Back in 2021, Spanish chef Dani García’s restaurant, Leña, was singled out as the most beautiful restaurant in the world at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. For good reason, the stunning restaurant in Marbella really is something special – and now it is coming to Dubai.
Set to open in December 2023, Leña will be located at St Regis Gardens – at top The Palm Jumeirah’s Nakeel Mall.
Dani García is a maverick. The talent chef became an award-magnet with his eponymous Dani García Restaurante in Marbella which was often touted is one of the world’s very best – until he sensationally closed it to shift his focus away from fine-dining and towards elevating casual Spanish cuisine. The result of that is the opening of multiple restaurants in Spain and also New York – Bibo, Lobito De Mar, Smoked Room, Dani Brasserie and Leña.
Not only will Leña be Garcia’s first Dubai venture, but he will also be showcasing a return to his fine-dining skills with an iteration of the Smoked Room, which will be an intimate 14-seater that pays homage to the art of grilling.
Leña is a steakhouse in essence – albeit a delightfully elevated one. Oh, and not to mention, from a restaurant voted as the ‘world’s most beautiful’, it’s one where the interiors are considered to be almost as (if not more) impressive as the food.
A release of the restaurants’ renders show a sleek, contemporary, flame-inspired design space. Guests are welcomed into an impressive bar and lounge area, which then moves through into a decadent dining space backed by an expansive open kitchen.
Naturally, with its location perched atop the Palm Jumeirah, the restaurant’s showpiece will be the outdoor terrace that will seating up to 140 guests. Beautiful.