Hospitality

HOW MEDITERRANEAN DINING IS FINDING A NEW RHYTHM IN DUBAI

Published

3 weeks ago

July 21, 2026

Exclusive interview with Selçuk, Co-Founder, Loop

Every great restaurant begins with an idea. What sparked the vision for LOOP, and what gap did you feel existed in Dubai’s dining scene?

LOOP was born from a simple question: What makes people come back to a restaurant again and again? We realised it isn’t just a beautiful space or a trending dish. It’s how a place becomes part of your everyday life.

That’s exactly what we wanted to create—a restaurant people return to whether it’s for a morning coffee, a leisurely Turkish breakfast, a business lunch, dinner with friends or a late-night meal. The name “LOOP” reflects that idea of coming full circle, of becoming part of someone’s routine.

Dubai has countless restaurants designed for special occasions. We wanted to build one designed for everyday moments, where exceptional food, genuine hospitality and a welcoming atmosphere make every visit feel worth repeating.

Business Bay is evolving into one of Dubai’s busiest lifestyle destinations. What made it the perfect home for LOOP?

Business Bay has evolved into far more than a business district. It’s become one of Dubai’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, where professionals, residents and visitors all cross paths throughout the day.

That made it the perfect location for an all-day dining concept like LOOP. From early breakfasts and coffee meetings to relaxed lunches, family dinners and late-night gatherings, the area naturally lends itself to every dining occasion.

Being located along the Dubai Canal also allows guests to step away from the pace of the city and enjoy a meal in a setting that feels calm, social and inviting. We wanted LOOP to become the neighbourhood restaurant people think of first, regardless of the hour.

Operating around the clock is an ambitious undertaking. What inspired the decision to create a true 24-hour dining destination?

Food doesn’t follow office hours, and neither do people.

Some guests start their day before sunrise with coffee and breakfast, while others are looking for a quality dinner or comforting meal long after most kitchens have closed. We wanted to remove the idea that there is a “right time” to visit a restaurant.

Operating 24 hours allows us to serve fresh, thoughtfully prepared food whenever our guests choose to dine. Whether it’s an early breakfast spread, a Mediterranean lunch, a family dinner or a late-night bite after work, the same attention to quality and hospitality remains at the centre of every service.

Mediterranean cuisine has become increasingly popular in the UAE. How does LOOP bring its own interpretation to this culinary tradition?

Mediterranean cuisine is all about simplicity, generosity and letting great ingredients speak for themselves, and that’s the philosophy we’ve embraced at LOOP.

Our menu is inspired by the Mediterranean with a distinctive Turkish influence, bringing together vibrant seasonal produce, premium grilled meats, fresh seafood and colourful sharing plates that encourage people to gather around the table.

Rather than reinventing traditional recipes, we focus on refining them through quality ingredients, careful technique and contemporary presentation. Guests can enjoy everything from authentic Turkish breakfast spreads to beautifully grilled kebabs, fresh mezze and signature Mediterranean dishes designed for sharing.

While shisha naturally complements the relaxed atmosphere, it has never defined who we are. Food is the heart of LOOP. Every dish is created to encourage conversation, long meals and the joy of sharing great flavours with family and friends.

Personalisation has become a defining trend in hospitality. How do you ensure returning guests feel recognized without making the experience feel scripted?

For us, personalisation begins with paying attention.

It’s about remembering a guest’s favourite table, knowing how they like their coffee, recommending a new dish based on what they’ve enjoyed before or simply greeting them by name.

We’re also developing the LOOP app to make reservations more seamless and help us better understand our guests’ preferences over time. Technology gives us useful insights, but it’s our team that brings those insights to life through genuine hospitality.

The goal is never to create a scripted experience. It’s to make every returning guest feel naturally welcomed, as though they’re visiting a place that already knows them.

Guests today expect more than great food. How are expectations changing around experience, technology and service?

Guests still come for exceptional food, but what they remember is how a restaurant made them feel.

Today’s diners expect a complete experience: beautifully prepared dishes, attentive service, a comfortable atmosphere and effortless convenience. Every detail matters, from the music and lighting to the pace of service and the way food arrives at the table.

Technology helps us enhance that experience by making reservations easier, streamlining operations and allowing our team to spend more time engaging with guests instead of focusing on processes.

At the end of the day, hospitality remains deeply human. Great food brings people through the door, but genuine service and memorable experiences are what inspire them to come back.

Hospitality

JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL DUBAI INTRODUCES A SUMMER OF WELLNESS AT SARAY SPA AND BODYBASE

Published

17 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

This August, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai has three very different ways for guests to relax in Business Bay. The new City Wellness Retreat pairs a stay with breakfast and a spa treatment, and Saray Spa is offering its hammam ritual with special offers, while on the same floor, BodyBase keeps things energetic with reformer classes and offers designed to draw in newcomers. Add a dip in the Aqua Pool with Burj Khalifa in view, and August gives guests plenty of reason to stay a while longer.

City Wellness Retreat

For guests who want to properly switch off, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai is introducing the City Wellness Retreat this August. Designed for guests seeking a restorative urban wellness escape, the package pairs a night at the hotel with a full breakfast and a 30-minute massage at Saray Spa, so a stay in Business Bay comes with breakfast at Business Bay by Kitchen6, energy one morning and a proper spa break the next, without having to leave the property.

Details:

When: Throughout August 2026
Where: JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: Room stay with breakfast and a 30-minute massage at Saray Spa
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

30% off Hammam Treatments at Saray Spa

Saray Spa’s Hammam Treatment is a rejuvenating ritual combining soothing steam, invigorating exfoliation and a traditional wash-down, all enhanced by the calming scents of orange and frankincense. Designed to refresh both body and mind, this has proven to be a guest favourite. Throughout August, enjoy 30% off this signature hammam experience and indulge in a moment of well-deserved self-care.

