Latest news with #JoeyGhazal
Emirates Woman
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
Bodrum bound? The essential guide of where to stay, dine, and reset
Beyond the yachts and beach clubs, Bodrum is having a chic moment. Here, we shortlist the essential guide of where to stay, dine, and reset. STAY Maçakızı Hotel Tucked into a cove in Türkbükü, Maçakızı Hotel is the original understated icon of Bodrum's hotel scene. Loved by insiders for its barefoot-glam energy, this destination is a summer fixture for tastemakers and royals alike. METT Hotel & Beach Resort For something more serene, the METT Hotel & Beach Resort in Bodrum is a laidback-luxe escape set against a dramatic backdrop of Haremtan Cove. It boasts spacious suites and elevated dining venues – take your pick from Folie Bodrum for seaside dining, Isola Manzara Gardens to curb Italian classic cravings, or Dubai-born concept The MAINE for a vibrant and social time with friends. Visit the spa with a Himalayan-salt room and exclusive therapies for the perfect summer reset. Mandarin Oriental Tucked into the hills of Paradise Bay, the property feels like a private playground for those who prefer their summer days sun-soaked and detail-driven. Think: sleek beachfront villas, private pools, and interiors that whisper understated luxury complemented by impeccable service, and restaurants like Gigi, Roka, and Hakkasan to cater to any craving. DINING Gigi Rigolatto Set within the grounds of the Mandarin Oriental, Gigi Rigolatto takes over the Aegean for a luxurious pop-up this summer. The ultimate all-day Mediterranean escape – Gigi is where you can enjoy discovering curated treasures at the Gigi concept store, stylish sips and Italian favourites, barefoot dancing on Riviera playlists, and elegantly undone tablescapes under olive trees. The Maine Bodrum The Turkish Riviera outpost of the Dubai brasserie by restaurateur Joey Ghazal blends its signature East Coast elegance with Mediterranean flair. Expect oysters on ice, sea bass crudo, and Amalfi lemons the size of your hand – all served in a dramatic setting with views that stretch to the Aegean horizon. Roka Anchored in Mandarin Oriental grounds, this celebrated Japanese robatayaki concept debuts two venues: one for lantern-lit dinners, the other a toes-in-the-sand casual setting, both offering refined sashimi and signature beverages under olive branches with panoramic sea views. WELLNESS The Spa at The Bodrum Edition Slick, soothing, and scenically tucked away, The Bodrum Edition's spa is an elevated wellness escape, offering a modern edit of beauty rituals and clinical-grade facials. Ask for the jet lag recovery massage or a traditional Turkish Hammam and stay for the magnesium pool and open-air hammam garden. Scorpios The Mykonos legend arrives in Bodrum with suites, two restaurants, a Ritual Space for breathwork and beachside sound healing, plus a sandy stage for daytime live music and DJs – a culture-rich sanctuary for those seeking a scene to be seen, with a dose of vibes. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied
Forbes
05-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Joey Ghazal Built The MAINE Into An Iconic Worldwide Institution
Since opening the first The MAINE restaurant in 2014 in Dubai, Joey Ghazal has thoughtfully expanded ... More the brand. When Joey Ghazal first started developing the concept for The MAINE, there was nothing quite like it in Dubai. The restaurant's first location was in Dubai in JBR. It was gritty, had character, a change from what was typical for Dubai's restaurant scene at the time (read: large, oversized, glamorous restaurants). Of course, as people started discovering the haven, The MAINE quickly became a hotspot. From there, Ghazal continued to expand the brand and it's now become an internationally renowned restaurant that is frequented by celebrities and tastemakers alike. Born in Montreal, Ghazal spent a large part of his childhood in Vermont and Maine, which had a lasting impact on his love for food and hospitality. 'My earliest foodie memories are of trying my first oyster,' says Ghazal. 'While other kids were eating French fries and chicken nuggets, I was trying to figure out what made the perfect Lobster Roll.' Over the last decade, The MAINE has evolved from an oyster bar in a parking garage in Dubai to a 12,000 square foot, three-floor location in Mayfair and seasonal pop-ups in summer destinations around the world. "My thing always was to find these off-the-beat locations and turn them into destinations," he says. 'Each MAINE is tailored to resemble the neighborhood it's in, giving each location a sense of belonging. I am very much against the copycat approach adopted by so many international brands these days. I strongly believe that creating an institution is about maintaining a sense of authenticity and timelessness, while consistently delivering on service, food and ambiance that our guests have come to expect.' Joey Ghazal created the internationally renowned restaurant The MAINE. 'The challenge is to maintain the DNA of the brand but let it evolve' Stepping into The MAINE, diners are transported back to the 1920s, immersing themselves into raucous fun that's only read about in the books of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Burlesque performances take center stage, dishes on the menu are simple, crowd-pleasing. It's a place that's easy to lose yourself in, relax in the ambiance and unwind from a busy day. These are the reasons why the brand has become a household name. 'The thing that I am most proud of is that there are so many memorable dishes on our menu, dishes that have become synonymous with our brand, dishes that people keep coming back for,' says Ghazal. 'The simplest dishes are always the trickiest - like our crispy fish tacos, charred brussel sprouts, Roman artichokes and truffled chicken. I have no patience for restaurants that overcomplicate things and dishes that have too many ingredients to mention." You won't find dishes on the menu at The MAINE that need explanation, but rather comforting ... More favorites. You won't find dishes on the menu that need explanation, but rather comforting favorites. Dishes that are crafted with well-sourced ingredients, that aren't strange or unfamiliar. Favorites that you'll find yourself craving over and over again. A warm, freshly baked skillet chocolate chip cookie, a perfectly cooked steak, fish tacos, sticky toffee pudding, you get the gist. 'I love the idea of transporting people into another zone. There is a lot of hustle these days. I can see people relax when they enter.' Since opening the first The MAINE restaurant in 2014 in Dubai, the brand has thoughtfully expanded. Now, there are seven locations, spread across three continents, including pop-ups in summer hotspots like Bodrum and Ibiza. However, the brand is continuing to expand. This year will be a transformational year for The MAINE brand This year will be a transformational year for The MAINE brand. At the end of the year, The MAINE will open a new beachfront location on The Palm Jumeirah. It's the first new opening in Dubai since The MAINE Land Brasserie was opened in Business Bay in 2020. It will be coupled with another concept created by Ghazal, Canary Club, in an adjoining beach club venue. The space will have four different dining spaces built into it, including multiple bars, a terrace, beachside dining and more. 'My goal is that everyone feels like a celebrity when they come to The MAINE, famous or not,' says Ghazal. And this certainly holds true. The second you enter any The MAINE restaurant, you'll instantly feel comfortable, knowing you'll receive consistent service, delicious dishes and an incredible experience.
