Where to eat in Dubai
Dubai is a fascinating city where fusion and cultural clashes are present everywhere, and even more so in the food. Discover the best places to eat in the city and let yourself be conquered by the mix of flavors with Arab touches.
Traditional Food Dish | © Shameel mukkath
When you think of all there is to see and do in Dubai there is no doubt: the city has everything you can imagine and will never leave you indifferent. Its unstoppable economic and technological progress is in tune with the most traditional essence of the Arab Emirates and, within its gastronomy is also reflected.
Just as it is able to offer you a typical Arab tea shop or a Lebanese food restaurant, it can also surprise you with the best American meat or with dishes taken directly from Italy or Greece. If your mouth is watering, don't waste any more time! Here is a list of the best places to eat in Dubai.
1. Typical dishes at Arabian Tea House Restaurant Café
If you have come to Dubai to learn more about the culture and traditions of the UAE and want to dive into the local cuisine, the Arabian Tea House is one of the places where you should go to eat. This place, besides having a spectacular architecture that makes it the center of all the cameras, also has a menu with a lot of variety and of very good quality.
Its star dishes are the Tahta Laham, a typical dish based on meat, rice and spices, and its breakfasts, full of Arab flavors. This place boasts impeccable service and has earned the position of one of the most recommended places to try the typical food of Dubai.
Interesting facts
- Where: Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai, Bastakiya.
- Average price per person: between 10€ to 30€.
- Specialty: Traditional and local food.
- Ideal for: couples, families and groups of friends.
2. Tribes Carnivore for meat lovers and good views
If you are not so interested in tasting the typical food and you have come to Dubai to enjoy the luxury and its spectacular fusion with Western cuisine, in Tribes Carnivore you can find the best meat in the city with cuts and specialties taken from the USA. In addition, the restaurant is located in the middle of the Dubai Mall, so you can enjoy the spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper.
The menu is full of steakhouse-style recipes, with burgers and ribs, but you can also find vegetarian versions and, of course, suitable for halal. Dishes are usually very generous and, although it is usually quite full, it is worth booking and enjoying a dinner with a view.
Interesting facts
- Where: Shikh Mohamed bin Rashid Blvd, Dubai Mall.
- Average price per person: between 20€ to 40€.
- Specialty: Meat and burgers.
- Ideal for: dates as a couple or families.
3. Eat Greek Kouzina a piece of Greece in Dubai
Dubai is not only Arabic food and its delicious spicy dishes. It is also a world capital where you can find the best restaurants of the gastronomy you like the most. If your weakness is Greek cuisine, in the Mall of the Emirates you can find the Eat Greek Kouzina restaurant.
With an extensive menu full of the most famous Greek dishes, this restaurant has earned the recognition of many tourists and locals. Its specialty is souvlaki skewers or moussaka, although any dish on the menu will seem to be taken from Athens itself.
Interesting facts
- Where: Mall of the Emirates, Barsha, 1.
- Average price per person: between 20€ to 30€.
- Specialty: Greek dishes.
- Ideal for: tourists with a taste for Greek food.
4. Italian pasta at Eataly
In Dubai there is also a space dedicated to Italy for all pasta and pizza lovers. Inside Dubai Mall, there is a space 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 with top quality products and haute cuisine dishes, so success is assured. The specialty is seafood dishes, carpaccio and pasta funghi. In addition, you can buy the ingredients you like the most right there.
Interesting facts
- Where: Lower Ground Level, The Dubai Mall.
- Average price per person: between 30€ to 50€.
- Specialty: Italian dishes and ingredients.
- Ideal for: couples and lovers of Italian cuisine and haute cuisine.
5. Al Sarab Rooftop Lounge, gastronomy in the desert
Just a few minutes drive from the city center, in the middle of the Rub' al Khali desert, you will find not only one of the most prestigious resort hotels in the world, but also a spectacular restaurant with a spectacular setting. If you have the chance to take a trip to the desert of Dubai, I recommend that you live this experience and go to dinner there.
In addition to its unique setting in the middle of the dunes, it offers a very good quality menu with typical products and dishes, and fusions with Western cuisine. It is undoubtedly an ideal place to have a romantic date or to live the full experience of being in the Emirates.
Interesting facts
- Where: Al Qudra Rd, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa.
- Average price per person: between 20€ to 50€.
- Specialty: Fusion cuisine and Arabic dishes.
- Ideal for: couples or small groups.
6. Al Mahara and Al Munhata, seven-star food
If you are looking for luxury and pampering in Dubai, you can find just what you want in places like the Al Mahara and Al Munhata restaurant, two seven-star hotels suitable only for the most select pockets. The restaurant has a huge aquarium and a unique atmosphere.
The prices are a little high, costing around €70 per person. However, if you take it as an experience and let yourself be carried away by the huge menu, you will enjoy a romantic dinner among fish and with an exceptional treatment.
Interesting facts
- Where: Burj Al Arab Hotel.
- Average price per person: between 40€ to 80€.
- Specialty: International cuisine.
- Ideal for: couples, romantic dinners.
