Ikigai, Millennium Place Marina, Dubai

BACKGROUND One of Dubai Marina’s newest o erings, Ikigai is a modern but authentic hotspot for the city’s savvy diners. Now that bar seating is back in Dubai as regulations continue to ease, this is a fun place for drinks or dinner, with a diverse menu perfect for light bites and snacking. Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being” and the venue aims to transport guests to the bustling taverns of Japan. The brainchild of chef and restaurateur Reif Othman, he calls the concept “Japan on a plate” o ering a menu reminiscent of the street-chic food served at Japanese izakaya bars.

The food was colourful, fresh and beautifully presented

HOURS Saturday – Thursday: 5pm – 1am Friday: 1pm – 1am

LOCATION Millennium Place Marina, Dubai Marina

CONTACT +971 (0)4 550 8114; reservation@ikigaidubai.com; millenniumhotels.com

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Brightly coloured with Manga-meets-Geisha-inspired gra iti-style artwork on the walls and the quintessential bamboo and timber of Japan’s heritage, the restaurant is an awesome modern take on cool Japan. A live DJ played a great set while we were there and as we were leaving at 10pm, the night was only just getting started. The atmosphere was vibrant and it’s a great location, close to so much else dotted around the marina and local areas such as The Palm, Media City and Jumeirah Lakes Towers.

THE FOOD From raw to cooked, there is so much choice. Fun snacks and starters include shrimps pop, nori dust fries with curry ketchup and Teddy’s fried chicken, making street food chic. Traditional sushi and robata grills keep things classic with favourites including miso cod and wagyu ribeye for mains. The food was colourful, fresh and beautifully presented. We ate a selection of the salmon sushi and sashimi, which was melt-in-the-mouth, including the succulent raw salmon belly, and to accompany the miso cod for mains, the kimchi egg rice was delicious and made a lovely change from its bland plain rice cousin.

THE SERVICE The service was attentive, and the sta were good fun.

THE WORKSPACE This is definitely not a place to work, but a great venue for casual after-work drinks that lead to dinner. Prepare to get comfortable.

VERDICT A casual yet cool restaurant and if you’re in the mood, a late-night venue with the fun factor that many other Japanese restaurants in the city don’t quite have. Melanie Swan