Yossi Eliyahoo opens 3 new hotspots in Nhow and W Hotel

Hospitality tycoon Yossi Eliyahoo began combining his passion for the hospitality industry and his love for Amsterdam some twelve years ago. He is now co-owner of the successful hospitality empire The Entourage Group and has several, successful high-end catering establishments in Amsterdam to his name, such as MOMO, Izakaya, The Duchess and Mr. Porter, among others. Three more hotspots will soon be added: Lalo Contemporary Mexican Kitchen & Bar and Coco Lounge & Bar in Hotel NHOW and lounge and bar Do Not Disturb in the W Hotel.

The hospitality entrepreneur enjoyed coming to Amsterdam years ago, then mainly as a tourist. "I immediately loved the city, the people and the life here," Eliyahoo said. During the time Eliyahoo visited Amsterdam often, he made more and more connections with the locals and felt he could still put his passion for hospitality here. This realization eventually culminated in the founding of MOMO, the iconic restaurant on Hobbemastraat in Zuid district. 

"I immediately loved Amsterdam, the people and life here," Eliyahoo said.

The Entourage Group: a hospitality empire
Eliyahoo founded The Entourage Group. A hospitality collective that now has many restaurants in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy, among others, to its name. The organization, with Eliyahoo at the helm has won many awards in the meantime. In 2017, for example, the collective became the winner of the World Luxury Restaurant Awards with restaurant Izakaya; a prestigious award for high-end restaurants at home and abroad.

The Entourage Group is an initiative that started from Eliyahoo. With MOMO, the luxurious and well-known restaurant on Hobbemastraat, the hospitality company has had culinary gold in its hands for more than a decade. The idea for MOMO came from a gap in the Amsterdam hospitality market that Eliyahoo discovered.

"I felt Amsterdam was missing an occasion with pan-Asian cuisine complemented by cosmopolitan design," said the hospitality boss. 

According to Eliyahoo, the success of the business in Amsterdam-Zuid is mainly in its consistency. "MOMO's menu has remained unchanged for 12 years now. I believe in its own DNA, the Entourage Group DNA." In all these years, MOMO has only become better known and is a real establishment in the Dutch capital. "I am immensely proud of its continued success," Eliyahoo said.

Prestigious awards: "A crowning achievement of hard work"
MOMO is not the only business on The Entourage Group's impressive list. So too are such top names as Izakaya, The Duchess (*), Mr. Porter and The Butcher to the hospitality organization's collection. The Duchess, the upscale restaurant located in the also luxurious W Hotel on Council House Street, even holds a Michelin star. According to Eliyahoo, this award crowns all the hard work. 

"Achieving a Michelin star is never really a goal you start a concept with, but it's a wonderful endorsement that I think we've more than earned."

Do Not Disturb: The new generation of lounges
Eliyahoo's creative hospitality brain is by no means standing still after achieving so many successes in Amsterdam. Meanwhile, in the pipeline are two new concepts. One is Do Not Disturb, a new cocktail bar, housed in the building that formerly housed the Madfox Club. Do Not Disturb, described by Eliyahoo himself as a bar and lounge, should provide Amsterdammers with a complete night out. Once again, much of the interior and service reflects the so-called Entourage Group DNA.

"For example, we have a round 360 bar in the business. This is typically something that reflects our DNA. Also part of this is the open kitchen, where all the chefs in the business can be admired," Eliyahoo said.

"Do Not Disturb is a social gathering place, where people can enjoy themselves for an entire evening," the hospitality tycoon said. With live music and DJs, Eliyahoo said the cocktail lounge concept fits very well in this day and age. "Club and hotel lounges are increasingly the new generation of lounges that people like to visit for a bite to eat and a drink. This is something we would like to capitalize on."

Lalo and Coco
Those who think that Eliyahoo is already done after a new catering establishment in Amsterdam are wrong. Besides Do Not Disturb, two more establishments are ready to conquer the Amsterdam hospitality industry, in the brand new NHow hotel near RAI Station. Restaurant Lalo is one of them and revolves around sophisticated dishes of Mexican cuisine. 

A colorful interior, combined with innovative dishes from South America should make for a complete experience. Many of the dishes on the menu will be prepared on an open fire, ensuring that guests can take in every detail. After a refreshing and refined ceviche, guests can also enjoy a wide range of cocktails, because in addition to being a restaurant, the new hotspot in the NHow hotel is also a bar. To stay true to the look of the establishment, the finest tequilas, for example, are part of the impressive drink menu.

On the top floor of the luxury hotel in the Rivierenbuurt neighborhood, there is also a new business from The Entourage Group: Coco. The true sky lounge gives guests a chance to experience a good night out in addition to the stunning views. The cocktails on the lounge and tequila bar's menu are sophisticated, and South American vibes are frequent in this establishment as well. Lovers of casual dining can dine and enjoy to their heart's content here at a whopping 91 meters high. With music from changing DJs, Coco Lounge & Bar fits perfectly into Amsterdam's nightlife scene.

The secret of The Entourage Group, according to Eliyahoo, lies in the consistency of not just MOMO, but all business.

"The DNA of The Entourage Group is reflected in every business. I don't necessarily believe in trends but like to sail my own course," Eliyahoo said.