Al Ula
This busy little restaurant is set in a mock-traditional house, as so many serving local Saudi food tend to be. The key draw though is the cook making…
Must-see restaurants in Arabian Peninsula
Al Zahiyah & Al Maryah Island
How good is this 1920s Chicago–inspired steakhouse at Four Seasons Abu Dhabi? We don't have enough space to tell you. American chef Marshall Roth sources…
Abu Dhabi
Book ahead for a table at this trendy pan-Latin restaurant-bar, an anchor of the dining and nightlife tower inside the World Trade Center Mall known as…
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…
Abu Dhabi
Despite the mall location this is a classy, dim-lit joint that takes the flavours of the subcontinent and adds contemporary tweaks. Get stuck into masala…
Doha
Glorious views of the city's modern skyline from a pretty, calm spot in the park. Tables and chairs are positioned on a patio opposite the bay, with…
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…
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…
Al Zahiyah & Al Maryah Island
The summit of Japanese cuisine in Abu Dhabi. Book ahead to enjoy the superb sushi and sashimi, the signature miso-marinated black cod or a hunk of meat…
Downtown Dubai
With its live cooking stations, open kitchens, fruit-filled baskets, colourful lanterns and graffiti-covered steel shutters, Zaroob radiates the urban…
Al Bateen & Al Mushrif
Named after the degree of 'lean' in Abu Dhabi's famous Capital Gate skyscraper, in which it's situated, this restaurant takes inspiration from the cookery…
Doha
One of the most atmospheric places to eat in Souq Waqif, with blue chairs, flowery upholstery and historic scenes of Damascus on screens, Damasca One…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Doha
This Aussie-born gourmet cafe has a simple industrial-style space with metal chairs and serves high-quality ingredients. Excellent breakfast and lunch…
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…
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…
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…
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…
