There’s a new all-day Persian restaurant landing in Downtown this September, and it’s worth clearing space in your calendar for. Le Guilan opens overlooking South Ridge Park, a short walk from the Burj Khalifa. It is opening with a menu that takes traditional Persian cooking and runs it through classical French technique. Here’s what you need to know before it opens.
What is Le Guilan Dubai?
Le Guilan Dubai is an independent, all-day restaurant serving contemporary Persian cuisine. The name comes from Gilan, the green province on Iran’s Caspian coast known for its produce, its cooking and its almost reflexive generosity towards guests.
The concept looks back to the Persian manor houses of the early twentieth century, the kind of home where food, music, art and long conversation all happened at the same table. The restaurant isn’t trying to recreate that world so much as borrow its feeling: a generous spread, food made with care, and an evening that quietly runs longer than you planned.
Founder Amir Asjodi describes the ambition as building more than a restaurant, bringing Persian food, culture, hospitality, design, art and music together as one experience, and creating somewhere guests return to for how it makes them feel as much as for what’s on the plate.
Where is it and when does Le Guilan Dubai open?
Le Guilan sits in Downtown Dubai, overlooking South Ridge Park and offering views of the Burj Khalifa. That puts it in easy reach whether you’re coming from the wider Downtown residences or making the trip in for dinner.
It opens in September 2026. Exact opening date, daily timings, and booking details are still to be confirmed, so keep an eye out closer to launch.
What’s on the menu?
The kitchen is run by Chef Houman, and the approach is consistent. Every dish starts with something recognizably Persian, a recipe, an ingredient, or a remembered flavor, then gets refined in texture, balance, and presentation. The technique is there to serve the dish, not to show off.
A handful of signature plates are set to anchor the menu:
- Bread and black butter. A complimentary welcome of freshly baked bread with fermented black garlic butter, served on arrival.
- Short ribs with chocolate jus. Slow-cooked and finished with a measured hit of dark chocolate.
- Saffron French toast. Brioche soaked in saffron custard and caramelized to order.
Look up above the kitchen pass, and you’ll spot shelves of house-made pickles, preserves and relishes. These are made in-house and woven throughout the menu, a nod to Persian home kitchens. Here, preserving what’s in season has always been part of everyday cooking.
The design and the Terrace of Le Guilan Dubai
The interiors do a lot of the talking. The team has translated the warmth of a Persian manor house into a lighter, airier Downtown setting, with deep textures, a soft color palette and bespoke fixtures. It’s built to shift with the day, from unhurried lunches and afternoon tea to the softer light of dinner and the hours after.
Art runs throughout the space, and there’s a botanical terrace opening onto South Ridge Park for long lunches, afternoon catch-ups and dinners under the city lights.
What’s the experience like?
Le Guilan Dubai is pitched as a cultural house rather than just a restaurant. Music sets the mood through the day and builds to occasional live sets in the evening. Service is meant to feel warm and personal, attentive without ever tipping into stiff formality, drawn from the way a Persian home welcomes guests.
WOW Emirates tip: If you want the terrace at its best, aim for a late-afternoon booking and let it roll into dinner. That’s when the light over South Ridge Park does the most work, and it’s the natural window to catch any live music.
Details at a glance
- Cuisine: Contemporary Persian, rooted in northern Iran, refined with classical French technique
- Location: Downtown Dubai, overlooking South Ridge Park, with Burj Khalifa views
- Opens: September 2026
- Format: Independent, all-day dining, from daytime meals and afternoon tea through to dinner
- Founder: Amir Asjodi
- Kitchen led by: Chef Houman
- Outdoor seating: Botanical terrace opening onto South Ridge Park
FAQs
Where is Le Guilan?
In Downtown Dubai, overlooking South Ridge Park, with views towards the Burj Khalifa.
When does Le Guilan Dubai open?
September 2026. The exact date is still to be announced.
What kind of food does Le Guilan serve?
Contemporary Persian cuisine rooted in the traditions of northern Iran, refined with classical French technique.
Who is behind Le Guilan?
It was founded by Amir Asjodi, with the kitchen led by Chef Houman.
Is Le Guilan open all day?
Yes. It’s an all-day restaurant covering daytime dining, afternoon tea, and dinner.
Does Le Guilan have outdoor seating?
Yes, there’s a botanical terrace that opens onto South Ridge Park.
What are the signature dishes?
Bread and black butter, short ribs with chocolate jus, and saffron French toast.
Images: Supplied
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