Ask ten people in Dubai for the best restaurant and you will get ten different answers, and most of them will be right. The 2025 Michelin Guide for Dubai featured 119 restaurants covering more than 35 types of cuisine. That range is why one single “number one” makes little sense here.
So instead of a ranked list, this guide sorts Dubai by what you want to do tonight. Maybe you want a big-night tasting menu, a cheap lunch that still tastes great, or a table with a view. Each pick comes with its area and the reason it made the cut.
Two quick notes. Michelin will announce its next Dubai selection on 6 October 2026 at Atlantis The Royal, so check for changes if you are reading this after that date. Also, a few well-known places are closed for renovation at the moment, and we point those out as we go.
What “Best” Really Means in Dubai
A city where every cuisine has a home
Dubai’s food scene is shaped by the people who live here, and they come from everywhere. On one Saturday you could have an Emirati breakfast in Al Fahidi, a Pakistani curry in Satwa and Korean barbecue on the Palm Jumeirah, and all three would be the real thing. The Michelin selection has grown about 72.5 percent since the first edition in 2022, when it listed 69 places.
Celebrity chefs and Michelin stars
Famous chefs followed the crowds. Jason Atherton, Heston Blumenthal, Yannick Alléno, Niko Romito, Dani García and Björn Frantzén all run kitchens in the city. The biggest moment came in May 2025, when Dubai awarded its first three-star restaurants, Trèsind Studio and FZN by Björn Frantzén. The 2025 guide also included three two-star restaurants, 14 one-star restaurants and 22 Bib Gourmand picks, which are the good-value choices.
Luxury, views or variety?
In Dubai, best can mean three different things. For some people it means quiet service and a long tasting menu. For others it means a terrace that faces the Burj Khalifa. For a lot of residents it means a busy neighbourhood café that has been cooking the same dishes for decades. This guide covers all three.
Best Fine-Dining Restaurants in Dubai
The two three-star tasting menus
Trèsind Studio sits in the St. Regis Gardens on Palm Jumeirah, where it moved in 2022. The room has only 20 seats, and everyone eats the same tasting menu from chef Himanshu Saini. It became the first Indian restaurant in the world to earn three Michelin stars. One early dish that got attention was pickled pepper with tangerine flowers and khandvi ice cream. Time Out lists the usual price at AED 1,350 per person, and the restaurant ran a short 30 percent discount in spring 2026.
FZN by Björn Frantzén is inside Atlantis The Royal, and it has 27 seats over two floors. You start by ringing a doorbell, as if you were visiting someone’s home. Time Out says the tasting menu starts from AED 2,000 per person. It is the most expensive meal in this guide, and it suits luxury travelers who want one dinner to talk about for years.
Two-star and one-star tables worth the money
Row on 45 is on the 45th floor of Grosvenor House in Dubai Marina. Chef Jason Atherton serves a 17-course menu in three acts to just 22 guests, and there is a four-seat chef’s table for those who plan ahead. Listings show a price of AED 1,145. Time Out named it Restaurant of the Year for 2026.
Il Ristorante, from chef Niko Romito, is inside Bulgari Resort Dubai on Jumeirah Bay Island. It holds two Michelin stars, and Romito’s own restaurant in Italy holds three. The cooking is simple on purpose, with very few ingredients on each plate. STAY by Yannick Alléno at One&Only The Palm is the third of Dubai’s two-star restaurants, and it is the choice for classic French cooking with rich sauces.
Ossiano at Atlantis The Palm is the one to book if you want theatre. The 54-seat room is surrounded by an aquarium with more than 65,000 marine animals, and its nine-course menu was priced at AED 1,250 in early 2026.
What to know before you book
Some big names are not taking guests right now. Al Muntaha, the one-star restaurant at Burj Al Arab, is closed. The hotel shut on 15 April 2026 as part of a restoration, and Al Muntaha is listed as temporarily closed. The Burj Al Arab is expected to return in late 2027. Time Out also lists La Dame de Pic as temporarily closed.
Best for anniversaries, business dinners and luxury travelers
For anniversaries, look at Ossiano or Pierchic, which we cover later in this guide. For business dinners, DIFC is the easy choice, since Josette, Zuma and Rowley’s are all a short walk apart. Josette is a Parisian-style brasserie at ICD Brookfield Place. Luxury travelers who want the full experience should book Trèsind Studio or FZN the moment their travel dates are set, because rooms this small fill up.
