First came the Guggenheim*. Then came the Ritz-Carlton. Now Abu Dhabi is bringing trendy eateries from the U.S. The latest in the wave of American imports, Koi will arrive on the scene in September, according to The National’s Bites Blog: “We’ve been spying on the staff at Koi through their latticed windows at night, above, as they seem to be rehearsing for takeoff… The L.A. hotspot, frequented by celebrities and featured on the show Entourage, has branches in New York, Las Vegas and Bangkok.” Soon visitors to Saadiyat Island will be able to indulge in the restaurant’s signature “Japanese-inspired cuisine with California accents.”
Koi isn’t the only fun new spot to open at the Collection, the retail space connected to the St. Regis Resort. (For our first-hand account of this palatial property, see this article.) Avasa, The Indian Kitchen is a stylish place for curry.
With its sandy white beaches, Monte Carlo Beach Club, and fab hotels (we also love the Park Hyatt), Saadiyat is quickly becoming a destination to reckon with. The island will soon be home to the world’s largest concentration of cultural institutions, when the Louvre, Guggenheim (among other starchitect-designed museums) make their debut.
Pictured: Koi Restaurant Los Angeles
*Still under construction.