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We have selected 25 restaurants, which we have divided into five categories: Gourmet, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.

As Dubai is a Muslim city, many restaurants, especially at the cheaper end of the market, are not licensed to serve alcohol. However, restaurants in the tourist and business hotels almost always serve alcohol. Sales tax at 10% is added to all bills. Service charges at 10 to 15% are also frequently added but, if they are not, a 10% tip is expected.

The restaurants below have been classified into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over Dh600)
$$$ (Dh400 to Dh600)
$$ (Dh150 to Dh400)
$ (under Dh150)
The prices above are for a three-course meal for one with a bottle of house wine or equivalent.

Gourmet

Al Mahara
Making a fair stab at being the most expensive restaurant in Dubai, the Al Mahara often divides local opinion. Some say it is overpriced for what you get, but others swear by it, and dining here is a real treat, especially if someone else is paying. The experience begins with a three-minute mock submarine ride to the bottom of the Arabian Gulf into the restaurant where a huge aquarium awaits. This is meant to put diners in the mood for savouring the high quality seafood that has brought the restaurant numerous awards, including being listed by Restaurant Magazine as one of the ’World’s Top 50 Restaurants’.

Burj Al Arab Hotel, Jumeirah Beach
Tel: (04) 301 7600.
Website: www.burj-al-arab.com  
Price: $$$$
Al Muntaha
Al Muntaha has the best location in Dubai, suspended hundreds of meters above the Arabian Gulf, at the top of the Burj Al Arab hotel. Service is immaculate and the slanted glass windows give the restaurant the feel of a great ocean liner heading out to sea. Al Muntaha also delivers on the plate, with starters such as lobster Caesar salad or seared scallops and mains the likes of grilled hammour (a local fish) or roasted prime beef rib with mustard crust. There is live music at the restaurant six times a week.

Burj Al Arab Hotel, Jumeirah Beach
Tel: (04) 301 7600.
Website: www.burj-al-arab.com  
Price: $$$$
La Baie
Under the expert guidance of head chef Carl Stockenstrom, this fine dining restaurant rather fancies itself to be located in a major European capital, with its mellow piano music, unfaltering service and elegant table settings. The food is similarly impressive and it all adds up to a meal that may stretch the credit card but is guaranteed to be of the highest quality. One of the most exotic starters is the marinated sturgeon carpaccio with caviar and yogurt sauce, while a highlight among the mains (and rumoured to be the chef’s favorite) is the grilled hammour on a bed of green lentils.

Ritz Carlton Dubai, Jumeirah Beach
Tel: (04) 399 4000.
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com  
Price: $$$$
Signatures
This excellent French restaurant is well worth the trip out to Jebel Ali. The open kitchen allows diners to watch the chefs in action as they conjure up such innovative starter treats as lobster salad with foie gras and seared scallops wrapped in pastry. The highlight of the main menu is the sea bass served on a bed of red cabbage and cooked to perfection. Candles add to the cosy décor, making this the perfect place to take a loved one for an evening of fine French cooking. The wine list offers over 50 choices.

Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, Bur Dubai
Tel: (04) 883 6000.
Website: www.jebelali-international.com
Price: $$$
Verre
Gordon Ramsay’s Dubai venture has proved a resounding success and is firmly established as the best place to eat in Dubai. With Britain’s multi-starred Michelin chef behind things, Verre could not really go wrong. The minimalist décor might not suit all tastes but the simple surrounds and the well thought-out lighting help focus deserved attention on the food. A nice touch is the chef’s specialties - tasty morsels of food that come between the impressive courses. Mains include salmon with a fricassee of peas and horseradish or poached chicken on a bed of tagliatelle. The desserts are divine. The three-course lunch specials offer excellent value.

Hilton Dubai Creek, Beniyas Road
Tel: (04) 227 1111.
Website: www.hilton.com
Price: $$$$

Business

Peacock
This modern and spacious Chinese restaurant is located in the Sheraton Jumeirah, at the very end of the Beach strip, so it is a good place for business diners to take clients to escape the city. The etched-glass walls allow for fine views of the garden, pool and beach. The cuisine of both Shanghai and the Hunan provinces, as well as the fiery tastes of the Szechwan region, are explored in a restaurant that caters for those who normally might not like what is conventionally thought of as ’Chinese’ food. Service is friendly and efficient, with highlights on the menu being wonton soup as a starter and aromatic crispy duck or the unusual red snapper fillet, Cantonese style.