Best Budget-Friendly Restaurants in Dubai
Old Dubai classics that never got fancy
Some of the best value in the city comes from places that opened decades ago. Ravi Restaurant in Satwa was founded in 1978 by Pakistani expat Chaudary Abdul Hameed, and people still line up for its mutton karahi, kebabs and fresh naan.
Al Ustad Special Kabab opened in 1978 on Mankhool Street in Bur Dubai, founded by Iranian Mohammad Ali Ansari, and its walls hold more than 8,000 photos of customers. Al Mallah started in 1979 as a juice stand on 2nd December Street in Satwa, and now it is famous for shawarma, falafel and fresh juice, eaten at outdoor tables.
Street-food style spots
Bu Qtair is a simple seafood place near the Jumeirah fishing area. You point at what you want, and the fried fish and prawns come with rice, curry sauce and bread. In Deira, Dampa Seafood Grill serves Filipino seafood poured onto the table. Its signature seafood dump costs AED 176 and feeds three people. Over in JLT, Kima Izakaya was praised for good value in the budget category. And in Deira’s Al Ghurair Centre, Romantic Baka is a hands-on Korean barbecue spot where you grill marinated beef at your table.
Family-friendly value
Al Fanar, an Emirati restaurant, is family-friendly, has an all-day menu and does not serve alcohol. Kinoya, a Bib Gourmand ramen and izakaya spot in The Onyx Tower 2 in The Greens, is a hit with families because it makes noodles and broth in-house. You can also stretch your money by timing your visit. Dubai Restaurant Week ran from 1 to 17 May in 2026 with more than 125 restaurants, offering a two-course lunch for AED 125 or a three-course dinner for AED 250. At Rowley’s in DIFC, a 200 gram steak with unlimited fries and salad starts at AED 138, and they do not take reservations.
Best Restaurants With a View
Rooftops and towers near Downtown Dubai
At.mosphere is on Level 122 of the Burj Khalifa, about 442 metres above Downtown, with its own entrance at the base of the tower. Time Out admits it is touristy but calls it iconic, and suggests you dress up and book ahead. MyRSVPTime Out Dubai
CE LA VI is on Level 54 of Address Sky View, and a private glass lift takes you up to a terrace that looks straight at the Burj Khalifa. In DIFC, Rowley’s has a terrace with a Burj Khalifa view, which makes a steak dinner feel like an occasion without a huge bill.
Beachfront dining at JBR and La Mer
At JBR, Tamoka is inside The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, with Latin American food and views of Ain Dubai. At La Mer, the southern end has been redeveloped as J1 Beach. Two places to look at there are Gigi Rigolatto, an Italian restaurant with a pool and two terraces, and Sirene by Gaia, which serves Greek-Mediterranean food with resident DJs. Both are lively and priced for a night out.
Waterfront dining at Dubai Marina
ZETA Seventy Seven is on the 77th floor of Address Beach Resort and serves Asian-inspired seafood, with views from Ain Dubai to the Palm. Asia Asia is a popular sushi spot with strong Marina views, so ask for a window table when you book.
Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah views
Pierchic sits at the end of a wooden pier at Jumeirah Al Qasr, facing the Burj Al Arab. Chef Beatrice Segoni’s menu leans on Italian coastal flavours, and Onda bar halfway down the pier is a good spot for a drink at golden hour. Tasca by José Avillez, a one-star Portuguese restaurant, is on the sixth floor of Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, with a terrace and infinity pool looking over the skyline and the Gulf. On the Palm, SushiSamba is on Level 51 of The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm.
Best Arabic and Middle Eastern Restaurants
Emirati cooking worth ordering
Start with Al Fanar. It has been run by one family since 2011, and its Al Seef branch overlooks the Creek and appears in the Michelin Guide. The decor recreates 1960s Dubai with wind towers and oil lamps, and the menu covers dishes like machboos, jesheed and luqaimat with date syrup.
Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant is at Villa 54-44 in Al Fahidi. Michelin describes it as part restaurant and part museum, with a covered courtyard, staff in traditional robes, bread baked in view and live music. It earned a Bib Gourmand, and its team won Michelin’s 2025 Service Award. Arabian Tea House, also in Al Fahidi, was once the Basta Art Café, and its chef’s pick is the lamb machboos. Try the Emirati breakfast platter with chebab, balaleet, khameer bread and cheese.
Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian and Persian favorites
For classic Lebanese food, Al Safadi’s Sheikh Zayed Road branch is a good option for groups sharing salads, mezze and grills, and Al Beiruti on the same road is known for hummus, falafel and kunafa.
