Is Hoseki Dubai’s most exclusive new restaurant?

The Japanese dining destination just opened in BVLGARI Resort Dubai with only nine seats

Opened late last year as one of Dubai’s most anticipated new resort destinations, BVLGARI Resort Dubai is giving us another reason to put the hotel on our must-visit list. Its newest – and quite possibly Dubai’s smallest – dining venue has just opened – Hōseki.

Meaning “gemstone” in Japanese, the dining experience is positioned to be just as sought after as the precious baubles given that the restaurant is comprised of just nine seats. While minuscule Michelin-starred tables are par for the course in Japan, this is something new for Dubai where restaurants tend to tumble down multi-level spaces and spread across warehouse-worthy floorplans.

Amid “exquisitely modern and minimal interiors completed with polished furnishing, dark wood touches and a warm colour palette”, diners are first received in a traditional tokonoma welcoming space with iconic Japanese cultural references.

Hoseki’s omakase
Those who book into one of the nine seats will be treated to views of the Dubai skyline and – more importantly – an omakase dining experience from chef Masahiro Sugiyama that is entirely tailor-made (the Japanese word means literally “I leave it to you”). The ingredients are being imported direct from Japan to create a unique and gastronomic culinary journey.

The meal will be based around diners’ preferences and seasonal ingredients, plating finely cut fish as only Sugiyama can. The sixth-generation chef comes from 157 years of sushi traditions and brings to Dubai his strong relationship with Japanese markets to ensure only the finest ingredients are used.

Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, reservations are required. Lunch is called KOHAKU (meaning “amber”), and dinner includes two options: HISUI (“jade”) and RURI (“lapis lazuli”).