Hanbok, designed by DBM Studio under the creative direction of Mahsa Gholizadeh, offers an immersive journey into Korean heritage

Designed by DBM Studio, the award-winning practice led by Mahsa Gholizadeh, Hanbok is more than just a restaurant. It is an encounter with Korean history reinterpreted for a bold new era. Envisioned as a modern palace, the space becomes a world where tradition is not preserved behind glass but allowed to move, breathe and evolve. Every gesture within the interior pays homage to the grace of Korean design, while daring to re-shape it with contemporary precision.

Located on the promenade of Abu Dhabi’s Galleria Mall on Al Maryah Island, Hanbok is the newest culturally inspired, modern dining destination to step foot in the region. At the heart of the restaurant lies a narrative of duality. The space is inspired by a queen who walks her palace grounds with both serenity and quiet rebellion: powerful yet poetic, rooted yet unafraid to transform. It is her story that defines the atmosphere, expressed through sculpted ceilings, gentle fabric folds, dramatic shadows and warm light.

Arrival at Hanbok is marked by a sculptural portal that connects the outside world to the inner realm of the restaurant. Guests pass through an immersive entrance tunnel formed by 1,100 handmade Korean pots, each crafted in the spirit of traditional Buncheong ceramics. Arranged as a layered, semi-transparent screen, the installation softly filters light and movement, blurring the boundary between the mall and the dining space beyond. Both ceremonial and contemporary, the portal sets the tone for the experience within, inviting guests to slow down and step into Hanbok’s evolving narrative.

The main dining hall introduces this conversation between eras. Overhead, dark, sculptural ceiling forms recall the vaulted timber structures of traditional Korean architecture, reinterpreted with modern craftsmanship. Strategic illumination carves depth into the contours, creating a sense of movement and grandeur. Below, curved seating, richly textured fabrics, and smooth stone surfaces echo the volume and drape of a traditional hanbok, transforming its elegance into spatial form.

The bar area acts as the restaurant’s anchor, where a grid-lit backdrop and layered arches evoke palace portals and rhythmic Korean screens. Here, heritage becomes contemporary geometry. The palette of deep charcoals, earthy neutrals and touches of lacquered red draws from royal garments and ceremonial objects, grounding the space in authenticity while remaining resolutely modern.

Ascending to the upper dining terrace, the atmosphere softens where a sculptural chandelier reminiscent of a blooming lotus hovers above, casting diffused, meditative light. Lush planting and gentle tonal contrasts create a connection to the quiet courtyards of historic palaces, where reflection and stillness reside. The interplay of red and white subtly reflects the symbolic colours of hanbok: purity, festivity, nobility.

DBM Studio Founder and Creative Director, Mahsa Gholizadeh comments “From the beginning, Hanbok has been about reinterpretation. We wanted to create something cinematic and immersive, where architecture tells a story. It’s a space where heritage is reimagined through a contemporary lens, and every detail reflects a quiet sense of the queen’s journey.”

Hanbok is the latest concept from Fuse Holding, a hospitality group founded by Yoann Grillet. Known for its thoughtful approach to dining experiences, Fuse Holding develops concepts with an international perspective and local influence. Hanbok takes a more intimate direction, drawing on cultural heritage and craftsmanship to create a subtle balance between tradition and modernity.

In a city shaped by ambition and innovation, Hanbok takes its place as a cultural landmark, modern in expression, bold in character and rooted in Korean heritage.