The best restaurants Dubai

In a playful decoration that evokes the atmosphere of the Riviera of the 1960s, the three-starred chef Massimo Bottura signs his first restaurant outside Italy in a relaxed atmosphere with a touch of sophistication. The terrace is one of the most beautiful on the Palm, with a clear view of the Marina. The same spirit can be found on the plate: all the classics of Italian cuisine are brilliantly prepared with top quality products. So, as its name indicates, we only have one desire: to return there quickly!

In terms of decoration, we don't know where to set our eyes: on the Ferris Wheel in Dubai or on the skyscrapers of the Marina or on the interior decoration which mixes in a baroque spirit, butterflies, plants and paintings. We are in the eclectic atmosphere of London. We start with a homemade brewed gin and prepare it while listening to our waitress's instructions. We are amazed by the presentation of the cocktails. The menu reflects the decoration and the spirit of the house: colourful and international. The coffee "Shaken macchiato" is a must.

Here is the festive reenactment of a Bedouin camp, an opportunity to spend an exotic evening in the open air. The "village" established 300 meters from the hotel is surrounded by palm branches and turrets. Souk, camels, dancers. The buffet offers typical and very varied Arabic dishes, mainly rotisserie. To fully enjoy the show, you can sit at the central tables, but be careful, the noise level is very high. It's kitsch, but it pleases a lot.

This fish restaurant is run by Jo, a Lebanese from a fishing family in Byblos. He opened his first salmon restaurant in Beirut in 2001. In 2006, he inaugurated Salmontini, a restaurant specializing in home-made smoked salmon. But you can also order sushi. Jo also proposes you to taste the entrecote steak "Saint-Germain des Prés de Paris" with its secret sauce. Finally, the restaurant offers you a unique view of the Dubai ski slope. Something to feast your eyes as well as your taste buds. A classic of the district.

The setting, in an Arab-contemporary style, is a tribute to this warm and mysterious Orient that is so good at catalyzing fantasy. It is beautiful! Located in the heart of the Grand Mercure Airport, the brand new place is an ode to the local culinary heritage, which is best discovered by opting for dishes to share, such as the Saloona, a very aromatic local stew. For dessert, you'll love the date crumble served with saffron milk for digestion.

As its name suggests, the restaurant lies on the beach facing the only stilt villas in Dubai - powerful catalysts for Maldives-style beach living. A DJ mixes on sunny days and the terrace, full of people, has a trendy atmosphere at lunchtime, more romantic in the evening. We come especially for the cool atmosphere, the pleasure of swallowing a homemade pizza without leaving our sarong, sharing a truffle burrata salad or a seafood platter. The room at the back is like a veranda, but it would be a shame not to take advantage of the proximity of the water.

A little air of Paris on the Marina with this lovely bistro. It is a unique place in Dubai, with a typical Parisian bistro décor and a superb terrace on the Marina promenade, the latter being hidden enough to hold the famous liquor license - for what would a Parisian bistro be without a selection of French wines? The atmosphere is relaxed. You come first for an aperitif and to share a board or a pissaladière. Then we gladly continue the evening with a menu of quality traditional dishes with a variety of flavours.

Bringing Italy to Dubai: that's the ambition of the founders! The concept is simple, with just three perfectly mastered specialties: focaccia, burrata and tiramisu. Ancestral recipes, top-quality ingredients in a refined, minimalist setting, with exceptional taste results. At the helm of the kitchen is Chef Davide, originally from Milan, who has teamed up with his uncle Maurizio Galbiati and his wife Karam. To be enjoyed on site, or why not take away for a picnic on Jumeirah 1 beach.

With a name like that, this café couldn't make its home anywhere else but on the very chic Jumeirah Beach Road! Inspired by the beautiful vacation homes of wealthy New Yorkers on Long Island, this three-story café-restaurant serves delicious breakfasts, both sweet and savoury, and makes its own pastries, including the inevitable date pudding! The refined decoration gives the place a relaxed atmosphere that gives the impression of being at a friend's house rather than a restaurant. It is also a must for a brunch.

