Dragonfly in Dubai
Hovering high above the dining room in Business Bay, this restaurant is big and bold in more ways than one. With flavours, design and ideas, more is more.
Symbolising strength, transformation and forward motion, Dragonfly's menu mirrors that of its namesake's meaning. Expect 'creative experiments'. And, as diners in Dubai well know, acclaimed chef Reif Othman isn't one for standing still.
The cooler-than-cool spot, which is nestled next to the Marina at The Lana Promenade, comes from the team behind Shanghai Me, collaborating with Othman.
Outside, there's a terrace – yes, the Burj views are somewhat obstructed by the foliage, so if you want a corker of an Insta shot, your best option may well be perched below the aforementioned giant dragonfly.
(Credit: Dragonfly)
A central red bar is a top place to stop for a pre-dinner drink, which are inventive (but as a warning are on the pricey side). But the more is more philosophy trickles into your selection, with more than 80 types of Japanese beverages to choose from. Connoisseurs, you will be delighted.
When it comes to the menu, expect Othman's signature flair on a list that dances between Japanese and pan-Asian. Think dim sum, miso butter black cod, duck gyoza elevated with foie gras and cherry hoisin sauce.
Make sure to try the prawn har gau – which is a chic take on a classic, coming encased in a silky black dumpling finished with a tweeze of edible gold. And why not?
Move onto the aforementioned buttery black cod, and don't skimp on the wagyu kamameshi – Kagoshima beef sukiyaki. It's a gloriously grown up dish that still hits the comfort food button.
(Credit: Dragonfly)
Our advice? Don't miss the crystal toast with otoro. Teetering just under Dhs100 it's a premium bite, but it tastes – and looks – incredible. Not just for the 'gram – although you'll want to photograph it for posterity anyway – the delicate dish has to be tried to be believed. Resembling an ice cube, the 'bread' is a light, crispy bite that only heightens the freshness of the raw fish.
Interiors are dark and moody, with swathes of red, while the bathrooms also deserve special mention with high-tech sinks and luxe products – showing just how much thought has gone into this place.
And that's really where this Dragonfly soars – its seemingly boundless creativity and forward thinking.
A nightlifey venue with dishes that pop, Dragonfly is one for those wanting to try Othman's creations in a sleek newish spot when you want to indulge. Flit along and settle under that statement dragonfly, you'll have a memorable night out for sure.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Reuters
Dollar slips before data, yen outperforms, eyes on Trump-Putin meeting
Aug 15 (Reuters) - The dollar slipped on Friday with investors cautious about the rate outlook ahead of import price data, after recent figures suggested inflation could accelerate in the coming months. The yen outperformed the euro and the pound following the release of surprisingly strong Japanese growth data, which showed export volumes held up well against new U.S. tariffs. All eyes will be on a meeting in Alaskalater on Friday between Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, focused on the U.S. president's push to seal a ceasefire deal on Ukraine. U.S. import price figures will be more closely watched than usual after data on Thursday showed a sharp jump in producer prices last month, pushing the dollar higher. If import prices keep rising, it may signal that U.S. companies are fully absorbing the tariffs, leaving them with two options: pass the costs on to consumers, potentially stoking inflation, or take the hit to profit margins. Money markets reflect a 95% chance of a 25-basis point Fed rate cut in September. They fully priced a 25-bp cut and a 5% chance of a larger 50-bp move before Thursday's U.S. data. Markets also await next week's Jackson Hole symposium for clues on the Fed's next move. Signs of weakness in the U.S. labour market combined with inflation fromtrade tariffs could present a dilemma for the Fed's rate cut trajectory. The U.S. dollar index , that measures the value of the greenback relative to a basket of six major foreign currencies, was down 0.33% at 97.882. However, it's not just a matter of rate outlook divergence according to some analysts. Morgan Stanley estimates that the dollar risk premium is currently 6% compared to a range of 5% to 9% since April. The bank sees ample scope for it to return to, or even exceed, those peaks, potentially weakening the U.S. currency, because investors are increasing the share of their U.S. asset exposure that is hedged against exchange rate risks. After Trump's so-called Liberation Day tariff announcements, markets sold off U.S. assets, including the greenback, on fears that Washington was about to launch a trade war against its major allies. The yen was up 0.56% against the dollar at 146.94, helped by data showing Japan's economy grew much faster than expected in the second quarter. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's remarks earlier this week that the Bank of Japan could be "behind the curve" in dealing with the risk of inflation proved to be another tailwind for the yen. "Although BoJ Governor Ueda may choose to disregard Bessent's remarks, the Japanese authorities will not want the value of the yen to become more of a concern to the Trump administration than it already is," said Jane Foley senior forex strategist at RaboBank. The euro rose 0.34% versus the dollar to $1.1687. Most analysts expect Europe's single currency to benefit from any ceasefire deal in Ukraine. "The Trump-Putin meeting and any better clarity on the path ahead in the Ukraine conflict have longer-lasting implications for the euro than for the dollar," said Francesco Pesole, forex strategist at ING. "There is a chance that today might be the first step in the direction of de-escalation, and markets may tread carefully for now," he added. The pound was up 0.24% against the U.S. currency at $1.3563. The Australian dollar was up 0.25% versus the greenback at 0.6512. Elsewhere, bitcoin and ether rose after dropping about 4% each on Thursday. Bitcoin had at one point touched a record high on Thursday on shifting Fed rate-cut expectations.
