Set to be the late-night speakeasy bar in the Marina district, NONSENSE will open its doors on 19th November. The OY Brothers’ multi-sensory NONSENSE, located in Bluewaters The Wharf, embodies modern speakeasy culture with an ode to the classics. The venue artfully combines a slick musical program, futuristic cocktails, and eccentric interior design for an out-of-this-world experience.
NONSENSE is a haven for trendsetters, night owls, cocktail devotees, and residents in the Marina district looking for new and exciting openings around town. The cocktail culture at NONSENSE goes beyond mixology with deep storytelling that questions one’s perception of reality.
The design of the venue transcends from the past to the future. Upon entering NONSENSE, all sense of time is lost as the focus shifts to the 3D mural projection of distinctive designs, marking the beginning of
a journey through time. Doubling as a listening room, NONSENSE is more than a speakeasy bar with a curated music program going hand in hand with carefully constructed cocktails. Service is top secret and unexpected, merging old and new techniques unique to NONSENSE.
“NONSENSE fully encompasses the vision of a modern speakeasy with a classical thread weaving throughout,” says Yuriy Blotskyy, Co-Founder of Oy Hospitality. “The co-founder Oleksii Kolomiets and I created the venue to make it a futuristic listening room concept for the who’s who of Dubai to socialise with great cocktails and a curated vibe.”
Bold flavours will be infused into the deconstructed cocktails presented in unique glassware embodying the speakeasy vibe of NONSENSE. Engaging the senses, guests will be served cocktails with a blend of ingredients in a quintessential liquid state and garnishes in solid or gas for an immersive experience.
Making sense so far? Hopefully not!
Cosmic neon colours are used as avatars to differentiate between a variety of cocktails which weave a clear trend throughout NONSENSE—warm tones for sweet and cool tones for sour. Drawing from the classic speakeasy-era cocktails, Beverage Manager, Agassi Serobyan’s cocktail philosophy takes centre stage at NONSENSE. Old-fashioned beverages will be revived and modernised to taste classic but look futuristic.
Standout cocktails include Coquette; a mix of fruity, sweet, and funky flavour notes with a riff on the prohibition-era ‘Mary Pickford.’ This drink is an homage to the power flapper fashion and speakeasies had on shaping the image of powerful and coquettish women. Untethered to societal gender norms and prejudices, the Coquette is for the adventurous and daring. Another masterpiece by Agassi is the Love In Harlem; a bold and bittersweet drink that marries the 1919’s ‘Negroni’ with the ‘The Boulevardier.’ The inspiration is taken from the undisputable talent that emerged from Harlem during the prohibition era.
The nonsense doesn’t end there, with interiors designed to mystify the mind. From a cosy yet intimate space filled with plush purple velvet chairs, and round tables, the space stays true to speakeasies of the 1920s. Look out for quirky elements dispersed throughout the venue, representing past and future journeys. A large wall has also been incorporated with a projection display in tune with the music, adding to the futuristic vibe.
The ambience is further brought to life with artistic lighting that changes according to the vibe alongside an unconventional approach to the sound concept curated by Music Director, Albert Kurshudyan. The high-octane music is inspired by three main genres – organic house, Afro-house, and progressive house. Each subgenre has its own tempo and roots, ranging from electronic dance music to Kwaito and European house music.
Guests can gather around the central DJ booth, which turns right before any nonsensical experience begins, setting a unique tone for the entertainment for the night. The cosmic neon theme will set the mood for the launch night as Music Director, Albert Kurshudyan, will perform under his stage name, DJ Alber Ensso, and will take over the turntables from 2 am. Albert will take listeners on an unconventional journey through time and sound with cutting-edge sounds.
Open on Fridays and Saturdays, NONSENSE is bizarre and bold from every angle!
