CLUB CLASSIC
Written By: Jenna Delaney
A sultry space for members only, the Arts Club Dubai’s latest concept serves maximalist interiors, throwback tunes, and Italian dishes with a twist.
Softly lit bronze chandeliers and a nostalgic soundtrack set the scene for an evening at Ofelia. In the cocktail lounge, champagne bottles pop and glasses clink over the orange marble and aubergine leather bar. Bookended by colossal vases filled with pink blooms, the space is draped in floral fabric and accented with gilded touches and antique mirrors. Crushed velvet, animal prints, and striped wallpaper add to the more-is-more aesthetic, as portraits and cozily curated corners create the feeling of a grand private home. Who lives in a house like this? It could be a titled lady of the manor or an eccentric mob wife – either way, we’re eager to join the club.
Replacing the Alveare restaurant, Ofelia is located on the third floor of the private members’ club in ICD Brookfield Place. Already a hit in Mayfair, the dining concept hails from The Arts Club Dubai’s sister spot in London. Tasked with reimagining the space, Italian architect and designer Giuseppe Porcelli was inspired by an iconic painting by John Millais, one of the London club’s founding members. Mixing antiques with bespoke furniture, Porcelli’s design incorporates rich tapestries, bold rugs, and classic art to create an opulent mood that runs throughout the intimate restaurant, cocktail lounge, bar, and outdoor terrace.
After drinks in the decadent lounge, we move into the just-as-elaborate dining area. Here, beneath the glow of silk lampshades fringed with onyx pearl, members and their guests shuffle into ornate booths to share a slice of Ofelia’s popular prosciutto wagyu pizza. Mirroring the maximalist interiors, the menu puts a playful twist on tradition, serving up fun interpretations of classic Italian cuisine. Curated by executive chef Michael Hoepfl and head chef Alessandro Stefani, signature plates include the zucchini blossom tempura, the tartare duo, and short rib pasta with nduja sauce. Still drooling over said sauce, we’re considering club membership for this pasta dish alone.
Courtesy of Arts Club Dubai
Courtesy of Arts Club Dubai
Courtesy of Arts Club Dubai
Courtesy of Arts Club Dubai
Courtesy of Arts Club Dubai
For dessert, we migrate to the outdoor terrace, where we befriend existing members, bonding over a fancy banana split while listening to a mix of tunes from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Surrounded by stars and skyline views, we share another Ofelia favorite, the viennetta stracciatella ice cream with crunchy chocolate.
Thanks to the club’s no-photo policy, we skip the usual Instagram moment and polish off the ice cream as soon as it hits the table, singing along to the catchy playlist in between sumptuous mouthfuls. When the evening ends, we pass the chinoiserie-inspired dining space once more, trying to snap a sneaky picture of the fabulous peacock-patterned folding screens as we go. The image is an eclectic blur: the mood lighting, the clash of fabrics, and maybe one too many cocktails contributing to its obscurity. Instead, we settle for the memory of a magical night and we order a wagyu pizza to-go – which may have been inhaled during the taxi ride home.
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