For something more personal, try Bait Maryam in JLT. Chef Salam Dakkak named it after her mother and opened it in 2017, and it serves family Levantine recipes. Her second restaurant, Sufret Maryam at Wasl 51 in Jumeirah 1, is also a Bib Gourmand. Michelin points to its 48-hour fermented sourdough and a labneh crème brûlée. For Persian kebabs, Berenjak in Dar Wasl Mall holds a Bib Gourmand, and Shabestan on Deira Creek holds one too.
Traditional dishes and cultural dining
If you are new to the region, order machboos, which is spiced rice with meat or fish, and harees, which is wheat and meat cooked slowly until creamy. For a cultural setting, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding hosts guided traditional meals in a majlis-style room. For a romantic Middle Eastern night, Ninive is at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, and it uses a tent in summer and open-air seating under the stars in winter.
Best Indian Restaurants in Dubai
Modern Indian and fusion
Khadak, on Al Wasl Road in Jumeirah 2, comes from chef Naved Nasir, who spent years at London’s Dishoom. The menu is a tribute to Indian street food stalls, with dishes like Radio Café kheema pao and Mangalore chicken sukka. It earned a Bib Gourmand only six months after opening. Note that it is unlicensed, so no alcohol. For a livelier night, Masti at the Dubai EDITION is known for playful dishes like avocado pani puri, saag paneer lasagna and burrata butter chicken.
Authentic regional Indian cuisine
For old-school Pakistani and North Indian food, Ravi in Satwa is still the benchmark. Indya by Vineet, from chef Vineet Bhatia, is a Bib Gourmand pick for modern Indian cooking at a more moderate price than the starred rooms.
Popular Indian fine-dining spots
Jamavar comes from London’s Mayfair. The Dubai branch is in the Opera district, and it won a Michelin star in 2025. Avatāra in Dubai Hills Estate does something rare. It is Dubai’s first and only vegetarian fine-dining restaurant, and its 18-dish menu uses no garlic or onion. Trèsind Studio, covered earlier, is the top of the ladder.
Best Asian Restaurants (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean)
Sushi and Japanese dining
Hōseki, inside Bulgari Resort Dubai, is a tiny sushi counter. It has only nine seats and is led by chef Masahiro Sugiyama, and no two meals are the same. Mimi Kakushi at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach kept Time Out’s title of best Japanese restaurant for a second year, with a 1920s Osaka look and a terrific black cod. At Atlantis The Palm, Nobu Dubai is known for black cod miso and rock shrimp tempura. Zuma is at Gate Village 7 in DIFC. For ramen, go back to Kinoya in The Greens.
Authentic Chinese dining
Hakkasan at Atlantis The Palm holds a Michelin star for its refined Cantonese cooking. Hutong in DIFC does northern Chinese food. In Downtown, Yù & Mì takes its inspiration from 1960s Hong Kong, with dim sum, seafood and Peking duck. For a no-frills dim sum lunch, Long Teng in Business Bay serves traditional dim sum and seafood.
Thai street-style flavors
Manāo in Jumeirah 1 is a small Thai restaurant that surprised everyone. It won a Michelin star within five months of opening. It serves an 11-course or 8-course tasting menu, paired with five non-alcoholic drinks made in-house. For casual street food, Hawkerboi in JLT focuses on street food from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar. Time Out named it the best Pan-Asian restaurant.
Korean BBQ hotspots
HANU is on the roof of St. Regis Gardens on the Palm. Every table has a charcoal grill in the middle, and staff grill your wagyu while you choose from different salts. Time Out’s 2026 awards named it the best Korean restaurant, so it is the pick for a special night. Romantic Baka, mentioned earlier, is the easy and cheaper option.
Best European Restaurants
Italian fine dining
Besides Il Ristorante, look at L’Amo Bistrò del Mare at Dubai Harbour Yacht Club. Time Out named it the best Italian restaurant in 2026, with views of Ain Dubai, the Palm and the Marina. Il Borro Tuscan Bistro at Jumeirah Al Naseem is the Dubai outpost of the Ferragamo family’s Tuscan estate and sits beside the resort’s turtle lagoon.
French bistros
In DIFC, Josette works as a grand Parisian brasserie for long dinners. In JLT, CQ French Brasserie won Time Out’s Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year for 2026 and does steak frites and seafood platters.
