OCCO Business Bay

OCCO is a restaurant and late-night lounge with two branches in Dubai, one on Hessa Street in Al Barsha 3 and one on the ground floor of Hyde Dubai on Marasi Drive in Business Bay. It is not a Moroccan restaurant. The everyday menu is international, with sushi and Asian dishes, grills, wood-fired pizza, pasta, mezze and desserts. What brings it onto our dinner with a show list is MorOcco Nights, a Moroccan-themed evening held every Saturday at the Business Bay branch.

MorOcco Nights every Saturday

MorOcco Nights runs every Saturday from 9pm to 3am, at the Business Bay branch only. A live Moroccan band performs first, followed by a DJ playing Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian and French hits. When we visited, a dakka marrakchia troupe opened the night with traditional drums and chants, which is a lovely touch and a big part of the Moroccan vibe. Tagine is also served on this night only, alongside the regular menu, and you order à la carte.

The vibe: it depends on the crowd

Be honest with yourself about what kind of night you want. The atmosphere is not there at the beginning of the evening, even when the dakka marrakchia arrives early on. The energy really depends on the guests around you and on how comfortable you, and the other tables, are with standing up and dancing. If the room is full of people ready to get up, it can turn into a fun Moroccan party. If guests stay seated, it can feel quiet for a show night.

Our advice: come with a group that likes to dance, arrive a little later rather than right at opening, and give it time. The night runs until 3am, and it usually builds as the band and then the DJ take over.

Food

The food is okay. It is a broad, crowd-pleasing menu rather than a destination for Moroccan cooking, so do not go expecting an authentic Moroccan kitchen. The Saturday tagine adds a Moroccan option, but the main reason to book is the entertainment and the setting, not the food. We rate the food 3 out of 5.

Setting and shisha

The Business Bay branch is described as metropolitan, with skyline and waterside views from Marasi Drive. The Hessa branch is more intimate, with a botanical feel, and is known for shisha and late nights. Both branches also show football, boxing and UFC on big screens on fight and match nights.

Who it suits

• Groups of friends who enjoy Arabic and Maghreb music and like to dance.
• Anyone looking for a Saturday night out that starts with dinner and ends late.
• Guests who want a Moroccan atmosphere without a formal Moroccan restaurant.

It is less suited to a quiet dinner for two or to anyone who wants a polished, seated show from start to finish.

Good to know

• MorOcco Nights: every Saturday, 9pm to 3am, OCCO Business Bay only.
• Address: ground floor, Hyde Dubai, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai.
• Booking: recommended, as Saturdays fill up. Call or WhatsApp +971 56 430 5280.
• Prices: à la carte. Prices are not published online, and some guests report a minimum spend on busy nights, so ask when you book.
• Other branch: OCCO Hessa, Hessa Street, Al Barsha 3, +971 50 905 2216.

Our verdict

OCCO is a good option if you want a Moroccan-flavoured Saturday night with live music, drums and dancing, as long as you are ready to help create the atmosphere yourself. The food is average and the start of the night can be slow, which is why we score the food 3 and the vibe 3.5. Go with the right group, arrive a bit later, and it can be a fun night out in Business Bay.