Located on the mezzanine floor at The St. Regis Downtown Dubai, is Hayal, a Turkish restaurant that prides itself on being a unique, exciting and unforgettable dining experience. The decor is fairly traditional with its injection of wood throughout the restaurant, but with a modern twist seen by the gold light shades sitting above each table, and the golden suede chairs surrounding tables. Adding to the atmosphere, is an open plan kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare your food, whilst you wait. Outside of the restaurant you can see a panoramic view over the Dubai Water canal as well as the downtown Dubai skyline.
‘Hayal’ is the Turkish word to describe daydreams and daydreaming, which as the name suggests, is an experience the restaurant promises to give when eating there, by taking your mind to the buzzing city streets of Istanbul. Open for breakfast lunch and dinner, there is always an occasion to visit, and always a dish for even the fussiest of eaters. For breakfast, which is split between bakery, eggs, mezze and platters, you can expect anything from omelettes to filo pastry stuffed with cheese. The business lunch comes in the form of a set menu, offering a starter, main and dessert for AED130, and for dinner there is a more extensive menu including plenty of Turkish classics. Expect mezze dishes, koftas and kebabs, as well as dishes such as Pides cooked in a stone oven. Think Turkish flatbread with slow braised beef and kashaval cheese, or cheese and spinach for a vegetarian alternative.
To drink, there are signature cocktails drawing on Turkish flavours, such as a Mittyesque containing berry infused aperol, prosecco, elderflower liqueur, Turkish rose water and soda. Or a White Istanbul made of cold brew Turkish coffee, Hayal salted caramel syrup, fresh cream and kaymak.