Al Zahiyah & Al Maryah Island
Clear your calendar on Friday. The Four Seasons' breakfast spot is one of Abu Dhabi's most social, indulgent Friday brunch extravaganzas. The brunch…
Must-see restaurants in United Arab Emirates
Al Bateen & Al Mushrif
The United Arab Emirates is made up of a mere 10% Emiratis, and we'll be damned if you don't find nearly all of them sipping tea and savouring the…
Sheikh Zayed Mosque Area
High-class Levantine dining with tweaks on classics of the cuisine, five varieties of hummus and – rejoice fellow kibbeh fans – 10 varieties of kibbeh …
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…
Abu Dhabi
They had us at the hammocks. We love this easy-breezy beach restaurant-bar with swings at the bar, hammocks and wood deck scattered with floor cushions…
Marina Breakwater
With a patio overlooking the Gulf, hospitable staff and a delicious seafood-focused blend of regional and international cuisine, it's not surprising…
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…
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…
Bur Dubai
Jains run this super-friendly, super-healthy, vegetarian Indian restaurant serving 'body-harmonising' sattvic food that uses only fresh, seasonal and…
Marina Breakwater
Quite the contrast to the marble-gold-overload of the rest of the Emirates Palace, Sayad serves the city's finest seafood in a striking aquamarine setting…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
