilions strategically located between Canal Walk and the Mediterraneanstyle Festival Marina.
 
“There will be between 15 and 20 new-tomarket restaurants; however, we are looking at a larger number in the future. We have a dedicated leasing team of professionals, who travel around the world, experiencing new cuisine concepts and doing a comprehensive marketing analysis. The result of their strategy is making DFC the most exclusive, diverse and attractive dining destination in the region,” says Miles.
 

 
www.dubaifestivalcity.com
 
www.futtaim.com
 

 
| 10 August 2007 | Sarah Campbell |