Must-see restaurants in Dubai

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    Brunswick Eatery, Bar & Terrace

    Dubai

    This former sports bar has rebranded into a hip new eatery, though there is still at least one sport-on-the-telly screen. The decor is cool industrial…

  • Galvin Dubai

    Dubai

    Tucked inside The Square, the only licensed retail space in City Walk, this swanky spot is the brainchild of the Galvin brothers, one of whom is a…

  • La Serre Bistro & Boulangerie

    Downtown Dubai

    Downtown residents regularly swing by the downstairs boulangerie (bakery) for buttery croissants, toothsome pastries or petit déjeuner (breakfast) on the…

  • Meat Co

    Dubai

    Surrender helplessly to your inner carnivore at this canalside meat temple where yummy cuts of aged steaks range from Australian grain-fed Angus to New…

  • Al Ustad Special Kabab

    Bur Dubai

    Sheikhs to shoe shiners clutter this funky, been-here-forever (since 1978, to be precise) kebab joint formerly known as Special Ostadi. Amid walls…

  • Sum of Us

    Downtown Dubai

    This two-floor industrial-style and plant-filled cafe with outdoor seating roasts its own beans, bakes its own sourdough bread and serves food that is at…

  • Couqley

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    This friendly French bistro imported from Lebanon plays it safe with classic decor (vintage Parisian posters, red and green checked cushions) alongside a…

  • The Daily

    Downtown Dubai

    Warehouse-style decor, floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace – overlooking Burj Khalifa, no less – make an instant impression at this casual all…

  • Mythos Kouzina & Grill

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Kitted out like a traditional seaside taverna with whitewashed walls and sea-green painted furniture, Mythos is a little slice of Santorini hidden away in…

  • Arabian Tea House

    Bur Dubai

    A grand old tree, white wicker chairs, turquoise benches and crimson bougainvillea create a sun-dappled refuge in the courtyard of an old pearl merchant's…

  • Basta!

    Downtown Dubai

    The decor here hits the spot (along with the cuisine): warm parquet flooring, leather chairs, lofty ceilings and a huge mural of Italian actress Sophia…

  • Play Restaurant & Lounge

    Downtown Dubai

    The decor here is all drama with floor-to-ceiling windows, edgy artwork and tiered, as well as secluded, dining areas. The imaginative menu is a truly…

  • Moshi

    Dubai

    In keeping with the culinary mash-up trend, Moshi creates truly tasty spins on Nepalese momo (dumplings) and sushi, many meat-free. Top contenders include…

  • At.mosphere

    Downtown Dubai

    The food may not be out of this world, but the views are certainly stellar from the world's highest restaurant (442m) in the Burj Khalifa. Book far ahead…

  • Bread Street Kitchen

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    At this recent Gordon Ramsey venture, the menu includes some heartwarming familiar British dishes, including shepherd's pie, beef wellington and sticky…

  • Karma Kafé

    Downtown Dubai

    Look for the large Buddha guarding the dining room dressed in sensuous burgundy with gold leaf accents. The menu hopscotches around Asia with classic and…

  • Fümé

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    With its industrial-chic look, relaxed crew and global comfort food, Fümé brings more than a touch of urban cool to the Marina. The menu features plenty…

  • Typical Dutch Pancake

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Step into the sparkling blue-and-white dining room, decorated with Delft tiles and decorative clogs, and order a pannekoek (Dutch pancake), which is…

  • Sind Punjab

    Bur Dubai

    Like a fine wine, some restaurants only get better over time and such is the case with Sind Punjab, the first family eatery to open in Meena Bazaar in…

  • Boca

    Downtown Dubai

    Decorated simply in muted earth colours with Torres wine barrels as a nod to Spanish vino, Boca has a menu that includes such chiringuito (beachside…

  • Majlis Cafe

    Dubai

    Secreted on the grounds of the fairy-tale Jumeirah Mosque, this comfy-luxe lair lets you sink into white couches for a camelccino (cappuccino with camel…

  • Al Fanar

    Dubai

    Al Fanar lays on the old-timey Emirati theme pretty thick with a Land Rover parked outside, a reed ceiling and waiters dressed in traditional garb. Give…

  • Nathan Outlaw at Al Mahara

    Dubai

    A lift posing as a submarine drops you into a gold-leaf-clad tunnel spilling into one of Dubai's most extravagant restaurants. Tables orbit a circular…

  • Zheng He’s

    Dubai

    Zheng He was an intrepid 15th-century Chinese seafarer, and the food at his namesake restaurant at the Mina A'Salam is just as adventurous. The signature…

  • Al Khaima

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    On balmy nights there are few places more tranquil than Al Khaima's linen-draped terrace tables. Classic mezze such as baba ganoush (smoked aubergine dip)…

  • Toro Toro

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    After a major refurb, the decor has as much pizzazz as the food at this pan-Latin outpost conceived by star chef Richard Sandoval. Feast on such small…

  • Scalini

    Dubai

    White tablecloths, silver service and a menu that’s decidedly more ristorante than trattoria, Scalini is one for the foodies. Expect high-end Italian…

  • Chutneys

    Bur Dubai

    Chutneys provides a richly nuanced culinary journey to northern India. There's lots of familiar feel-good fare including juicy kebabs and fluffy biryanis,…

  • Vaibhav

    Bur Dubai

    This all-veg street-food haven does a roaring trade in dosas (savoury wraps), stuffed parathas (pan-fried flatbread) and other southern Indian soul food,…

  • Super Natural Kitchen

    Downtown Dubai

    Along with the daily specials, the menu here celebrates vegan cuisine with tasty dishes using ingredients like cashew cream cheese, courgette noodles,…

  • Antique Bazaar

    Bur Dubai

    Resembling an exotic Mogul palace, Antique Bazaar's decor is sumptuously ornate with carved-wood seats, ivory-inset tables and richly patterned fabrics…

  • Asha’s

    Bur Dubai

    Namesake of legendary Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle, this sensuously lit dining room shines the spotlight on contemporary northwest Indian fare. The…

  • Sushi Art

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    Sushi purist or not, you're sure to find your favourite among the huge, attractive selection of French-infused California-style bites at this minimalist…

  • Saravana Bhavan

    Bur Dubai

    Head a block back from the Bur Dubai Abra Station to find this superb no-frills place, one of the best South Indian vegetarian restaurants in town and one…

  • Barjeel Al Arab Restaurant

    Bur Dubai

    Located in the heart of the revitalised Shindagha area, fronting the same-name guesthouse, this enticing spot offers a combination of Emirati, Lebanese…

  • Zafran

    Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah

    This contemporary Indian bistro seems mildly incongruous, away from the food court and surrounded by shops, but it packs a lot of sizzle into its kebabs,…

  • 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 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…

  • 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…

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