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Honeycomb Hi-Fi: Dubai’s first listening venue

The venue, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East, merges Japanese minimalism with high-fidelity sound and Asian cuisine. (Supplied)
The venue, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East, merges Japanese minimalism with high-fidelity sound and Asian cuisine. (Supplied)
The venue, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East, merges Japanese minimalism with high-fidelity sound and Asian cuisine. (Supplied)
The venue, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East, merges Japanese minimalism with high-fidelity sound and Asian cuisine. (Supplied)
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21 Jan 2025 03:01:28 GMT9
21 Jan 2025 03:01:28 GMT9

Diana Farah

DUBAI: Honeycomb Hi-Fi, a Japanese-inspired listening venue, is offering UAE residents with a blend of acoustics, a curated vinyl collection and an izakaya kitchen.

The venue, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East, merges Japanese minimalism with high-fidelity sound and Asian cuisine.

The concept, brought to life by VKD Hospitality Group’s Creative Director Serge Becker and partners Varun Khemaney and Khalil Dahmash, offers unique dishes created by Hong Kong-based Canadian chef Matt Abergel.

Honeycomb Hi-Fi disguises as a vinyl record store with a hidden door leading to a dimly lit cozy restaurant, also known as “The Listening Room.”

The vinyl shop at the front features records, music-related books, magazines and exclusive Honeycomb Hi-Fi merchandise.

The restaurant area features honey-colored lighting illuminates wooden wall panels shaped like honeycombs, while retro barstools and Takumi-style carpets underscore its Japanese sensibility. Neon-lit mascot “Muji,” a bee, adds a touch behind the bar.

Adjacent to the main area, “The Gallery” provides a space for art exhibitions celebrating global music culture.

The venue’s outdoor area, “The Garden,” features an industrial aesthetic inspired by Japan’s bamboo gardens. Guests can enjoy waterfront views of the canal from a plywood bar framed by a bamboo cage grid.

The venue’s DJ rotation promises a mix of genres, ranging from jazz to electronic, ensuring a vibrant soundscape.

The food offering includes a flavorful Hamachi Sashimi Salad, involving Japanese yellowtail, crispy onion and leek soy.

For hot meals, visitors can’t go wrong with a Wagyu Monaka Sando, made with tonkatsu and mustard cabbage. Another option is the Nasu Dengaku, which includes Japanese eggplant with a basil shiso miso.

For chicken lovers, the Chicken Karaage is a great option and comes with smoked soy garlic kewpie. Duck is also available in the form of the Duck Tsukune, which is a duck meatball with tare and sansho pepper.

The star of the meal, however, is the Sweet Corn Mochi Risotto, which is a twist on the typical rice dish, with burnt leeks and an onsen egg.

If visitors are looking for a sweet ending, the Monaka Ice Cream Sandos are the way to go with four different flavors, including: Honeycomb with vanilla ice cream, Caramel with miso ice cream, Chocolate with hojicha ice cream and Adzuki red beans with matcha ice cream.

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