37 Best Restaurants in United Arab Emirates

We've compiled the best of the best in United Arab Emirates - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

101 Dining Lounge and Bar

$$$$ | Jumeirah Beach Fodor's Choice

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.

Bait Alqadeem

$ | The North Bank Fodor's Choice

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.

Coya

$$$$ | Jumeirah Beach Fodor's Choice

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.

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Enigma

$$$$ | The South Bank Fodor's Choice

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.

Khan Murjan

$$ | The South Bank Fodor's Choice

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.

Ruya

$$$$ | Dubai Marina Fodor's Choice

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

The Beach Bar and Grill

$$$$ | Dubai Marina

For classy, casual, and long alfresco lunches, it doesn't get better than the front terrace here. Children can play in the wooden fort and playground next door, just far enough to be seen and not heard. With colonial fans swooping up the breeze, aqua water and white sand at your feet, barasti roofing filtering the Arabian sun, and waiters in white linen delivering chilled oysters and rose, you'll find it very, very hard to leave. The sun sets over the sea, and as darkness falls, fire lamps and candles come alive. Food is a mix of simple seafood and great grilled red meat, with the occasional Arab or Oriental twist, but without any fuss.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fumé

$$$ | Dubai Marina

The original Fumés (there are now two in the city), this location is in Pier 7, a swanky tower overlooking the Dubai Marina, with seven restaurants serving seven different cuisines on seven levels. They are licensed to serve alcohol, which is done either in the bright and lively restaurant, or at the dark and brooding garage-style bar. The menu is varied, with fried foods partnered with piquant Asian flavors, pulled beef brisket, and banoffee pie. Drinking is a pleasure here—reasonably priced, with plenty of cocktails and mocktails to sample. Staff are casual and usually fairly friendly—just watch for busy times (Thursday and Friday night) when the service can't quite keep up with the crowds. Look for great business lunch and brunch deals; it's possible to eat here for less than AED50.

The Hot Dog Stand

$ | Dubai Marina

This hole-in-the-wall mainly offers take-out and home delivery, but it's possible to snag a seat, whether inside or at benches around a grassy area. Sausages are halal and gourmet, made of either chicken or Angus beef, and start at 17 dirhams, then go up at 1 dirham per topping. The menu is fairly simple but there are also some pasta dishes, hearty sides, and churros for dessert. It's one of the cheapest places to feed the family in the Dubai Marina if you don't want to go with an international chain, with a family deal coming in at around AED100. No alcohol served.

Irish Village

$$ | The North Bank

This truly is a Dubai institution—a veritable dinosaur in Dubai years, founded when everyone who was anyone lived on the airport side of the creek were members of the neighboring Aviation Club. This sprawling pub with beer garden (complete with massive duck pond) has survived all the ups, downs, openings, and closings of this constantly moving city. The reason? It's just a great pub. Food is simple (fish-and-chips, pies, shrimp cocktails straight out of the 1980s), and atmosphere is full of the proverbial "craic," with decor shipped directly from the Emerald Isle, live music most nights and sports at full blast on the telly. Drinks are reasonably priced (for Dubai), and the service is notoriously nonchalant, but considering the size of the crowds at some times, it's understandable. Look out for the fabulous line-ups of old rockers—you'll likely be surprised by the caliber.

Lime Tree Cafe

$ | Jumeirah Beach

The Lime Tree Cafe was probably the first modern Western café to open in Dubai (2001), and although its popularity paved the way for many other similar establishments, many retain this as a favorite. Pop in for free-trade organic coffee and tea, and order superfluous salads, cakes, and other items by sight at the counter. Service is efficient and easy; its a great place for a quick, no-fuss bite, or to grab some home-made treats to take with you. No alcohol served.

Marina Social

$$$$ | Dubai Marina

Million-dollar views and fine dining without pretension, it's no surprise chef Jason Atherton's Marina Social is quickly becoming one of the most popular restaurants in Dubai. The menu is pure London, fun and fresh, with an emphasis on ingredient quality. There's an adjoining bar, and early suppers are also available if you just want a quick bite. If the food wasn't enough to get you in, then the views will. Social's terrace is smack in the middle of the Dubai Marina, and is definitely one of Dubai's top outdoor eating areas. Alcohol served.

Pierchic

$$$$ | Jumeirah Beach

Resting on a wooden pier on the Arabian Gulf, with views over two of Dubai's most stunning resorts and skyline, Pierchic is one of the most romantic settings in the emirate. The contemporary decor is breezy and casual while still oozing wealth and class, and glass walls allow diners to sit in air-conditioned comfort while enjoying views of the iconic Burj Al-Arab. In season it is possible to sit on the deck and catch the breeze coming off the sea, or perch on a stool in one of their pier-side pods for a quick champagne before dinner. The menu is modern British with a strong seafood element, and is partnered by one of the Emirate's most prestigious (and expensive) wine lists. This is definitely one for a special occasion.

Qbara

$$$$ | The South Bank

When Qbara opened in late 2013, it filled an enormous gap in the Dubai restaurant scene. Its superfluous interior fulfilled all the fairy-tale images of the exotic Middle East (complete with spectacular bar), and the kitchen partnered it with some exceptional modern takes on traditional Levant and Persian dishes. Since then, the crowd and the chef have changed, but Qbara remains an iconic space to visit, and the food and drinks continue to push boundaries and guide trends in the city. It's not a cheap night out, but it will be a full one, with predinner drinks, a gourmet meal, light show, a glamorous crowd and late-night live or DJ tunes keeping guests hanging around for more than just a quick feed. Alcohol served.

Senara

$$$ | Jumeirah Beach

Senara is not flashy, trendy, or glamorous, but it's a lovely and quiet place to sit and watch the sun go down over million-dollar yachts at one of Palm Jumeirah's many marinas. The interior is contemporary Moroccan in feel, and the outside is supercasual: benches, umbrellas, and a sea breeze, with fish-and-chips and ice-cold beers being the order of the day. Service is casual and friendly, but nothing happens too fast in this part of the world. There's not much around Senara; it's in a sleepy cove and hides behind a complex that looks a little like a cell-block, but it's perfect for those who want to enjoy the Palm (and some great food) without the pomp and ceremony.

Seven Sands

$$ | Dubai Marina

Emirati food is surprisingly difficult to find in restaurants. It's generally home-cooked comfort food, and not the kind of thing that looks fancy on restaurant china. Seven Sands were the first to take traditional Emirati flavors to a fine dining level, and it's a very welcome addition to the Dubai dining scene. They have worked tradition into a contemporary beach-side weave, with majlis-like nooks, arabesque lamps, and modern geometric patterns, and on the plate, authentic cuisine twisted gently to fit today's tastes and the classy seaside atmosphere. Look for some of the more traditional dishes like fouga, jisheed, and ouzi, or try a lighter selections of salad and mezze, and don't forget dessert; there are some fusion dishes that are both original and exceptional. No alcohol served.

Social by Heinz Beck

$$$$ | Jumeirah Beach

With a German chef serving Italian cuisine at this American hotel in Dubai, Social has managed to seamlessly blend together elements of multiple cultures. Heinz Beck, head chef at Rome's Michelin three-star restaurant La Pergola, entered the Dubai scene in 2014, and often drops by Social for a visit. His stamp is obvious in the elegant and complex Italian cuisine, and the luxurious ambience. The staff is highly attentive, and each dish is delicately presented in the quiet atmosphere. Go with an empty belly—there are often in-between courses that you will receive without ordering. Alcohol served.

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

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