Details:

When: Daily until 31^st August 2026
Where: Saray Spa at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: 30% off Hammam Treatments
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

BodyBase Trio Trial

BodyBase is giving beginners an easy way into its reformer classes, no experience needed. The Trio Trial gives newcomers three classes for AED 250, with a pair of BodyBase grip socks included, a good way to try both styles before committing to a membership.

Details:

When: Daily until 31^st August 2026
Where: BodyBase at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: Three classes for AED 250, exclusive to newcomers and inclusive of complimentary BodyBase grip socks
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

BodyBase Reformer Class and Pool Access

New for summer, BodyBase is pairing its dynamic reformer fitness classes with access to the Aqua Pool for the ultimate wellness morning. After an invigorating session that challenges the entire body and leaves guests feeling energised, the experience continues with a relaxing poolside retreat. Guests can take a refreshing dip, lounge in the sun and admire sweeping Burj Khalifa views, turning a simple workout into a morning of fitness, recovery and indulgence. Open to members old and new, the combination costs AED 100 for the full morning.

Details:

When: Daily until 31^st August 2026
Where: BodyBase at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: Reformer class with access to the Aqua Pool
Price: AED 100
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

Hospitality

Common Grounds and Cymbiotika introduce Inner Bloom

Published

1 day ago

August 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Common Grounds has partnered with Cymbiotika to introduce Inner Bloom, a limited-edition smoothie designed for those looking to nourish their bodies, without compromising on flavour. Launching on 7 August and available until 30 September, the wellness-focused drink will be served at Dubai Hills Mall, Kite Beach, DIFC, JBR, and Mall of the Emirates for AED 45.

At the heart of the collaboration is the Inner Boom, a smoothie that’s as beautiful as it is beneficial. Blending sun-ripened mango, strawberry purée, Greek yoghurt, blue spirulina, and agave with Cymbiotika’s Liquid Colostrum. The Liquid Colostrum helps support gut health, immune function, healthy skin, hair and nails, making it an ideal choice for everyone seeking a more mindful approach to their daily nutrition.

Created as part of a shared mission to make everyday wellness more approachable, the collaboration brings together two brands that believe feeling good should fit seamlessly into daily life. Whether enjoyed after a workout, between meetings, or as a morning pick-me-up, this smoothie offers a simple way to add a functional boost to the day.

The partnership reflects the natural synergy between Common Grounds and Cymbiotika. Known for creating spaces where great food, specialty coffee and community come together, Common Grounds continues to evolve its wellness offering through thoughtful partnerships and guest experiences. Cymbiotika, meanwhile, has built a global following through its science-backed supplements, transparent sourcing, and commitment to empowering healthier lifestyles.

More than just a smoothie, Inner Bloom reflects a shared belief that small, intentional choices can have a positive impact on how we feel every day.

Inner Bloom | Available: 7 August – 30 September 2026
Price: AED 45 | Locations: Common Grounds Dubai Hills Mall, Kite Beach, DIFC, JBR and Mall of the Emirates

Hospitality

DUBAI’S NEWEST DINING TREND ISN’T A DISH, IT’S AN EXPERIENCE FOR BRINGING BACK THE OLD ROMANCE

Published

1 day ago

August 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Launching on 3rd August 2026 and running every Monday from 7pm to midnight, the restaurant’s “Bringing Back the Old Romance” transforms the restaurant into a full sensory reset for the evening, with candlelight, dimmed lighting and a slower soundtrack replacing the usual buzz. Every table is dressed for the occasion, with personalised candles carrying a single rose, and a notepad for writing messages to take home, sealed in an envelope.

In a city where restaurant tables are as likely to be shared with a phone as with a partner, Rodeo Drive at Ibn Battuta Gate has introduced a weekly ritual designed to bring couples back to each other, a chance to ditch the phone, disconnect, and reconnect with their lover.

Couples can choose from four set menu packages, priced per couple ranging from 220 AED to 499 AED. You & Me offers a pared-back shared starter, a main each and a shared dessert. Romeo & Juliet builds on this with access to the full menu, including smokehouse and live-fire dishes, alongside a house beverage each. Beauty & the Beast adds a starter and dessert per person and a bottle of house wine to share, while Bonnie & Clyde Go Crazy, the most indulgent tier, offers unlimited starters and house beverages across a relaxed 2.5-hour seating.

Dishes lean into bold, comforting flavours built for sharing, from smoked brisket queso and live-fire cedar plank salmon to rib eye topped with cowboy butter, alongside a wider selection of wings, tacos, pasta and burgers, finishing with Basque cheesecake or a s’mores brownie for two.

The host can further personalise the evening while reserving the table with add-ons including a single long-stem rose, chocolate-dipped strawberries, a smokehouse sharing board, or a romantic table upgrade complete with a bouquet, chocolates and a personalised card to surprise the other.

At the centre of the evening sits an unusual proposition: put the phone away, and be rewarded for it. The 20% Challenge invites couples to lock their phones in a table box for a full hour, receiving 20% off their bill once the hour is complete. The mechanic is built around a simple idea, rewarding couples for giving each other undivided attention.

This idea taps into something couples quietly know but rarely act on: an evening feels different when nobody reaches for their phone. By tying that hour of disconnection to a genuine reward, Rodeo Drive makes it easy to actually follow through, turning a familiar intention into a habit worth keeping. Guests can look forward to it each week, a small, standing invitation to slow down together.

Tables can be booked 24 hours in advance, with a prepayment confirming the table, the romantic set-up and the finer details. Guests are asked to share both first names when booking so candle cards are ready on arrival.