Twilight Tipples: Instagrammable cocktails await at Salmon Guru

Madrid’s most acclaimed bar has set up shop at The Opus by OMNIYAT.

It hails from Madrid, it boasts the #24 spot on the World’s Best Bars list, its quirky personality awaits in Business Bay – and there isn’t a hint of salmon on the menu. Meet Salmon Guru, a quirky new concept located at The Opus by OMNIYAT.

Named to express the ability of going upstream and against the flow, Salmon Guru has been brought to the region by UAE-based F&B venture Elements Hospitality. And what a venue it is! Situated on the ground floor of the Zaha Hadid designed building, Salmon Guru boasts an intimacy that is difficult to find in Dubai. With seating for less than 100 covers, guests can expect an experience anchored around innovative mixology and interactive dining. You’ll also receive some of the friendliest service in Dubai.

The man behind Salmon Guru’s creativity and design is the legendary bar industry figurehead, Diego Cabrera. His vision? To recreate the fun and intimate-yet-casual European experience of the original outpost in Madrid to Dubai. To that end, he has personally designed this venue, infusing all his creativity and experience into his first project outside of Spain – and it shows.

Cabrera has handpicked and trained his team to ensure that the quality and standard of service truly replicates the drinks calibre, world-class service and fantastical atmosphere found in Madrid. Here, guests can immerse themselves in the execution of the unique drinks by sitting in or behind the detailed open bar stations. From start to end, lounge lizards can expect exotic cocktails created right before their eyes with a variety of balanced batches and sophisticated concoctions. The venue itself, while intimate, combines three distinct vibes. There is a ’60s Tropical Speakeasy section, an Asian Night Market, and a Comic Book themed area.

When it comes to the beverages, guests can expect a wild and wacky journey that combines alchemy and exciting concoctions served inside glassware resembling tree frogs and glow-in-the-dark lotus flowers. If you’ve ever wanted to sip out of a Super-Mario inspired piranha plant, Salmon Guru is the spot for you.

With a no shots, no bottles policy, the beverage menu is divided into fruity, sour, refreshing and strong beverages, which the personable bar team can help you navigate. Yet its the innovation on display that will keep you enamoured into the early hours, whether stepping behind the open kitchen-bar, plucking fresh mint leaves from a living wall, or admiring the various colourful infusions that line the walls amidst lucky cat statues with their becoming paws – Salmon Guru is a cocktail lovers paradise. There’s even a bulbous glass distillation apparatus straight out of a laboratory.

In addition to the beverage list, a concise bar menu offers appealing bites that range from a cooling tartare of balfego bluefin tuna loin to plantain chips and dips, grilled chicken skewers and the undeniably moreish 120-day grain-fed beef cheek.

In short, an evening at Salmon Guru is riddled with convivial escapism. Multiple visits will be required to work your way through the beverage list and truly appreciate everything this new venue offers. For a slice of European bar culture in the heart of Dubai, look no further.

GO: Call 052 814 9537 or follow @salmongurudubai for reservations and more information.