L’ETO Restaurant has debut in Abu Dhabi following a renovation by YODEZEEN that expands a beloved breakfast and dessert destination into an all-day dining venue that carries guests from morning through DJ-led evenings.
Spanning 8,912 square feet (including a 4,240-square-foot terrace and 936 square feet of back-of-house kitchen space), the project reinterprets the restaurant’s existing identity. The main dining hall brings together varied seating typologies, a central bar with an open kitchen, and a DJ station. The outdoor terrace extends the experience with softer light and a relaxed lounge environment.
Working with the existing architecture
One of the project’s central spatial challenges was a series of massive circular structural columns positioned throughout the main dining area. Rather than working around them, YODEZEEN developed an organic woven structure that wraps each column and dissolves upward into the ceiling, creating the impression of a continuous architectural shell. The system softens the rigidity of the structural grid, reduces the visual weight of the columns, and introduces a sense natural rhythm.
Craft meets climate at L’ETO
The woven structure draws from traditional Japanese bamboo weaving techniques, reinterpreted through natural vine, which is better suited for Abu Dhabi’s warm, humid climate. The design team developed a precise geometric framework defining the direction and density of the weave, while craftsmen executed the final formation by hand on site. A second woven layer continues across the ceiling, reinforcing the idea of a continuous skin rather than a collection of separate surfaces.
The spatial logic
Running through the interior, a long bar counter acts as the central axis of the composition, connecting the open kitchen, seating areas, and service zones. Material choices are grounded and tactile: table bases are crafted from iroko wood, while tabletops alternate between two types of marble. This attention to detail also extends to smaller architectural moments, including the wine room door’s custom handle.
“The hospitality market in the Middle East is evolving extremely fast—it is no longer about standalone concepts but about creating layered experiences that can shift throughout the day while maintaining a strong identity,” says Anna Tarabanova, YODEZEEN managing partner and the project’s lead designer. “L’ETO restaurant reflects this direction, where familiarity and transformation coexist within one space.”
