Dubai restaurant Asha’s closes for a day in tribute to Asha Bhosle after singer’s death at 92
Asha's has been a fixture of the city's restaurant scene since it first opened
Dubai: Asha's, the beloved Dubai restaurant founded by and named after the legendary singer Asha Bhosle, has temporarily closed its doors for a day following her death on Sunday.
Gulf News confirmed the closure after calling the restaurant directly, with staff indicating the decision was made out of respect for the iconic singer who inspired and fronted the brand for decades. It's now open for business as of April 13.
The well-known establishment also released a statement this evening, which reads:
"Our deepest condolences on the passing of Asha Ji, our beloved founder.
It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of Asha Bhosle.
To the world, she was a voice that defined generations.
To us, she was everything and she always will be.
Asha Ji was not just the name behind Asha’s. She was its heart, its spirit, its very foundation. Her love for food, her instinct for flavour, and her deep sense of hospitality shaped what Asha’s became and what it will always remain.
She believed in warmth that could be felt without words.
In food that stays with you.
In making people feel like they belong.
That is who she was.
For over two decades in the UAE, Asha’s has grown as a homegrown brand inspired by her vision a journey that has since reached across the GCC, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, and beyond to Birmingham, UK.
While her voice will continue to live on across the world, her presence at Asha’s does not feel like something we have lost it is something we will continue to carry, every single day.
Today, we grieve her with heavy hearts.
We extend our deepest condolences to her family, her loved ones, and to the millions who grew up with her voice and to those who came to know her through the warmth and flavours of Asha’s.
At Asha’s, she is not just remembered.
Her presence stays with us always.
– Asha’s Restaurants"
The closure is a quietly poignant moment for Dubai's dining community. Asha's has been a fixture of the city's restaurant scene since it first opened, built around the warmth, personality and culinary heritage of its founder. The restaurant became known not just for its food but for the spirit behind it, a living extension of a woman who brought the same generosity and vibrancy to everything she touched.
Asha Bhosle herself had a deep connection to the UAE and to Dubai in particular. As recently as late 2024, at the age of 91, she performed live in the city, captivating an audience that had grown up with her voice and never tired of it. That concert, which now feels like a farewell few knew they were witnessing, was a reminder of just how present and vital she remained until the very end.
The restaurant bears her name, carries her image and was built on her legacy. To remain open in the immediate hours after her passing would have felt wrong, and the decision to close reflects the genuine affection and grief felt by those who worked under the banner she created.
There is no confirmation yet on when the restaurant will reopen. For now, the doors are shut, the lights are dimmed, and Dubai pauses to mourn one of its most beloved adopted voices.