Sheraton Jumeirah Beach, Jumeirah Beach
Tel: (04) 399 5533.
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com
Price: $$

Trendy

Butcher Shop & Grill
The backbone of this eatery, if you pardon the pun, is meat, meat and meat. The influence is South African with a hearty butcher on hand if you have a kitchen back where you are staying. If not, settle in for a carnivore’s feast with the obvious highlights the massive, juicy and perfectly cooked steaks. The chicken livers are also divine, wrapped in an aromatic herby sauce.

Mall of the Emirates
Tel: (04) 347 1167.
Website: www.malloftheemirates.com
Price: $$
Pierchic
Seafood-loving trendies are flocking to this 110-seat eatery at the landmark Madinat Jumeirah development. Set out on a wooden pier, with views out over the expanse of the Arabian Gulf, the venue is perfect for trying some local and international seafood dishes. Mains include the likes of poached Atlantic lobster with snow peas, Inoki mushrooms and passion fruit dressing or Arabian chilled seafood platter laced with Iranian caviar.

Madinat Jumeirah
Tel: (04) 366 6730.
Website: www.madinatjumeirah.com  
Price: $$$
Sushi 
Fans of sushi and sashimi should head to the lavish lobby atrium of the Grand Hyatt Dubai for either lunch or dinner. This buzzing seafood eatery is a current favorite of the local beautiful people with a fresh and refreshing menu of Japanese treats, most prepared before your eyes as you sup on a saki or chilled Japanese beer.

Grand Hyatt Dubai, Al Qutaeyat Road
Tel: (04) 317 1234.
Website: www.dubai.grand.hyatt.com
Price: $$
Times of Arabia
Another emerging Madinat favorite. Choose from the relaxed Arabic-style interior or join the cool crowd out on the terrace, which often benefits from a cooling breeze. A wide variety of Lebanese dishes are available on an extensive menu with cold and warm mezze the most popular orders, though the local fish hammour is also a solid choice. Many diners opt for the mixed grill with four types of meat served in expertly grilled kebab form with a dip and warm bread. Unlike many restaurants down at Madinat they serve beer on draught in the form of Heineken. The pumping Arabic dance sounds can be a bit much for some, but this is the new face of Dubai and if you don’t like it they’d probably prefer you went somewhere else anyway.

Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah
Tel: (04) 368 6044.
Price: $$
Ushna
Glamorous Madinat Jumeirah is the place to be in Dubai at the moment and they don’t come much better than Ushna. This stylish ‘New Indian’ restaurant delves into the cuisine of the north of the country to muster up some old staples and some funky new additions. A perennial favorite is the divine Tandoori platter, an ideal grazing dish to relax with and take in the sights and sounds of Madinat.

Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah
Tel: (04) 368 6506. 
Price: $$$

Budget

Cactus Jacks
It may never win any culinary awards but Cactus Jacks seldom disappoints a hungry stomach. A Mexican theme for the décor includes Aztec fabrics and bright designs, as well as multicolor tiled pillars. Upstairs there are five tables for diners looking for a touch more privacy. The restaurant has a live DJ at weekends and things can turn quite wild after 2300, when the spicy Tex Mex food and the tequila kick in. Cactus Jacks dishes up all of the usual suspects (fajitas, burritos and tortillas) with plenty of meal deals and drinks specials. Parties of eight diners or more receive a 30% discount on their bill, which gives a good idea of the market that the restaurant is leaning toward.

Millennium Airport Hotel, Al Garhoud
Tel: (04) 282 3464.
Website: www.millenniumhotels.com  
Price: $
Da Vinci’s Restaurant
This popular Italian restaurant offers an unpretentious setting and menu in a friendly environment. All of the usual pasta and pizza dishes are on offer and, although there are no real highlights, most dishes are consistently good. One popular offering is the gamberoni grigliati (jumbo prawn with capers and potatoes). The dark décor and red, white and green chequered tablecloths might be a touch on the garish side but for an evening meal that does not break the bank or challenge a delicate palate, Da Vinci’s is a good choice.

