Must-see restaurants in Dubai

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    3 Fils

    Dubai

    Singaporean chef Akmal Anuar turns out innovative yet unpretentious Asian-influenced small plates at this tiny, unlicensed spot – a perfect foil to Dubai…

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    Zuma

    Downtown Dubai

    Every dish speaks of refinement in this perennially popular bi-level restaurant that gives classic Japanese fare an up-to-the-minute workout. No matter if…

  • Asia Asia

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Prepare for a culinary journey along the Spice Road at this theatrically decorated restaurant, which is entered via a candlelit corridor that spills into…

  • Baker & Spice

    Downtown Dubai

    A pioneer of the local-organic-fresh maxim in Dubai, this London import offers a seasonal bounty of dishes, prepared in-house and served amid charming,…

  • Logma

    Dubai

    This funky Emirati cafe is a great introduction to contemporary local cuisine. It's popular for breakfast dishes such as shakshuka (poached eggs in a…

  • 101 Lounge & Bar

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    It may be hard to concentrate on the food at this marina-adjacent al fresco pavilion, with its stunning skyline views. Come for nibbles and cocktails in…

  • Bu Qtair

    Dubai

    Always packed to the gills, this simple eatery is a Dubai institution famous for its dock-fresh fish and shrimp, marinated in a 'secret' masala curry…

  • Aseelah

    Deira

    With its mix of traditional and modern Emirati cuisine, this stylish restaurant ticks all the boxes. Many dishes feature a local spice mix called bezar …

  • Claypot

    Bur Dubai

    The chef here has Dorchester and Ritz cred, and studied under nouvelle cuisine guru Michel Guerard. Kickstart your menu with the dahi puri (stuffed crispy…

  • XVA Café

    Bur Dubai

    Escape Dubai’s bustle at this lovely courtyard cafe where the menu eschews meat in favour of a daily rotating menu of innovative vegetarian dishes, such…

  • Stay

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Three-Michelin-starred Yannick Alléno brings his culinary magic to Dubai in this subtly theatrical vaulted dining room accented with black crystal…

  • Pierchic

    Dubai

    Looking for a place to drop an engagement ring into a glass of champagne? Make reservations (far in advance) at this impossibly romantic seafood house…

  • Bateaux Dubai

    Bur Dubai

    Enjoy dazzling views while floating down the Creek aboard this fancily outfitted, air-conditioned, glass-roofed dinner boat with panoramic windows, linen…

  • Aroos Damascus

    Deira

    A Dubai restaurant serving Syrian food to adoring crowds since 1980 must be doing something right. A perfect meal would start with hummus and a fattoush…

  • Pai Thai

    Dubai

    An abra ride, a canalside table and candlelight are the hallmarks of a romantic night out, and this enchanting spot sparks on all cylinders. If your date…

  • The Croft

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Chef Darren Velvick flies the flag for modern British cooking at this relaxed restaurant with an open kitchen and spacious terrace overlooking the lights…

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    Eataly

    Downtown Dubai

    Italy's popular shop-cum-cafe has landed in Dubai Mall, bringing artisanal morsels from around the Boot to discerning palates. Stock up on pesto from…

  • Al Mansour Dhow

    Deira

    Take in the skyline on this moving feast aboard a traditional wooden dhow (cargo boat) decorated with bands of twinkling lights. Soulful Arabic song…

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    Zaroob

    Downtown Dubai

    With its live cooking stations, open kitchens, fruit-filled baskets, colourful lanterns and graffiti-covered steel shutters, Zaroob radiates the urban…

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    Morelli's Gelato

    Downtown Dubai

    The family that introduced Italian ice cream to the UK in 1907 now also serves their wonderfully creamy flavours to gelato fans in Dubai. Order just a…

  • Elia

    Bur Dubai

    Elia's chef is from Crete, and it certainly shows in the heartwarming dishes, which are a combination of homey traditional, like moussaka, with…

  • Nightjar Coffee

    Downtown Dubai

    New Zealander Leon Surynt works directly with cocoa bean farmers, ensuring sustainability and fairness. There is a similar vision behind the menu, with…

  • Govinda’s

    Bur Dubai

    Jains run this super-friendly, super-healthy, vegetarian Indian restaurant serving 'body-harmonising' sattvic food that uses only fresh, seasonal and…

  • BiCE

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Back in 1930s Milan, Beatrice 'Bice' Ruggeri first opened her trattoria, which evolved into the city's most fashionable by the 1970s. Today Dubai's BiCE…

  • Maisan15

    Dubai

    Maisan15 is an under-the-radar pick for deceptively decent seasonal food and locally roasted coffee. Open shelving, wooden pulley-systems and glass jars…

  • Maya Modern Mexican Kitchen

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Richard Sandoval, the man who introduced modern Mexican food to the US, is behind the menu at this casual-chic restaurant with its contemporary take on…

  • Luchador

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Vibrantly coloured murals, a wall of wrestling masks and a Mexican chef: Luchador feels like an authentic south-of-the-border cantina. The menu is…

  • Qwaider Al Nabulsi

    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…

  • Fulbari

    Bur Dubai

    With its three dining spaces, congenial staff and authentic Nepali cuisine, Fulbari is particularly full on Fridays with local Nepalese family…

  • Eauzone

    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…

  • Lima Dubai

    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…

  • Carnival by Tresind

    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,…

  • Tomo

    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…

  • Miss Wang

    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…

  • Tom & Serg

    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…

  • Ricetta

    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…

  • Eric's

    Bur Dubai

    Prints by Goan cartoonist Mario Miranda decorate the simple, buzzing dining room of this purveyor of magically spiced dishes from the tropical Indian…

  • Indoor Food Market

    Deira

    A winning idea, bringing street food under cover to escape the heat. There's around 16 different concepts to choose from, ranging from Lebanese to ice…

  • Indego by Vineet

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    India's first Michelin-starred chef, Vineet Bhatia, is the menu maven at this gorgeous, intimate dining room lorded over by big brass Natraj sculptures…

  • Zero Gravity

    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…

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