Somewhat removed from the tourist sites of old Dubai, this Jordanian restaurant, which has been established since the 1960s, is well worth the detour. The speciality not to be missed on the savoury side is the falafel mahshi: a large falafel filled with a spicy paste, sumac and onions and don't hesitate to take it as a sandwich. On the sweet side, it is the kunafa, this typically Arab pastry made with cheese and angel hair, dipped in syrup and perfumed with rose water. A hearty menu at a small price that will suit even vegetarians.

If it is true that locating the place is a bit of an orienteering race, this very small Indonesian restaurant is nevertheless a real find. The manager and his team are careful to explain the menu to the novices of Indonesian cuisine and all the nasi goreng and other gado gado are served generously and spiced as it should be. The decoration of the room is sober, but pleasant with eight big white tables spotted in wood. The clientele is Asian and expatriate. This restaurant is often full on weekends

Located in the popular al-Karama district, Al Reef Bakery sells one of the best manakish in the city. This Lebanese snack, widespread throughout the Middle East, is a flatbread on which zaatar, Akkawi cheese or minced meat is spread before cooking it in a brick oven; an ideal snack to be quickly satiated while feasting. Don't be surprised to see the cars stopping and the driver hailing the waiter to get served directly in his car. A mythical place in Dubai.

On the corner of a busy street, in the district of tailors and cloth merchants, Al Mallah has been delighting passers-by for almost forty years. It all started with a modest juice bar until it became a reference in this neighborhood. Today, the Lebanese restaurant serves classic dishes such as falafel, manakish, grilled meats and mezze, but it's the shawarma that has made it famous and for which it's most popular. According to Time Out Dubai magazine, it is one of the best in the emirate!

On the 31st floor of the Sofitel, right in the middle of the Burj Khalifa and the hustle and bustle of the Downtown district, Inka is a Peruvian-inspired restaurant, intimate and warm in size, with an elegant Art Deco style interior. Light and fresh cuisine based on traditional Peruvian recipes, revisited and dusted off by Lima's native chef Christian Motte. For a cocktail with a panoramic view or a few Latin dance steps, head to the bar-lounge next door, hushed, glamorous, swaying like a salsa and lascivious like a tango.

The "warehouse chic" style of the London gastro-pub of the same name is repeated, with checkerboard floors, brown leather and polished wood. In the cooler months, tables are also set outside in the tranquil garden, where lunch is served under the frangipani trees. The menu offers classic British dishes, remarkably prepared using quality seasonal produce, all at very reasonable prices.

Built around a 1 km long artificial river and divided into four thematic areas, the central area of Dubai Parks & Resorts links the different parks together and is accessible to all. With a multitude of restaurants and cafes set in street recreations of 1930s India, 1950s America, medieval France, and ^19th century Europe, Riverland has something for everyone. Please note: most establishments have a liquor license.

The Rue Royale restaurant is a direct inspiration of the mythical Mère Brazier, who lived on Rue Royale in... Lyon. Whether you are inside in the retro-contemporary atmosphere or on the terrace overlooking the sea and located in front of the Atlantis hotel, the decoration of the establishment is very successful. On the menu, the French classics such as scallops with lemon confit and green pepper or pikebread with lobster sauce as in Lyon are revisited. The presentation is refined and refined and everything is delicious. Be careful, no alcohol!

Located in the heart of a small, chic shopping mall in the Jumeirah district, this nugget is frequented by locals and well-informed expatriates alike. It's best to arrive early or very late to hope for a table in this restaurant, which offers a small room inside, a small terrace outside and inside the mall. The quality of the food on offer is exceptional, and its reputation is growing all the time.

Tom & Serg is the meeting of Tom, an Australian chef, and Serg, a businessman from Madrid. Two and a half years later, they opened this café in the industrial district of Al-Quoz, wanting to make their (very good) coffee and healthy, quality food accessible to all. Good food at an affordable price in a large space with a waxed concrete floor reminiscent of a Brooklyn loft. During the week, it's full at lunchtime! A children's menu is offered with a playroom upstairs.

Built on two levels and flanked by picture windows that span the entire height of the building, La Serre deserves its name. The ground floor is reserved for the Parisian bakery, serving breakfasts and salads the rest of the day. The first floor is reserved for the bistro serving French Mediterranean cuisine. Classic menu: beef tartare, green asparagus with gribiche sauce or tarte Tatin tart are served alongside more original dishes, but from home.

