5 August 2025  Martin Ho Sets His Sights on Dubai: A New Chapter for DOTS GroupMartin Ho, who rose to prominence in Austria as the visionary behind the DOTS Group's fusion of gastronomy, nightlife, and contemporary art, is steering his brand into a new era — one that reaches far beyond Vienna. Once a household name for upscale dining and bar concepts in Austria, Ho has gradually stepped back from operating restaurants in his home country. As Fashion.at was told today in a phone call with a representative, he still maintains ties to the Viennese nightlife through venues such as X Club, VIE i PEE, and the iconic Pratersauna. While no DOTS restaurant currently operates in Austria, Ho continues to own the boutique Hotel La Petite Ivy in the Waldviertel and curates exhibitions through his contemporary art gallery under the name Ho Gallery.A new concept has taken hold at the former site of the Dots Group's Ivy's Pho & Grill on Wollzeile 17 in Vienna: Cosmotheca. This space is not directly connected to Martin Ho or the Dots Group. It combines ethical lifestyle accessories and skincare products with a futuristic scent lab. Here, visitors create their own perfumes via Algorithmic Perfumery, an AI-driven experience previously featured at Ars Electronica in Linz. Martin Ho recently shared impressions from store openings of the AI perfumery in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on social media, along with visuals from a new collaboration with luxury watch brand Jacob & Co. In the same phone conversation, Fashion.at learned that a Jacob & Co concept store — a project between the watch label and Ho's DOTS Group — is currently being developed in Vienna's high-end Goldenes Quartier. It is set to open in the fourth quarter of 2025 near the well-known café and cultural meeting point 'Schwarzes Kameel'. First International Restaurant: DOTS DXB Opens in DubaiToday, the DOTS Group revealed building plans, renderings, and construction photos (see image) for its first international venture: "DOTS DXB" in Dubai. The restaurant will be located in the Al Fattan Currency Building within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a prestigious address home to luxury hospitality names such as Cipriani, Gaia, and Mr. Chow. A soft opening is scheduled for the third week of October, with the official launch coinciding with the group's 20-year anniversary on November 12, 2025.The architectural and interior design is helmed by acclaimed Swiss photographer and artist Michel Comte, who is known for blending artistic expression with spatial experience. Comte's design for DOTS DXB employs muted tones in beige and dusty pink, playing with light and shadow to create an intimate and dynamic atmosphere that transforms from day to night — from restaurant to exclusive club. Previews with renderings are published on the Dots Group website: dotsgroup.eu. The design is conceived as a holistic artwork, featuring curated art installations and adaptable lighting scenarios that support both fine dining and nightlife experiences. The menu at DOTS DXB will offer modern Chinese cuisine with French influences, including robata-grilled wagyu beef, dim sum with truffle and kale, and seafood specialties such as Chilean seabass with lime and chili. Austrian Art Finds a Stage in the EmiratesIn addition to gastronomy, art remains central to Martin Ho's identity and the DOTS brand. The Dubai venue will feature a rotating exhibition program, personally curated by Ho, showcasing pieces from his private collection. The opening exhibition will include works by Michel Comte, Martin Grandits, Anselm Reyle, Ai Weiwei, and Erwin Wurm. A particular emphasis will be placed on Austrian contemporary artists, ensuring that Austrian cultural production is represented prominently in the UAE.Among other artists in Ho's broader collection are Joseph Beuys, Cyril Helnwein, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Franz West, Gottfried Helnwein, and Andy Warhol. With this international showcase of culinary and visual art, the DOTS Group continues to bridge luxury lifestyle with cultural engagement — and in doing so, brings a piece of Austria to Dubai's global stage. Image: Construction site of the upcoming DOTS DXB restaurant in Dubai's DIFC, presented with visual renderings and the brand's signature 'Eat. Drink. Dance. Repeat.' slogan on the facade. |