Culinary Couture
From immersive dining experiences to tech-driven service innovations, the food and beverage landscape is evolving faster than ever. Over the following pages, RLI explores the latest concepts and emerging trends shaping how operators attract, engage and delight guests in today’s ever-more competitive F&B market.
The world of F&B is no longer just about what’s on the plate – it’s about the story, the experience and the way it makes you feel. Today’s diners crave more than a meal; they want a journey, a sensory adventure that lingers long after the last bite.
Experiential dining is leading the way. Guests are drawn to spaces that spark curiosity and engagement, where the act of eating becomes an event. Meanwhile, as has been the case for a while now, sustainability isn’t a trend, it’s a movement. Locally sourced ingredients, plant-based menus and zero-waste initiatives are now expected as consumers increasingly seek ethical and environmentally responsible options. Brands that embrace this mindset are not only appealing to conscience-driven diners but also future-proofing their businesses.
Beverages are evolving in step with the culinary landscape. Craft cocktails, low- and no-alcohol options and wellness-driven drinks like kombucha and adaptogens are reshaping menus. Consumers want drinks that are as exciting and purposeful as their meals.
Flexibility is also key. Hybrid spaces that combine dining, retail and co-working, or seamlessly integrate delivery and takeout, are meeting the demands of modern lifestyles. The most successful F&B concepts are agile, innovative and experience-led, capturing attention and loyalty in an ever-competitive market.
In addition, choice is another major factor in where the diner enjoys their meal. To this end, food halls continue to increase in popularity across the world as they offer multiple cuisines under the same roof in a social setting and a vibrant atmosphere.
F&B Concepts & Trends Around the Globe
Netflix Bites opened its doors at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on 11 February 2025, as a full-service restaurant with a menu inspired by popular Netflix shows. The restaurant offers a unique dining experience with dishes and cocktails themed around shows like Stranger Things, Squid Game and One Piece and will operate as a year-long residency. Promising a flavourful adventure, this unique dining experience offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, with each menu item inspired by a hit Netflix show or movie. This one-of-a-kind restaurant combines Netflix’s storytelling with MGM Grand’s renowned hospitality, offering an unforgettable culinary journey crafted to give fans a new way to experience their favourite stories and characters.
Opening later this year inside the former Lord & Taylor building, Shaver Hall will be home to 11 food stalls, a high-end omakase concept, a modern bodega and a concert stage. The upcoming 35,000sq ft destination is set to feature Brooklyn’s F&F Pizzeria, Korean inspired chicken purveyor Chick Chick, Taqueria Al Pastor, ZaZu, Tonchinette by Tonchin and Pasta Sole, known for its viral parm wheel pasta dish. What will likely differentiate Shaver Hall from the many other food halls currently operating around the city, though, is the concert stage that will be built in the middle of the space.
Friends’ Central Perk is finally getting its first-ever permanent location in NYC – orange couch included. The modern-day version of the iconic ‘Friends’ hangout lands in Times Square this fall, with artisanal coffee, exclusive merchandise and a Tom Colicchio-designed menu. This isn’t just a pop-up or photo-op mind, Central Perk Coffee Co. will be a fully functioning café at the northeast corner of Seventh Avenue and 47th Street, complete with a “cozy Orange Sofa room” inspired by the iconic set piece. The concept builds on the success of the first location in Boston, which debuted in 2024. The project comes courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, Central Perk Coffee Co. and CenPer Holdings. Their aim is to bring the enduring spirit of the world-renowned sitcom to life in the city where the show was set but never actually filmed. Beyond the novelty of ordering a cappuccino under the glow of Times Square billboards, the café promises exclusive merchandise only available at the New York location, alongside Central Perk’s six signature coffee blends.
