Buddha Bar Worldwide confirms UAE brand expansion

Buddha Bar Worldwide president Tarja Visan has revealed the 2016 plans for the concepts in the UAE under her remit — including Buddha Bar and Barfly.

Two-storey restaurant and lounge, Barfly, is set to open at the Venetian Village in Abu Dhabi, and Visan revealed all the fit-out work has been finalised. She confirmed the soft opening will take place on December 20, with the grand opening slated for the end of January 2016. “It’s looking very nice. It’s going to be a happening area, it’s going to be like a piazza,” she said.

In Dubai, Visan said the team is working on a project called the Buddha Bar Beach, which is a concept that has already launched in Mykonos.

Visan added: “The concept is that it’s bohemian, chic, sexy, with a lot of elements from green energy. So we’re going to use bamboo, recycling plastic, and so on.”

The main restaurant will have a capacity for 120 seats, along with more seating via the beach, cabanas and a pool. Scheduled to start in September 2016, Visan declined to share the location as yet.

Visan was also happy with the recent renovation of Buddha Bar Dubai, explaining that reinvention in the hospitality market was important. She added: “Now we are ready for the next 10 years!”

Next year also marks the 20-year anniversary of the Buddha Bar trademark, so Visan has promised a set of special events that will take place to mark the occasion.