Eating out - Dubai

Dubai’s cosmopolitan flavor is vastly enhanced by the wide selection of excellent restaurants to be found in the city - making dining in Dubai a real pleasure. From Michelin starred chefs and Chaine des Rotisseurs events, to streetside shisha (hubble bubble) cafes and budget bites, the Dubai dining scene is as expensive, as it is diverse, and has prices to suit every budget. Quality and presentation of food is usually extremely high, coupled with imaginative settings and locations, the highest standards of service and lively atmospheres, this all adds up to a fantastic culinary experience. It’s no wonder that dining out is a favorite Dubaiian pastime !

Alcohol is widely available in 4 and 5 star hotels and in some leisure and entertainment complexes, and as a result of this, many of Dubai’s busiest and best restaurants are to be found here. Restaurants located outside of hotels are not permitted to serve alcohol, but should certainly not be dismissed, as many are culinary delights in their own right. The districts of Bur Dubai, Satwa and Karama are home to many small, independent outlets that take a great pride and passion in the food that they serve and are great value for money.

Dubai’s favorable climate makes outdoor dining very popular for the majority of the year. Outdoor heaters and air conditioners take the chill from the winter nights and cool the summer heat, making al fresco dining at a number of restaurants perfectly possible, all year long. Dubai is simply spoilt with the number of exceptional restaurants in spectacular locations where you can dine under the stars.
Popular global names sit alongside some great local innovations. Appleby’s Benihana, BiCE, Blue Elephant, Chili’s, Ciro’s Pomodoro, Hard Rock Café, Pizza Express, TGI Fridays, Trader Vic’s, Wagamama and Yo! and Al Mahara "The Oyster" - Burj Al Arab, are just some of the familiar names to be found in Dubai - all long established and firm favourites. Zheng He’s, Le Classique, The Boardwalk, Vu’s Restaurant, Asha’s and Gordon Ramsay’s Verre are all noteworthy of inclusion in an essential selection of Dubai’s top dining destinations.

A number of annual restaurant awards are coveted by the entertainment and hospitality industry, where public opinion is key in the selection and judging process. This ensures excellent dining standards all round. Several restaurants have won repeated accolades and are justifiably reluctant to lose their crowns – hotting up the competition – and ensuring the best in standards and choice for the discerning diner.