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This is one of the classiest spots in the DIFC featuring a Bohemian ambiance of early 20th-century Paris. Tables are equipped with buttons for instant Champagne orders, and night shows include live music and cabaret dancers. Performances are held daily from Wednesday to Saturday, from 8 pm to 3 am, and guests with a 500+ dirhams check are welcome. The menu offers classic French brasserie fare with a contemporary twist by chef Rory Duncan, who joined the restaurant team in the spring of 2024. Top choices for a midnight dinner include beef tartare, onion soup, and Lobster Thermidor. Advanced booking is required.

This haute cuisine restaurant is the creation of Englishman Jason Atherton, who is renowned in Britain for his successful project, Pollen Street Social. In 2011, it was named the country’s best restaurant by the Good Food Guide. Atherton is also a regular participant in popular culinary TV shows. This restaurant in Dubai is a premier destination for a dinner with a narrative: the tasting menu, consisting of 17 courses (with a vegetarian option available), begins at the bar with aperitifs, continues in a room featuring an open kitchen, and concludes in the chef’s intimate “library.” The final, seventeenth, course is a genuine surprise for the guests. Due to the limited number of spots, advanced booking is essential.

An immersive show-style dinner offers a perfect opportunity to enjoy genuinely unique culinary experiences and is truly one of Dubai’s most intriguing restaurants. Originating from the White Rabbit Family, this culinary concept transforms Krasota’s guests into participants of a unique performance. Twenty people are seated around a large round table surrounded by multimedia screens, and throughout the dinner they follow the themes presented in both the visual projections and the menu. The themes and tasting sets change with the seasons, but Vladimir Mukhin’s innovative cuisine consistently meets high standards. Booking a seat at the table is required.

This is a brilliantly executed concept of a modern American brasserie, making it one of the top choices for a family celebration dinner and possibly Dubai’s most popular venue for business meetings. It boasts a prime location, with the best branch situated in Zaha Hadid’s Opus Tower in the Business Bay neighborhood. The restaurant offers a comprehensive and diverse menu, including an extensive Raw bar section and an impressive selection of vegetarian dishes. The legant neoclassical interior features high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a refined marble counter.

One of Dubai’s premier dining destinations specializes in contemporary French cuisine and exceptional service. The establishment’s chef, Yannick Alleno, has built his career by opening top-tier restaurants at five-star hotels and luxury resorts, earning numerous prestigious culinary awards. In addition to the à la carte menu, Stay offers Emotion and Experience tasting sets. The Emotion set includes six courses, while the Experience set comprises seven, both ideal for a leisurely and meditative dinner dates for two. There is also a small yet delightful vegetarian menu featuring an outstanding risotto with portobello mushrooms. Advanced booking is recommended.

This is a Spanish steakhouse, our favorite among Dubai’s meat restaurants. In addition to the excellent service and superb selection of premium beef, with the Australian Wagyu 9+ being the standout, there is also the Smoked Room omakase bar that accommodates 14 guests. It offers an intimate setting with its own tasting menu, meticulously modeled after the renowned original in Madrid. This is one of the best places in town to enjoy a meal in a small group, with an almost intimate atmosphere surrounding the open kitchen and live fire used to prepare most of the menu’s dishes.

One of Dubai’s top restaurants in the classic contemporary fine dining format is among the main attractions to open in The Link restaurant gallery at the new One & Only One Za’abeel Hotel. Dubai’s La Dame De Pic is the fifth branch of the project by French chef Anne Sophie Pic, who inherited her culinary talent and ambition from her father, a renowned chef and owner of a stellar family establishment. Ms. Pic has developed her unique professional style and is recognized as the world’s most successful female chef. The restaurant offers three tasting menus, including a vegetarian option, and requires advanced booking.

A Japanese izakaya, record library, music bar, and dancing venue for music lovers, playing everything from EDM to jazz. It is the darling of the local media—Time Out Dubai has named it the Best Bar of 2023. It is also the favorite of our guide’s team. Opened by two prominent regional restaurateurs Khalil Dahmash and Varun Khemaney, Honeycomb is not just a trendy nightlife venue but one of Dubai’s most intriguing contemporary Asian cuisine restaurants. The menu offers traditional appetizers and starters served in classic Japanese pubs along with a large selection of meat and fish cooked on binchotan charcoal, plus a good selection of wine, sake, beer, and designer cocktails. Entrance is through the secret door in the vinyl record store on the second floor of the Pullman Hotel.

One of Dubai’s most popular bars offers a panoramic view of Burj Khalifa and the dancing fountains. It features a kitchen inspired by the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea, one of the city’s best wine collections, and a resort ambiance. Urla is officially downtown’s premier venue for fashionable events and parties with live music and DJ sets, staying open late into the night. The bar’s resident DJ is DJ Mert Yenidunya. The best strategy is to book a table for dinner at sunset, watch the fountain show, which runs daily from 6 pm to 11 pm at 30-minute intervals, and spend the rest of the evening at the bar counter. The bar’s bestseller is the signature Aegean Sea gin-based cocktail with bright notes of yuzu served in an eye-catching medusa glass.

