| Guests are invited to bring along their favourite Thai holiday snaps to adorn the walls |
Cutting through Dubai’s often pretentious dining scene, Thai dining spot Café Isan launches new licensed venue with Thai holiday vibes.
Now open until August 31, Armada BlueBay Hotel, Cluster P, JLT
This summer, Dubai’s most beloved Thai street food and tea bar, Café Isan, is opening a pop-up venue at JLT’s Armada Blue Bay Hotel.
The pop-up, open now until August 31, offers hotel guests and loyal fans alike the chance to try the award-winning venue’s creative cuisine in a brand-new setting.
Expect licensed drinks, feelgood tunes, a cool vibe and a few surprises on the menu. As co-founder Lisa Knight puts it: “We’re always looking for ways to enhance our customer experience and it’s also the first time we will be licensed – so you can expect some exciting Thai-style cocktails and a range of affordable drinks to match our great value street food.”
The 3,000 square feet pool level venue offers 15 tables, with layout designed to comfortably accommodate COVID-19 safety measures.
Says Lisa: “The idea is to match our great value Thai street food with equally great value drinks for the first time, with bottled Thai drinks – like Chang and Singha – from AED34 and draft pints no more than AED40 a pint.” We’re also serving ‘bucket” deals for an ultimate moment of Thai holiday nostalgia.
Chef New’s special range of Thai / Isan-inspired cocktails are being developed alongside expert mixologists and the hotel’s team making the most of her signature fresh ingredients, such as fresh whole coconut vodka cocktails, spicy Thai Basil cocktails and a few featuring those signature Thai tastes, lemongrass and ginger.
The quirky Thai venue – voted Time Out Dubai’s Best Thai Restaurant 2021 – is bringing nostalgia and a genuine street vibe to its relaxed new dining spot, which will be serving from midday to midnight weekdays and 1am Thursday and Friday.
Chef New says: “We want to bring Thailand to Dubai, adorning the walls with guest’s holiday snaps from Thailand, so come with your favourite pictures and we’ll put them up. The space is decorated with a holidays in mind – think beach towels, flip flops, postcards, personal memorabilia, beach umbrellas and folding tables. Melamine tableware, plastic chairs and stools and our colourful signature upcycled veg crates with plenty of indoor plants will add a funky, fresh Thai vibe to pop up.
The food – expect the signature dishes from the Isan region Chef New has won numerous awards for, alongside some exciting new dishes, yet to be announced – watch this space.
There’s even a small outdoor terrace if you want to brave the summer sunshine for a smoke. Guests can also take advantage of three hours free parking at Cluster P. The pop up venue is adult only and there are no price hikes. Same great value food as the original restaurant.
WHAT: Café Isan x Armada BlueBay pop-up
WHERE: 1st Floor, Armada BlueBay Hotel, Cluster P, JLTWHEN: Now open until August 31, 2021, 12 midday – 1am; last orders at 12 midnight.