Dubai is a foodie’ paradise. The buzzing city boasts 19 Michelin-starred restaurants (two of which have three stars), as well as hole-in-the-wall joints, international chains, locally owned eateries and food trucks. In short, there’s plenty of options to suit even the pickiest of eaters. Get ready to enjoy the meal of your life at one of our favourite restaurants in Dubai.
1. Ossiano
Book a table at Ossiano for a night that is wonderfully OTT in the most Dubai way possible. Diners are seated in an ‘underwater’ restaurant with views into the aquarium at Atlantis, The Palm. The menu is also very fishy, so you can order up the prime catch of the day while watching luckier fish swim by. It’s also a Michelin-star restaurant, so the food is exceptional – consider the 10-course tasting menu where chefs put the finishing touches to some of the dishes right in front of you. It’s dinner theatre of sorts, and well worth the price tag.
2. Row on 45
Expect an intimate setting at Row on 45, located in Grosvenor House Dubai Marina, where there are just 22 seats up for grabs. Arrive hungry – the 17-course menu is split into three separate stages and each has its own story. The talent of the resident chefs is on full display here and the theatrical flair adds to the ambiance and reflects the dramatic flavours on the plate. Views (particularly from the Chef’s Library) are outstanding, and the staff are as attentive as you would imagine for a place of this calibre.
3. Orfali Bros Bistro
The brainchild of Syrian celebrity chef Mohamad Orfali and his two brothers Wassim and Omar (who, as luck would have it, are pastry specialists), Orfali Bros Bistro is a big hit with visitors and locals alike and has won every award in town at some point. Blending traditional Levantine cuisine inspired by their grandmother’s cooking with global flavours and food trends, this is a menu that’s full of surprises (and changes regularly). We like the Wagyu beef dumplings and the tahini salmon, but if you’re unsure how to navigate the options, the staff are particularly good at recommendations.
4. Trèsind Studio
Boasting not one but three Michelin stars, this fine-dining Indian restaurant at St. Regis Gardens, The Palm puts a huge emphasis on guest experience – expect world-class service as a starting point. The restaurant has two sittings per night of the tasting menu, which includes unique dishes such as ghee roast crab with burnt cinnamon, and lobster tail Alleppey curry and you can stay refreshed with some selections from the creative and adventurous drinks menu. The decor here is simple and classic, with all eyes on the open kitchen at the back, where you can see the chefs create their masterpieces.
5. Bait Maryam
A testament to Levantine cuisine, Bait Maryam brings together the traditional ingredients and cooking methods of the region but with a fresh twist. Chef Salam Dakkak is renowned throughout the Middle East for her incredible skill and her ability to create a warm, welcoming space with the comforting flavours of home. Though the restaurant has a chic, fresh design that is flooded with light, the emphasis is on feeling thoroughly relaxed and that you’re amongst friends. If you’d like some beautiful views to accompany your mezza, ask for a seat in the glass-enclosed lakeside terrace.
6. Bar des Prés
Why not combine high-end cuisine with spectacular views of Dubai? Bar des Prés can do both without breaking a sweat. Marvel at the dramatic high ceilings when you arrive and the tall windows framing the city below as you dine. With incredibly popular establishments already delighting diners in Paris and London, this recent Dubai outpost is a breath of fresh air with the unusual and acclaimed fusion of French and East Asian ingredients that Chef Cyril Lignac is famous for.
The decor is high quality in every respect, with wood and marble amidst lush, deep colours that create a warm, intimate setting. If you’re dining alone or don’t have time for a leisurely meal, pull up a seat at the counter and enjoy light bites and a drink while watching the chefs at work.
