An exciting new addition to Dubai’s culinary scene.

Taiko restaurant, the award-winning concept by Executive Chef and founder Schilo van Coevorden, is set to launch its second opening in Sofitel Dubai Wafi this autumn. This will be the brand’s first international outpost and the first time any Dutch chef’s restaurant concept has expanded to the Middle East. 

Taiko Dubai is set to offer the same contemporary cuisine as Taiko Amsterdam. Inspired by the flavours and textures of the Far East, varying from delicate to dramatic but always surprising and original, the cuisine at Taiko offers a sensational adventure for food aficionados. 

The move will also mark a return to Dubai for Schilo, where he worked more than twenty years ago at the start of his career. With Schilo’s previous UAE experience, he will be able to take advantage of spices and local produce to create unique specialities such as his Wagyu biryani and watermelon sashimi. Dishes that are bold yet elegant and deliver the perfect symphony of flavours in every plate. Alongside the menu will be Taiko’s signature mixed beverages which take inspiration from a speakeasy in downtown Roppongi. The beverage menu is accompanied by a refined range of first-class sushi, sashimi, dim sum and the popular “TFC” (Taiko Fried Chicken).

Completing the Taiko experience is the restaurant’s sleek décor and lively ambience which Schilo and the Sofitel Dubai Wafi team will recreate in Dubai. The dark reflective materials and dim lighting will sit perfectly within the hotel’s design, inspired by Egyptian opulence and French sophistication. The design of Taiko Dubai is distinctly inspired by traditional Asian materials, formalism and craftsmanship set in a contemporary context. Guests walk into a dramatic ambience of magical mystery thanks to the darker colour scheme. Standout design elements include an open kitchen revolving around a char-fired robata grill and a sushi bar angled into the space at 45 degrees to stage the drama of food preparation. The majority of counter elements across the venue are finished with black pebbles, sourced from ancient riverbeds in China. The centre of the dining area will be dominated by a stylized ‘tree’ metaphorically representing the significance of the four seasons – decorated in cherry blossoms in spring, lush greens during summer and glowing red acorn in autumn.

On the weekends, Taiko’s renowned live drum performances will accompany dinner and DJs will play into the evening, creating a club-like atmosphere.

Taiko is set to be an exciting addition to Dubai’s culinary scene, where a realm of exclusive restaurants are drawing in tourists from all over the world. Schilo joins a growing list of internationally-renowned chefs choosing to make their mark in the Middle East and will sit alongside the likes of Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsay and Nobu Matsuhisa. ✤

GO: VISIT WWW.SOFITEL-DUBAI-WAFI.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.