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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
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 t
After some time mimicking dining scenes in other cities, importing chef names and restaurant chains, Dubai has developed
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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.
Jumeirah Beach Rd., Umm Suqeim 2, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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