José Avillez’s one Michelin-starred Portuguese restaurant gets a little help from Silverfox Studios.

Silverfox Studios | The Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah Dubai uses its seaside location to its full advantage with Tasca, a Portuguese restaurant operated by celebrated chef José Avillez. The same hotel hosts Netsu by Ross Shonhan, who has collaborated with Silverfox Studios on the Japanese Warayaki restaurant Strawfire in Abu Dhabi: Silverfox, now a trusted partner of the Mandarin Oriental, has led renovations at Tasca twice.

Avillez, a culinary star in both his native Portugal and abroad, is behind the Michelin-starred Belcanto in Lisbon: Tasca is his first international venture. The menu is classically Portugueuse, with a striking, modern Dubai twist: the largest selection of Portuguese wines in Dubai is available here.

Tasca is on the sixth floor of the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira Dubai, facing both the glamorous district of Jumeirah and the open sea. Set around an open kitchen, the restaurant has an infinity pool, lounge, and indoor and outdoor verandahs.

The lift lobby is lined with vintage Portuguese photography, set onto a modern depiciton of the traditional tasca bar: a tasca is a small, traditionally family-run restaurant and bar. Analogous to the tavern, it typically serves Portuguese tapas (petiscos), drinks, and a rotating repertoire of dishes from a hand-written menu.

Entering the restaurant immediately takes you past the pool and lounge chairs, towards the center of activity: the main dining area and open kitchen. Here, high bar seats surround a marble table, where guests watch their food prepared to order: Avillez values the fresh ingredients and simple preparation of Portuguese cuisine. The kitchen is fully open: a feature wall of plants lines the far corner of the dining area.

The Pavilion is the closest to the sea, completely open and joined on one side with the Juice Bar and Grill. Perfect for private parties and events, the attached bar and kitchen brings life to the space and allows for better access to the pool by staff: for serving poolside drinks or small plates.

The restaurant is set for alfresco dining, with a partial sunroof, and receives lots of natural light: its character changes through the day. In the afternoons, the light timber floors and furniture give the restaurant a relaxed, beach-house look. By night, Tasca becomes a vibrant nightlife destination, easily hosting live music performances and lifestyle events.

When Dubai debuted its Michelin Guide in 2022, Tasca received one Michelin star: it has kept its star for four consecutive years since. Looking to match its winning streak, Tasca and Avillez have reached back out to Silverfox Studios: a new look is on the way.

Project: Tasca, Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Location: Dubai
Design Studio: Silverfox Studios
Photo Credits: Nacasa & Partners Inc
Website: silverfoxstudios.design