A Week Lived the Italian Way: Inside Arrogante Dubai’s Rituals of Gathering
- Nada Armanious
- Lifestyle
In a city that moves quickly, Arrogante Dubai offers something increasingly rare: time at the table. Rooted in the social traditions of Southern Italy, the Downtown Dubai restaurant has introduced a weekly calendar of Italian-led experiences designed around conviviality, warmth, and the simple pleasure of coming together — not for an occasion, but as a way of life.
Photo provided by Arrogante Dubai
Rather than presenting dining as an event, Arrogante frames it as a ritual. Each day in its weekly rhythm draws inspiration from Italy’s most enduring customs: midweek gatherings that stretch into the night, unhurried Friday suppers accompanied by music, and Sundays devoted to long lunches where plates circulate and conversation lingers.
Midweek comes alive with Arrogante Sociale, a Wednesday night experience inspired by Italy’s timeless social culture. Designed as a brunch-style dinner, it transforms the table into the heart of the evening, encouraging sharing, laughter, and spontaneous conversation. From 8:00 PM to midnight, guests enjoy unlimited wood-fired pizza alongside sharing starters, desserts, and free-flowing drinks, all set to DJ-curated sounds blending Italian nostalgia with Downtown energy. Generous and lively in spirit, the experience captures the ease of Italian social dining — with à la carte options also available for those who prefer to linger their own way.
Photo provided by Arrogante Dubai
On Fridays, the mood shifts into something more refined with Amici d’Arrogante, a supper dinner where sound and flavour move in harmony. Beginning at 8:00 PM, the evening unfolds through à la carte dining paired with live Italian music, creating a warm, rhythmic atmosphere shaped by soulful cooking and a thoughtfully curated wine selection chosen as much for emotion as for taste. It is a sophisticated yet intimate expression of Italian warmth — a dinner designed to be savoured slowly.
Photo provided by Arrogante Dubai
Sundays are reserved for one of Italy’s most cherished traditions: La Domenica a Tavola. Inspired by the sacred ritual of gathering around the table on Sunday afternoons, Arrogante’s brunch experience invites guests to settle in from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM for an unhurried, elegant affair. Curated Italian dishes arrive in a relaxed flow, accompanied by live acoustic entertainment and three-hour packages starting from AED 295. The atmosphere remains social yet composed — a reflection of the Italian belief that Sundays are meant to be shared, never rushed.
The philosophy behind Arrogante is deeply personal. The concept traces back to the story of a man raised in Southern Italy, in a nonna’s kitchen where generosity was instinctive, cooking was intuitive, and meals were a daily act of connection. That ethos travelled with him from his first restaurant to tables in Madrid, Bogotá, and Panama, before arriving in Dubai — not to reinvent tradition, but to carry it forward.
Arrogante Dubai is located in the Dubai Opera District and offers Italian-led dining experiences throughout the week, including Arrogante Sociale every Wednesday (8:00 PM–12:00 AM), Amici d’Arrogante every Friday from 8:00 PM onwards, and La Domenica a Tavola brunch every Sunday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Reservations can be made by calling +971 52 697 1356 or emailing reservations@arrogantedubai.com. For more information, visit www.arrogantedubai.com or follow @arrogantedubai.