Theatrical gastronomy and storytelling converge at TABU

Take a peek at The St. Regis Downtown Dubai’s new Japanese restaurant in these exclusive images. 

Japanese appears to be Dubai’s cuisine of choice this year. Enter TABU, a new high-end concept situated on the 23rd floor of The St. Regis Downtown Dubai that’s looking to grab diners’ attention with a unique combination of avant-garde cuisine and theatrics. 

The new venue draws inspiration from the Yokocho (alleyways) of Tokyo, offering diners a fully immersive dining experience anchored around entertainment, theatrical service, beguiling beverages and innovative cuisine.

Featuring different staging areas and multiple acts, TABU subverts expectations of the ‘dinner and a show’ trend that has taken Dubai by storm in recent months. Instead, entertainment is present throughout the venue at all times, even when guests least expect it!

Fusing authentic Japanese flavours with a playful twist, TABU’s Executive Chef Roberto Segura (formally of Peruvian hotspot Waka) offers an experimental menu that plays with perceptions of textures and flavours, with a side of interactive live cooking. Signature plates include the otoro tartare in sesame cones, sea urchin and caviar, gold gyoza with burrata and truffle, Japanese Wagyu steamed buns, and traditional Yakimono and Ishiyaki stone bowl dishes. Alternatively, guests can opt for TABU’s Omakase, with six or eight courses left entirely at the chef’s discretion. Beverage pairing and tasting experiences are also available for diners wishing to experiment.

The multi-faceted TABU also boasts an impressive private dining area, in addition to an expansive outdoor terrace complete with statues of sumo wrestlers and views of the Burj Khalifa that is ideal for sundowners and shisha. 

For those looking to continue the party after dinner, a reservation-only speakeasy lounge club called The Other Side is open on the 24th floor.

TABU delivers a rich atmosphere rooted in strong Japanese aesthetics and is open now.

GO: Visit tabudubai.com for reservations and more information.