Dubai Restaurants

After some time mimicking dining scenes in other cities, importing chef names and restaurant chains, Dubai has developed quite a complex and singular dining culture with more and more regional influences. Expats, trade, and tourism has brought all corners of the world to Dubai's doorstep, and there is something for any budget in almost every conceivable cuisine.

There is no Michelin guide in Dubai, but dine on the upper-end and you'll find establishments of the highest quality. Restaurants here get worldwide recognition, and the greatest chefs on the planet often pop up for unexpected residencies.

Middle-of-the-road dining will take you beach-side for gourmet burgers, into gastropubs and speakeasies, out to the desert for pizza on a rooftop, or sampling some very fine regional cuisine within particularly decadent spaces.

Some may argue that the most exciting element of Dubai’s cuisine culture is the budget sector, which provides a tantalizing and authentic array of cultural choices, sometimes just for loose change. Examples can be found at the rising number of food trucks around the city, but the originals will tend to be holes-in-the wall around the older parts of Dubai.

Even though Dubai is a Muslim country, pork products and alcohol are still available. Licences for both are restricted to restaurants and bars in large hotels and clubs. The prices at licensed premises tend to hover a little higher than elsewhere, and the venues sometimes suffer from blandness that can come with hotel restaurants, so it might be worth considering if you really need that drink; some of the greatest cuisine in the region is found in simple roadside ethnic eateries.

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  • 1. 101 Dining Lounge and Bar

    $$$$ | Jumeirah Beach

    101 never fails to impress. You're bound to be surrounded by potential grooms popping the question, couples clinking champagne glasses, and tourists snapping shots of the New Dubai skyline. 101 is a lounge, tapas bar, and restaurant, so it fits most timetables, and also ticks plenty of tourist boxes. Views? Check: water and skyline views from Palm to Marina. Romantic? Check: bobbing pontoons, candlelight, smooth tunes, and intimate spaces. Exclusive? Check: boat trip from the other One & Only, or a long drive down the Palm crescent. Delicious? Check: smart cocktails and classy modern Mediterranean food and wine. Expensive? Check, but considering all the other advantages, worth it.

    West Crescent, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-440--1030

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Note: best visited in cooler weather as most tables are outside
  • 2. Bait Alqadeem

    $ | The North Bank

    Unless you've accidentally drifted away from the souks or visited the nearby Heritage House, it's very unlikely you'd ever discover Bait Alqadeem on your own. You're going to have to seek this place out if you want a well-priced Arabic meal in authentic atmosphere. The building is historic (1909) like its neighbors, with a large terrace out the front for shisha smokers, an inner courtyard for dining, and majlis with a/c for when it gets too hot. Don't be put off by the odd mannequins or the half Range Rover full of artificial flowers out the front, be welcomed by Emirati smiles and stroll in to taste authentic regag and machboos, barbecued fish in bzar spices and some of the city's best moutabel. No alcohol served.

    Al Suq Al Kabeer St., Al Ras, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-225--6111
  • 3. Coya

    $$$$ | Jumeirah Beach

    Dubai didn't know it needed Peruvian dining until Coya opened. It's not the original, but you'd never know it; this place oozes soul. Decor is vibrant and plush; the food is exotic, service smooth, and two piscos later, you'll never want to leave. Look for special events like cocktail making, ceviche master classes, and art exhibitions, which take place almost weekly. Brunch on Friday here is one of Dubai's best. Their hidden members' club has a pricey yearly fee, which you might be able to bypass with some sweet-talking, though we wouldn't count on it. Don't miss the scallop tiradito and the sea bass cazuela, two dishes you will never forget.

    Jumeirah Beach Rd., Jumeirah 2, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-316--9600
  • 4. Enigma

    $$$$ | The South Bank

    You know that saying about the mountain and Mohammad? Dubai's first pop-up only restaurant opened in January 2016, and brings the world's best chefs to Dubai for three-month stints. The intention is to fill it with "World's 50 Best" and Michelin stars, and so far, it's progressing very well. Expect 14-course dégustation menus, dishes that look like science experiments, stories about the food, quirky fusions, and an intelligent waitstaff. There is an excellent core team, but most of the restaurant staff revolves with the chef in residence. All is set in the confines of the Palazzo Versace hotel, which is appropriately bombastic, but the venue changes slightly with every rotation. Alcohol served.

