Renowned for its charm and tradition, Dubai Creek is a hive of activity, from the cruising abras to the hidden souks that lines its banks. It’s a place where old and new come together and nowhere is this better reflected than at the newly refurbished Legends restaurant at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

Incorporating creek-side alfresco dining, a fresh interior and a new menu, Karen Osman talks to club manager Mustafa Al Hashimi about his new restaurant...

What factors prompted the initiative?
Legends launched in 2000 and the design was quite understated. We wanted to evolve the venue to bring it up to date and recognised that the entire space had a lot more potential thanks to its open air terrace overlooking the Dubai Creek, city skyline and golf course.

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It was important for us to inject some modern elements into the existing venue and revitalise the image of the entire restaurant to capitalise on the strong heritage it has in order to give our guests an even better and more stylish experience.

The creek area is one of the oldest, most traditional areas of the city – was it a deliberate decision to pursue an ultra modern design for the venue?
Although the design is modern, certain features have retained the nature of a traditional steakhouse.

It’s a perfect balance between the traditional and the modern. Throughout the interior and on the terrace you really feel the links to the Creek which is an important part of our heritage at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

Was there a new type of customer you wanted to capture targeted when drawing up the brief?
The new design was created to ensure that our existing customers, loyal guests and members continued to enjoy a memorable dining experience. However, as the city has changed, many of Dubai’s newer residents may not be aware of us as a dining destination and the dining options that exist around this iconic area of Dubai. Therefore, we want to showcase our envious location and commitment to a superb dining experience.

What was the inspiration behind the new design?
Rich, autumnal colours and textures in line with the traditional personality of a steakhouse were chosen so that Legends maintained its identity. The restaurant makes use of the more clean, classic red and brown tones with a modern twist coming from leather and steel finishes.

Subtle lighting and unique terrace heaters with live flames, steel and glass bring the entire atmosphere up to date and reinforce the high-end nature of the restaurant.

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