A handwritten place card was waiting at my seat. Beside it: a turquoise plate, a menu full of intriguing course names and a table set for an evening that felt personal from the start.

I recently joined Robz’ Chef’s Table, hosted by Chef Robin Höfer in Dubai. The meal moved from playful bites to beautifully composed dishes. The menu offered glimpses of his stories and memories, while the silver cutlery passed down from his grandmother brought a piece of his family to the table.

That personal touch is part of what draws me to supper clubs. Each host brings something of themselves to the evening. You arrive curious about the food and leave remembering the atmosphere around it.

Supper clubs are finding a new audience in Dubai and they’ve become easier to discover. splidu brings together supper clubs and other chef-led dining experiences across the city, making it a useful place to see what’s coming up.

You can arrive knowing no one. By the end of dinner, the people beside you may become future friends, collaborators or even business partners. Sometimes they’re simply the reason an evening stays with you.