This concept store and healthy café is very popular with a diverse clientele of expatriates and some locals, serving organic vegetarian cuisine, mostly meatless. For those who just want to take a break from their day, the café offers smoothies with evocative names such as Skin Glow or Skinny Boost. The only thing left to do is to choose where you want to sit: on the beautiful terrace that calls for lazing around, in the designer lounge-style dining room, or on the indoor terrace, which is closed to protect from the heat.

Between the beach and the JBR promenade, here is The Beach. We stroll between stores and attractions and to see the world we choose preferably the late afternoon to admire the sunset, like La Mer, City Walk. Many options of restoration flourished there and the list of the specialities represented is infinite, each one will thus find its happiness there. Here is our selection: Shake Shack, Bombay Bungalow (Indian cuisine), Eat greek Kouzina (Greek cuisine: fresh and colorful), Fratelli La Bufala (Neapolitan cuisine), P.F. Chang's.

Located on a small fishing port, Seaview offers very fresh seafood, and with good reason: it has a boat that is licensed to fish and provides supplies. Everything that is offered here comes from the fishing of the day: Several kinds of fish, shrimps, squid, sometimes crabs, depending of course on the season and the luck of the fishermen. You choose what you wish to have on your plate, the method of cooking (sautéed, grilled, tandoori or steamed), the possible sauce (garlic, butter, lemon, spices) as well as the accompaniment.

This South African restaurant chain, which has ten stores in the country, opened in August 2017 in the turtle lagoon of the Al Naseem Hotel. The arm-length menu offers a variety of world cuisine classics, from vol au vent to lobster, chicken with peri-peri sauce and a large seafood platter, as well as large hamburgers and detox salads. As for the decoration, everything has been imported from South Africa, for a subtle, warm and sophisticated result. A concept store right next door is well worth a visit. The restaurant is also a bar.

Al Seef is a new district just a stone's throw from the Iranian district of Al Fahidi. It is a life-size reconstruction of what Dubai was like in the 1950s, with a succession of fishermen's houses, pearl traders, spice sellers, and various restaurants. This district extends for almost 2 km along the Creek and ends with more modern shopping malls. Most of the shops change regularly, but the diversity of the offer will suit all budgets. However, the sale of alcohol is not allowed.

Parisians know his logo and his lifestyle. Founded by Parisian Emmanuelle and her husband Hervé, everything is cooked home-made, organic, without waste, gluten, soy, lactose, added sugar, additives or chemicals. Everything is good for your health and good for the Earth. The decoration is trendy bio-design. The concept fits very well in the Alserkal district, which is offbeat and trendy like the customers who frequent the place and is therefore a perfect break between two galleries. As a detox cure, try the Rehab Shot.

Vintage motorcycles, biker pants and jackets, bandanas and helmets welcome you in this café, a real haunt of spooks and young Emiratis. In this warm and friendly place, you can have a coffee or lunch in Chesterfield sofas, next to the motorcycle maintenance and creation workshop, a simple window separates you. A wrought iron staircase leads you to the first floor with foosball tables and a library, a stone's throw from the industrial district of Al Quoz and Alserkal.

Sitting comfortably on a terrace in the very noisy street of Rigga or hardly any quieter at the mezzanine in the fumes of the hookah, here is an address where Westerners don't hurry, but where the whole Middle East is flocking to... a real guarantee of quality. All the dishes are delicious on this mile-long menu, especially the vine leaves, which are neither bitter nor acidic. Don't hesitate to share as the quantities are so generous. Very fast and efficient service. No alcohol. The restaurant is located in the historic district of Deira.

And it was a wonder! This is what we can say about the unreal view that this marvellous terrace offers us: below, the dhows and their coming and going, testimony of a vanished past, and at the bottom, the insolent towers that stand on the whole horizon. Two Dubai, two eras, two worlds! The restaurant nestles at the top of the Rotana Hotel. On the plate, it is a market menu, according to the arrivals, Italian version: beautiful marriages of acidulous notes with fish carpaccios, beef cheek and tiramisu for dessert.

