Located on J1 Beach, the private members club has opened its restaurant to the public.
Groucho Marx once said: “I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member”. ChouChou Dubai has opened a private members club in Dubai, which is a laidback, luxurious, multipurpose venue with a beach club at its heart. Located on J1 Beach, the bar and restaurant are open to the public – and are sophisticated enough to sway the likes of Groucho.
ChouChou Dubai draws its inspiration from the South of France, and aims to bring French chic to the city. The concept captures the feeling of carefree summers in a casual yet classy space. It has brought to life Cannes, which is famous for its Festival De Cannes and celebrity clientele. And, one former professional footballer told us he had already visited.
J1 Beach is home to a range of new beach clubs, but ChouChou Dubai is its only private members beach club. Public access is available for The Beach House on the ground floor, which has a restaurant and terrace, and Les Bars on the ground floor. Members can access La Plage and La Piscine with the beach and pool, and Les Salons with indoor and outdoor areas.
ChouChou Dubai is bathed in strong, sun-kissed tones. The beach club features red sunbeds, white sofas, and cushions with the brand’s logo. The restaurant boasts indoor and outdoor spaces, hanging plants, rattan chairs, white tablecloths, and pink hues.
The staff were amazingly attentive, especially for a private members club where you might expect a portion of pretentiousness. Instead, the lifeguard helped teach my guest to swim and the waiter translated the French menu. Tip: come for the beach club and stay for the food.
The menu showcases French classics and spans hot and cold starters, a la braise with meats and seafood, sides and desserts. The Soup Glace is served chilled with tomato and olive oil. Plus, there is radish on each table, which you are encouraged to eat.
The mains were more impressive than the starters, and felt like dishes you’d find in a Parisian brasserie. The Flank Angus Steak with Sauce Au Poivre was cooked to perfection, and came with a peppercorn sauce that had a hint of brandy. The sides were Legumes Grilles au Natural with fresh chargrilled vegetables, Epinards Sautes a la Minute spinach and Frites Dorees with moreish French fries.
The dessert menu feels like the Best of France. The options include a French cheese, Éclair au Café, and Millefeuille a la Vanille de Madagascar. We spoilt ourselves with the Souffle au Chocolat et Crème Anglaise, which was soft on the outside and saucy on the inside. If you’re craving chocolate, this was warm and wonderful.
ChouChou Dubai’s drinks menu spans cocktails, wines and mocktails. The signature cocktails cater for all tastes with sweet and sour options. Plus, there is a dedicated Rosé wine cocktail list, which takes you back to summer nights.
When only exclusivity will do, ChouChou Dubai doesn’t just meet expectations but exceeds them. On our weekday visit, the venue was a serene spot. We were the only guests at the beach club (private) and restaurant (public), and we spotted one person arriving as we left. That level of privacy comes at a cost: the annual subscription starts from AED 15,500, and the one-off application admission fee is AED 10,500 and redeemable on food and drinks. However, as the restaurant is open to the public, you can feel like you’ve joined the club without joining the club – and we suspect even Grouchos out there would approve.
GO: Visit https://www.chouchoudxb.com for more information.
