Recent launches F&B and café branding practice in Dubai and Amsterdam

Recent™ has launched a dedicated branding practice for cafés, restaurants, bakeries, and hospitality groups across Dubai and Amsterdam. The move targets two competitive dining markets where brand identity can help determine whether a venue fills seats or sits empty.

Why it matters: - Dubai and Amsterdam are crowded food-and-beverage markets where first impressions can shape foot traffic and bookings. - Recent™ is positioning itself to help operators build a brand before opening day, not after launch. - The practice spans both startup concepts and existing venues expanding into new locations.

What happened: - Recent™, a creative agency based in Dubai and Amsterdam, launched a dedicated branding practice for food and beverage businesses. - The practice serves cafés, restaurants, bakeries, and hospitality groups in both cities. - The launch was announced on November 5, 2026.

The details: - The practice covers naming, brand identity, menu design, signage, packaging, interior graphics, launch campaigns, and social content. - Recent™ works with operators from first concept through opening day. - The agency also supports concepts still on paper and established venues preparing a second location. - Dubai issued almost 1,200 new restaurant licences in 2024, according to the city’s Department of Economy and Tourism. - Amsterdam’s independent café scene is one of Europe’s most vibrant. - Recent™ has previously done brand identity work for FLOW Coffee, a coffee and brunch concept in Amsterdam’s De Pijp. - Recent™ also worked on Fritta, a Neapolitan restaurant concept in Amsterdam. - The studio worked with CBRE on the rebranding of various F&B outlets in Amsterdamse Poort. - Operators in Dubai and Amsterdam can learn more at recent.co.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects how hospitality brands now compete on experience and design as much as on food and drink. - The agency is using its presence in two active dining hubs to pitch itself as a cross-market specialist. - The focus on early-stage concepts suggests Recent™ wants to shape brands before competitors can.

What's next: - Recent™ will likely pursue cafés, restaurants, bakeries, and hospitality groups in Dubai and Amsterdam as the practice scales. - The agency is likely to lean on its existing hospitality work to win new clients. - Operators can contact the studio through its website for more information.