From Beirut to Dubai: Cyrano Maison Sociale Opens at City Walk

The Lebanese hospitality group's latest opening brings European brasserie dining, leisurely aperitivos and a distinctly social approach to eating out to Dubai.

A long lunch that turns into afternoon drinks, followed by dinner and the inevitable “just one more”? That's exactly the kind of day Cyrano Maison Sociale has in mind.The Beirut-born concept has officially opened its doors at City Walk, Dubai, marking the first Dubai opening from Lebanese hospitality group Butlers & Co. Inspired by the European social house, Cyrano brings together a brasserie, bar and dining room in a setting designed to be enjoyed at practically any hour.

And if there's one thing Lebanese hospitality knows how to do particularly well, it's making people feel comfortable enough to stay a little longer than they originally planned (we might be slightly biased but hey... ain't it true?)

Cyrano Maison Sociale takes its inspiration from the kind of European establishments where people gather as much for the atmosphere as they do for the food. The interiors have been designed to resemble a characterful, well-lived-in European home, with layered textures, warm details and an atmosphere that changes throughout the day.

During daylight hours, the space lends itself to leisurely lunches, coffee and conversation. As evening approaches, the lighting softens, the records start playing and the bar becomes a bigger part of the experience. It's an appealing proposition for Dubai, where dining concepts often revolve around a particular occasion. Cyrano is aiming for something more flexible: somewhere you can return to throughout the week, whether you're meeting a friend for lunch or settling in for an evening with a group.

For Elie Khoury, founder of Butlers & Co, bringing Cyrano to Dubai felt like a natural next step. “Dubai was the natural evolution of the brand,” he explains. “The city has spent years proving it is where brands bloom. Its metropolitan lifestyle and its demographics draw exactly the crowd a social house is built for. Cyrano was always going to end up here, and Dubai is where its next chapter belongs.”

What's on the Menu?

The food follows a similarly relaxed approach, borrowing from French brasserie traditions, Mediterranean cooking and Spanish-style sharing plates.

You might begin with a Truffle Pizzette, Padrón Peppers or Harissa Feta, before moving on to smaller plates such as Beef Carpaccio, Tuna Tartare, Chorizo Croquettes or a warm Lobster Roll. For something more substantial, the menu includes Lobster Linguine, Mushroom Rigatoni, Tenderloin Beef Fillet and Fish and Chips.

We love these menus that allows a table to order a little bit of everything, with enough familiar dishes to please a mixed group of friends. The drinks offering is equally important to the concept, with a wine list, classic cocktails and house signatures designed to accompany everything from afternoon catch-ups to late evenings. Our favourite part? The aperitivo (blame our italian origins.)

A central part of Cyrano's identity, the late-afternoon ritual sees drinks and sharing plates served as the restaurant transitions into evening. A traditional guéridon, or tableside service trolley, also makes its way around the room. For anyone who appreciates the European habit of making an occasion out of a pre-dinner drink, this might be one of the most interesting reasons to visit.

Although Cyrano has its roots in Beirut, the team has been careful not to simply reproduce the original experience. According to Marc Jazra, Managing Partner at Cyrano Maison Sociale, the Dubai opening has been adapted to reflect the city's particular dining culture. “We didn’t lift the Beirut house and set it down in City Walk,” he says. “After having spent years working in this market, we know how Dubai eats, drinks and gathers, so we kept what makes Cyrano itself and adapted the rest to the city, from the menu to the pace of service to the rhythm of the room.”

It's an important consideration for a hospitality group entering a market as competitive as Dubai's. Founded in 2010, Butlers & Co has spent more than a decade developing restaurants, bars and lifestyle concepts in Lebanon, including Cyrano, Cyrano Brasserie, Butlers Beach Club and CLUBROOM. The opening at City Walk represents the group's expansion beyond its home market, while maintaining the emphasis on hospitality and community that has shaped its existing concepts.

Beyond the restaurant itself, Cyrano is also planning a calendar of recurring weekly experiences and cultural and community-focused events. Specific details have yet to be announced, but the intention is to establish the venue as somewhere people gather regularly, rather than somewhere they visit only for a particular meal.

Cyrano Maison Sociale is now open at City Walk, Dubai, serving breakfast through to late-night drinks