NAC (North Audley Canteen), the stylish French restaurant based in London’s Mayfair, has gone international with the opening of three new venues across the Middle East. A monumental expansion for the UK-based brand, NAC have launched their first site in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Doha (Qatar) with one more opening to follow in Dubai, due to launch soon.
Founded in 2013 and run by partners David Bellaiche and Gabriel Cohen-Elia, NAC has become a mainstay on London’s forever-changing food scene thanks to its beautifully presented French-inspired sharing plates, decadent desserts and community feel. Multi-disciplined agency, DesignLSM, has spearheaded the design concepts for the trio of global openings, working alongside F&B consultant’s Restaurant Keys, ensuring the brand’s modern eclectic style – which is inspired by European travel – is effectively translated for the Middle Eastern audience.
NAC Riyadh
NAC Riyadh was the first Middle East opening for the brand in Saudi Arabia’s capital. Evolving the aesthetic to convey the core brand DNA as well as aligning with the locality, the interior concept for this site reflects an elegant yet casual demur, blending lush greenery with curved forms, soft tones, terracotta hues and warmed textured plaster, delivering an effortlessly luxurious dining destination.
NAC Doha
Much like its sister restaurant in Saudi Arabia, NAC Doha’s interior aesthetic embraces a timeless, engaging and inviting concept, with the curation of intimate and inclusive spaces, boasting an all-day dining ambience that encapsulates the social and stylish environment associated with Parisian bistros.
Whether you’re enjoying a coffee sat outside soaking in the sun, sipping a sweet mocktail at the decadent glowing bar, or devouring a table full of mouth-watering sharing plates with friends, NAC Doha presents an effortlessly glamourous European-inspired dining experience to be enjoyed by all.
NAC Dubai
NAC Dubai, situated within the new Huna Residence development in the heart of Jumeirah, is the largest Middle Eastern opening for the brand launching later this year, comprising of a vast indoor seating area and exterior terrace for al fresco dining.
Appealing to a young audience with a desire to socialise and connect, the space will transition seamlessly from a vibrant and relaxed daytime spot to a chic, romantic evening destination. With a strong focus on layering and textural finishes to create an authentic bistro feel, the interior design for NAC Dubai will master a refined aesthetic with a focus on quality crafted details such as a tonal terrazzo floor and contrasting warm timber joinery details to create a cosy, yet elegant social destination.
Massimo Montone, Restaurant Keys commented “Working extensively with DesignLSM’s team of strategic designers who are well-versed in delivering projects in the Middle East, I can confidently say that their expertise and understanding of the local culture and market have been invaluable in ensuring the success of our projects in the region.”
With an incredibly exciting past year completed, NAC continue to make a strong name for themselves in the industry, as an upcoming and internationally renowned F&B brand that celebrates ‘good food with good friends’.