From award-winning chefs to up-and-coming restaurateurs and much-loved local gems: Time Out Market Bahrain will showcase the city’s best local culinary and cultural talents – curated by Time Out
Bahrain will soon be home to Time Out Market, the food and cultural market that brings the best of the city together under one roof: its best chefs, restaurateurs and cultural experiences – based on the editorial curation Time Out is known and trusted for.
Set to open later this year at City Centre Bahrain – with the exact date to be announced closer to the opening – Time Out Market Bahrain will offer plenty of space to celebrate and explore award-winning, much-loved and rising culinary and cultural talents – all of them are local and homegrown to give a true taste of Bahrain.
Spanning over 3,000 sq m and offering 900 seats over two levels, Time Out Market Bahrain will feature an editorially curated mix of eleven kitchens, a dessert counter, a coffee shop, a stage and an al fresco rooftop.
Located on the top floor of City Centre Bahrain where the main entry will be via Le Meridien Hotel, Time Out Market Bahrain will be a uniquely-designed space where guests will get to experience some of the city’s very best food from a variety of concepts while coming together with family and friends to enjoy their meals – on china with flatware – at communal tables. This new concept will cement City Centre Bahrain’s positioning as the leading shopping, leisure and entertainment destination in the Kingdom and reinforce the Mall’s brand positioning as delivering hyper-localised experiences that bring joy to its diverse community of visitors.
Today, the first five local culinary talents to join Time Out Market Bahrain’s all-star lineup have been revealed. These chefs and restaurateurs will represent the best of the city and Bahrain’s diverse and culturally rich food scene which Time Out Market will make accessible – all in one place, to create great moments for everyone, every day.
- Villa Mamas by Roaya Saleh’s modern Middle Eastern cuisine will offer a rich tapestry of flavours
- By Mirai will join Time Out Market Bahrain to serve exquisite Japanese-inspired cuisine
- Ô Liban will bring a modern take on Lebanese cuisine to Time Out Market Bahrain
- Banu – one of the best Iranian restaurants in Bahrain – will present an authentic Persian menu
- Florencia Ice Cream will spoil Time Out Market Bahrain guests with their artisanal gelato and sorbets
Ian Russell, General Manager of Time Out Market Bahrain said: “We are delighted to announce the first chefs and restaurateurs to join Time Out Market Bahrain when we open later this year. At the heart of what we do is celebrating the best of the city – from award-winning chefs and much-loved local gems to up-and-coming homegrown restaurateurs. The Market will boast some of Bahrain’s best culinary experiences, but just as important will be the cultural element which we will offer. Our mission is to be a place to which both locals and visitors – whether that’s families or friends – come back to over and over again, as there will always be something new to experience.
“We are particularly excited and proud that as part of our curation for Time Out Market Bahrain we have discovered incredible female chefs and restaurateurs – in fact, this Market is set to have the highest share of top female culinary talents across all of our existing Markets around the world and we will give them a global platform to further grow and showcase their impressive skills.”
To curate a Time Out Market, the team comes up with a list of the types of cuisines that make a city and region the vibrant culinary destination it is, to then curate a list of the leading, most exciting and most aspirational local representatives in these cuisines. Part of this process is to try and test to discover the best of the city right now and then invite the very best to join. However, this is not just about 'big names'; the city’s up-and-coming chefs and much-loved local gems will also be proudly featured, all showcasing their skills and creativity.
Making the people of the city and its visitors feel at home and a close connection with the city is at the heart of the Time Out Market philosophy which is dedicated to working with local companies and suppliers. It will bring significant contribution to the local economy through employment across a variety of skills and new opportunities for homegrown talent.
Having started in Lisbon in 2014 as the world’s first editorially-curated food and cultural market, Time Out Market has since opened in other cities and there are currently nine open Markets with more to come – and while this is a concept popular in several cities, each Market’s execution is distinctly local.
Time Out Market is rooted in the heritage of Time Out – a publication created at a kitchen table in London in 1968 to help people go out better and discover the exciting new urban cultures that had started up all over the city. Today, a global team of local expert journalists are curating the best things to do, see and eat in 333 cities in 59 countries (in Bahrain since 2009) across websites, social media, video, audio, newsletters and live events; now this curation is also brought to life at Time Out Market.