A beautiful terrace on the beach, all in blue and white with a few touches of colour for this restaurant with Mediterranean accents. Inside, large French-style chandeliers give a quirky air to the beautiful room. A holiday atmosphere, a chic cosmopolitan clientele rushes in to sit down day and night, far from hotel restaurants. The menu places a great deal of emphasis on fish, which is largely sourced from local fishermen. The restaurant has a zero plastic policy.

Here is an Indian version of a fusion bistro! It's the latest casual and trendy of a gastronomic variation that Zorawar Kalra offers, called the "Prince of Indian cuisine". The café is always full, and Indians would almost be offended if they couldn't find a table, as all nationalities flock there. Informal, delicious and spicy, but not too much, Farzi is an excellent address with the bonus of the terrace which allows to admire the passage in the pedestrian street especially in the evening. No alcohol is served in this restaurant.

Meat and Co has one of the most beautiful terraces in the souk that offers a complete view of Burj Al Arab. On the menu and given the name of the restaurant there will be no surprises: it is the festival of meat from Australia, New Zealand, America and Japan. The accompanying sauces are unsurprisingly béarnaises, barbecue, peri-peri, and even roquefort. For vegetarians, the chef has (a little) thought of you with his little cheese platter. Reservation is essential to guarantee a table on the terrace.

This restaurant is taking on the look of a club for expats in need of winter: "I want my dinner in a mountain refuge, I'm tired of the beach!" Picturesque selfie posted on Instagram featuring a Savoyard fondue with the Burj Al Arab as a mountain. Raclette, fondue, pierrage, charcuterie platter, steak tartare, ravioles du Dauphiné, everything is there in this bistro menu. A nice terrace awaits you on the first floor to have a drink at the end of the dinner. If you are in need of your compatriot friends, go there!

The restaurant is often fully booked at lunchtime and in the evening. If dozens of Syrian families go there every day, it is not for the decoration which reminds them of a big canteen, but for the quality and the delicacy of the dishes that are served there. A family atmosphere on the first floor, a shisha bar on the first floor, and the assurance of a hearty lunch or dinner for a very reasonable price. It is a truly "Futé" address where no tourists hang out. A confidential and unpretentious address! Reservation recommended.

Welcome to Bagatelle, Mediterranean and French restaurant. Here, it is the joy of life that awaits you, that of the chic, flashy and sophisticated Dubai that echoes a Saint-Tropez in the middle of August. The music is loud and the nights are long at Bagatelle, as the audience is carried away by the rhythm of the DJ's turntables. You can also dine there very well around a roasted whole chicken, a tuna tartare or a spicy lobster linguini for example, without forgetting the homemade fries with truffles! Reservation is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Lovers of quiet, intimate restaurants will be disappointed. Welcome to the heart of Dubai's young, modern and glitzy life. The atmosphere is guaranteed and the crowds are always there, the music is loud and even louder after 11.30pm, so get ready to have fun. Dubai's trendiest French restaurant offers a great menu, but above all it's a mythical place where people like to have fun and meet, either on the terrace or inside. After midnight, the place almost looks like a discotheque!

Perched, as its name suggests, on the 68th floor of the second highest hotel in the world, the Prime 68 offers a breathtaking and panoramic view of the city. The restaurant is chic and cosy and perfect for a romantic dinner. On the menu, meat lovers will be in seventh heaven as the offer and the quality of the meats on offer are exceptional! Those who don't eat red meat can rest assured: fish, lobster and chicken are also on the menu. An address to admire the city, an alternative to the Burj Khalifa. Correct dress is required.

A churrascaria is a culinary tradition originating in Brazil, Portugal and Morocco. It's a restaurant where meats (in Dubai, beef, lamb and chicken) are grilled and served at will by men dressed in traditional garb, known as gauchos. The atmosphere is Latino. A wood fire, or fogueira in Portuguese, lights up the ^35th-floor terrace with its splendid view of the Marina. The view, the ambience, the excellent quality of the meats and the buffets - it's all amazing!

It's in the residential area of Jumeirah, a little off the Jumeirah road, that we enter this Lebanese restaurant with tables set up with red and white checkered tablecloths. Here is a "bistro" of traditional Lebanese neighborhood cuisine. The menu is full of humor and tells, like a scratch book, the story of the owners who own two establishments in Beirut. Everything is delicious, and the world comes flooding in especially after 1pm: mezze, grills and a large section of Manakich. Good value for money.

