Where Dinner Comes With A First Look At Contemporary Art
Dubai has no shortage of galleries — but this February, IKKA is once again proving that some of the city’s most interesting art isn’t debuting in white-walled spaces at all.
From 4 to 28 February 2026, the rooftop Peruvian–Japanese restaurant at Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai will present On Practicing Recovery, a new exhibition by Paris-based Saudi visual artist Reem Ali — marking her Dubai debut and continuing IKKA’s role as the only restaurant in the city with a permanent, rotating in-house art gallery
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A Restaurant That Gets There First
IKKA first made waves in January by becoming the only restaurant in Dubai where contemporary artworks debut before entering the gallery circuit. February marks the second chapter of this ongoing programme, reinforcing IKKA’s position as a site of first encounter — where art is experienced socially, over dinner, cocktails and music, rather than in isolation.
Instead of waiting for gallery openings, diners at IKKA encounter new work organically, woven into the rhythm of a night out.
Inside “On Practicing Recovery”
On Practicing Recovery explores recovery not as a final destination, but as a non-linear, ongoing process shaped by memory, domestic space and women’s inner lives. Working across video and photography, Reem Ali’s practice is restrained, contemplative and deeply introspective — a deliberate contrast to the vibrant energy of IKKA’s rooftop setting.
Informed by her background in biology, Ali’s work reflects quiet repetition, subtle gestures and sustained attention, inviting viewers into moments that sit somewhere between intimacy and isolation. Rather than offering answers, the exhibition dwells in the aftermath — where healing unfolds slowly, imperfectly and over time
Art Experienced Through Atmosphere, Not Silence
What makes this exhibition different isn’t just the work — it’s how it’s experienced. At IKKA, art appears between shared plates, flowing cocktails and DJ-led evenings, unfolding through movement, sound and conversation rather than hushed observation.
Music, dining and social energy become part of the context, creating a layered viewing experience that feels alive and immersive. It’s art encountered mid-evening, mid-conversation — not behind closed doors.
Dining, Art & Culture — Fully Intertwined
IKKA’s commitment to art mirrors its approach to food. Guided by Chef José Luis’s background in the arts, the restaurant treats both dining and exhibition as experiences that evolve through time, presence and shared moments.
With hand-painted artworks embedded throughout the space, monthly rotating exhibitions, and even live portrait artists during weekly Ladies’ Nights, IKKA continues to operate at the intersection of gastronomy and contemporary culture — quietly reshaping how art enters Dubai.
Exhibition Details
- Exhibition: On Practicing Recovery
- Artist: Reem Ali
- Dates: 4 – 28 February 2026
- Timings: 4:00pm – 1:00am
- Venue: IKKA, Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai
- Reservations: +971 43 021 275
- More info: ikka-dubai.com
- Instagram: @ikkadubai
The Gulf Buzz Take
Dubai’s art scene is evolving — and IKKA is quietly pushing it forward. By allowing art to debut in a social, lived-in space rather than a formal gallery, the restaurant is challenging how (and where) contemporary work is first encountered.
If you like your culture served with skyline views, music and great food, On Practicing Recovery is one exhibition you won’t stumble across anywhere else — at least not yet.
