Dubai’s Como Lounge Café Features Sculptural Counter Inspired by Balanced Stones.

Como Lounge Café has opened its first Dubai spot, designed by Studio Dua Abukhalaf, bringing its Al Ain roots to the city in a way that feels genuinely connected to home.

The interior is built around a continuous datum wall that wraps around the space. It serves as the project’s backbone, providing a backdrop for the café’s key moments. Finished in rough-textured tiles made from recycled glass and porcelain, this wall introduces tactility and depth, standing opposite to the cooler, industrial materials used elsewhere. The contrast creates a tension that works.

The sculptural coffee counter is the interior’s anchor point. Its composition draws from the concept of balancing stones found in nature, with solid marble volumes supporting polished stainless steel forms in a configuration that appears both deliberate and weightless. The counter is subtly lifted off the ground, reinforcing its monolithic presence while maintaining a sense of elevation. Above it, a custom stainless steel canopy mirrors this composition, softly reflecting light and movement, creating a push-pull between weight and lightness.

Custom elements define the space’s character. The floor features a site-specific design that combines cut stone with cast terrazzo, creating patterns that align with the interior’s spatial rhythm. Material transitions are handled with precision—the recycled tile walls provide texture, while muted floor tones ground the palette. Timber accents in the seating balance against stainless steel tables, establishing an equilibrium between warmth and industrial coolness.

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The material choices reflect a considered approach to sustainability without making it the headline. Recycled glass and porcelain tiles, natural stone, and terrazzo exemplify durability and longevity—the kind of design thinking that prioritises permanence over fleeting trends.

What makes this café work is its restraint. Rather than overplaying the Al Ain landscape reference, the design abstracts it into textures, forms, and material contrasts that feel contemporary and contextual to Dubai’s urban environment. This calm, cohesive space honours its origins while carving out its own identity in a competitive market.

With Como Lounge Café, Studio Dua Abukhalaf demonstrates that a strong design concept doesn’t need to shout. Sometimes, it’s the careful layering of materials, the precision of custom details, and the confidence to let quality speak for itself that creates memorable spaces.

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[Images courtesy of Studio Dua Abukhalaf. Photography by Aylul Studio.]