Amman
This daytime-only menu is a spin-off from the popular Beit Sitti cooking school next door, but this time the Haddad family cook for you. The set menu…
Must-see restaurants in Middle East
Abbasi Teahouse & Traditional Restaurant
Kashan
Occupying the basement khadameh of the Khan-e Abbasian, this family-run restaurant is justly popular with visitors. Traditional seating is arranged around…
Akko
After stints in Michelin-starred restaurants, chef Alaa Musa returned to his home town Akko to open El Marsa, whose inventive, Galilee-sourced menu hits…
Deira
Behind the garish neon facade, this place at first looks like a sweet shop (the kunafeh, a vermicelli-like pastry soaked in syrup, is great), but it also…
Upper Galilee & Golan
Renowned for scrumptious antipasti, super-fresh salads and oven-baked fish, prepared under the supervision of chef Rafi; and for fabulous desserts, many…
Beirut
Every suburb needs an Italian trattoria, and it would certainly be nice if all were as impressive as this one. Serving up plump bruschetta, handmade pasta…
Sea of Galilee
Surrounded by Galilean brushland, this family-run ‘goat cheese restaurant’ serves up a gourmet vegetarian feast that includes eight to 10 kinds of Israeli…
Beirut
Located in the Mar Mikhaël design district, this locavore restaurant is very much at the forefront of Beirut culinary trends. Innovative, modern creations…
East Jerusalem
In a quiet corner close to the Old City, Azzahra is an ideal place for a group or family looking for something familiar – fresh and satisfying pizza. The…
Jerusalem
This bakery is so synonymous with its speciality chocolate rugelach (rolled-up pastries with variety of fillings) that some refer to them as 'marzipan'…
Manama
This is where Bahrain first fell in love with Japanese food. As well as the usual suspects, Bushido serves up miso black cod, Wagyu beef cooked on…
Bur Dubai
With its three dining spaces, congenial staff and authentic Nepali cuisine, Fulbari is particularly full on Fridays with local Nepalese family…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
This jewel of a restaurant draws friends, romancing couples and fashionable families to a sublime seaside setting with shaded wooden decks and floating…
Upper Galilee & Golan
This cheerful little bakery and cafe, run by Melbourne-raised ex-hippie Joy and her son Ariel, specialises in light, healthy meals: soup, salad, quiche,…
Upper Galilee & Golan
Modern and airy, with Wild-West-meets-Swiss-chalet decor and panoramic views, this highly regarded restaurant serves first-rate steaks (from Kfar Szold)…
Jerusalem
The precocious sibling of Machneyuda looks like a Hawaiian beach shack and serves the same exciting modern fusion cuisine as its big bro – Thai-style beef…
Jerusalem
Hachapuria serves up sizzlingly delicious Georgian food, the most famous being its namesake hachapuri, a triangle of dough filled with egg and cheese (and…
East Jerusalem
The View Cafe Bar, East Jerusalem’s only rooftop restaurant, serves up Palestinian cuisine alongside a spectacular Old City view. Go for a sundowner to…
Manama
Tucked away in a warren of alleyways near the Khrishna Temple is this delightful slice of downtown Mumbai. Bollywood classics from the 1960s play on a…
Esfahan
This elegant establishment in the heart of the Armenian Quarter is arranged around a spacious courtyard, with modern decking and furnishings bringing a…
Dubai
Dubai is no stranger to the Peruvian food craze, but when Michelin-starred Virgilio Martinez opened his outpost, it marked another milestone. The food…
Jerusalem
Good luck finding a seat at this cool little spot just outside Mahane Yehuda Market. It specialises in stuffing pitas with seasonal unconventional fare…
Bur Dubai
The name of this gorgeously formal restaurant translates as 'long-time friend', which is quite apropos given its league of loyal followers. No gimmicky…
Downtown Dubai
Fun is firmly on the agenda at this wildly popular restaurant, which offers a playful take on Indian molecular gastronomy. Behind the smoke and mirrors,…
Doha
This Aussie-born gourmet cafe has a simple industrial-style space with metal chairs and serves high-quality ingredients. Excellent breakfast and lunch…
Tiberias
Legendary for grilled meats – including filet mignon, baby lamb and goose liver (not force-fed) – that are prepared outdoors over a mixture of five kinds…
Bur Dubai
A neighbourhood hotspot, Miss Wang attracts a diverse crowd here for the food, the cocktails, the live band – or the karaoke (thankfully in a separate…
Aqaba
Great-value Jordanian restaurant where you can linger over mezze or get stuffed on mansaf (chicken or lamb over rice with a thick, meaty broth). This…
Eastern Province
Oah Yamal is a treat for the eyes as well as the palate. Reminiscent of Bahrain or Kuwait in the pre-oil era, when pearling and fishing were the main…
United Arab Emirates
Bringing a fine-dining touch to the flavours of Africa, the restaurant of Al Sahel Villa Resort is a treat for even the most well-travelled palates. Dig…
Muscat
As if Oman didn't have enough forts, they've just built a new one. Unlike its dusty old predecessors, however, with their all but empty interiors, this…
Al Zahiyah & Al Maryah Island
Amble down the jetty to this A-frame with terraces above the sea and enjoy some of the finest seafood in town. Whether chargrilled, steamed or baked, the…
Downtown Dubai
This always-bustling warehouse-style cafe with concrete floors, exposed pipes and an open kitchen would fit right into Madrid or Melbourne, which is…
Muscat
Bench seats with colourful cushions spill on to the pavement at this excellent Lebanese restaurant, inviting diners to make a night of it. That's easily…
Aqaba
If you like bread and cheese, come here. The speciality is manakeesh (baked flatbread with toppings like cheese and minced meat), served piping hot from…
Tiberias
An unpretentious, old-time Mizrahi (Oriental-Jewish) restaurant featuring home-style grilled meats, soups (winter only) and a delicious array of stuffed…
Bur Dubai
The decor here is pure rustic Italian eatery, from the red-and-white chequered tablecloths to the traditional pizza oven and pics of actress Sophia Loren…
Haifa
This Druze-run family restaurant has kindly service and a broad selection of Lebanese and Syrian dishes: fried sea bream, paprika-dusted kebabs with…
Amman
The shiny chrome and dark woods of this stylish pan-Asian diner feel like they have been lifted straight from the cooler quarters of Shanghai. However,…
Madaba
Little more than a hole in the wall, Abu Yousef's establishment is part of the fabric of the town, serving fresh hummus and falafel daily to those in the…
