Must-see restaurants in Middle East

  • Creekside Cafe

    Bur Dubai

    This hip cultural space and cafe is especially beloved for its soulful coffee and Western-style breakfast, including homemade granola, French toast and…

  • Rockfish

    Dubai

    With silver-and-white interiors and a sandy terrace with front-row views of Burj Al Arab, Rockfish serves up Mediterranean-style seafood in glam but…

  • Al Hallab

    Dubai

    Head here to refuel after you have exhausted yourself on the adjacent ski slopes. Although the surroundings are a drab brown-on-brown, the dishes are…

  • Al Amoor Express

    Dubai

    Vintage black-and-white photos of Egyptian actors keep an eye on diners here for their kushari fix (a mix of noodles, rice, black lentils, fried onions…

  • Argento Empanadas at the Market

    Jerusalem

    When you've satisfied your falafel and hummus cravings, head to Argento for homemade Argentinian empanadas. Argento’s Argentinian-Israeli chef cooks up…

  • Al Nafoorah

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    With its carved wooden archways, midnight-blue partitions and elegant tables, Al Nafoorah is no slouch in the looks department. The menu ticks all the…

  • Lina Restaurant

    Jerusalem

    In the running for best Old City hummus and falafel joint, Lina's moreish hummus – usually glistening with olive oil – is among Jerusalem's best. There…

  • Khayyam

    Tehran

    This beautifully restored 300-year-old building was originally part of the Imamzadeh Seyyed Nasreddin shrine opposite before being separated when Khayyam…

  • Pepito's

    Jerusalem

    Pepito's brings a taste of South American street food to Mahane Yehuda Market. An ode to Israelis with South American roots – and to the just…

  • Little Miss India

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Expect vibrant decor, from the colourfully painted truck dominating the exterior facade to the antique wood doors and sweeping lounge bar where cocktails…

  • Jahannama

    Iran

    Looking for all the world like a basement bric-a-brac shop, with ancient radios and crazy wooden statues, Jahannama serves up delicious food, especially…

  • Yamanote

    Downtown Dubai

    Yamanote has the novel idea of combining traditional European bakery delicacies with Japanese ingredients. The results include such irresistible sweet…

  • Zaatar W Zeit

    Doha

    A popular Lebanese fast-food chain serving all hours of the day, with a menu built around manakeesh (a cross between pizza and flatbread), sprinkled with…

  • Teller Bakery

    Jerusalem

    Whole wheat, with raisins, braided, mini – all your challah needs are satisfied at this well-known bakery that also supplies upscale Jerusalem hotels…

  • Haji Baba Restaurant

    Shiraz

    The friendly waiters at this tiny, attractively decorated restaurant in a busy part of town certainly earn their wages, rushing upstairs to serve a…

  • Somewhere

    Downtown Dubai

    Flanked by shelves of glossily illustrated travel books, the concise menu here similarly skips across cultures and continents and is innovative and…

  • Joa by Ora

    Kuwait City

    Joa is a solid counter-service poke joint inside Kuwait's popular luxury mall. Choose your bowl's base (rice, quinoa or cauliflower) and then your protein…

  • French Olive

    Doha

    Dishes here are delicately presented, from the morish creamy fresh burrata to the light, flavoursome sea bass with lobster butter. The risotto is done…

  • Turtle Reserve Restaurant

    Oman

    Serving international cuisine, this canteen-style restaurant at the visitors centre isn't always open as billed outside high season, so call ahead to be…

  • Eros Restaurant

    Iran

    Though lacking any contemporary zest, Eros (formerly called Absha) is the neatest of many eateries around Shahrdari Sq. It's owned by a butchery company…

  • Themar Al Bahar

    United Arab Emirates

    Locals love this place serving well-priced fresh seafood amid a very cheerful, and fish-thematic (fish mobiles hanging from the ceiling, plastic fish…

  • HaAgas 1

    Jerusalem

    HaAgas 1 is the place to go for travellers seeking organic veggie, vegan and gluten-free twists on Middle Eastern favourites, like veggie kibbeh, a bulgur…

  • Beit Setti

    Sharjah

    Grab some spicy hummus, yalanji (stuffed grape-leaves) and a rocca (rocket) salad and you've got a tasty lunch going on. This place is very popular with…

  • Red Cave Restaurant

    Wadi Musa

    Cavernous and friendly, this restaurant serves local Bedouin specialities, including mensaf (Bedouin dish of lamb on a bed of rice) and makloubeh (chicken…

  • Retro Feasts

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Retro Feasts was started by a couple of young Londoners nostalgic for their childhood food. The setting is sublime, right on the sand with comfortable…

  • Brasserie M&R

    Tel Aviv

    Somewhat officious maîtres d’ orchestrate the service at this hugely popular cafe-brasserie opposite Rabin Sq. The art deco–inspired interior is très…

  • Exchange Grill

    Downtown Dubai

    One of Dubai’s premier steakhouses, Exchange Grill has updated its former, rather stuffy decor and now boasts a punchy New York–inspired look with…

  • Zajal

    Amman

    This is a pleasant low-key cafe-restaurant that attracts a young crowd with its open areas and terrace plus good cheap food. Going simple is the best –…

  • Ravi

    Dubai

    Since 1978, everyone from cabbies to professional chefs has flocked to this Pakistani eatery, where you eat like a prince and pay like a pauper. Loosen…

  • The Lion

    Downtown Dubai

    Nick and Scott of Folly fame have taken over the (former) Black Lion and updated the name, the decor (a bit) and, most importantly, the grub. The classics…

  • Bouchon Bakery

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    This classy cafe – an outpost of celebrity chef Thomas Keller's popular US chain – serves fiendishly good pastries, cakes and macarons. Everything is…

  • Panorama Restaurant

    Dead Sea Highway

    The Panorama Restaurant more than lives up to its name and is a popular venue for weekend lunch and dinner. Try the ground walnut paste or the shanklish …

  • House of Coffee

    Bahrain

    Housed across three traditional Bahraini buildings, the House of Coffee is a coffee museum, cafe and restaurant. The latter serves up a wide spread of…

  • Electric Bing Sutt

    Beirut

    Beirut's love affair with all things Asian is elevated to new heights (and prices) with this new small plates fusion lounge-restaurant. Inventive…

  • Maryool

    Beirut

    Maryool is as if a traditional Lebanese mezze joint did a semester in Copenhagen and came back a little more chic. The ambience is all amber wood and grey…

  • Lime Tree Cafe

    Downtown Dubai

    This comfy Euro-style cafe is an expat favourite for leisurely breakfasts, innovative sandwiches stuffed into their homemade Turkish pide and the…

  • Jebel Nights

    Jebel Akhdar

    Despite being on the edge of the cliff near Diana's Viewpoint, this restaurant doesn't in fact have a view even from the rooftop terrace. What it does…

  • Shandiz Safdari Saheli

    Kish Island

    Shandiz Safari isn’t just a restaurant – it’s an experience, especially at dinner. This huge venture overlooking the seashore is the venue of choice for…

  • Mokarabia Coffee

    Doha

    A cool hangout decorated with books, picture frames and random vintage items such as a small penny-farthing bike and an '80s TV set. Choose from salads,…

  • Cafe Yehoshua

    Jerusalem

    Good for a date or a more casual meet-up, Yehoshua is one of Rehavia's most popular gathering places. The menu, a mishmash of Israeli-meets-American-diner…

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