Staked with public and private investment of $3.3bn to remake one of the nation’s largest and most historic cities, San Antonio’s municipal leadership has set out a plan to use the funds for new housing, infrastructure and sports venues. Of course, a renovation of this magnitude that will draw more residents and visitors to the city has got to re-invigorate its restaurant row, as well. To fill that need, the city of San Antonio plans to remake its La Villita Assembly Hall – a civic hub redesigned by the legendary Texas architect O’Neil Ford – into a top-of-the-line food hall. San Antonio-based Escalera Capital, along with Onset Hospitality will transform this iconic San Antonio venue into the first ever food hall on the River Walk. JLL, which handles onsite leasing, played a vital role in securing the new operator. According to JLL, visitors can expect a diverse collection of chef-driven vendors, several bars and a robust line-up of cultural programming, all reflecting the authentic spirit of San Antonio when it opens in 2027.
Barnhouse is more than a restaurant – it is an atelier of taste, where nourishing cuisine, sustainability and mindful eating converge. Nestled within Essensai067 which opened earlier this year, it is an experiential retail space housed in a retrofitted 30-year-old factory of Sai Lakshmi Industries Pvt Ltd. in Bengaluru, India, Barnhouse offers an urban oasis, inviting guests to slow down, reconnect and dine with intention. Barnhouse is designed to be welcoming and accessible to all – from the young to the elderly, including disabled guests and even pets. This inclusivity extends beyond just accessibility; it is about creating an atmosphere where everyone feels at home. To encourage mindful dining, guests are even invited to disconnect from their devices and store them.
Far from the usual mall food hall, World Kitchens introduces an entirely new concept. It is the first giant, full-table-service restaurant in the Philippines that serves comfort food from around the world. Located at Gateway Mall 2 in Araneta City (known in the country as the City of Firsts due to its seven-decade legacy), World Kitchens is a pioneer in the city’s thriving food scene, establishing the area as a rising culinary hub in Metro Manila. At the heart of World Kitchens are its 15 show kitchens, each offering a distinct culinary experience crafted by internationally renowned chefs. In total, the extensive menu of World Kitchens features over 250 unique dishes from around the globe.
L’Officiel launched its first cafe, named L’Officiel Coffee, in Tokyo’s Omotesando district on 15 April 2025. The three-storey space, designed by architect Keiji Ashizawa, features minimalist interiors and offers specialty coffees and a curated menu that includes items like truffle dishes and L’Officiel Mousse Cakes. This marks L’Officiel’s entry into the food and beverage sector, with plans to open similar cafes in other major cities globally. The cafe offers a curated selection of specialty coffees, alongside a premium food menu that includes truffle dishes and caviar. According to L’Officiel, its concept store aims to create a cafe experience that combines taste, aesthetics and cultural identity.
Time Out Market is a place where you can immerse yourself in the best things to eat, drink and do in the city – all under one roof and all with the Time Out seal of approval. Born as a magazine, in 2014, Time Out Lisbon editors turned parts of a historic market hall in the city into Time Out Market, creating the world’s first food and cultural market and the first market experience rooted wholly in editorial curation. Today they have expanded to sites across the world and most recently opened in Budapest and New York. Time Out Market opened its doors in Hungary on 20 September at the historic Corvin Palace at Blaha Lujza Square and is a new go-to destination for food and culture lovers. There are eleven culinary concepts on offer, as well as three bars, five event spaces and around 540 seats. Meanwhile, Time Out Market New York, Union Square is a food and cultural market located on the ground floor of Zero Irving and opened on 26 September. The market offers a curated mix of some of the city’s best food, drinks and cultural experiences – with a focus on up-and-coming talents. Across 10,000sq ft, there are seven kitchens and a bar as well as a terrace. Time Out locations in Vancouver, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Prague are next on the menu.
Led by Sam Hart, Crispin Somerville and Anna Watkins, Harts Group is the business behind Barrafina, Parrillan, El Pastor, Quo Vadis, Bar Daskal, The Drop and Two Drops. Harts Group is family-run, quality driven and has been creating award-winning restaurants for over 20 years. Part of the group, Barrafina serves modern Spanish tapas and was not only created as a tribute to the owners’ mothers, but to suit the lifestyle and tastes of cosmopolitan diners in London. The company is also set to open its first international location in Dubai as part of its global expansion plans. The new restaurant will launch in partnership with Anthem Hospitality Group at DIFC Gate Village 01, Dubai, UAE with locations to follow throughout the GCC. This marks Barrafina’s strategic entry into the Middle East market, taking its celebrated authentic Spanish cuisine beyond the UK. Barrafina Dubai is scheduled to open at the end of 2025.
