Mad-Room Group And Child Psychologist Sarah Raslan Introduce NESTT, A New Family Lifestyle Destination In Dubai

Opening at Q East by Alphabeta in Al Quoz this October, NESTT is a new 11,000 sq ft contemporary lifestyle destination bringing together fresh Euro-Mediterranean dining, a consciously designed indoor playground, creativity and community under one roof.

Created by Haider Madani, Co-Founder of Mad-Room group and child psychologist parenting educator and Co-Founder of The Wise Parent Sarah Raslan, NESTT brings together two distinct areas of expertise: hospitality and child development. Their shared vision was to create a destination that feels equally considered for adults and children, without compromising the experience of either.

Design plays a central role in bringing that vision to life. H2R and Nakkash Design Studio came together to shape NESTT’s interiors and indoor playground, working closely with Sarah to balance hospitality-led design with an understanding of how children explore, interact and experience their surroundings. The play experience moves from a forest-inspired ground floor into a “playground in the clouds” above, creating a journey designed to spark imagination rather than prescribe play. Thoughtful details extend throughout the space, from custom wallpapers featuring NESTT’s characters to considered acoustics developed with 21dB, helping create an environment that feels playful for children while remaining calm, sophisticated and welcoming for adults.

NESTT brings together its café and dining space, indoor playground, dedicated adult areas and flexible event spaces within one destination. Whether stopping by for breakfast, settling in with a laptop, meeting friends for lunch, bringing the children for an afternoon of play or joining a workshop or celebration, the concept has been designed to move naturally through different moments of the day.

Fresh Euro-Mediterranean Dining

At the heart of NESTT’s hospitality offering is its contemporary restaurant café, serving a fresh Euro-Mediterranean menu alongside quality coffee. Open daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, the café moves from morning coffees and breakfast meetings to leisurely lunches, afternoon catch-ups and early dinners.

Thoughtfully designed zoning creates areas for family dining alongside quieter spaces for working, meeting or simply enjoying a coffee, while open sightlines allow parents to remain connected to their children without compromising their own experience.

The menu brings a playful approach to familiar favourites, with highlights including the Three-Cheese Agnolotti, a handcrafted pasta with three cheeses and signature sauce; Bone Appetit, a playful new take on the smash burger, featuring two beef patties with a Mediterranean twist and served in a house-made bun; and the Filled Italian Sandwich, made using homemade 48-hour fermented dough.

For younger diners, the dedicated children’s menu is designed to make dining fun and engaging, taking simple, homemade classics and giving them a more elevated touch. Highlights include Grilled Lamb Chops with creamy mashed potato and honey-glazed carrots, Fish & Chips, and Cheesecake Ice Cream Pops for a playful finish.

Purposeful Play, Thoughtfully Created

NESTT’s indoor playground has been consciously designed around different ages, personalities and ways of exploring. Rooted in psychology, child development and Social Emotional Learning (SEL), the experience encourages curiosity, creativity, independence and connection while deliberately leaving space for children to use their own imagination rather than prescribing how they should play.

This thinking also inspired NESTT’s own characters, created to reflect personalities and temperaments seen in real children. From energetic adventurers and imaginative thinkers to quieter observers and children who experience emotions more deeply, each character celebrates a different way of seeing and engaging with the world. The idea is simple: children should be able to recognise something of themselves at NESTT, while parents are encouraged to understand and celebrate the individual strengths and needs that come with different temperaments.

The philosophy extends to the people delivering the experience. NESTT’s team has been specially trained by Sarah to recognise different children’s temperaments and adapt the way they communicate and engage with both children and their parents, helping create an environment where families feel seen, safe and understood.

The playground is divided into age-appropriate environments for children from 0 to 8 years old, with spaces that encourage movement, exploration, creativity and imaginative discovery. Each gives children the freedom to engage at their own pace and follow their natural curiosity.

Play admission is priced at AED 110, offering four hours of access from Monday to Friday and three hours on Saturdays and Sundays.

Designed for Adults, Too

NESTT has been intentionally designed to move beyond the traditional family venue. Soft architectural forms, natural timber, terrazzo, layered textures and a nature-inspired palette create a space that feels playful without becoming childlike.

Inspired by curiosity and the idea of tapping into the inner child, the interiors create a setting where parents can relax, work or socialise, while guests visiting without children feel equally at home. It is this balance between hospitality, design and play that sits at the heart of the NESTT experience.

Built Around Connection

Beyond dining and play, NESTT has been created as a place for community. Creative workshops, events, private celebrations and shared experiences will form part of an evolving programme designed to bring people together and give guests new reasons to return.

NESTT reimagines the children’s birthday party, moving away from the overstimulating, high-energy format often associated with indoor play spaces. Celebrations are designed to be as thoughtful as they are joyful, bringing together beautifully considered spaces, elegant birthday backdrops and creative, enriching activities that genuinely engage children. From hands-on workshops to imaginative experiences, every element is intentionally designed to spark curiosity, creativity and connection. And because a great celebration should be enjoyable for everyone, parents are given dedicated tables and seating within the restaurant, where they can relax, socialise and enjoy the occasion in comfort while their children celebrate in a space designed with them in mind.

Haider Madani, Co-Founder of Mad-Room group and NESTT, said: “Together with Sarah, we wanted to take our approach to hospitality into a completely new space. NESTT isn’t a children’s venue with a café attached to it; it is a lifestyle destination where food, coffee, design, play and community have all been given equal consideration. We wanted to create somewhere adults genuinely want to spend time, while giving children the freedom and space to experience it in their own way.”

Sarah Raslan, Co-Founder of NESTT, child psychologist, parenting educator and Co-Founder of The Wise Parent, added: “Every child experiences the world differently, and that understanding has shaped NESTT from the beginning. From the playground and characters to our workshops and the way our team interacts with families, we have considered how we can support different personalities and temperaments while giving children the freedom to explore, imagine and connect.”

Guided by the idea of “Little by little,” NESTT celebrates the everyday moments through which children grow, families connect and communities form. Whether visiting for a solo coffee, breakfast meeting, family lunch, afternoon of play, creative workshop or celebration, NESTT has been created as a destination to return to, time and time again.

NESTT is expected to officially open its doors on 4 October 2026.