    Culture Village, Al Jadaf, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-556--8888

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Dinner only, hrs may change, reservations only
  • 5. Khan Murjan

    $$ | The South Bank

    It's hard to experience genuine Arabic food and ambience in the depths of the Dubai summer, but this sprawling air-conditioned and covered courtyard works a treat. It sits at the center of a modern underground souk, an incongruously classy oasis in the midst of the flamboyant pyramids that make up Wafi Mall. There are marble floors and fonts, trickling water features, roses, shisha pipes, filtered natural light, and enormous authentic Arabic ovens delivering freshly baked khubz bread and kebabs. The menu provides an excellent spectrum of Persian, Gulf and Mediterranean dishes, but it's also a lovely place to sit with a couple of baklava morsels and a Moroccan mint tea. No alcohol served.

    Umm Hurair 2, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-327--9795
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  • 6. Ruya

    $$$$ | Dubai Marina

    Local chef Colin Clague (previously of Zuma and Qbara) has again opened up a seamless venue that captures just the right amount of culture, class, and exotic beauty to fit with Dubai's classy restaurant scene. Although Ruya calls itself a Turkish restaurant, there are elements fused from many cuisines, particularly Nikkei and those of other Middle Eastern countries. The interior is open and elegant, yet plush and exotic. There are moss walls, Arabic lanterns, majlis-style seating, marble floors, and an enormous central bread oven. In cooler weather, the glass walls open up to turn the entire venue into an open-air space. The most famous dish is a simple two-cheese pide (Turkish flatbread) with a soft-cooked egg yolk, but also look for sashimi, flamboyant salads and richly flavored exotic stews and kebabs. Alcohol served.

    Al Sufouh Rd., Dubai Marina, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    04-399--9123
  • 7. Abshar

    $$ | Jumeirah Beach

    The Jumeirah Beach Road is lined with ethnic restaurants—Turkish, Saudi, Lebanese— all inside villas. Most are very good, and Abshar is a favorite of many. They have other branches in Knowledge Village, Media City, and Al Rigga, but none quite match the opulence of this location. The building retains its dimension of a lavish villa, complete with chandeliers and damask curtains, and each room is a different color representing a different region of Iran. Go for authentic sagnak bread out of the traditional oven, jojeh masti kebabs (chicken in yogurt), gormeh sabzi (lamb stew with leafy greens and beans), and kashk o bademjan (roasted eggplant dip, served warm with sweet mint sauce and whey). Service is quiet and efficient, though not what most would call welcoming or particularly friendly, except for Sam in the sweets shop out front. Finish there with traditional Persian cookies, pastries, and mastic ice cream. No alcohol served.

    Jumeirah Beach Rd., Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-394--0950
  • 8. Al Hadheera

    $$$$ | Burj Dubai

    Al Hadheera sits alone in the dunes, just removed from the Bab al Shams resort, and for many, this is the quintessential Arabian dining experience. Find your seating under the stars in stone majlis booths, covered with Persian carpets and camel-hair cushions. Entertainment (e.g., tanoura dancers and oud players) will punctuate your meal, which is taken from a sumptuous spread over many cooking stations, and includes a good cross section of classic dishes from across the greater Arabian region. Alcohol served. Expect a fixed-price for dinner and a show.