Millennium Airport Hotel, Al Garhoud
Tel: (04) 282 3464.
Website: www.millenniumhotels.com  
Price: $
Deira City Center Food Court
Of the many food courts that are dotted all around Dubai, this is one of the most popular. On sale is the full smorgasbord of international foods, with the only unifying feature being that all the stands are cheap. The most popular stands serve up simple Chinese and Indian specialties accompanied by boiled rice. They also have a play area for kids, which takes some of the pressure off harassed mums and dads.

Deira City Center Mall, Deira
Tel: (04) 295 1010.
Price: $
Thattukada
The excellent South Indian restaurant at the Palm Beach Rotana Inn serves great-value food. Diners sit on long, wooden benches and are surrounded by film posters on the walls. The Kerala-influenced dishes include kappa erachi (tapioca and chicken curry) and karimeem porichathu (fish fry) and are guaranteed to fill diners up without breaking the bank.

Palm Beach Rotana Inn
Tel: (04) 393 1999.
Price: $
Woodland Avenue
This ultra-cheap South Indian restaurant has to be one of the best-value places in town. The décor is very plain, with yellow checked tablecloths and little attempt to make things aesthetically pleasing. Diners do not come here for aesthetic, rather for the good-value food. The menu is mainly vegetarian and there are few frills but for value for money, an Indian meal at Woodland Avenue seldom disappoints. The vegetable thali is one of the most popular dishes and deservedly so.

Al Karama
Tel: (04) 336 6632.
Price: $

Personal Recommendations

Café Chic
With a double Michelin-starred head chef, Philippe Gavreau, at the helm this hotel eatery really cannot go wrong. Mix in top quality ingredients, smooth service and a menu that cuts deftly between the classics and some daring variations and this is a top dining choice. Relax afterwards in the cigar bar for supreme decadence.

Le Meridien Hotel, Garhoud
Tel: (04) 217 0000.
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com
Price: $$$
India Palace
India Palace is very popular with the local expat community. The emphasis on Rajasthani cooking is backed up by themed décor and artifacts shipped in from the region. The open kitchen is a nice touch, as are the family booths upstairs, with privacy available at no extra charge. The excellent-value menu features starters such as lentil soup and prawn bisque with fresh vegetables, while mains include chicken and vegetarian kebabs and a range of delicately spiced curries. Alcohol is not available but the lassis are excellent, especially the unusual lassi seasoned with salt.

Opposite Dubai Marine Hotel, Bur Dubai
Tel: (04) 286 9600.
Price: $$
Luciano’s
Very good Italian cooking without having to commit a Mafia-style bank job to afford it. This unpretentious restaurant, poolside at the Habtoor Hotel, does all the Italian staples like lasagne and risotto with a minimum of fuss, relying on fresh ingredients and solid cooking to do the talking. A highlight on the dessert menu is the decadent ‘Luciano’s Cake’, a real calorific treat.

Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa
Tel: (04) 399 5000.
Website: www.habtoorhotels.com
Price: $$
The Manhattan Grill
The signature restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Dubai is the Manhattan Grill. Housed in the atrium of the hotel, this stylish restaurant is a firm favorite with the local smart set. The steaks are to die for, with fresh prime beef flown in from the USA. Other offerings on the menu include local and international seafood and grilled lamb. Wine is available by the glass or the bottle, with both New and Old World tastes catered for.

Grand Hyatt Dubai, Al Qutaeyat Road
Tel: (04) 317 1234.
Website: www.dubai.grand.hyatt.com  
Price: $$$
The Noodle House
The Noodle House is a funky and laid-back eating venue. In contrast to the stuffy business restaurants that tend to be associated with this part of Dubai, the emphasis here is on light, tasty food served up in relaxed surroundings. Patrons can forget table reservations and join the rest of the diners at the long communal tables in enjoying some delightful Asian noodle soups. Also served are spring rolls and more substantial dishes, such as sweet and sour chicken. The desserts are a bit hit and miss but, for a quick and cheerful meal, The Noodle House is hard to beat.