Spanish tapas
BOCA in DIFC is at Gate Village 6 and holds a Michelin Green Star for its sustainability-focused approach to Spanish cooking. Salero Tapas and Bodega at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates adds flamenco to its paella and sangria. Chef Dani García’s Leña and Smoked Room are both at St. Regis Gardens on the Palm.
Modern British
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Atlantis The Royal holds one Michelin star, and Row on 45 represents Atherton’s take on the style. For a relaxed family version, Reform Social and Grill in The Lakes is a British gastropub.
Best Steak and Grill Restaurants
Premium steakhouses
Seafire at Atlantis The Palm is a classic. It serves steaks from the USA, Australia and Japan, including an exclusive Queensland wagyu. Three Cuts opened in 2024 at Rooftop West, Nakheel Mall, and has a short, one-page menu of select cuts. Time Out DubaiTime Out Dubai
A warning for anyone chasing a skyline steak. Prime68 at JW Marriott Marquis is under renovation and is marked as opening soon. Rhodes Twenty10 is also marked as temporarily closed.
Wagyu and dry-aged specialties
Seafire is the place for wagyu. For a much simpler steak experience, Rowley’s is a London export known for its entrecôte with an herb and Roquefort butter sauce.
Grill-focused dining experiences
11 Woodfire is a one-star restaurant in a converted villa in Jumeirah 1. Its huge open kitchen grills ingredients over oak, hickory or hay, and each wood adds its own flavour. Smoked Room at St. Regis Gardens takes the same fire-led idea further.
Best Seafood Restaurants in Dubai
Fresh catch concepts
Bu Qtair and Dampa are the two casual favorites we covered above. For something more polished, EGE brings Greek-Turkish seafood to Dubai Creek Harbour, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a view framed by the Burj Khalifa.
Seafood buffets
Saffron at Atlantis The Palm is the big buffet. It has more than 220 dishes and 20 live cooking stations, and its Saturday brunch is served from 1pm to 4pm. Bubbalicious at The Westin Mina Seyahi is another good option if you want oysters on a buffet.
Luxury seafood dining by the water
Pierchic is the best-known pier restaurant. Its seafood pasta, grilled octopus and mille-feuille are favourites with reviewers. The Beach House at Anantara The Palm is known for its tiered seafood tower, which suits a long beachfront lunch. 101 Dining Lounge and Marina at One&Only The Palm serves a seafood-focused menu shaped by chef Yannick Alléno, with dishes like poached Omani lobster.
Best Brunch Restaurants (Dubai’s Famous Brunch Culture)
Weekend brunch hotspots
Most of the big Dubai brunches now happen on Saturday afternoons. Here is what three of the most-talked-about ones cost, according to Time Out’s 2026 listings.
Zuma at Gate Village 7 in DIFC runs on Saturdays from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, with prices of AED 645 for house drinks, AED 795 with bubbly and AED 545 for soft drinks. Sexy Fish in DIFC charges AED 640 for house beverages, AED 811 for premium and AED 480 for soft drinks, from 12:30pm to 4pm. Saffron at Atlantis charges AED 525 for house beverages, AED 575 for sparkling and AED 775 for bubbly.
Bottomless brunch experiences
The bottomless packages are only for adults. Saffron’s brunch, for example, is for guests over 21. Party brunches usually end with a DJ, so book a table in the early part of the afternoon if you want to eat before the music takes over. Time Out Dubai
Family brunch vs party brunch
For families, Bubbalicious is the classic. It spreads across three restaurants and a big outdoor terrace, and there is live music and entertainment for kids. Certo at Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Media City runs a Saturday family brunch where kids under ten go free, and there is a play area. If you prefer Sunday, Mina’s Kitchen at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi has a family brunch. Party lovers should head to Saffron or Zuma. Best brunches in Dubai 2026: 95 top-rated brunch spots to try next | Time Out Dubai +3
Best Restaurants for Couples
Romantic ambiance and candle-light dining
For a proposal or an anniversary, Pierchic is the safest choice. You ride a buggy to the pier and dine with the lit-up Burj Al Arab as your backdrop. Ossiano suits couples who want something dramatic, since the aquarium wraps around the dining room. Il Borro, beside the lagoon at Madinat Jumeirah, is calmer and less formal. Ninive at Jumeirah Emirates Towers has a magical tent in summer and open-air tables in winter, and Time Out lists it among the city’s best date nights.
Private dining rooms
If you want more privacy, ask about smaller rooms. Row on 45 has a four-seat chef’s table, and Nobu One Za’abeel has a huge dining room, private dining spaces and skyline views from The Link.
