Where to Eat in Dubai

When you think of all there is to see and do in Dubai, there’s no doubt about it: the city has everything you could possibly imagine and will never leave you indifferent. Its unstoppable economic and technological progress is in harmony with the more traditional essence of the United Arab Emirates, and this is also reflected in its cuisine.

Just as it can offer you a traditional Arab tea house or a Lebanese restaurant, it can also surprise you with the finest American steak or dishes straight from Italy or Greece. If your mouth is watering, don’t waste any more time! Below, I’ll give you a list of the best places to eat in Dubai.

If you’ve come to Dubai to learn more about the culture and traditions of the United Arab Emirates and want to immerse yourself fully in the local cuisine, the Arabian Tea House is one of the places you must visit for a meal. This place, as well as boasting spectacular architecture that makes it the centre of attention for every camera, also offers a menu with plenty of variety and excellent quality.

Its star dishes are the Tahta Laham, a traditional dish made with meat, rice and spices, and its breakfasts, bursting with Arabic flavours. This place prides itself on impeccable service and has earned its place as one of the most highly recommended spots to try traditional Dubai cuisine.

Useful information

• Location: Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai, Bastakiya.
• Average price per person: between €10 and €30.
• Speciality: traditional and local cuisine.
• Ideal for: couples, families and groups of friends.

If you’re not particularly keen on trying traditional fare and have come to Dubai to enjoy luxury and its spectacular fusion with Western cuisine, at Tribes Carnivore you can find the best meat in the whole city, with cuts and specialities sourced from the US. What’s more, the restaurant is right in the heart of the Dubai Mall, so you can enjoy spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper.

The menu is packed with steakhouse-style dishes, including burgers and ribs, though you’ll also find vegetarian options and, of course, halal-friendly choices. The portions are usually very generous and, although it’s generally quite busy, it’s well worth booking a table to enjoy dinner with a view.

Useful information

• Location: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai Mall.
• Average price per person: between €20 and €40.
• Speciality: meat and burgers.
• Ideal for: dates or families.

Dubai isn’t just about Arabic food and its delicious, spicy dishes. It’s also a global capital where you can find the best restaurants serving whatever cuisine you fancy. If Greek cuisine is your weakness, you’ll find the Eat Greek Kouzina restaurant in the Mall of the Emirates.

With an extensive menu packed with Greece’s most famous traditional dishes, this restaurant has earned the praise of many tourists and locals alike. Its specialities are souvlaki skewers and moussaka, though any dish on the menu will feel as though it’s straight from Athens itself.

Useful information

• Location: Mall of the Emirates, Barsha, 1.
• Average price per person: between €20 and €30.
• Speciality: Greek dishes.
• Ideal for: tourists with a taste for Greek food.

Dubai also has a space dedicated to Italy for all lovers of pasta and pizza. Inside the Dubai Mall, there is an area with several supermarkets selling Italian products, and nearby they have taken the opportunity to open Eataly, one of the best Italian restaurants in the city.

It is a place offering top-quality products and haute cuisine dishes, so success is guaranteed. The specialities are seafood dishes, carpaccio and pasta funghi. What’s more, you can buy the ingredients you’ve enjoyed most right there on the spot.

Useful information

• Location: Lower Ground Level, The Dubai Mall.
• Average price per person: between €30 and €50.
• Speciality: Italian dishes and ingredients.
• Ideal for: couples and lovers of Italian cuisine and haute cuisine.

Just a few minutes’ drive from the city centre, in the heart of the Rub’ al Khali desert, you’ll find not only one of the world’s most prestigious resort hotels, but also a spectacular restaurant in breathtaking surroundings. If you have the chance to take a trip to the Dubai desert, I recommend you treat yourself to this experience and go for dinner there.

As well as its unrivalled setting amidst the dunes, it offers a high-quality menu featuring local produce and traditional dishes, as well as fusions with Western cuisine. It is undoubtedly an ideal spot for a romantic date or to enjoy the full experience of being in the Emirates.

Useful information

• Location: Al Qudra Rd, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa.
• Average price per person: between €20 and €50.
• Speciality: fusion cuisine and Arabic dishes.
• Ideal for: couples or small groups.

If what you’re looking for during your stay in Dubai is luxury and to be pampered, you’ll find exactly what you’re after in this city at places like the Al Mahara and Al Munhata restaurants, two seven-star hotels suited only to the most discerning budgets. The restaurant features a huge aquarium and a unique atmosphere.

Prices are a little on the high side, costing around €70 per person . However, if you treat it as an experience and let yourself be carried away by the extensive menu, you’ll enjoy a romantic dinner amongst the fish and receive exceptional service.

Useful information

• Location: Burj Al Arab Hotel.
• Average price per person: between €40 and €80.
• Speciality: international cuisine.
• Ideal for: couples, romantic dinners.

