The SL Directory: Private Caterers

A well-known name in Lebanon’s home-dining scene, Rouba Khalil Kitchen brings its sought-after catering concept to Dubai for intimate, at-home occasions. Founded by chef Rouba Khalil, the homegrown brand is loved for its refined take on Middle Eastern flavours, generous sharing plates and beautifully executed desserts. Menus are entirely bespoke, making it a go-to for private dinners, small celebrations and hosts who want something elevated yet relaxed. 

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Founded by Hattem Mattar, the world’s first Arab pitmaster, Mattar brings its signature live-fire cooking to at-home catering and private gatherings across Dubai. Known for its unfussy menus of slow-smoked meats, generous sharing platters and bold barbecue flavours, the concept is ideal for casual dinners, garden parties and celebrations with friends. 

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Ideal for relaxed, crowd-pleasing at-home gatherings, Maiz Tacos brings its bold take on Mexican street food to private catering and home-hosted events. Known for flavour-packed tacos, fresh salsas and vibrant spreads, the concept offers bespoke menus that work just as well for casual dinner parties as they do for larger celebrations. 

Visit MAIZTACOS.COM 

Perfect for hosts who want their at-home gatherings to feel considered and seamless, The Art of Hosting specialises in bespoke catering for private dinners, celebrations and intimate events. With beautifully curated menus and thoughtful presentation, the concept blends global flavours with a refined, modern approach to entertaining, from elegant canapés to generous sharing-style spreads tailored to the occasion. 

Visit THEARTOFHOSTING.ME 

A go-to for crowd-pleasing at-home gatherings, Ka'ak Al Manara brings the comfort of Lebanese bakery classics to private events and home-hosted occasions. Best known for freshly baked ka’ak, manakish and generous mezze-style spreads, the catering feels relaxed yet abundant, making it ideal for brunches, casual dinners and family celebrations. 

Visit KAAKALMANARA.COM 

A trusted name for stylish at-home entertaining, 1762 Gourmet Deli & Catering offers thoughtfully prepared menus for private dinners, family gatherings and casual celebrations. With a fresh, flavour-led approach, expect everything from wholesome salads and signature sandwiches to comforting mains and desserts. Flexible catering options make it an easy go-to when you want something elevated yet unfussy. 

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A favourite for meat-led at-home gatherings, Baalbak Butchery brings its bold take on Lebanese grilling to private catering and home-hosted occasions. Known for premium cuts, flame-grilled classics and generous sharing platters, it’s well suited to relaxed dinners, family get-togethers and casual celebrations with a distinctly Lebanese touch. 

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Ideal for relaxed, flavour-led hosting, Mimo Grills brings its barbecue expertise to at-home catering and private gatherings across Dubai. With grilled meats, generous sharing platters and crowd-pleasing spreads, the concept is well-suited to casual dinners, garden parties and laid-back celebrations. 

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A long-standing name in Kuwait’s dining scene, Lenôtre Paris brings its iconic French savoir-faire to at-home catering and private occasions. Known for refined pastries, elegant savoury dishes and beautifully crafted desserts, the Parisian institution offers bespoke menus for intimate gatherings, celebrations and home-hosted events, delivering classic French flavours with polished presentation. 

Visit LENOTRECAFEKW.COM 

For at-home catering that’s different to anything else in Dubai, call on The Legendary Naga. Formerly employed at David Chang’s Momofuku and the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Aphisith Phongsavanh is a Canadian chef who has a devoted following thanks to the supper clubs he’s hosted at his house that fuse southeast Asian dishes with flavours from Persia, Pakistan and the Levant. Inspired by his parents who hail from Laos and Thailand, Aphisith mixes unexpected flavours while entertaining guests with stories about the history of food. 

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Kamil Sayah is the brains behind this interactive pizza catering company that can accommodate events for up 600 people right down to a cosy dinner for a handful of guests. Specialising only in Neapolitan style pizza, the Lebanese chef will arrives at your event space or house with his dough, toppings and wood fired pizza ovens. Guests can then choose about four or five types of pizza from the selection of approximately 15 on offer. For an interactive experience, Kamil runs pizza making workshops where partygoers can knead dough, stretch it and craft their own topping combinations. Lastly, Kamil also offers an Italian supper club at his Dubai home on one long table for up to 16 people. 

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Customisation is what The Lighthouse does best. An extension of a successful collection of upmarket cafes and bistros in Dubai that has branches in Mall of the Emirates, D3 and Nakheel Mall, it also caters glamorous events for the likes of Gucci, Sotheby’s, Sephora, Loewe, Chopard and Jo Malone. Plus, The Lighthouse’s team of chefs and mixologists can also turn their hand to personalised smaller scale dinners and drinks parties at your home. 

Visit THELIGHTHOUSE.AE

Led by Australian chef Richard Hannaby, who once worked at three Michelin star London restaurant Chez Nico under Nico Ladenis, Elements Catering is one of Dubai’s most respected boutique companies. Able to cater large events for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Prada, Elements can also create an intimate dinner for up to ten guests at a private client’s house, or even put on a dinner party in the desert. “I like to push boundaries, there are no limitations,” Richard says. 

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Straight off the back of catering a large event at the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, the highly experienced culinary team at Ben’s Farmhouse is now in the thick of the festive season. British chef Ben Tobitt – formerly of The Ivy and Soho House – and his crew specialise in versatile catering that ranges from canapés to fine dining and everything in between. Taking inspiration from all over the world, Ben uses produce from local UAE farms to create dishes that are healthy, nutritious and sustainable wherever possible.

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Able to handle events from 10-500 people, the experienced team at Pinch Gourmet tend to work mostly with Arabic, American BBQ, French and Italian cuisines but its chefs are knowledgeable and versatile enough to tackle Mexican, Greek and Mediterranean dishes, too. Special requests are no problem for the flexible Pinch team, who have created bespoke menus around colours or specific themes in the past. Elias Kandalaft is the Jordanian/Canadian culinary director of Pinch who explains the food is fun, casual but also luxurious. 

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‘Feed your soul’ is the wholesome tagline of One Life, a beloved casual bistro in Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Circle and D3 that also offers a wide range of catering options for large events. Kelvin and his team can tackle the A to Z of international cuisines in any format from canapés or a buffet to a multi-course tasting menu or a family style sharing spread. One Life can also bring tables, cutlery and crockery into homes to eliminate stress for clients. 

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For a slick and polished dinner party, Dish is the standout catering candidate in Dubai. Although adept at black tie gala dinners, the nimble team at Dish can adjust its menus for an expertly prepared dinner party at home for a gathering of any size or type, complete with waiters, furniture and table decoration if required. Menus include canapés, small bowls, barbecue, grazing tables, afternoon tea or a lavish fine dining experience. 

Visit DISH.AE