Paging all food lovers! Your next culinary destination is set. Apart from having amazing attractions and innovative architecture, Dubai has proven to be a culinary gem in the UAE and home to the best restaurants in the region. Foodies from all over have traveled long and far to explore the diversity of Dubai's culinary landscape and experience its warm hospitality.
For your stomachs only, here are seven of the best restaurants in Dubai that you must try. So bring out your bibs and prepare for a Middle Eastern adventure of delicious food!
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1. Arabian Tea House, Bur Dubai
What better way to start this journey through the best restaurants in Dubai than with Arabian Tea House, the first restaurant to offer an authentic taste of Emirati flavors? Patrons can expect a unique dining experience as they're transported to a world of lace curtains and rattan chairs while they enjoy their afternoon tea. While the resto is famous for its specialty tea that will make you swoon over its soothing aroma, they also serve one of the best cups of gahwa (traditional Arabic coffee) in town, known for its rich flavor.
Their signature dishes, like the Lemon Lamb Tikka, charcoal-grilled lamb chunks infused with Arabic spices, are also a must-try! Talk about the perfect pairing as you match your afternoon tea with a mouthwatering snack featuring the region's authentic flavors.
2. Ossiano, Atlantis The Palm
Get ready for a fine dining experience like no other! Just a short drive from famous coastal landmarks like the Dubai Marina, Palm West Beach, and the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Ossiano is a Michelin-starred seafood restaurant with an out-of-this-world tasting menu. Featuring an assortment of fresh seafood and gastronomic dishes, Ossiano's 11-wave tasting menu will take your taste buds on an ocean journey with its exquisite selection of sustainably sourced ingredients from the sea. Located in Atlantis, the Palm, this Dubai restaurant boasts an elegant setting that lets you dine next to a massive aquarium filled with all kinds of aquatic creatures, making it the perfect place for date night.
3. Gaia, Dubai International Financial Centre
In 2018, Gaia burst onto the scene as one of the best restaurants in Dubai, wowing even royalty with its authentic Greek-Mediterranean cuisine. This fine-dining restaurant offers a wide range of scrumptious seafood dishes expertly prepared by award-winning chefs.
With its white interiors that give a modern take to the classic Greek look, entering the dining room will feel like you've stepped into a 21st-century trattoria. Although it has classic dishes like greek salad and lamb cutlets, the showstopper is its seabass carpaccio, one of its famous signature dishes. Served with different flavor vials, expect a fun twist with every bite as you taste the freshness.
4. Orfali Bros Bistro, Jumeirah 1
If you're a fan of tasting menus, you'll want to try Orfali Bros Bistro! Just a few minutes from Jumeirah Fishing Harbour and Jumeirah Beach, this Michelin-starred fusion restaurant offers various flavors, from those around the Arabian Gulf to modern Asian cuisine. Its diverse menu perfectly represents the multiculturalism of the Middle East, making it a true Dubai institution in every sense of the word.
Expect a lively atmosphere as you chow down on some of their crowd-favorite dishes, like the Corn Bomb. This dish has equal explosions of corn and parmesan cheese and is priced moderately, making it one of the most affordable foods on this list. And considering that most of their dishes come on small plates, you can save room to try their other food.
5. Maharajah Bhog, Al Karama
Two words: Unlimited Thali. What more can you expect from one of the best Indian restaurants in Dubai? Maharajah Bhog cooks up the best authentic Indian cuisine and is a haven for plant-based foodies thanks to its menu that mainly consists of organic vegetarian recipes.
In case you were wondering, a Thali is a platter of various dishes comprising one meal. It typically includes rice, roti, vegetables, lentils, and a sweet dish. So, if you're in the area craving a spicy meal, head to Maharajah Bhog's Dubai branch for a traditional Indian meal you'll never forget!
6. Jun’s, Downtown Dubai
Nestled in the heart of downtown Dubai, near Business Bay and the Dubai Opera Plaza, is another Michelin-starred establishment that is also considered one of the best Asian restaurants in the city—Jun's. With its fancy interiors and a magnificent view of the Burj Khalifa from its terrace, this fine-dining Asian restaurant has become a go-to spot for a romantic date night or celebrating a special occasion. But more than just the fancy aesthetics, their food is to die for!
Among the many delicious selections the restaurant offers, its Scallop & Corn dish is hands down the crowd favorite. As beautiful as it is constructed, it is also bursting with flavor, and the combination of the various textures of the ingredients creates a harmonious feeling with every bite.
7. Mirzam Chocolate Factory, Al Quoz
Quick disclaimer: this last one is not a restaurant. But who wouldn't want a box of one of the best chocolates in Dubai? Mirzam Chocolate Factory lets you witness how its famous chocolates are made from start to finish.
The best part is that it's a tasting tour, so you'll get to try some of the factory's sweet byproducts before heading to the shop to buy a box or two for your loved ones. A much-needed sweet ending to cap off this foodie's list!
Ready Your Stomachs for a Food Trip Unlike Anything Else!
As big as Dubai is, you're bound to find many more places that offer a great meal. But with the seven we've listed, you'll definitely have a memorable dining experience. It just goes to show that Dubai's glitz and glam are not solely about its mega-structures but also its vibrant food scene.
Want to know more about Dubai's food scene? Check out our list of the top ten foods to try in Dubai.