Cafe Del Mar creator says Dubai venue is legit

The founder of the iconic Ibiza sunset bar Cafe del Mar - and franchisor of a new Dubai outlet bearing the same name - says he will take his business partners to court over their claims the Dubai lounge is “unauthorised”.

Cafe del Mar Dubai opened at Meydan Beach, Dubai Marina earlier this month - promising the same concept as the Ibiza bar’s winning combination of sunsets and chillout music.

But things got fiery just a day before the launch when Cafe del Mar Ibiza posted a statement on its facebook page claiming Cafe del Mar Dubai had “never been sanctioned” - and it had “nothing to do” with it.

However, Ramon Guiral, who founded the Ibiza bar along with Carlos Andrea and Jose Les, has told 7DAYS he feels “betrayed” by his business partners over the issue - and he’s calling in the lawyers. Guiral says each of the three own a third of the Cafe del Mar brand. He says that in 1999 it was decided he would be responsible for the music label side of the business and the overseas franchise side of the operation.

Cafe del Mar - which opened in the Balearic party hotspot of Ibiza in 1980 - also has 10 other venues in mainland Spain, Mexico and Brazil. Speaking to 7DAYS as he jetted in from Spain at the weekend, Guiral said he had proof lodged with the UAE Ministry of Economy that he has the right to use the Cafe del Mar name.

“Everything is in my name - it is 100 per cent in my name,” said Guiral. 
“They only own the one in Ibiza. I’m not happy about what they have written on facebook. I’m taking them to court.” 


Guiral, 67, said the overseas Cafe del Mar ventures are “profitable” - and said any fallout with business partners Andrea and Les is not over money. Rather, he claims, they are jealous of his “high-profile”. 


“In all families there are disputes,” he said. “I’m very popular because I’m the one with the music and who travels the world a lot.”