    Al Qudra Rd., Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-809--6194

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed for lunch; seasonal closures may be applicable in summer
  • 9. Al Hallab

    $$ | The North Bank | Lebanese

    For some grassroots Middle Eastern cuisine without jumping too far out of the box, Al Hallab is perfect. Their pedigree is supreme—more than 100 years of making sweets in Lebanon, and then a foray into savory meals shortly before a very successful expansion all over the region. The Garhoud branch is one of the originals, and serves up excellent quality Levant food every day in plush Arabic surrounds (look out for "grandma's" daily specials and hummus fatteh in particular). Essentially, it's clean, comfortable, and authentic, with plenty of Western options for those who like to keep it simple. There's no alcohol, but a wide range of excellent juices and traditional Middle Eastern beverages. Also look for Downtown and Mall of the Emirates branches. No alcohol served.

    28 Sheikh Rashid Rd., Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-282–3388
  • 10. Al Ustad Special Kebab

    $ | The South Bank

    For those willing to go out of their comfort zone for a great kebab, Ustad (also known as Ostadi) is definitely worth seeking out. It's a cozy restaurant with insight into everyday life in this part of Old Dubai. Sitting in the same spot for nearly 40 years until 2015, Ustad's patriarch still welcomed diners for lunch specials and mixed grills with an open smile and a "salam alakum." Mohammed al Ansari's passing sent many Dubai residents into mourning, but his spirit lives on in the restaurant now run by his children, who continue to serve great food in an eclectic space filled with souvenirs and trinkets from travelers. No alcohol served.

    Al Musalla Rd., Meena Bazaar, Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-397--1469

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Fri.
  • 11. Aroos Damascus

    $ | The North Bank

    If you want an inexpensive feed oozing with local flavor, this heaving establishment is the place to go. Authentic Emirati food might be elusive, but the locals themselves admit to a love of Levant cuisine, and Aroos is often where you'll find them. Either sit out on the terrace with the fans or in with the a/c, and order from mezze, including some of the classics dips like hummus, muhummara, and moutabel, and then try sambousek, falafel, and fatayer for some hot nibbles. For mains, dig into their famous kebabs with a side of exotic Arabic salad, then finish up with sticky baklawa or belly-warming umm ali. Just watch your ordering—there is a plethora of tempting options and staff are prone to overestimate needs. No alcohol served.

    Al Muraqqabat Rd., Deira, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-221--9825
  • 12. Bateaux Dubai

    $$$$ | The North Bank

    Although pleasant year-round, Bateaux Dubai comes into its own in summer. July and August can be sweltering in the city, but all looks rosy from the chilled inside of this glass-encased barge. It's a five-star way to view the city in comfort. Menus are fixed, classic, and gourmet (if a little traditional), and washed down with your chosen drinks package and glittering views of the Dubai creek at night. The boat drifts slowly past historic districts, dhow shipyards, creekside resorts and towers of the business district. If you can manage to time it with one of Dubai's many festivals, you may also be lucky enough to pick up a fireworks display. Alcohol served.

    Banyas Rd., Dubai Creek, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-814--5553

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Only open for dinner, some seasonal openings for lunch and high tea
  • 13. Bayt al Wakeel

    $ | The South Bank

    The food isn't amazing, the service is nothing to write home about, but this is one of the most photo-worthy restaurants in the city of Dubai, and it won't cost you a fortune to sit and watch for awhile. Bayt al Wakeel is a heritage building, and their terrace leans over the water at the perfect position to watch the vibrant procession of abras between the souqs and creaking dhows on their way down to the customs yards. Order mint tea and a plate of mixed sambousek and refuel while you figure out which abra you need to catch to get yourself across the creek to the spice souq. If you have time, pop up to the rooftop to catch a front view over the creek mouth, and backward over the buildings of old Dubai. No alcohol served.

    34th St., Bur Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-353--0530
  • 14. Biryani Pot

    $ | Jumeirah Beach

    For a feast costing only around 35 dirhams, this is a great choice in the otherwise pricey Jumeirah district. As the name would suggest, the dum biryani is your best bet. Served in a terra-cotta pot, the dish is covered with pastry, which you must crack open to a rush of steam. They are usually enough to feed two, especially if you add some of their decadent dal makhani or butter chicken (great salads and chaat are also available as lighter options). The venue is clean and contemporary but tiny, and more diners take out than sit in. There are still pleasant places to sit, though, especially when the weather is not too hot and the terrace is open. No alcohol served.

