37 Best Restaurants in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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.

Surf Cafe

Positioned a short walk from Umm Suqueim seashore, Surf Cafe is always packed with smiling patrons refueling after some serious beach activity. Sand on your shoes is not a prerequisite though, and you'll also find school mums enjoying a veggie breakfast, travelers chowing down one of the only good steaks in Dubai for under 150 dirhams, and families heading in for some kid-friendly yet healthy food. Offerings include a range of burgers, salads, and sushi, great coffee and smoothies, and plenty of superfoods for those who need more than starch and caffeine. The atmosphere is clean, wholesome and lively, and service friendly, if a little slow during busy hours. No alcohol served.

Toro Toro

$$$$ | Dubai Marina

This place combines mood lighting, a gorgeous crowd dressed to the nines sipping Cachaça-based cocktails, and tunes that make you want to move. Sample ceviches, empanadas, and cachapas with one hand, and hold your drink, or your partner, with the other. The restaurant features a long list of carnivorous delights including grills and churrasco, and a wine list to please high-rollers and those looking for some ethnic delights. Toro Toro is also known for their lively Friday brunch, which starts as a very classy affair but can get rowdy toward the end.

Traiteur

$$$$ | The North Bank

It's hard to decide what to love the most about Traiteur. The warm, geometrically bizarre interior, the terrace opening to millionaire views over the super yachts of the marina, the classic French cuisine that refuses to be tainted by regional influence, or the service, which is some of the most polite and knowledgeable in Dubai. An experience for those who love more than a little opulence, the Traiteur Friday brunch is one of the best in Dubai (and one of the most expensive). All you can eat from the exceptional buffet and free-flowing champagne from 12:30 to 4 pm will bring you close to living the superfluous lifestyle Dubai is so famous for, even if it's just for an afternoon. Alcohol served.

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Yum!

$ | The North Bank

It’s a little hard to decide on a favorite in the Radisson Blu Dubai Creek—Shabestan (Iranian), Fish Market (fresh seafood), and Al Mansour dhow (dinner cruise), are also very tempting. But Yum! has earned a place at the top of our list. There is plenty of pan-Asian food available, and though it's not winning any gourmet awards, it definitely fulfills the promise of its name. The service is fairly efficient and the open kitchen is a treat to watch. For a licensed restaurant, the food is very reasonably priced—look for their soups and Singapore noodles, most of which are around 50 dirhams or under. Alcohol served.

Zagol

$ | The South Bank

Although it's in the sleepy end of Karama, it's best to make a reservation as Zagol only fits about 20 people. The food is authentically Ethiopian, and unless you understand Amharic, forget trying to read the menu. Instead, just order the mesob (vegetarian or non), a table-sized dish lined with injera bread that you then use as cutlery to mop up a range of spicy aromatic stew and salad that sit on top. Finish with traditional coffee and popcorn, then go down the road to Bikanervala (an Indian sweets shop) for dessert. Be warned: service is incredibly slow, but it's worth the wait. No alcohol served.

Al Hallab

$$ | The North Bank

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.

Milkcow

$ | Dubai Marina

We couldn't talk about the beach without mentioning ice cream, and Milkcow has the best available along the JBR stretch. This South Korean chain only serves organic soft-serve ice cream, but they top it with incredible stuff like candy floss with sea salt, pistachio syrup with cashew clusters, and oozing natural honeycomb. They also have some cakes (including gluten free options), milk shakes, tea, and coffee. It's located up the north end of The Walk at JBR, a little stroll from the public beach, but well worth the extra distance. No alcohol served.

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