Located on one of Dubai’s famous artificial islands, The Palm Atlantis, you’ll find one of the best Lebanese restaurants in the whole city. This type of cuisine is usually very popular with locals, but it has also gained recognition among tourists because, at Ayamna, you can not only enjoy delicious dishes but also be in a heavenly setting with views of the sea and palm trees.

One of the best recommendations if it’s your first visit is to order the Lebanese Culinary Experience, so you can sample a little of each of the specialities. Their dishes, based on pulses, breads, rice, meat and spices, are sure to win over even the most discerning palate.

Useful information

• Location: Crescent Road, The Palm Atlantis, The Palm.
• Average price per person: between €40 and €60.
• Speciality: Lebanese cuisine and culinary experience.
• Ideal for: groups of friends or families.

Dubai is a city of contrasts, and this is also evident in its cuisine and dining scene. If you’re on holiday, even if you’re not staying at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, you can’t miss the experience of dining at its restaurant, the Feast Restaurant. This place is the perfect fusion of traditional Emirati cuisine and Eastern influences.

If you enjoy fusion cuisine and traditional Chinese or Japanese dishes, you’ll find the perfect blend at this restaurant. It also features an open kitchen, so you can watch your dishes being prepared. It’s also famous for its desserts, so plan ahead and leave room for these Arabian delicacies.

Useful information

• Where: 3 Sheikh Zayed Road | Sheraton Grand Hotel.
• Average price per person: between €25 and €35.
• Speciality: Oriental and fusion cuisine.
• Ideal for: couples, families or groups of friends.

Good food doesn’t always have to be expensive, and at Operation Falafel they know this well. The aim of this restaurant is to offer you a wide variety of traditional Arabic food, just as the locals eat it, at an affordable price. It is thanks to this philosophy that it has made it onto the list of one of Dubai’s most highly rated restaurants.

Their speciality, as the name suggests, is falafels, but they also have a wide variety of shawarmas and a mouth-watering banana and chocolate dessert shaped like a pizza.

Useful information

• Location: Jumeirah Beach Residence.
• Average price per person: between €5 and €10.
• Speciality: affordable Arabic cuisine.
• Ideal for: large groups of family and friends.

If you’re spending the day strolling along the Dubai Marina promenade and fancy a quick but tasty bite to eat, don’t hesitate to pop into Catch 22, a simple spot packed with dishes that are sure to impress. Despite its distinctly American vibe, its star dishes are sushi and fish.

For a very reasonable price, you can sit down and try their delicious seafood stir-fries, paired with classic American milkshakes. Plus, its location, right in the heart of Dubai Marina, offers lovely sea views.

Useful information

• Where: La Mer, Jumeirah Beach, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
• Average price per person: between €10 and €20.
• Speciality: Asian fusion cuisine.
• Ideal for: families and groups of friends.

Dubai may be one of the most expensive and luxurious cities in the world, but it is also one of the most versatile, so you don’t have to be too tight-fisted when it comes to eating out. Throughout the city, you’ll find all sorts of places to enjoy delicious, traditional food to suit every budget.

If you want to dine in dreamy settings with stunning views and haute cuisine menus, the city offers some of the world’s finest restaurants. However, there are also hundreds of local eateries serving high-quality local food at low prices. Consequently, prices can range from €5 to over €100.

The cuisine of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates in general is heavily influenced by Arab cooking, so many dishes feature pulses, tangy sauces, spices such as turmeric or cumin, and seasoned meats.

Some of the most typical recipes include hummus, mezze, tabbouleh and mackbus. All of these dishes feature a blend of stewed meats with fresh, citrusy notes and plenty of spices that give them that special touch. Pork, however, is prohibited throughout the country under Islamic law, and the pork offered to tourists is not usually of very good quality, so I wouldn’t recommend it.

You might think that eating inside a shopping centre isn’t the most idyllic plan when you’re on holiday. However, in Dubai things are different, as you’re in a city where consumerism and the economy take precedence over everything else.

That’s precisely why, inside the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, you’ll find some of the best restaurants in the whole city, offering unbeatable service and hospitality. What’s more, you’ll have the chance to interact directly with local Dubai residents and enjoy a more authentic experience.

Being able to choose from the full variety of foods and specialities available in Dubai is a real privilege, but you should also know that street food is permitted in the city, particularly in the more traditional neighbourhoods such as Deira.

Here, you’ll find street food stalls in the souk where you can try a snack or a typical dish alongside the locals, all at a price that’s quite cheap compared to the city average. Go ahead and get your hands dirty to sample a taste of the most authentic Dubai.

Most of the best restaurants across Dubai are located within a shopping complex such as the Dubai Mall, the Mall of the Emirates or the Dubai Marina. That’s why these establishments usually have continuous opening hours from 10 am until 11 pm, or midnight at the weekend.

However, if the restaurant is a standalone establishment, the most common opening and closing times are from 12 noon until midnight, with no break between lunch and dinner. Dubai is a city that never sleeps and is always ready to offer you a table where you can enjoy a delicious meal.