Dubai
Singaporean chef Akmal Anuar turns out innovative yet unpretentious Asian-influenced small plates at this tiny, unlicensed spot – a perfect foil to Dubai…
Must-see restaurants in United Arab Emirates
Downtown Dubai
Every dish speaks of refinement in this perennially popular bi-level restaurant that gives classic Japanese fare an up-to-the-minute workout. No matter if…
Abu Dhabi
Amid a cluster of Middle Eastern snack and grill outlets, a short walk from the Qasr Al Hosn, the Lebanese Flower is a local legend, attracting a…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Prepare for a culinary journey along the Spice Road at this theatrically decorated restaurant, which is entered via a candlelit corridor that spills into…
Downtown Dubai
A pioneer of the local-organic-fresh maxim in Dubai, this London import offers a seasonal bounty of dishes, prepared in-house and served amid charming,…
Abu Dhabi
Open for breakfast on weekends and lunch and dinner otherwise, this restaurant, with its emphasis on sunny Mediterranean flavours (think slow-cooked…
Dubai
This funky Emirati cafe is a great introduction to contemporary local cuisine. It's popular for breakfast dishes such as shakshuka (poached eggs in a…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
It may be hard to concentrate on the food at this marina-adjacent al fresco pavilion, with its stunning skyline views. Come for nibbles and cocktails in…
Dubai
Always packed to the gills, this simple eatery is a Dubai institution famous for its dock-fresh fish and shrimp, marinated in a 'secret' masala curry…
Abu Dhabi
You can't beat the beachy atmosphere of this restaurant, surrounded by narrow water-feature canals and looking out towards the sand. The pan-Asian…
Bur Dubai
The chef here has Dorchester and Ritz cred, and studied under nouvelle cuisine guru Michel Guerard. Kickstart your menu with the dahi puri (stuffed crispy…
Bur Dubai
Escape Dubai’s bustle at this lovely courtyard cafe where the menu eschews meat in favour of a daily rotating menu of innovative vegetarian dishes, such…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Three-Michelin-starred Yannick Alléno brings his culinary magic to Dubai in this subtly theatrical vaulted dining room accented with black crystal…
Dubai
Looking for a place to drop an engagement ring into a glass of champagne? Make reservations (far in advance) at this impossibly romantic seafood house…
Bur Dubai
Enjoy dazzling views while floating down the Creek aboard this fancily outfitted, air-conditioned, glass-roofed dinner boat with panoramic windows, linen…
Dubai
An abra ride, a canalside table and candlelight are the hallmarks of a romantic night out, and this enchanting spot sparks on all cylinders. If your date…
Sharjah
This chic space serves up contemporary Levantine dishes with creative flourishes. The mezze is what you want to focus on here, with beetroot and walnut…
Abu Dhabi
Book ahead for a table at this trendy pan-Latin restaurant-bar, an anchor of the dining and nightlife tower inside the World Trade Center Mall known as…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Chef Darren Velvick flies the flag for modern British cooking at this relaxed restaurant with an open kitchen and spacious terrace overlooking the lights…
Abu Dhabi
Despite the mall location this is a classy, dim-lit joint that takes the flavours of the subcontinent and adds contemporary tweaks. Get stuck into masala…
Downtown Dubai
Italy's popular shop-cum-cafe has landed in Dubai Mall, bringing artisanal morsels from around the Boot to discerning palates. Stock up on pesto from…
Downtown Dubai
With its live cooking stations, open kitchens, fruit-filled baskets, colourful lanterns and graffiti-covered steel shutters, Zaroob radiates the urban…
Downtown Dubai
The family that introduced Italian ice cream to the UK in 1907 now also serves their wonderfully creamy flavours to gelato fans in Dubai. Order just a…
Abu Dhabi
They had us at the hammocks. We love this easy-breezy beach restaurant-bar with swings at the bar, hammocks and wood deck scattered with floor cushions…
Bur Dubai
Elia's chef is from Crete, and it certainly shows in the heartwarming dishes, which are a combination of homey traditional, like moussaka, with…
Downtown Dubai
New Zealander Leon Surynt works directly with cocoa bean farmers, ensuring sustainability and fairness. There is a similar vision behind the menu, with…
Bur Dubai
Jains run this super-friendly, super-healthy, vegetarian Indian restaurant serving 'body-harmonising' sattvic food that uses only fresh, seasonal and…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Back in 1930s Milan, Beatrice 'Bice' Ruggeri first opened her trattoria, which evolved into the city's most fashionable by the 1970s. Today Dubai's BiCE…
Dubai
Maisan15 is an under-the-radar pick for deceptively decent seasonal food and locally roasted coffee. Open shelving, wooden pulley-systems and glass jars…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Richard Sandoval, the man who introduced modern Mexican food to the US, is behind the menu at this casual-chic restaurant with its contemporary take on…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Vibrantly coloured murals, a wall of wrestling masks and a Mexican chef: Luchador feels like an authentic south-of-the-border cantina. The menu is…
Bur Dubai
With its three dining spaces, congenial staff and authentic Nepali cuisine, Fulbari is particularly full on Fridays with local Nepalese family…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
This jewel of a restaurant draws friends, romancing couples and fashionable families to a sublime seaside setting with shaded wooden decks and floating…
Dubai
Dubai is no stranger to the Peruvian food craze, but when Michelin-starred Virgilio Martinez opened his outpost, it marked another milestone. The food…
Bur Dubai
The name of this gorgeously formal restaurant translates as 'long-time friend', which is quite apropos given its league of loyal followers. No gimmicky…
Downtown Dubai
Fun is firmly on the agenda at this wildly popular restaurant, which offers a playful take on Indian molecular gastronomy. Behind the smoke and mirrors,…
Bur Dubai
A neighbourhood hotspot, Miss Wang attracts a diverse crowd here for the food, the cocktails, the live band – or the karaoke (thankfully in a separate…
United Arab Emirates
Bringing a fine-dining touch to the flavours of Africa, the restaurant of Al Sahel Villa Resort is a treat for even the most well-travelled palates. Dig…
Downtown Dubai
This always-bustling warehouse-style cafe with concrete floors, exposed pipes and an open kitchen would fit right into Madrid or Melbourne, which is…
Bur Dubai
The decor here is pure rustic Italian eatery, from the red-and-white chequered tablecloths to the traditional pizza oven and pics of actress Sophia Loren…
