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Indikaya Opens Doors at Shangri-La Dubai on 1st August: Modern and Culturally Rich!

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Situated within Shangri-La Dubai, Indikaya is a new Indian restaurant presenting fusion Indian Tapas, stunning ambiance, and an unforgettable dining experience celebrating India’s rich culinary heritage.

Dubai’s newest dining destination, Indikaya, will surprise diners with the freshest flavors and culinary creativity with its unique tapas menu. Breaking new ground and bringing Indian ingredients to the fore, the restaurant celebrates India’s diverse flavors, textures, and culinary traditions in an exciting new format, promising a feast for the senses.

Helmed by the renowned Chef Ajay Chopra, Indikaya’s ethos revolves around seasonal ingredients treated in imaginative ways while staying true to their roots. Bold yet thoughtful, playful yet meticulous, each dish on the menu is a tribute to a different region, culture, and flavor profile of India.

Chef Chopra, a celebrated figure in the culinary world, is known for his innovative approach to Indian cuisine. With a career spanning over two decades, he has worked with culinary legends like Gordon Ramsay and Angela Hartnett. His expertise has graced prestigious kitchens worldwide, including his role as a judge on Masterchef India for two seasons.

The contemporary bar at Indikaya emphasizes ingredient-forward mixology, offering signature cocktails such as the Malabar Monsoon, featuring curry leaf and black pepper sieved with coconut oil fat-washed rum, and the Dalhousie Scotch, a delightful blend of Scotch, crème de cacao, espresso, almond syrup, and mascarpone cheese. The bar also boasts a curated list of spirits and mocktails, expertly crafted by skilled bartenders and complemented by lively music. Visit for a round of adventurous drinks that will delight and surprise with each sip.

The menu at Indikaya reflects Chef Chopra’s experience, offering an exploration of inventive Indian tapas, expertly grilled dishes, and main courses that reimagine nostalgic flavors while capturing the essence of India’s culinary diversity. Highlights include the Mungbean Tartine, a plant-based delight featuring a mung bean dip flavored with Maharashtrian thecha, and the Indikaya Vada Pao, a sophisticated take on Mumbai’s beloved street food with tempered russet potato and wasabi relish.

Indulge in the Kumbh Indulgence, featuring porcini mushrooms folded with Manchego and smoked mozzarella cheese, served with edamame, fried enoki, and black garlic emulsion. Or savor the Osso Bucco, showcasing Australian lamb osso bucco brined in spiced whey, slow-cooked with nihari sauce, and served over truffled cauliflower puree. The Chilean Seabass, marinated with a spice blend from the North Canara coast, sous-vide, and finished on a plancha, offers another exquisite choice. For dessert, enjoy the modern twist of classics like the Rum Baba Misu with kithul jaggery mousse stuffed in baba au rhum, soaked in a syrup of Kahlua, Old Monk, and Marsala wine, served with glazed cherries and South Indian filter coffee ganache.

“Our main priority is the quality of ingredients, with each dish at the restaurant shining a spotlight on one” says Chef Chopra. “Providing diners with the highest quality meals and exemplary service. Each dish on our menu celebrates a different region, culture, and flavor profile, showcasing lesser-known ingredients from remote towns of India. With every dish, we aim to showcase the authentic diversity of India.”

The meal at Indikaya is a sensory affair, begin with drinks at the lounge followed by mains in the dining room. The expansive space is warm and welcoming, with impressive contemporary design elements, creating an inviting atmosphere that is both modern and culturally rich. The spacious dining area, highlighted by ambient lighting and tasteful furnishings, offers a serene setting for an exceptional dining experience.

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Hospitality

VAPIANO INTRODUCES BREAKFAST FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY ACROSS UAE OUTLETS

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Vapiano is set to introduce breakfast for the first time in its history across its UAE outlets, marking an exciting new chapter for the international dining brand. The new Vapiano Breakfast Menu has been created to bring a fresh, social, and relaxed international lifestyle experience to the morning dining scene, offering guests a new way to begin their day with freshly prepared dishes, premium ingredients, and world-class Illy coffee.

Owned and operated in the UAE by Al Ahlia Group, Al Ahlia General Trading Company PVT LTD, which was conceived and established in 1979 by a group of prominent UAE Nationals, Vapiano continues to strengthen its presence in the country’s evolving food and beverage landscape.