This restaurant is located on the 44th floor of the Hilton Al Habtoor City. The "bistro-chic" setting is very successful and the terrace is breathtaking with a breathtaking view of the Burj Kalifa and the skyscrapers of Downtown. The Mediterranean-inspired cuisine is not to be outdone. A well-chosen mix of Italian and French cuisine. An address not to be missed especially if you want to enjoy a superb roof-top. Moreover, if you want to extend the evening, the Sport Bar and the Dome nightclub are on the same floor.

Amongstfew is first and foremost an avant-garde urban concept store that offers the latest streetwear trends. They had the good idea to also install a small café-restaurant that offers trendy salads as well as vegetarian and vegan dishes and a breakfast menu served all day, including delicious pancakes. The industrial-style street furniture fits perfectly with the shop and barber shop in the same villa. A relaxed neighbourhood atmosphere where people come to telework too.

Overlooking the Creek, this is a refuge between land and water, a stone's throw from the golf course whose futuristic clubhouse adorns the AED 20 bills. Several restaurants of different styles offer a variety of culinary experiences in a wide range of prices. Boardwalk offers Mediterranean cuisine, Casa de Tapas offers a youthful atmosphere, Lakeview a sublime terrace, Jones the Grocer a menu of trendy Italian bistro dishes, and Qd's a shisha lounge in a lounge atmosphere.

Within the beautiful One&Only Royal Mirage hotel, and as the name of this restaurant suggests, you are in a little Morocco in Tagine! Arcades, arches, lamps and Moroccan furniture, warm colored walls coated with tadelakt: everything is there to make you travel even the French-speaking waiters and the lute player. Bricks, pigeon pastilla, various tagines, choice of couscous and kebabs! For dessert, we let ourselves be tempted by some Moroccan pastries or a classic milk pastilla, crunchy and creamy! We enjoy ourselves.

A contemporary Indian restaurant, in a hushed decor, where, in a bath of green, orange and saffron lights, you can enjoy tasty spicy dishes as you go for a walk in a country that could be a postmodern double of eternal India. Feel like a bite to eat? We opt for the modernist cat trolley as a starter, then the lobster sprinkled with curry and mango. For dessert, the crumble sprinkled with gold dust is a killer. This little trip on the spice route will also allow you to discover a superb hotel. To be experienced!

Located in the Westin on Sufouh Road, a short walk from the Marina, this contemporary Spanish restaurant is one of the trendiest spots in the marina district. Inside, an elegant modern decoration welcomes you, and outside, the beautiful terrace is reminiscent of southern Europe. The food on the plates is sophisticated and beautifully presented. To accompany these culinary discoveries, top-quality liqueurs and cigars are available. Many Spaniards frequent this restaurant, a guarantee of quality

In the elegant setting of the beautiful Park Hyatt, one of the jewels of the Dubai hotel industry, a top-flight Thai restaurant with an exotic and designer décor. Four large islands of live cuisine, where a multitude of traditional dishes, usually served in "tapas" portions, are concocted on sight. The concept is based on discovery and sharing, through several dishes in which one picks and tastes, passing deliciously from one flavour to another. We go from one cooking to another: wok, steamed, barbecued. A typical and qualitative address.

One of the best Japanese restaurants according to Time Out magazine. The restaurant is divided into several sections. You can eat at the bar, in the traditional central room or in the private sliding door lounges, sitting cross-legged in Japanese style. The decor is simple but elegant and refreshing, with the water lapping on the floor and chef Toshio Date at the helm. The dishes to recommend are the Kiku bento and the sushi gozen bento. The presence of many Asian expatriates is a guarantee of quality!

Wafi Gourmet has a very nice terrace well situated at the Rez du Mall in front of the fountains. A good address also for gourmets, and we are all in front of these Levantine victuals. It is the occasion to taste the mezze or to order a shawarma. It's hard to look away from the pyramids of pastries and baskets full of oriental sweets that occupy a large part of this delicatessen. Tastings on the spot or to take away, large choice of dates, dried fruits, honeys. The best hummus in town.