NEW IN DUBAI: Majestas, the hospitality group owned by Italian entrepreneurs Flavio Briatore and Francesco Costa, has a new restaurant destination in Dubai.
The Lion in the Sun opened its doors at the Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai hotel, located within the Wasl Tower in the heart of the city. The concept draws inspiration from the Lion in the Sun retreat in Malindi, Kenya which was originally Briatore’s private home.
Situated on the top floor of the hotel, the restaurant was designed by architect Richard Saunders. Spanning 8,072 square feet, the space can accommodate 160 guests between its terrace and indoor dining area. For special events and parties, the venue offers standing room for up to 300 people.
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Lion in the Sun is centered around fine grill dining, celebrating the art of open-fire cooking. The kitchen, led by Italian Turkish celebrity chef Batuhan Piatti, offers a menu featuring Mediterranean influences. Starters include Pulpo alla Gallega, which is octopus with potato purée and tomatoes; fried calamari, and thinly sliced Fassona beef carpaccio. Signature dishes include sea bass carpaccio, spaghetti with Mediterranean vongole and more.
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The warm and earthy color palette features brown, white and terracotta tones.
“Dubai holds a very special place in my heart. Since bringing the second Billionaire here in 2016 and introducing our dinner-show concept in 2021, we’ve been proud to be part of this city’s constantly evolving hospitality scene. In Dubai, to last is to succeed and we’ve done just that,” Briatore stated. Billionaire’s dinner-show concept includes a multicourse dining experience with a live stage show featuring acrobats, singers, dancers and international artists.
“I’m especially happy to see Lion in the Sun — my most personal concept, inspired by my home in Kenya — take on a new life on the 62nd floor [in Dubai]. I want to thank Mandarin Oriental for this partnership. We are proud to be in Dubai, and we are here to stay,” he continued.
The Lion in the Sun concept was inspired by Karen Blixen’s memoir “Out of Africa,” on her life on a coffee farm in Kenya from 1914 to 1931.