Two Dubai Eateries Named Among World's Most Beautiful Restaurants
Jun 17, 2025
Two of Dubai's most distinctive dining destinations—Gerbou and Smoked Room—have just been recognised among the world's most beautiful restaurants in the prestigious 2025 Prix Versailles list, which celebrates excellence in design across hospitality spaces globally.
Gerbou, a collaboration between Tashkeel and Atelier House Hospitality, is set inside a reimagined 1980s community centre in Nad Al Sheba. Its interiors are a tactile tribute to Emirati culture—featuring camel-leather banquettes, a Ghaf wood reception desk, fish-scale light fittings, and earth-toned textures that nod to the desert landscape. With 75% of its ingredients sourced locally, Gerbou's philosophy of sustainability and cultural rootedness is reflected not only on the plate, but in every design decision. The result is a space that feels at once grounded and elevated—a contemporary expression of heritage.
Smoked Room, meanwhile, is located in St. Regis Gardens on the Palm and offers a more intimate, immersive experience: just 14 seats, and a menu built entirely around the theatre of smoke and fire. Created by acclaimed Spanish chef Dani García, the concept earned a Michelin star within six months of opening. Inside, the design leans moody and elemental—think charred wood, ambient lighting, and a raw material palette that mirrors the cooking technique itself. It's refined, primal, and utterly transportive.
Gerbou and Smoked Room's recognition in the Prix Versailles list highlights Dubai's emergence as a serious contender in the global design conversation—where restaurants double as cultural and aesthetic landmarks.
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