Best spots for anniversaries and proposals
At.mosphere, Pierchic and Ossiano are the three most popular. Tell the restaurant about your plans when you book, so they can seat you at the right table. Do not wait until the day, because window seats go first.
Best Family-Friendly Restaurants
Kids’ menus and play areas
Reform Social and Grill in The Lakes was named Time Out’s best family-friendly restaurant. Kids can use a play area with slides and climbing frames while parents sit in the garden, and dogs are welcome. Ribambelle on Bluewaters Island has a large soft-play area with slides, ball pits and crafts, plus a kids’ menu, and it opens daily from 9am to 11pm. Luigia at Rixos Premium Dubai in JBR has a playroom with soft toys, a video game machine, crafts, books and a cinema room. Konjiki Hototogisu at Palm Jumeirah Mall has a garden play area.
Relaxed dining environments
If you do not need a play area, choose places with an easygoing feel. Time Out calls Khadak family-friendly, and the Emirati spots Al Fanar and Arabian Tea House are calm during the day.
Best Vegan and Healthy Restaurants
Plant-based menus
Avatāra, covered above, is the fine-dining pick, and all of its cooking is vegetarian. For an everyday option, Planet Terra in The Greens has a fully vegan menu. Vegan Burger at Dubai Mall serves plant-based burgers, including a falafel burger and an aloo tikka patty.
Organic cafés and fitness-friendly meals
Wild & The Moon at Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz is the best-known name. It began in Dubai in 2016, has since opened in Paris and Doha, and makes everything fresh daily without additives, chemicals or refined sugars. The menu has power bowls, salads and all-day breakfast, and the café is unlicensed and plant-based, gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free. It is a good stop after a workout.
Best Restaurants for Tourists Visiting Dubai
Must-visit iconic restaurants
If you only have a few nights, book At.mosphere, Bubbalicious and Ossiano. They are big and a little touristy, but they show you what Dubai does best. For history, spend a morning in Al Fahidi at Arabian Tea House or Al Khayma.
Unique Dubai food experiences
For something you will not do at home, try The Pods on Bluewaters Island. It has 22 air-conditioned dining pods with views over JBR Beach, and booking a pod starts from AED 199. Or try a cultural meal at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
Restaurants near major attractions
Near the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, Siraj at Souk Al Bahar serves Emirati and Levantine food and is Michelin-selected. Near the Museum of the Future, Hutong is a short ride away in DIFC. Near the Burj Al Arab, Pierchic has the view. At Atlantis, choose between Ossiano, Nobu and Saffron.
Best Hidden-Gem Restaurants
Underrated local spots
Bait Maryam in JLT is the one that surprises visitors most. Another is 3Fils, a small Japanese-inspired place at the edge of Jumeirah Fishing Harbour that holds a Bib Gourmand and famously does not take reservations. Walk the harbour and you will find Bu Qtair too.
Neighborhood favorites
Satwa is the place for Ravi and Al Mallah. JLT has become a food area of its own. Hawkerboi, CQ French Brasserie, Pitfire Pizza and Kima Izakaya all won awards or mentions from Time Out in 2026.
Non-touristy dining experiences
For the least touristy meals, try Al Ustad Special Kabab in Bur Dubai, Berenjak in Dar Wasl Mall or Romantic Baka in Al Ghurair Centre. These are places where most of the crowd lives nearby.
Conclusion: How to Choose the Right Restaurant in Dubai
Start with your budget. Under AED 100 a head, look to Satwa, Deira and Bur Dubai. Between AED 200 and AED 400, look at Khadak, Kinoya, Orfali Bros and the Bib Gourmand list. Orfali Bros has a 13-course menu at AED 850 at Wasl 51 in Jumeirah, and it is unlicensed. Above that, you are into tasting menus and views. Time Out Dubai
Then pick your cuisine, and your location second, because Dubai is spread out and traffic can eat an hour. Group your evening into one area. DIFC, Downtown, the Palm and Jumeirah all have enough options for a whole night.
Finally, check the small things. Some of the best places, like Al Khayma and Khadak, do not serve alcohol. Some fine-dining rooms have dress codes, and the top restaurants book out weeks ahead. If a restaurant matters to you, call to confirm it is open, since so many hotels are being renovated in 2026. MICHELIN Guide
Dubai’s food culture rewards people who are curious. Eat one meal at a big-name restaurant, then go find a Satwa curry house or a harbour fish shack. You will learn more about the city from the second than the first.