Time Out
6 hours ago
- Time Out
Hong Kong is one of the best cities for Gen Z in Asia, according to Time Out
Every year, Time Out publishes an annual ranking of the greatest cities in the world. We survey over 18,500 locals on the nightlife scene, food, culture, walkability, and even the happiness index of their respective cities, so we get insider tips on the best cities to live and visit right now. But the things that make a city great tend to be different across generations, so this time, we've decided to zoom into what today's twenty-somethings think. By filtering our Best Cities survey to show only responses from those under 30, Time Out has collated a global ranking of cities that Gen Z vibe with – and Hong Kong is on the Asia list! Among the Asia-focused rankings, Hong Kong comes in at the sixth best city for Gen Z. And no wonder, what with our vast array of beloved local flavours and international cuisine from restaurants both fancy and down-to-earth; as well as top-notch bars and nightlife that are consistently ranked among the best in the world. We may be a concrete jungle where the bustle never ceases, but there are also plenty of nature escapes and beautiful hikes to transport you to somewhere serene – perfect for Gen Z with limited attention spans always looking to jump to the next thing of interest. As a compact city, Hong Kong is a remarkably walkable destination with a fantastic public transport system, so whether you prefer pounding the pavement or getting around with your feet barely needing to touch the ground, our city makes it easy to explore. Our movie industry has produced globally beloved cult classic films over the decades, and our government is working its way to more legal recognition and protection of LGBTQIA+ communities. In short, Hong Kong is a vibrant, buzzing city with mouthwatering food on every corner, a historically Chinese soul with a globalised outlook, the great outdoors easily accessible from the urban centre, and a culturally distinct personality that is all our own – so why wouldn't Gen Z love being here? However, we clearly have room for improvement as two cities from Thailand, two cities from mainland China, and one city in Japan ranks ahead of us in the Asia list. In fact, the highest-rated Asian city has also topped the global list as the world's best city for Gen Z, with the honour going to the Thai capital of Bangkok. This is followed by Melbourne, Cape Town, New York City, and Copenhagen making up the top five, all lively cities with pockets of unexpected chill and their own distinctive vibes – or should we say, aura? See below for the list of best cities for Gen Z in both Asia and the world. Asia's Best Cities for Gen Z: Bangkok, Thailand Shanghai, China Beijing, China Tokyo, Japan Chiang Mai, Thailand Hong Kong Hanoi, Vietnam Singapore Seoul, South Korea Osaka, Japan The World's Best Cities for Gen Z, 2025: Bangkok, Thailand Melbourne, Australia Cape Town, South Africa New York City, United States Copenhagen, Denmark Barcelona, Spain Edinburgh, United Kingdom Mexico City, Mexico London, United Kingdom Shanghai, China Hong Kong ranks 8th place in the global Smart City Index 2025
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Rhyl Journal
World shares mixed ahead of meeting between Trump and Putin
Bitcoin briefly rose more than 3% to a new record of over 123,000 dollars, according to CoinDesk. It later fell back below 122,000 dollars. The future for the S&P 500 was unchanged, while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher. Later Thursday, a report will show how bad US inflation was at the wholesale level across the US. Economists expect it to show inflation ticked up to 2.4% in July from 2.3% in June. In early European trading, Germany's DAX rose 0.5% to 24,296.02. In Paris, the CAC 40 added 0.4% to 7,832.60. Europe is bracing for Mr Trump's encounter with Mr Putin, though the US president has said he will prioritise trying to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine when he meets with Mr Putin on Friday in Anchorage, Alaska. The Trump-Putin meeting could have major implications for energy markets, potentially leading to an easing of sanctions against Moscow, or an escalation if no progress is made on ending the war in Ukraine. Early on Thursday, US benchmark crude rose 28 cents to 62.93 dollars per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added 32 cents to 65.95 dollars per barrel. During Asian trading, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 fell nearly 1.5% to 42,649.26 as investors sold to lock in recent gains that have taken the benchmark to all-time records. The Japanese yen rose against the dollar after US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Bloomberg that Japan was 'behind the curve' in monetary tightening. He was referring to the slow pace of increases in Japan's near-zero interest rates. Low interest rates tend to make the yen weaker against the dollar, giving Japanese exporters a cost advantage in overseas sales. The dollar fell to 146.50 Japanese yen Thursday, down from 147.39 yen. The euro slid to 1.1681 dollars from 1.1705 dollars. In Chinese markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.4% to 25,519.32, while the Shanghai composite index slid 0.5% to 3,666.44. South Korea's Kospi rose less than 0.1% to 3,225.66. In Australia, the S&P ASX 200 index added 0.5% to 8,873.80. Taiwan's Taiex fell 0.5% and India's Sensex edged 0.2% higher. On Wednesday, US stocks ticked higher, extending a global rally fuelled by hopes the Federal Reserve will cut US interest rates. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% and the Dow climbed 1%. The Nasdaq composite added 0.1%. Treasury yields eased in the bond market in anticipation that the Fed will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year at its next meeting in September. Lower rates can boost investment prices and the economy by making it cheaper for US households and businesses to borrow to buy houses, cars or equipment, though they risk worsening inflation. Mr Trump has angrily been calling for cuts to help the economy, often insulting the Fed chairman Jerome Powell while doing so. But the Fed has hesitated, worried that Mr Trump's sweeping higher tariffs could make inflation much worse. Fed officials have said they want to see more fresh data about inflation before moving.
