Le Piaf, the Paris Society’s iconic piano bar, debuts at Emirates Towers | News
Paris Society, the hospitality group behind some of the world’s most iconic dining and entertainment venues, brings Le Piaf, the most celebrated piano bar concept, to Dubai for the first time. Le Piaf opens on May 20 in the Jumeirah Emirates Towers and is the concept’s first address outside Europe.
Previously operating in Paris, Megève and Val-d’Isère, Le Piaf is an intimate restaurant and cocktail bar drenched in red velvet, gilded mirrors, crystal chandeliers and the sound of a live pianist stirring tables into song. Since opening in Paris’s 8th arrondissement in 2017, the concept has gained a devoted following for its French cuisine, signature red velvet interior and an atmosphere rooted in spontaneity, live music and the warmth of an evening shared with friends. The Dubai edition marks the next chapter for Paris Society, a group whose addresses are known for creating experiences that stay with guests long after the evening is over.
“Le Piaf has been bringing people through Paris and the French Alps for years, and we are proud to bring that spirit here for the first time,” said Rizwan Kassim, CEO of Paris Society. “It’s friends gathering around the piano and strangers who find themselves singing the same songs. And then the music takes over. Someone starts singing, another joins in and the room just starts singing together. We try to create a space where it happens naturally, with the right elements in place. A room full of people united in song. That’s what people remember. That’s Le Piaf,” he concludes.
A LEGEND FROM PARIS
Piaf (nm): 19th century Parisian slang for a bird. Le Piaf is a charming sparrow who sings and rejoices. Le Piaf is elegance, pampering, songs and friendship. Le Piaf is eating, raising a glass, dancing, singing. Preen your feathers, spread your wings: Paris, as in a dream.
Le Piaf opened its doors in September 2017 at 38 rue Jean Mermoz, in the heart of the 8th arrondissement of Paris, a stone’s throw from the Champs-Élysées. The format was deceptively simple: a pianist plays from the first course, starts softly and builds throughout the evening until the tables are singing along at full voice to French classics, English rock and American pop. Later the DJ takes over and the night lasts until the early hours.
The success led to branches in France’s most sought-after addresses: Le Piaf Megève and Le Piaf Val-d’Isère, which opened in partnership with Airelles in December 2022 in one of the largest ski areas in the Alps. Each remains true to the original soul while adapting the scenography to the setting. Dubai is the next evolution of that story.
THE SETTING: JUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS
Le Piaf takes up residence in Jumeirah Emirates Towers, one of Dubai’s most legendary addresses, located in the heart of the city where Emirates Towers, DIFC and the World Trade Center meet. It’s a location that has long drawn the world to one zip code, and a natural home for a concept built on bringing people together.
The interiors bear the brand’s unmistakable visual identity: walls draped in deep crimson velvet, chandeliers with crystal pendants, gilded frames with ancient paintings and banquettes upholstered in the brand’s signature red. Materials are those of French architecture, taken to the most festive extreme: red velvet, gold leaf, black lacquer and mirror. The room is intimate. It’s designed to make strangers feel like old friends at the second glass.
THE MENU
The cuisine remains true to Le Piaf’s promise: generous, French and unapologetically indulgent. For Dubai, the carte has been created for a city that takes food seriously, using classic French technique while embracing the products and flavors that resonate here.
The evening starts in a festive atmosphere. Gillardeau oysters come with finger lime, Wagyu carpaccio is shaved with aged balsamic and truffle, and foie gras torchon is paired with peach chutney and toasted brioche. The raw bar ranges from bluefin tuna crudo to imperial caviar, while the Truffle Croque Monsieur at the bar sets the tone for the evening ahead.
Among the starters, the Escargots de Bourgogne in parsley-garlic butter with brioche are typical, as are the black truffle pizzetta with stracciatella and the kitchen’s standout part course: chicken and caviar, one of the dishes that define what Le Piaf does best. Main courses include sole meunière with capers and lemon, miso black cod with pickled daikon, roasted lobster in a lemongrass bisque and a duo of Australian Wagyu served with two sides. The lemon-roasted yellow chicken, a nod to the great French bistro tradition, is one of the most ordered dishes at every Le Piaf address.
Dessert is the sticky Madeleine with salted butter caramel, the Fraisier with almond paste and vanilla cream, and the Saint Honoré and Baba des Bobos brought to the table for sharing. Chocolate mousse with hazelnut praline and caramelized hazelnut is the dessert that Le Piaf Paris has been serving since its opening night.
THE EXPERIENCE
Le Piaf is not a restaurant in the conventional sense. It is a living space. Guests arrive for dinner and find the evening has a momentum of its own. The pianist is there from the start and sets a tone that is warm and unhurried. As the night progresses and the glasses are refilled, the music grows. By the time dessert arrives, the room is singing. It’s the kind of evening you can’t plan, but can only surrender to.
The dress code is the room: elegant and uninhibited. The service team, in their signature white shirts, bow ties and suspenders, move through the crowd with the ease of people who know that the best hospitality is invisible. When the pianist finally steps back, the DJ intervenes and Le Piaf becomes a club. The evening ends when the last guests decide that this should happen.
Stay tuned to book: https://www.jumeirah.com/en/stay/dubai/jumeirah-emirates-towers/dining
