ABU DHABI — The renowned London hospitality brand Isabel Mayfair has officially expanded its footprint to the international stage, opening its very first overseas outpost within The Galleria on Abu Dhabi’s prestigious Al Maryah Island. Spanning an impressive 580 square meters, the new venue has been brought to life by Dubai-based interior design practice DBM (Design by Mahsa), a studio founded by artist and interior designer Mahsa Gholizadeh. Commissioned by BNF Hospitality, the project successfully translates the sophisticated energy of the British capital into a distinctly Middle Eastern luxury context, offering diners an immersive environment defined by meticulous craftsmanship and artistic storytelling.
Rather than relying on a direct replication of the original London flagship, DBM approached the project by constructing a rich architectural narrative centered around an imagined muse named Isabel. This conceptual framework allowed the design team to weave bespoke artworks, intricate architectural metalwork, and craft-driven finishes directly into the structural envelope of the restaurant. Every corner of the 580-square-meter space has been curated to reflect a sense of intimate luxury and theatrical elegance, blending high-end contemporary hospitality design with classical artistic references.
At the heart of the venue’s aesthetic is a carefully curated material palette that plays with contrasting textures, weights, and reflections. The interior juxtaposes reflective polished brass, heavily veined Calacatta Viola marble, dark stained oak, and midnight-blue velvet upholstery deployed across generous curved custom banquettes. This interplay of hard and soft surfaces creates an atmosphere of refined indulgence, where the heavy, dramatic veining of the marble meets the warm gleam of polished metal and the tactile softness of rich textiles.
Botanical motifs weave their way through the restaurant at varied scales and fabrications, serving as a recurring visual theme that softens the industrial geometry of the metalwork. A monumental brass floral sculpture anchors the main dining volume, acting as a striking focal point that draws the eye upward and establishes the scale of the room. This large-scale floral installation is complemented by more intimate, tactile details tucked away in the private dining alcoves and washrooms. These private spaces feature intricate three-dimensional silk embroideries, hand-painted gold-leaf surfaces, and custom wallcoverings that invite close inspection and reward the observant guest.
Overhead, a suspended brass-and-glass canopy hovers gracefully above the central bar area, functioning as both a structural artwork and a functional lighting apparatus. The canopy artfully redistributes light across the room, casting a warm, flattering glow over the bar patrons and highlighting the intricate textures of the surrounding surfaces. Nearby, an enclosed wine storage pavilion is clad entirely in reflective brass panels, creating a jewel-box effect that mirrors the ambient lighting and adds a layer of visual depth to the overall spatial layout.
The realization of such a complex, detail-oriented hospitality venue is all the more notable given the constraints of its production timeline. Studio DBM executed the entire ambitious project on a compressed three-to-four-month construction schedule. Achieving this rapid turnaround required a delicate balance between large-scale fabricated metal installations and fine-gauge textile craft, demonstrating the technical capability and efficient project management of the Dubai-based design practice. By successfully merging heavy architectural interventions with delicate, artisanal touches, DBM has established a new benchmark for luxury dining design within Abu Dhabi’s burgeoning culinary landscape.