Back in March, Chadstone opened a massive new food precinct called The Market Pavilion, which features over 50 retailers with a focus on premium fresh food, global cuisines and dining experiences. Located in Melbourne, the large precinct is bigger than the MCG and includes everything from butchers and Asian supermarkets to oyster bars and other specialty food stalls. Spanning 26,500sq m, the vibrant and comprehensive fresh food precinct marks a new chapter for the Southern Hemisphere’s largest integrated retail and lifestyle destination. The project furthers Chadstone’s evolution from a shopping centre to the heart of an emerging city and is expected to attract 10 million annual visits. Premium guest services offered by The Market Pavilion’s Food Concierge will include personalised shopping experiences, grocery refrigeration storage and menu planning featuring AI-generated recipe inspiration. At the market’s heart, The Kitchen will offer interactive and engaging experiences hosted by The Market Pavilion’s curated collection of premium providers.
Open from June to September this year was the Swarovski Café pop-up at Cracco Portofino in Genoa, Italy. Throughout the summer, guests were invited to soak up the atmosphere of this breathtaking location, enjoying bespoke delicacies by top Italian chef Carlo Cracco while immersing themselves in a world of wonder. Offering spectacular views across the Marina di Portofino, the sun-drenched terrace was completely transformed and served as a focal point, featuring seating and parasols in Swarovski’s vibrant colours as well as a Swarovski-branded octagon-shaped frame providing the ideal backdrop for a picture-perfect postcard from Portofino. Once seated, guests were able to enjoy a range of sweet and savoury delicacies including a specially crafted Swarovski cocktail and dessert. Inside the restaurant, guests were invited to explore radiant pieces from the Spring-Summer 2025 collection including jewellery, eyewear and accessories.
One United Properties and Tomcat Hospitality have teamed to bring Marketta Food Hall to the Romanian market, with the biggest food hall in Eastern Europe set to launch in Q1 2026 and feature more than 40 dining spots and 40 different cuisines. Marketta will be a vibrant destination for dining, socialising and engaging recurrent events, where visitors can enjoy an ongoing atmosphere while exploring authentic meals from local, international, niche and artisanal brands. With more than 6,000sq m of space, Marketta is set to become Floreasca’s most iconic attraction and one of Bucharest’s busiest and most exciting food hall destinations. Designed to be a high-traffic area, it will stand as a must-visit spot in the heart of the city, located in a historic monument – Romania’s old Ford Factory, a centre of automotive innovation.
Unveiled in May, Market Place St. Paul’s is home to nine incredible global food vendors, serving up authentic flavours from around the world. From freshly rolled sushi and smoky jerk chicken to some of the best Latin American food in London, there’s something for every craving. Whether you’re dining in or grabbing a bite, their buzzing food hall is your gateway to culinary adventure. Aside from the food offering, the site is home to two bars, pool tables and is perfect for a quick bite, after-work drinks or a place to celebrate. Arriving courtesy of the Market Place team, which have made quite a name for themselves since arriving on London’s food scene back in 2020, the St. Paul’s location is their biggest yet and spans almost 7,000sq ft across two floors.
A vast new food hall is opening this December in the heart of London’s West End. Market Place Leicester Square will take over a landmark five-storey building beside the Odeon cinema, bringing one of the largest and most ambitious food hall experiences the UK has ever seen. Sixteen independent kitchens will serve up flavours from across the globe, each run by a different trader bringing their own signature style. Three standalone bars will keep the drinks flowing, from fast-pour cocktails at street level to pint-sized cocktails enjoyed on the balcony. This is more than a place to eat however. A dedicated events room will feature a huge screen showing the biggest sports games and major cultural moments. The weekly programme will also include comedy nights, live music and DJ sets, designed to keep the energy high and the venue buzzing long after office hours.
