Skip to content

Top Navigation

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Recipes & Cooking
  • Drinks
  • Travel
  • Holidays & Events
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Food & Wine

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Explore

    Explore

    • F&W Cooks

      Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Read More Next
    • Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Read More Next
    • 50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Read More Next
  • Recipes & Cooking

    Recipes & Cooking

    See All Recipes & Cooking
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Comfort Food Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Pasta & Noodle Recipes
    • Chefs
    • Meat & Poultry Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Special Diets
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Steal This Trick
  • Drinks

    Drinks

    See All Drinks
    • Wine
    • Cocktails & Spirits
    • Coffee Drinks & Recipes
    • Juices
    • Beer & Brews
    • Champagne & Sparkling Wine
    • Tea Recipes & Ideas
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    • Wine Regions
    • Restaurants
  • Holidays & Events

    Holidays & Events

    See All Holidays & Events
    • Valentine's Day
    • Halloween
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • Gifts
    • Super Bowl
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • New Year's Eve
    • Holiday Entertaining
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Travel Chevron Right
  3. Best Dubai Restaurants

Best Dubai Restaurants

By Food & Wine
Updated June 16, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali
To find out where to eat in Dubai, Food & Wine asked food photographer and Instagram star Sukaina Rajbali (@sukainarajabali) to tour the Dubai food scene and share her insider picks. For those who haven't visited Dubai, it might be surprising to realize that the UAE city excels in everything from Moroccan lamb and buttermilk-fried chicken, to layer cakes, coffee and organic ice cream. But in addition to cultivating an over-the-top and cosmopolitan reputation, Dubai has attracted a range of diverse foodies who've opened restaurants ranging from Paris cafés to gastropubs to Indian food trucks. You can't even escape avocado toast! Click through the slideshow to browse the best Dubai restaurants and start planning a trip to Dubai. Captions by Sukaina Rajbali.
Start Slideshow

1 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Almaz by Momo

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

Entering this North African restaurant is like being transported to a trendy Marrakesh riad, a stylish Morrocan house—except for the view of the beach. The lamb tagine is a classic, but this is also a beautiful setting for breakfast. Try the merguez baked with tomatoes, eggs and onions as well as the Berber pancakes. momoresto.com

1 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Brew Café

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

As the name suggests, this place brews good coffee. Blink and you could miss this tiny spot in Jumeirah, but if you know your lungo from a ristretto, this is the place to drink it. instagram.com/brewcafeuae

2 of 21

3 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tom & Serg

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

Pair an Aussie with a Spaniard and Tom & Serg is born. They know their coffee and aren’t shy to tell you that. Warehouse-style interiors, cool staff and no-fuss food. Having a tattoo is a prerequisite to getting a job here. tomandserg.com

3 of 21

Advertisement

4 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cocoa Room

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

Serving eggs benedict in every flavor combination you could ever imagine, Cocoa Room breakfasts are fit for a queen—or a sheikha, in this case. It’s where the locals like to be seen. The region has an affinity for lotus, and Cocoa Room does a mean lotus pancake stack. cocoaroom.co

4 of 21

5 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Roseleaf Café

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

If you want a break from the hustle and bustle of Dubai, take refuge in Roseleaf Café’s greenhouse-style eatery and coffee shop—a real oasis. Then pop out to the Garden Centre and indulge your green thumb. facebook.com/TheRoseleafCafe

5 of 21

6 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Comptoir

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

Avocado crostini with alfalfa sprouts, seaweed pesto, buckwheat pancakes. Notice the trend here? Comptoir 102 focuses on a healthy lifestyle and sustainable food. Even their drinks are in vogue—activated-charcoal lemonade, anyone? comptoir102.com

6 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Falafel Farm

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

As the name suggests, this farm grows falafel—and boy, do they do it well. Scotch falafel eggs, spicy falafels, classic, halloumi falafel: You name it, they have it. Bonus topping: Sriracha tahini. Plus, they even pickle their own vegetables. falafelfarm.com

7 of 21

8 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Sum of Us

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

These guys have their own coffee roastery and hold regular demos and cupping sessions. Otherwise, it's great for light meals. Plus, they brought ”hotcakes" to Dubai! Their gluten-free coconut version with edible flowers is fantastic. thesumofusdubai.com

