Arabian Peninsula restaurants

This exquisite restaurant next to the Royal Opera House offers just the kind of refined fare demanded of a special occasion, such as a night at the opera. From the Omani silver napkin rings to the carved wooden...

This elegant balconied venue, with its velvet upholstery, wrought-iron banisters and polished-wood floors, is reminiscent of a 19th-century Parisian brasserie, and it's the place for a classy breakfast or lunch....

Nolu's Café

California meets Afghanistan at this cafe charmer where almond butter and chia pancakes are offered alongside borani banjon (oven-baked aubergines with mint-flecked garlic yoghurt) and hearty fodder like lamb...

Li Beirut

A fine-dining Levantine feast awaits. Scoop up Lebanese mezze classics of moutabel (purée of aubergine mixed with tahini, yoghurt and olive oil) and muhammara (red chilli and walnut dip) before moving on to rack...

Part shop, part cafe, this cute and atmospheric spot would fit in London's hip Shoreditch area. It's adorned with crafted trinkets and vintage goods, from an old gramophone to a retro typewriter. The cafe serves...

Cafeteria Al Liwan

This budget canteen will exceed your expectations every chance it gets. This is Middle Eastern flavours Syrian-style, with some of Abu Dhabi's best hummus and fuul (mashed fava beans), falafel fried to crispy...

You can't beat the beachy atmosphere of this restaurant, surrounded by narrow water-feature canals and looking out towards the sand. The pan-Asian flavours, and twists on traditional dishes, are spot on, from its...

3 Fils

Singaporean chef Akmal Anuar turns out innovative yet unpretentious Asian-influenced small plates at this tiny, unlicensed spot – a perfect foil to Dubai's expensive, overblown eateries. There are around 25 seats...

Coya

The contemporary Peruvian cuisine with its flavour-fusion of Latin American and Asian is a tastebud sensation. Dig into the menu of sharing plates featuring traditional ceviche, Peruvian sashimi and tacos (we...

As unique as dining gets in Kuwait, this atmospheric restaurant is set on the huge Mohammedi II dhow. Built in Kozhikode, India, in 1979, it's made of fine teak wood, 2.5 tonnes of copper and 8.8 tonnes of iron...

Dai Pai Dong

All cosy alcoves surrounding an open kitchen, Dai Pai Dong's award-winning Chinese is where Asian foodies chase Cantonese roasted duck, spicy braised chicken and wok-fried beef tenderloin with green tea and...

Now here's somewhere special. Those with a sweet tooth should make a beeline for these splendid Middle Eastern and Turkish filo pastries such as baklava, which are freshly made in-house to perfection....

Nobu

One of the city's most talked-about dining destinations, this is the world's largest – and arguably most architecturally outstanding – branch of chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s globally acclaimed Japanese restaurant....

Café Arabia

Housed in a three-floor villa, this cafe is run by a Lebanese arts enthusiast, Aida Mansour. Vast breakfast choices from avocado toast to shakshuka (poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce) and a mains menu that...

Zuma

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 you go for the top-cut sushi morsels (the dynamite spider...

Zahrat Lebnan

Amid a cluster of Middle Eastern snack and grill outlets, a short walk from the Qasr Al Hosn, the Lebanese Flower is a local legend, attracting a multinational clientele of city residents who come here for mezze...

Ushna

Romantic and elegant, this place hums with appreciation for the complex cuisine of India, brought to the United Arab Emirates by a large expat community. There are many curry houses across town, but this...

Fantastic views of the Kuwait Towers, a discerning menu, an exclusive chocolatier and a landmark steel-and-glass building make this one of the hippest places in town. Standouts on the iPad menus include granola...

Mezlai

Meaning 'old door lock', Mezlai delivers a rare chance to enjoy traditional Emirati cuisine in an upmarket and airy Bedouin-tent-inspired atmosphere. The food is prepared from organic and locally sourced...

This unmissable waterfront restaurant is a terrific place to sample Middle Eastern fare. Grilled meat and seafood dominate, but there's also top mezze, like dolma (stuffed grape vine leaves), baked aubergine and...