Known for its fresh ingredients, casual dining atmosphere, and made-to-order culinary experience, Vapiano is now extending its offering into breakfast with a menu designed to appeal to today’s evolving dining preferences. The new breakfast selection has been created to bring together comfort, freshness, convenience, and flavour, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed breakfast experience whether they are starting their workday, meeting friends, taking a slow morning break, or enjoying a weekend gathering.

The launch is especially significant as it represents the first Vapiano Breakfast Menu to be introduced anywhere in the world, with the UAE selected as the pioneering market for this new chapter in the brand’s journey. This global first reflects the UAE’s dynamic dining culture, its appetite for fresh culinary experiences, and its position as a leading market for innovation in the food and beverage sector.

The new breakfast menu features a wide variety of dishes created for different tastes and morning moods. Guests can enjoy wholesome bowls, warm croissant-based favourites, egg dishes, sourdough options, fresh juices, smoothies, coffee, and tea.

The menu also includes comforting favourites such as Classic Omelette and Shakshuka, served on Vapiano’s baked sourdough pizza base. For guests looking for lighter and refreshing options, the menu offers the House Granola Acai Bowl, Mango Chia Pot, and Feel-Good Bowl, alongside freshly squeezed juices and a selection of coffee and tea options.

With the introduction of breakfast, Vapiano aims to become a new morning destination for guests seeking quality, freshness, and a warm social setting. The menu has been designed not only as a food offering, but as a complete morning experience – one that encourages guests to gather, connect, share, and enjoy a different side of Vapiano.

“Breakfast is one of the most important moments of the day, and we are excited to bring the Vapiano experience into this occasion for the very first time,” said Ilenia Alba, Head of Operation. “Launching the first Vapiano Breakfast Menu worldwide in the UAE is a proud milestone for us. This market has always embraced fresh ideas and new dining experiences, making it the perfect place to introduce our breakfast concept. We look forward to welcoming guests to enjoy good mornings, fresh flavours, and memorable moments at Vapiano.”

The introduction of Vapiano Breakfast also responds to a growing demand for morning dining experiences that are casual, social, and high quality. With more guests looking for places that offer both convenience and atmosphere, Vapiano’s breakfast menu creates a new opportunity for people to enjoy the brand earlier in the day.

The Vapiano Breakfast Menu will be available from May 20 across Vapiano UAE outlets at Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, Yas Mall, Bawadi Mall Al Ain, Palm Jumeirah Mall, City Centre Al Zahia, City Centre Deira, and Al Jimi Mall.

For more information, guests can follow @VapianoUAE on social media.


About Vapiano

Vapiano is an international restaurant brand known for its relaxed atmosphere, fresh ingredients, and made-to-order dining experience. With a menu inspired by Italian flavours and a casual social setting, Vapiano brings people together over fresh food, warm hospitality, and memorable dining moments.

In the UAE, Vapiano is owned and operated by Al Ahlia Group, Al Ahlia General Trading Company PVT LTD, which was conceived and established in 1979 by a group of prominent UAE Nationals.

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Hospitality

REDEFINING AFFORDABLE LIFESTYLE HOSPITALITY IN DUBAI

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Exclusive interview with Thomas Kurian, General Manager, LEVA Hotels

  1. LEVA operates in a space where lifestyle, affordability, and design intersect, what is the brand really trying to solve for modern travellers?

LEVA is fundamentally focused on addressing the growing gap between affordability and quality-driven hospitality experiences. Today’s travellers are increasingly looking for hotels that offer thoughtful design, comfort, flexibility, and strong locations without the premium pricing typically associated with lifestyle hospitality.

The objective is not simply to provide accommodation, but to create spaces that feel practical, contemporary, and experience-oriented for both short and extended stays. This includes offering functional living spaces, flexible stay formats, and an environment that balances convenience with a more relaxed, lifestyle-led atmosphere suited to the evolving expectations of modern travellers.

  • As the General Manager of LEVA Hotels, what does success look like for LEVA beyond occupancy and revenue metrics?

Beyond occupancy and revenue, success for LEVA is measured by consistency in guest experience, operational adaptability, and long-term brand relevance within a highly competitive hospitality market.

Guest retention, positive sentiment, and the ability to create a seamless experience across different traveller segments are equally important indicators of performance. Internally, success also means maintaining operational efficiency while building a culture that allows teams to remain agile, service-oriented, and aligned with the brand’s long-term growth strategy.