More details about each vendor announced today
Villa Mamas by Roaya Saleh’s modern Middle Eastern cuisine will offer a rich tapestry of flavours
Roaya Saleh, known as the "Daughter of the Gulf" is a celebrated Bahraini culinary visionary and pioneer of Khaleeji cuisine, dedicated to preserving and promoting the unique culinary traditions of the Gulf. As the founder and driving force behind the renowned Villa Mamas restaurants with a presence in Bahrain and further cities, she is committed to authenticity, locality, sustainability and community empowerment. Using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Roaya’s menus offer a rich tapestry of flavours, blending influences from Iran, India and Europe with each dish telling a story of the region’s history and cultural heritage, crafted with the utmost care and respect for tradition. Roaya will now bring the authenticity and innovation of Villa Mamas to Time Out Market Bahrain where she will serve traditional Bahraini and Gulf dishes blending Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Persian influences. Organic, seasonal ingredients are paired with intent to curate a culinary journey inspired by Roaya Saleh’s childhood and travels across the Middle East and India.
By Mirai will join Time Out Market Bahrain to serve exquisite Japanese-inspired cuisine
Having opened its doors in 2002, Mirai has become a top dining spot in Bahrain, known for its high-quality Japanese food. Now Mirai is coming to Time Out Market Bahrain with its new concept, By Mirai. Chef Junior Gomez, who used to work at Roka London, will be showcasing a rotating range of Mirai's signature dishes, including tempura, gyoza, bao buns, and selections from the sushi bar. These creative Japanese-inspired creations have not only garnered Mirai a prestigious place on the World's 50 Best Restaurants MENA Region 2022, but have also earned it the esteemed title of Best Restaurant in Bahrain that year.
Ô Liban will bring a modern take on Lebanese cuisine to Time Out Market Bahrain
The vibrant taste of Lebanon and a modern take on its cuisine will be served up at Time Out Market Bahrain by Ô Liban. The local restaurant is popular for its tender and juicy perfection of mixed grill, flavourful Kaftas, delicious Kale Tabbouleh and a Variety of Fatteh, the creamy kibbeh bil Laban or their classic Lebanese Zaatar tartine which all will be on the menu at Time Out Market Bahrain.
Banu will present an authentic Persian menu
Considered one of the best Iranian restaurants in Bahrain, Banu is a go-to place for locals since its opening in 2018. The menu offers an authentic Persian culinary experience, using old family recipes to create flavourful, comforting feasts and from later this year, foodies will be able to enjoy the island’s best Tahchin at Time Out Market Bahrain. Behind Banu, which has won numerous awards, is the passionate wife and husband pair Hanieh Mirbaha, co-owner and Head Chef, and Ebrahim Ali.
Florencia Ice Cream will spoil Time Out Market Bahrain guests with their artisanal gelato and sorbets
Florencia Chaldu grew up in Argentina with an Italian couple as neighbours who served freshly-made, flavourful gelato – something she barely could find once moving across the globe which is why she took classes in Italy and Argentina to learn how to make ice cream herself. When she moved to Bahrain, Florencia decided to open her own artisanal ice cream shop with all flavours created by herself and handmade by her team in the old-fashioned way and with natural high-quality ingredients. Much loved by locals and visitors, and renowned for her exciting collaborations with hospitality businesses across Bahrain, Florencia Ice Cream was awarded ‘The Best Luxury Ice Cream in the Middle East’ in the Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 202 , 2021 and Fact award as Best Frozen Delight 2023.
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Notes to editors
For further information, please contact: pr[@]timeoutmarket.com
About Time Out Market
Time Out Market is the world’s first editorially curated food and cultural market, bringing a city’s best chefs, restaurateurs, and cultural experiences together under one roof. From award-winning chefs to much-loved local gems, from cooking classes with top chefs to installations from local artists and live entertainment, Time Out Market captures and celebrates the best of the city.
The first Time Out Market opened in 2014 in a historic market hall in Lisbon, quickly turning into one of the most popular destinations in the city. The success of Lisbon brought further expansion and the portfolio currently includes nine Markets in cities such as New York, Montreal, Dubai and Cape Town, several new locations with expected opening dates in 2024 and beyond, in addition to a pipeline of further locations in advanced discussions. While this is now a concept popular across several cities, the execution of each Market is distinctly local.
Time Out Market is part of Time Out Group PLC (AIM: TMO), a brand that inspires and enables people to experience the best of the city through Time Out Media and Time Out Market. Time Out launched in London in 1968 to help people discover the exciting new urban cultures that had started up all over the city – today it is the only global brand dedicated to city life. Expert journalists curate and create content about the best things to do, see and eat across 333 cities in 59 countries, shared across a unique multi-platform model spanning both digital and physical channels including websites, mobile, social media, video, audio, newsletters, live events and Time Out Market.