Golan Heights
Run by a couple from Uzbekistan, this seven-day-a-week 'Russian' grocery sells bread, cheeses, lox, matjes herring and wines, including many products from…
Must-see restaurants in Middle East
Beirut
On the boardwalk around the marina, a seat on the raised platform terrace here is a prime Beirut spot on a sunny day. Unlike some of the other places in…
Lower Galilee
This friendly cafe, delightful in every way, serves generous salads, shakshuka, quiche, pasta, hamburgers and boutique hot dogs, as well as gluten-free…
Haifa
Queues out the door lead the way to the best falafel in Haifa, served with a smile in unfussy surrounds. With the first bite of pita wrapped around hot,…
Golan Heights
This mountain-top eatery serves sandwiches, salads, homemade cakes, bourekas, shakshuka and ice cream. Named in honour of former UN Secretary General Kofi…
Manama
This is the pick of the restaurants at the Domain hotel, serving fabulous seafood inspired by European cuisines. The stunning views over Manama from the…
Aqaba
A friendly, unpretentious establishment, where you choose from the catch of the day (which normally includes sea bream, silver snapper, grouper and…
Manama
Around since the 1980s, Honey's is an award-winning downtown stalwart serving up excellent Thai food at fantastic prices until the early hours. The tom…
Umm Qais
Book ahead to enjoy a traditional north Jordanian meal using locally sourced produce, served up in cook Galsoum's home in Umm Qais. It's a great taste of…
Manama
Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia brings Bahrain's finest Indian food to the table, showcasing what he calls 'evolved Indian' cooking. Try the cashew…
Aqaba
For an excellent Chinese perspective on Aqaba's seafood (and with plenty of meat and vegetable options on the menu too), you can't top this cosy, intimate…
Lahuhe Original Yemenite Food Bar
Upper Galilee & Golan
Decked out in a gown and kaftan that Abraham might have worn, Ronen flips pan-fried ‘Yemenite pizza’ called lachuch. Also serves Yemenite soup and qat …
Upper Galilee & Golan
The area's finest micro-bakery has evolved into a cheery little gourmet cafe with scrumptious pastries. Situated in a rundown little strip mall, Nofit…
Kashan
This beautifully restored mansion provides the perfect setting for lunch. Book ahead for a meal featuring Kashani specialities, such as gusht lubia (lamb…
Al Shamalia Grill & Restaurant
Khasab
Near the big mosque in the new souq area, this brightly lit local favourite, with seating inside and on a small terrace outside, does a roaring trade in…
Yazd
The highly decorated main hall of this classic Iranian restaurant makes for a romantic setting for a special evening. The menu is complemented with…
Aqaba
A handy pastry shop that offers a great range of meat, cheese and vegetable sambusas (samosas). Order a bag for taking away or sit and eat them straight…
Eilat
Many locals swear that this eatery serves the best falafel and shawarma in town. The all-Hebrew sign includes the number '1978' (the year HaLev HaRachav…
Bethlehem
A Bethlehem institution for decades, top-notch hummus and masabacha (warm hummus with whole chickpeas) are just two of the dishes on the menu at this…
Akko
Cheap and immensely satisfying, Said's velvety hummus is the best in Akko and comes served with plenty of pickles, salads and pita, plus a bonus garnish…
Muscat
For a chance to sample not just Omani food but also a representation of an Old Muscat house, Dukanah Cafe is a fun destination, particularly for breakfast.
Shiraz
Opposite the Arg-e Karim Khan, Mahdi is the most famous faludeh shop in Shiraz. It also sells delicious bastani (Persian ice cream).
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Next to the Skydive Dubai drop zone, this stylish outpost with attached beach club checks all the culinary boxes, from breakfast to late-night snacks…
Dubai
Salt started life as a roaming food truck serving delicious mini-burgers, before graduating to two silver Airstreams parked permanently at Kite Beach…
Abu Dhabi
This aged, flamboyant gem, with fading decor, sports a sumptuous majlis (reception room) that has entertained princes and sheikhs over decades. The lunch…
Sheikh Zayed Mosque Area
With a beautiful waterfront setting, Barfly is a self-proclaimed supper club with a Far East–inspired menu, where dishes range from wok-seared sweet and…
Doha
This restaurant by eponymous steak connoisseur Wolfgang Puck is set within the quirky Mondrian hotel. The avant-garde interior is in keeping with its…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Thanks to whitewashed walls, flagstone paths and breezy blue and white decor, this charming beachfront restaurant conjures up thoughts of summer on the…
Marina Breakwater
From the Emirates Palace grand entrance, walk through its gold-edged central dome to Le Café in the back lobby for cappuccino sprinkled with 24-karat gold…
Al Bateen & Al Mushrif
Born in Dubai at the hands of a female Emirati-Saudi partnership, the Salt food truck had people chasing it all over the UAE before permanently landing in…
Yas Island
The menu may be a choice of Italian (including a lot of signature dishes from world-famous Harry's Bar in Venice) or Asian-fusion but the view is…
Sheikh Zayed Mosque Area
Dark wood and neon announce that this is an Emirati restaurant for the 21st century. Classic Emirati plates of machboos (a casserole of meat or fish, rice…
Abu Dhabi
This upbeat joint at the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi is a favourite for its tasty fare, which hopscotches from Japan to Singapore and China to Thailand…
Al Zahiyah & Al Maryah Island
Francophiles rejoice: be transported to the heart of Paris at this award-winning international chain serving up the eternal French classic of snails and…
Yas Island
With extra-large aquariums gracing the interior of this casual-dining restaurant, there's no doubting its speciality. Outdoor terrace tables are coveted…
Doha
This cafe operated by news broadcaster Al Jazeera serves decent salads and mains, from chicken tikka and fish and chips to pan-roasted salmon and…
Abu Dhabi
You might hear this small kiosk serving up booza (Middle Eastern ice cream) before you see it. Staff wield a giant wooden pestle, rhythmically beating…
Dubai
Despite the name, this hip home-grown chain doesn't stop at falafel, here served with a side of creamily nutty tahini or tucked into a pita or saj …
Al Mina Modern Cuisine & Restaurant
Abu Dhabi
Most visitors steam on past this glass-fronted restaurant in the hunt for its more famous neighbour, Al Dhafra. That's a pity because the ambience here,…
Dubai
Tucked away in the Arabian Ranches suburb, this European-style brasserie is a favourite with expats, especially at the weekend, so be sure to book ahead…