Emirates Towers Hotel
Tel: (04) 319 8088.
Website: www.jumeirahemiratestowers.com  
Price: $



Nightlife:

Drinking a pint of beer could land you in prison in some parts of the Middle East, but in Dubai, alcohol is tolerated, with non-Muslims allowed to imbibe alcohol in the city’s bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels except before 1900 during Ramadan. Indeed, it is easy to forget all about the local attitudes to alcohol when on a wild night out in a city whose nightlife is increasingly nefarious. Although non-Muslims are the only people officially allowed to drink, often you can find Dubai Arabs enjoying a pint in one of the many bars.

There are no specific nightlife districts as many of the best bars are in the big tourist hotels, which are situated throughout the city. Many of these are open until 0100 or 0200. A cheaper and livelier option is the independent bars that are dotted around town. Happy hours are common, with Thursday and Saturday the biggest nights for going out. Tuesdays and Sundays are often ’Ladies Night’, with female revelers receiving free drinks. The legal drinking age is 21. Licensing hours vary greatly, as many of the hotel bars are allowed to open and close whenever they want. Closing time is normally around 0100 or 0200.

The club scene is a curious one, with nightclubs often delineated along ethnic and national lines. Increasingly, big name DJs are being attracted to Dubai, as a Western-style clubbing scene starts to develop. By law, clubs must close at 0300. Many clubs are over-25 only. Dress codes for bars are generally relaxed, although some bars and all clubs insist on no jeans, trainers or sandals. A more mellow night out can be had at one of Dubai’s coffee houses, where you can smoke apple-flavored tobacco from a shisha pipe.

The listings magazine, Time Out, can be found in many hotels, offering a full rundown of what is happening at night in Dubai. Hotel concierges are also often able to provide guests with the latest nightlife information.

Bars: One of the oldest ex-pat bars, The Irish Village, Dubai Tennis Club, off Al-Garhoud Road, is still going strong, with a good range of beers and an outdoor seating area. It faces stiff competition from more recent arrivals, such as Carter’s, The Pyramids, Wafi Center, a stylish haunt of the 20- and 30-something brigade. Minimalist Ginseng, Wafi City, with its mood lighting, Asian-themed décor and first-rate cocktails, is another popular choice. The lowest common denominator is catered for at Rock Bottom Cafe, Regent Place Hotel, Bur Dubai, a rowdy drinking den with three pool tables, live music and a dancefloor.

The new heart of Dubai nightlife is in and around the swish Madinat Jumeirah (website: www.madinatjumeirah.com) complex. A gaggle of trendy bars recline by the water’s edge of this expansive leisure zone. Highlights include the buzzing Left Bank and the slightly more upmarket and slightly older crowd at Agency. A new favorite with the local ‘beautiful people’ is the Buddha Bar, Grosvenor House Hotel, Dubai Marina, with its stunning cocktails and free servings of pretension. The Fatafeet Cafe, Alseef Road, has good views of Dubai Creek and is an atmospheric coffee house in which to try a traditional shisha.

Clubs: Some of the best and biggest clubs have closed or struggled in recent years, but there are still a few good options for those looking to hit the emirate’s dancefloors. Oxygen, at the Al-Bustan Hotel, and Tangerine, at the Fairmont Dubai, are classy club oases for discerning punters. Trilogy (website: www.trilogy.ae) at the Madinat Jumeirah is one of the hottest new venues, a massive space split across three floors, that attracts both the best of emirate DJ talent and some big names from further afield. Charlie Parrot’s (website: www.jebelali-international.com) at the Oasis Beach Hotel has live music or a DJ most nights in a venue that reeks of unpretentious fun.

Live Music: Planet Hollywood (website: www.planethollywood-dubai.com), Wafi Pyramids, off Al-Qataiyat Road, is a reliable option, with an eclectic selection of mediocre to good bands and covers outfits. Bordertown, Al-Rolla Road, is a Mexican theme bar that stages live bands most nights of the week. The Irish Village, Dubai Tennis Club, off Al Garhoud Road, also hosts many live acts.

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