8 of 21

9 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Moti Roti

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

When the weather cools off, everyone heads out to Market OTB in Burj Park. Food trucks like Moti Roti nestle at the base of the towering Burj Khalifa and serve comfort food using recipes straight from the owner’s mom. motiroti.me

9 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Coya

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

Peruvian food is currently on trend and by default, so is Coya. The chefs use traditional Peruvian ingredients like cacao, corn and quinoa, then take them up them a notch. One highlight is the ceviche bar, with one of the most popular orders being red snapper with truffle, ponzu and chives. coyarestaurant.com/dubai

10 of 21

11 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Bistro des Arts

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

This rustic bistro has a true Parisian flair—it even offers excellent people-watching on the Dubai promenade. They do a weekly raclette night for the cheese lover in you. bistrodesarts.ae

11 of 21

12 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Stomping Grounds

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

Just what the doctor ordered: another specialty coffee shop. A new kid on the block, they’ve been selling and roasting their beans to competitors for a while. It’s about time they opened up their own place. stompinggrounds.ae

12 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Jam Bar Co

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

This unique retro doughnut shop makes exceptional old-school treats, ice cream sundaes and shakes to suit every mood. You will become like a child in a sweet shop. jambar.co

13 of 21

14 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Bu Qtair

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

Bu Qtair had humble beginnings as a shack at the foot of the one of the world’s most expensive hotel, The Burj. Even though it has now upgraded to a simple cafeteria, the food has stayed true to its origin: cheap, fuss-free and flavorful. Serving traditional Malabari-style fish, the best time to go is around 6 p.m. when fresh fish is caught and brought in. Tel: 055 705 2130

14 of 21

15 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Fümé

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

The focus here is comfort food, from shakshuka and mezze to cheesy scrambled eggs and sweet and spicy pan-roasted chicken. fume-eatery.com

15 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

The Cake Bar

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

If you’re looking for a showstopper cake, The Cake Bar should be your go-to. Layers of airy meringue, fruits, cream and jams, the Sherazad Show Off cake is everything. thecakebar.ae

16 of 21

17 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Pots Pans and Boards

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

Helmed by chef Tom Aikens, this quirky eatery has an enviable location looking out onto The Jumeirah Beach. You will feel like you’re sitting in a rustic kitchen eating typical gastropub fare. The malt-glazed short rib with crisp onions and celeriac truffle can’t be missed. instagram.com/potspansandboards

17 of 21

18 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Pi Dubai

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

You may be forgiven for thinking you’re eating at a local Italian backyard garden. Plus, anywhere that makes their own gnocchi instead of croutons in their kale Caesar salad has my vote. The truffle pizza is a must have. pi-dubai.com

18 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Slider Station

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

The Dangerous Slider, a communal fave, is aptly named: beet-red brioche bun, thick slice of buttermilk fried chicken, jack, jalapeño, lettuce and chimichurri aioli dressing. sliderstation.com

19 of 21

20 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Dri Dri

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

In case you needed an excuse for eating ice cream, Dri Dri is organic and can fulfill your servings of fruit. Kiwi sorbet, anyone? The pastel shaded interiors are a sweet touch, no pun intended. dridrigelato.com/en-gb

20 of 21

21 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Salt

Credit: © Sukaina Rajabali

If you can find this food trailer (via social media), you will be greeted by a 30-minute queue in the sweltering heat on the beach. Guaranteed to be packed, they only do burgers and fries, and they do them well. Their Lotus Shake has a celebrity status among the local Emiratis. It's named after its starring mix-in, a brand of Belgian Speculoos biscuits. instagram.com/findsalt/

21 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Food & Wine

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 21 Almaz by Momo
2 of 21 Brew Café
3 of 21 Tom & Serg
4 of 21 Cocoa Room
5 of 21 Roseleaf Café
6 of 21 Comptoir
7 of 21 Falafel Farm
8 of 21 Sum of Us
9 of 21 Moti Roti
10 of 21 Coya
11 of 21 Bistro des Arts
12 of 21 Stomping Grounds
13 of 21 Jam Bar Co
14 of 21 Bu Qtair
15 of 21 Fümé
16 of 21 The Cake Bar
17 of 21 Pots Pans and Boards
18 of 21 Pi Dubai
19 of 21 Slider Station
20 of 21 Dri Dri
21 of 21 Salt

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Food & Wine

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Food & Wine
  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Content Licensing

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Food & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com

View image

Best Dubai Restaurants
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.