    Jumeirah Beach Rd., Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-338--2277
  • 15. Boardwalk

    $$$ | The North Bank

    For a long alfresco lunch in Dubai's cooler months, this location is hard to beat. Tables sit on a large wooden deck over the Dubai creek, with views across to Festival City and the high-rise towers of Downtown Dubai. It's a popular stop-off for golfers between rounds, families on weekends, and friends gathering for sundowners on Thursday nights. The menu isn't too adventurous—a selection of pizzas, salads and grills—but you can enjoy a beer or glass of wine with whatever you choose. Service is relaxed, but it suits the mood as you settle into the creekside atmosphere.

    Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-295–6000

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 16. Bussola

    $$$ | Dubai Marina

    There are two parts to Bussola, and both are well worth a visit. The first is the casual pizzeria, which rests on the rooftop capturing views of Palm Jumeirah, skydivers falling on the target at Skydive Dubai, and the illuminated dinner dhows that cruise the gentle bay in front. They serve delicious wood-fired pizzas, antipasti and salads in a convivial atmosphere, and it's possible to have a beer and share a pizza for around AED100. Downstairs is the fine-dining area, and one of Dubai's best Italian restaurants. Cuisine and the dress code are more serious, prices a little more uppity and the surroundings more sedate. Here look for very special homemade pasta, suckling pig and some luscious desserts.

    Al Sufouh Rd., Dubai Marina, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-511--7139
  • 17. Café Ceramique

    $$ | Jumeirah Beach

    This has been a favorite of expat families for many years. Not only is there a large terrace with Arabian gulf glimpses, but the kids (or young at heart) can decorate ceramics while they wait for their food. Service is friendly and varies in efficiency. The menu contains a long list of café basics, including salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, pasta, and some larger mains, and there's a kids menu, too (nuggets, hot dogs, and the like.) Do note, in busy times, it can take up to 10 days to have your artwork fired after decorating it. If you are only in town briefly, make sure you check before you start.

    Jumeirah Rd., Jumeirah 1, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-341–7331

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 18. Calicut Paragon

    $ | The South Bank

    Close to the Karama shopping district, many like to come here for thali, a south Indian meal involving bottomless refills of vegetarian curries, rice, and condiments, but we suggest you opt for their superb appams (lacy, bowl-shape rice crepes), and dip them in a mild and coconut-flavored prawn moilee. Other favorites include pandan chicken, mango fish curry, and frappes. Service is not perfect—you may have to ask for things several times, but the food makes it worth it. No alcohol served.

    20 B St., Al Karama, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-335--8700

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed 11 am--1 pm Fri.
  • 19. Elia

    $$$ | The South Bank

    This part of town is not known for romantic fine-dining restaurants, but Elia gets very close to the more sophisticated offerings in newer parts of Dubai, and it's been ahead of its time for years. The setting is idyllic, particularly when the weather allows eating outside, and you'd be hard-pressed to remember that you are dining within the maelstrom that is Bur Dubai and Mankhool. Elia is about as authentically Greek as you can get in the city, and the Mediterranean menu suits the weather and local palates perfectly. There is a good selection of traditional food and plenty of fine and reasonably Greek wine offered. Music Room, one of the city's better live venues, is also located in the hotel.

    Mankhool Rd., Mankhool, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-359--8888

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Only open for dinner from 7 pm
  • 20. Farzi Cafe

    $$ | Jumeirah Beach

    New to Dubai's Indian molecular food scene, Farzi is all about image, and their interior and dishes are some of the most Instagrammed in the city. The menu is primarily made up of small bites, pretty, unique, and unusual, always with elements of Indian cuisine. They call themselves a "modern spice bistro" to differentiate from the more standard curry houses. Situated in the new development of City Walk, Farzi is surrounded by glamorous and unusual boutiques. No alcohol served.

    Al Safa St., Al Safa, Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    4-394--2556

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed 3:30--6:30 pm

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