7. Ayamna, an authentic Lebanese experience
Located on one of Dubai's famous artificial islands, The Palm Atlantis, is one of the best Lebanese restaurants in the city. This type of cuisine is usually liked by locals, but it has also gained the recognition of tourists because, in Ayamna, you can not only enjoy some successful dishes, but also to be in a paradisiacal setting overlooking the sea and palm trees.
One of the best recommendations if it is the first time you go, is to ask for the Lebanese Culinary Experience, to try a little of each of the specialties. Its dishes based on legumes, breads, rice, meat and spices are able to conquer any demanding palate.
Interesting facts
- Where: Crescent Road, The Palm Atlantis, The Palm.
- Average price per person: between 40€ to 60€.
- Specialty: Lebanese cuisine and culinary experience.
- Ideal for: Groups of friends or families.
8. Feast Restaurant, the union of Asia and Africa
Dubai is a city of contrasts and within its cuisine and its gastronomic offer can also be seen. If you go on vacation, even if you are not staying at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, you can not miss the experience of eating at its restaurant, the Feast Restaurant. This place is the perfect fusion between the typical food of the United Arab Emirates and the oriental influence.
If you like fusion food and typical dishes from China or Japan, in this restaurant you will find the perfect mix. It also has an open kitchen so you can see how your dishes are prepared. It is also famous for its desserts, so organize yourself well and leave a space for these Arabic delicacies.
Interesting facts
- Where: 3 Sheikh Zayed Road - Sheraton Grand Hotel.
- Average price per person: between 25€ to 35€.
- Specialty: Oriental and fusion cuisine.
- Ideal for: couples, families or groups of friends.
9. Operation Falafel The Beach Mall JBR, typical food low cost
Eating delicious food is not always synonymous of being expensive and Operation Falafel knows it well. The aim of this restaurant is to offer a wide variety of typical Arab food, as consumed by local people and at an affordable price. It is for this philosophy that it has entered the list of one of the most valued restaurants in Dubai.
Its specialty, as its name suggests, are the falafels, but they also have a wide variety of shawarmas and a dessert based on banana and chocolate in the form of pizza that will make your mouth water.
Interesting facts
- Where: Jumeirah Beach Residence.
- Average price per person: between 5€ to 10€.
- Specialty: Low cost Arabic cuisine.
- Ideal for: large groups of family and friends.
10. Dining on the beach at Catch 22
If you are spending the day on the promenade of Dubai Marina and want to eat something quick but tasty, do not hesitate to stop by Catch 22, a simple place but full of dishes that will not leave you indifferent. Despite its clear American aesthetics, its star dishes are sushi and fish.
For a very affordable price you can sit down and try their delicious seafood stir-fry and combine it with the typical American shakes. In addition, its location, in the heart of Dubai Marina, will offer you beautiful views of the sea.
Interesting facts
- Where it is: La Mer, Jumeirah Beach, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
- Average price per person: between 10€ to 20€.
- Specialty: Asian fusion cuisine.
- Ideal for: families and groups of friends.
How much money do you need to eat in Dubai?
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 go with a tight wallet when it comes to eating out. Throughout the city you can find all kinds of places to eat rich and traditional, and adapting to all budgets.
If you want to eat in dream places, with views and haute cuisine menus, the city can offer you the best restaurants in the world. However, there are also hundreds of local restaurants and eateries with very good quality and low prices. Therefore, the price range can go from 5€ to more than 100€.
What are the most traditional dishes of Dubai's gastronomy?
The gastronomy of Dubai and of Arab Emirates in general, has a great influence of the Arabic cuisine, reason why many of the dishes will have presence of legumes, of sour sauces, spices like the curcuma or the cumin and seasoned meats.
Some of the most typical recipes are the hummus, the mezze, the tabbouleh or the mackbus. All of them feature a mixture of stewed meats with fresh and citric touches and many spices that give them a special touch. Pork, on the other hand, is prohibited throughout the country by Muslim law and the pork offered to tourists is not usually of very good quality, so I do not recommend it.
Is it a good option to eat in Dubai's shopping malls?
You may have the idea that eating inside a mall is not one of the most idyllic plans when you are on vacation. However, in Dubai things change, since you are in a city where consumerism and economy are above all.
That is precisely why, inside the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, you can find some of the best restaurants in the city and with an unbeatable treatment and service. In addition, you will have the opportunity to be in direct contact with the local Dubaiti and have a closer experience.
Are you allowed to eat on the street in Dubai?
Being able to choose to have all the variety of food and specialties in Dubai is a privilege but, in addition, you should know that street food is allowed in the city, especially in the more traditional neighborhoods like Deira.
Here, you can find street food stalls in the souk and try some snacks or very typical food with the locals and at a fairly cheap price for the average of the whole city. Dare to get your hands dirty and try a bite of the most authentic Dubai.
What are the opening hours of the restaurants in Dubai?
Most of the best restaurants in Dubai are inside a shopping complex such as the Mall Dubai, the Mall of the Emirates or the Marina Dubai. That is why these places usually have uninterrupted hours from 10 am to 11 pm, 12 pm if it is a weekend.
However, if the restaurant is in a separate location, the most common opening and closing times are from 12 noon and remain open until midnight, without closing between lunch and dinner. Dubai is a city that never rests and is always ready to offer you a table where you can enjoy a delicious meal.