Karma Café is an award-winning venue located inside the popular luxury market Souk Al Bahar, in the heart of Dubai’s Downtown district. The restaurant and bar was launched by Raymond Visan, the founder of globally-established Buddha-Bar, where it serves Pan Asian cuisine influenced by international flavours.
Oriental-inspired interiors are offset by deep red walls, yellow cushions and black furnishings, with the seating comprised of both plush banquets and velvet stools. A bar runs the length of the room, while final flourishes include things like gold chandeliers and a sculpture of a Buddha. The outdoor terrace provides a fantastic viewing spot for guests to enjoy views of The Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa below
There are a range of menus available including a la carte, tasting, vegetarian and brunch offerings. The main menu is geared largely towards Japanese dishes and you can expect to find a selection of nigiri, sashimi, gyoza, raw and signature dishes. Examples of plates you might sample while you’re there include crispy duck rolls with duck confit, braised turnip, cucumber and mango oolong sauce, miso aubergine with pickled beetroot, chickpea and aka miso sauce and an intriguing-sounding Japanese Tuna Pizza which sees a grilled tortilla topped with yellowfin tuna sashimi, tomato, truffle oil, wasabi aioli and kabayaki sauce.
A range of tasting menus are available as four or five-course options and each vary in dishes and price, depending on what you fancy. On Fridays and Saturdays, it’s all about brunch, where guests can tuck into a sushi platter on arrival followed by unlimited sharing plates and your choice of main course. Add soft drinks, house beverages or prosecco at an extra cost.
To drink, an impressive wine list covers off bottles from popular European and global regions, while the cocktail menu features both signature creations and classic serves, so there’s something for everyone.