What’s On has a Nawwara review, the Arabic restaurant in JW Marriott Marquis, Business Bay, which is the world’s tallest hotel. Get booking information below.

Here’s our BITESIZE review. You can read our in-depth review in the April issue of What’s On.

Contact details: JW Marriot Marquis, Business Bay, daily 7pm to midnight. Tel: (04) 4143000. Taxi: JW Marriot Marquis.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Nawwara means ‘light’ in Arabic, and light is what you get – swathes of white curtain, cream canvas banquettes and Arabesque golden globes casting mottled light from above.

VIBE
A long, blue-tiled water feature splits the dining room in two, the sound of trickling water competing with dated pop music. Shisha pipes bubble on the outdoor terrace.

WHAT TO ORDER
The cold mezzeh are fresh and delicious with velvety hommous, spicy muhammara chilli paste, and a light moutabel dip of roasted aubergine.

LOOK OUT FOR
Camel kofta. Try the firm and beefish meat of our humped friends. You’re next to the desert, after all.

IDEAL FOR
Traditional Levantine fare in a stylish lounge setting.

INSIDER INFO
Chef Youssef Issa started cooking in 1999 when he saw his uncle preparing a dish at home in Damascus. He went on to cook for royalty, before taking the helm at Nawarra.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Finish with the ashta bil asel – a plate of fluffy cream drizzled with honey and pistachios before your very eyes.

jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com