A Euro-inspired beer hall and restaurant is set to open in Sheffield next year, becoming the largest of its kind in the city. The vast new venue will showcase fresh imported tank beer, continental cuisine and top-tier live entertainment – all under one roof. Named Kapital, the venue is the brainchild of the Sheffield-based team behind the award-winning Two Thirds Beer Co., which is located on Abbeydale Road and is renowned for its craft beers and German-themed street food. Spanning two floors, the new 4,500sq ft beer hall and restaurant will be located in the £470M Heart of the City mixed-use development and will offer the single biggest European beer selection within the city centre. The bar’s owners aim to bring the best of Europe’s beer halls to Sheffield, spotlighting the rich traditions and vibrant cultures of the iconic beer cities of Brussels, Pilsen, Prague & Munich. The space will be dominated by four huge stainless steel beer tanks filled with fresh, unpasteurized Budvar Czech lager – delivered directly from the brewery cellars in South Bohemia to Sheffield every week. It will also boast an outdoor beer garden, pan-European restaurant and private hire space with panoramic views.
Italian marketplace Eataly is expanding its presence in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Gulf Countries, with a €100M investment, aimed at opening 40 new stores, including airport locations and enhancing product distribution. This move follows Investindustrial’s acquisition of minority shares in Eataly’s US and German operations in 2023, as well as the Parisian store last December. Eataly is also growing its footprint, including further expansion in North America. In addition to its existing 13 stores, the Italian food chain will soon open four new locations in Philadelphia, Miami (two stores) and Toronto. The US will also be the first to see a new Eataly concept: Eataly Caffè. This new format will debut in four US airports and three French airports.
Guests can experience unrivalled elegance and get a taste of La Maison Louis Vuitton in the heart of Doha. The world’s first-ever Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno brings an exquisite fusion of luxury gastronomy and French savoir-faire. Located at Hamad International Airport and in partnership with Qatar Duty Free, this 24-hour lounge is as unique as the Louis Vuitton brand, offering a deluxe setting where every moment is meticulously crafted to delight your senses. Found directly above the Louis Vuitton Boutique, eligible passengers can access this luxurious retreat from Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden. Indulge in a culinary experience like no other, with an exclusive á la carte menu specially curated by three-star Michelin Chef, Yannick Alléno. Sit back and enjoy the world of gourmet dining, as you savour a selection of French favourites with a touch of Qatari-inspired flavours in every bite.
In December 2022, Merex Investment announced a redevelopment of La Mer South, to be named J1 Beach, with the addition of 13 luxury dining experiences. In October 2024, Merex Investment announced the launch of J1 Beach, the eagerly awaited urban Riviera in Jumeirah set to transform Dubai’s beachfront dining scene. J1 Beach reimagines coastal sophistication, combining the allure of a year-round Riviera ambiance with refined dining and stylish club experiences for an unrivalled retreat. Showcasing Dubai as a true culinary capital, J1 Beach brings an extraordinary line-up of iconic restaurants from Paris, New York, Miami, London, Tulum and the French Riviera, making their regional debut with elevated dining crafted for the epicurean traveller. These exclusive venues offer an exceptional culinary journey for guests seeking refined flavours in a breathtaking setting. In addition, guests will enjoy direct beach access, allowing them to bask in the beauty of the shoreline while savouring their dining experiences.
Dubai Marina saw the launch of District 8 late last year and it is home to a multi-concept destination that has brought together great food and good vibes. With this new launch come three different restaurants all under one roof – Blume, Rodina and Luxuria. The multi-concept venue, created by the Alex Investment Group, offers a range of experiences from a lush, botanical-themed lounge with global cuisine to a fine-dining experience focused on Russian-Mediterranean fusion and a high-energy Russian karaoke lounge. This landmark is redefining luxury dining and entertainment, blending the city’s signature opulence with a unique collection of high-end restaurants and vibrant social experiences.
