3 Dubai Hotspots That Get A Nod Of Approval From Chef Vikas Khanna As He Opens His Next Restaurant In The City

"It¡¯s not that we find Dubai, Dubai finds us.¡±

From cooking for the Obamas in the White House to judging an episode of MasterChef Australia to meeting the Queen of England ¨C Michelin star Chef Vikas Khanna has travelled all over the world, achieving incredible heights of success.

He was recently in Dubai to work on a new passion project. He inaugurated his new restaurant Kinnara, in JA Resorts. Talking about the inspiration behind his new restaurant, Vikas pointed out his love for home-cooked meals and the true meaning of Kinnara. He said, ¡°Kinnara means a bank or a place where we rest, so I thought it is amazing that we can create an ambiance in a restaurant which makes people feel that this is an extension of their dining rooms.¡±

Dubai Tourism

Kinnara pays an approachable homage to regional Indian kitchens with its raw beauty of home cooking and featuring authentic regional dishes with a modern twist. The restaurant is led by Vikas Khanna¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦ in Dubai, Chef de Cuisine Ashish Kumar. Some of the signature dishes include Dahike Kebab (Yogurt Kebab), Kinara¡¯s version of Chicken Makhani, and the four delectable chutneys that represent the different regions - Bengali tomato-nigella relish, Konkani pineapple-fennel seed pickle, Punjabi pickled onions, and Rajasthani garlic-chili chutney.

The restaurant has a beautiful open kitchen and a magnificent outdoor terrace that offers al fresco dining and vistas across the lake and the lush golf course.

While setting up his restaurant in Dubai, Vikas took some time out for a little exploration and headed straight to some of the best restaurants in the city!

Wondering what are the places that have his nod of approval? We have the list ready! Here are some of the places that you need to tick off your checklist.

XVA Hotel & Caf¨¦

Dubai Tourism

Opened in 2003 as an art-oriented salon, primarily as a getaway for artists and art lovers, the XVA Hotel is a unique blend of art and heritage amidst the bustling city. Situated in the heart of Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, XVA Hotel is the former home of the Seddiqi family, Dubai¡¯s Rolex dealers, which was revamped a few years back. Offering 15 individually designed suites and rooms, an award-winning restaurant, gallery, boutique store, courtyards, and a sultry lounge to its solace-seeking guests, this centrally-located hotspot is the city¡¯s best-kept secret.

On his visit to the XVA cafe, Vikas Khanna was smitten by the heritage and architecture all-around. He loved visiting this part of the city that still has its roots preserved. He observed, "The old Emirati wall on the way, it just touches you that this city honours your roots and heritage and ancestors that have created this; it¡¯s amazing that¡¯s what breaks me every time. And from the same view, you see one of the most iconic skylines now in the world."

Ever since XVA Caf¨¦ opened it has been hailed for serving freshly prepared vegetarian food. Try their signature mint lemonade, eggplant burger or pomegranate smoothie and transport back into time with their traditional courtyard ambiance.

The Espresso Lab

Dubai Tourism

Founded by Emirati entrepreneur Ibrahim Al Mallouhi, The Espresso Lab is a coffee lover's dream come true. Created as an artisan company The Espresso Lab is driven by the latest technology and evolution in the coffee industry.

This extraordinary caf¨¦ doesn¡¯t believe in baristas, they prefer the term coffee chefs ¨C a chef who is an expert in sourcing, roasting, and serving the best specialty single-origin coffee in the land. In fact, Chef Vikas Khanna met the chefs and entrepreneurs who are designing the coffee and spoke to them at length about the fermentation process of coffee. He left The Espresso Lab feeling inspired, "It actually motivates me to be more passionate about what I do, such people are infectious, and their passion is contagious."

Now, that¡¯s a lab experience you cannot miss!

BB Social Dining

Dubai Tourism

BB Social Dining is a homegrown concept that serves Asian and Middle East-inspired cuisine in a compelling and compact space. Unlike most restaurants, this place has an inclusive, not exclusive approach, considering various budgets, personal preferences, and multiple vegan, vegetarian, and meat options.

On his last stop for the day, Vikas Khanna headed to BB Social Dining and met the owner and Chef, Alex. Vikas was in awe of his passion and success, he said, "Alex is legendary. We¡¯ve all seen his growth and his understanding of how he built this restaurant is absolutely amazing and so unique, but at the same time so comforting. I¡¯m proud when people take risks; I love it when they¡¯re not scared to fail and they restart again and again"

This polished yet light-hearted place lets you enjoy a unique dining experience. The idea behind this restaurant is to bring together a community of like-minded guests to enjoy a diverse, engaging, and multi-layered dining journey.

Sounds like a day well spent in the laps of delicious food and coffee!

The next time you¡¯re in Dubai, don¡¯t forget to check out Chef Vikas Khanna¡¯s new dining heaven Kinnara or his favourite hotspots in the city!