World-Famous ‘ROKA’ to Open at Waldorf Astoria Kuwait
A new and exciting contemporary Japanese dining experience arrives all the way from London
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KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT - Following its tremendous success in London, and more recently Dubai, ROKA–the world-famous contemporary Japanese restaurant–will be arriving in Kuwait at the country’s first Waldorf Astoria. Expected to open in fall 2021, the iconic luxury hotel features 200 deluxe guestrooms and will be located in The Avenues, real estate developer Mabanee’s most notable 360,000-square-meter leasable area development and Kuwait’s largest retail, entertainment and lifestyle destination.
ROKA is a meeting place where food and drinks are shared with friends and loved ones around the Robata (‘ro’) and heat, warmth and an all-embracing energy surround (‘ka’). The award-winning restaurant’s modern Japanese cuisine centres around the Robata grill, which originates from the fishermen of the northern coastal waters off Japan who would cook fish on boats with different charcoals and share the food with one another using their oars.
Commenting on the exciting partnership, Chief Executive Officer of Mabanee Waleed Alsharian said, “We are very pleased to be bringing the exceptional and renowned ROKA restaurant to Kuwait. Mabanee strives to create unique experiences for its customers, a vision that is embedded in our values as well as all projects we develop. We believe this is an ideal partnership that will add value to the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Kuwait, soon to be opening its doors this autumn.”
Sven Koch, CEO Azumi Ltd, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Mabanee Group for our first ROKA opening in Kuwait. It is an honour to work with Mohammed Abdullatif Alshaya, a true visionary and market leader. We are excited to be present in Kuwait’s largest and most visited retail and lifestyle destination–The Avenues–as well as to work with Mr. Waleed Alsharian and his team. We look forward to a flourishing future together.”
ROKA Kuwait joins an expanding network of the coveted restaurant concept, including four in London, one in Dubai, and one soon to arrive in Riyadh. Designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu, the interiors of ROKA Kuwait will showcase key elements that connect all ROKA restaurants as well as details that are exclusive to Kuwait–demonstrating the organic evolution of the brand whilst still embodying the true ROKA spirit. As always, at the core is the Robata grill, the heart of the restaurant and from where the heat and unique energy flows.
Emma Banks, vice president, F&B strategy and development, EMEA at Hilton, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Azumi Limited to bring this award-winning Japanese restaurant concept to Waldorf Astoria Kuwait. ROKA’s delicious cuisine and welcoming yet energetic ambiance will no doubt make it a sought-after dining destination. We look forward to bringing this wonderful gastronomic experience to our guests.”
Slated to open in Autumn 2021, Waldorf Astoria Kuwait is located directly adjacent to the popular Avenues Mall, providing seamless access to over 1,100 shops and 28 cinema screens, making it the perfect address for both leisure and business.
About Mabanee
Mabanee is a leading Kuwaiti shareholding company and real estate developer with a paid-up capital of 110.5 million Kuwaiti dinars. Listed under the real estate sector in the Kuwait Stock Exchange since 1999 and the Premier Market Index in Boursa Kuwait, as well as part of the prestigious MSCI Index, the company has several projects in the GCC and continues to expand. For more information, please visit www.mabanee.com.
About Azumi Limited
Azumi Limited is an award-winning global restaurant business with proven brands offering a contemporary dining in key cosmopolitan locations. Created by Rainer Becker, and co-founded with Arjun Waney, Azumi’s journey began with the opening of Zuma London in 2002. This was quickly followed by ROKA London in 2004. There are now 16 Zuma’s, including seasonal locations and residencies, and 5 ROKAs across the globe with further restaurants in the pipeline. In addition to the Zuma and ROKA Japanese concepts, Oblix, was opened in The Shard in 2013 and INKO NITO opened in LA in 2018 followed by its first London location.
About Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is a portfolio of more than 30 iconic properties that creates a unique sense of place with a relentless commitment to personal service and culinary expertise in landmark locations around the world. Unified by their inspirational environments and True Waldorf Service, Waldorf Astoria hotels deliver graceful service from the moment a guest books through checkout. In addition to the brand’s renowned hotel offerings, Waldorf Astoria boasts a best-in-class residential portfolio, including 17 properties either open or in development, that provide the comfort of a private home combined with the unsurpassed amenities and legendary service of Waldorf Astoria. Waldorf Astoria is a part of Hilton, a leading global hospitality company. Experience Waldorf Astoria by booking at www.waldorfastoria.com or through the Hilton Honors mobile app. Learn about the brand by visiting newsroom.hilton.com/waldorfastoria, and follow Waldorf Astoria on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising more than 6,400 properties and more than one million rooms, in 119 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on the 2020 World’s Best Workplaces list, and was named the 2020 Global Industry Leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. In 2020, Hilton CleanStay was introduced, bringing an industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection to hotels worldwide. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 112 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy, plus enjoy instant benefits, including contactless check-in with room selection, Digital Key, and Connected Room. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.