  • You often speak about transforming business complexity into structured growth, what does that look like inside a real hotel operation?

In a hotel environment, structured growth comes from creating operational clarity across multiple moving parts, from revenue management and staffing to guest services and procurement. Hospitality operations are inherently dynamic, particularly in a market like Dubai where demand patterns can shift quickly between corporate, leisure, and event-driven travel.

Transforming complexity into growth means building systems that allow teams to respond efficiently to these fluctuations while maintaining consistency in service delivery. It also involves using data more effectively to guide pricing, resource allocation, and operational planning, ensuring that growth remains sustainable rather than reactive.

  • When guests choose LEVA over other Dubai hotels, what “specific experience promise” are they actually buying into?

Guests choosing LEVA are typically buying into a hospitality experience that combines accessibility, comfort, and lifestyle-driven design in a way that feels both practical and contemporary.

The promise is centred around delivering well-located, thoughtfully designed spaces that offer flexibility and ease without unnecessary complexity. Whether travelling for business, leisure, or extended stays, guests are looking for an experience that feels efficient, comfortable, and approachable while still maintaining the quality and atmosphere associated with lifestyle hospitality.

  • How has Dubai’s shift toward experience-driven tourism impacted LEVA’s business model?

Dubai’s shift toward experience-driven tourism has reinforced the importance of flexibility and lifestyle positioning within the hospitality sector. Travellers are increasingly placing greater value on convenience, personalised experiences, and hotels that integrate seamlessly into their broader travel plans rather than functioning purely as accommodation providers.

For LEVA, this has strengthened the focus on curated stay experiences, flexible offerings, and value-added services that support both short leisure stays and longer-term guests. It has also increased the importance of location, design, and operational agility in meeting evolving traveller expectations across different demand segments.

  • What is the biggest operational challenge in running a lifestyle hotel brand like LEVA in Dubai?

One of the biggest operational challenges is balancing guest expectations for premium, lifestyle-led experiences while maintaining efficiency and accessibility within a highly competitive market. Dubai’s hospitality sector moves at a very fast pace, with constant shifts in traveller behaviour, pricing dynamics, and service expectations.

For lifestyle hotel brands, this requires maintaining consistency in design, service quality, and guest engagement while also remaining operationally agile enough to adapt to changing market conditions. Managing this balance effectively is critical to sustaining both guest satisfaction and long-term operational performance.

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Hospitality

THE WORLD CUP TAKES OVER THE COTERIE THIS SUMMER WITH STADIUM-STYLE FAN FESTIVAL

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This summer, football fever takes over Dubai as The Coterie Ibn Battuta partners with African + Eastern to launch Festiball at The Coterie Clubhouse by Stella Artois. Running from June 11 to July 19, the high-energy World Cup fan festival promises giant screens, stadium-style energy and unforgettable match-day moments from first kick to the Final.

Designed to capture the energy and unpredictability that makes football so special, Festiball will transform The Coterie into a stadium-style fan destination packed with live entertainment, immersive activations, crowd energy and non-stop tournament action throughout the summer.

Fans can also expect dedicated match-day food and drinks menus including stacked burgers, pies, pastries and loaded chip cones alongside The Coterie’s signature à la carte menu. 

Selected headline fixtures will turn up the energy with CO2 cannons, ultras-style flags, live DJs, drums and MC hosts creating an electric stadium atmosphere right in the heart of Dubai.

Throughout the tournament, fans can expect all-day hops offers, score prediction competitions, match-day prizes and surprise fan moments across every major fixture – with AED 500 vouchers up for grabs during activated games. Ladies can also kick-start selected match days with complimentary drinks before kick-off, while returning fans will unlock exclusive rewards and tournament-long experiences throughout the summer.

Speaking about the launch, Heinrich Spies, General Manager, said:“Festiball is all about bringing people together and recreating the energy, excitement and unpredictability that makes football so special. We wanted to create more than just a place to watch the games – this is a full football festival experience with incredible atmosphere, entertainment and fan moments from start to finish.”

With football fans expected to gather across the city this summer, Festiball at The Coterie Clubhouse by Stella Artois is set to become one of Dubai’s go-to destinations for every goal, chant, celebration and unforgettable match-day moment.

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