An underground boutique bar decorated like an opulent Bedouin tent is located directly beneath the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant Alaya, in the heart of the financial district. Bustling and colorful, it features regular DJ shows with a variety of music genres, including EDM, Afro, organic house, and fusion. The bar also hosts Founder’s Night sessions, during which the bar’s founder, restaurateur Evgeny Kuzin personally takes over the DJ console alongside his partners and friends. This venue is the best nightlife project of the Fundamental Hospitality group, which has already opened several speakeasy bars in Dubai, characterized by red velvet, marble, gold, excellent music, and good alcohol.

One of Dubai’s most charming cocktail bars, dedicated to a space theme, is the brainchild of restaurateur Natasha Sideris, who has Greek and South African roots. This lounge, located in the heart of the bustling city, features arched ceilings inspired by Athenian nights and adorned with sparkling stars, an opulent bar counter made of Lemurian blue granite, and accents of velvet and gold. As it is an intimate establishment, advance booking is highly recommended. A creative bar menu boasts many signature cocktails, and starting at 11 pm, the venue hosts DJ sets or special music events that bring together artists from around the world. The neighboring affiliated Greek restaurant, Avli by Tashas, offers meze in finger food format. However, the Galaxy itself does not have food on the menu, so we advise you to have dinner beforehand.

This is a speakeasy bar located beneath Dubai’s premier Greek restaurant, Gaia, and is another intriguing project from the Fundamental Hospitality restaurant group, which focuses on enhancing Dubai’s nightlife. As has become a tradition, the entrance to the bar is through hidden door in an improvised souvenir shop. The menu features signature cocktails inspired by the vibrant Greek culture and the European tradition of digestifs, perfectly complementing the lively atmosphere. At NYX, DJ parties are held throughout the week, attracting Dubai’s trendiest and most creative crowd. Advance booking is recommended.

A Mexican restaurant from chef Shaw Lash, who previously worked with Chicago-based regional Mexican cuisine expert Rick Bayless and studied under a prominent food writer Diana Kennedy, who spent over 50 years studying the cuisine and culinary traditions of Mexico. Levering this extensive experience, chef Lash has established a small and authentic taqueria on Dubai’s main tourist promenade, Jumeirah Street. The taqueria offers traditional Mexican street fare such as tacos al pastor and churros with homemade salted caramel, alongside designer dishes that adhere classic recipes like Yukatecan-style spicy roasted chicken. The menu is small but comprehensive, and the atmosphere is informal. Lila Taqueria is a standout.

This is the brainchild of French chef and Vatel Business School graduate Moïse Sfez, inspired by New York street food culture. It marks the Middle East’s first branch of the award-winning shop known for its lobster rolls and sandwiches, which initially made a splash in Paris before gaining global recognition, including in the United States. In 2018, Homer Lobster won the Celebrity Favorite nomination at the World’s Best Lobster Roll competition in Portland, ME. True to the essence of a classic street food joint, Homer Lobster has a small menu. In addition to its signature dish (lobster roll or lobster and crayfish roll), the menu offers a grilled cheese sandwich, a tuna sandwich (boasting one of Dubai’s best tuna melts), salmon pastrami, and a limited selection of sides and sauces. This establishment is the main street food venue in the DIFC district and ranks as the runner-up in our rating.

The favorite sandwich shop of Dubai foodies was founded by Emiratis and childhood friends Talal Hizami, Ramez Mikhail, and Tarek Roumie. Their career in food was almost accidental and began after their sandwich shop proved to be so popular at the Sole DXB city festival that one of them was constantly forced to run to neighboring shops in search of turkey meat for new orders. The permanent venue, which opened at Wasl Square a year later, offers a limited selection of salads and specialty coffee in addition to the sandwiches. It immediately replicated the success of the street pop-up, and today, in addition to the legendary TLT with turkey, Rascals also offers the roast beef sandwich and its new hit, The Philly, with rib-eye steak, caramelized onion, and provolone cheese.

A trendy pizzeria, opened by one of the Rascals Deli co-founders, Talal Hizami, offers a menu featuring six excellent pizzas along with temporary specials, all sold by the slice. This popular New York concept first made a splash in Dubai here. The best standout items on the menu include The Pepp with its signature cheese mix, The Red with stracciatella and honey, and The Tartufo truffle pizza. Additionally, the pizzeria offers appetizers such as French fries and pepperoni crisps, as well as desserts like cheesecake and tiramisu. To avoid standing in line, it’s best to visit at the 5 pm opening or around 10 pm when the heat subsides, allowing you to sit at the counter outside.

This is a local project that has become quite popular among the locals. It is one of Dubai’s best chains with branches throughout city and a delivery service. The pizza is made on a signature artisanal dough that is proofed for 72 hours. The menu also offers comfort food such as salads, pasta, and desserts, but the top two bestsellers—the classic Pepperoni Primo and Margherita—remain perennial favorites at all Pitfire venues year after year. Word on the street is that the secret to their success is the city’s best pizza crust.

This pizzeria, situated in a small glass pavilion in the Umm Suqeim 2 beach zone, has limited seating inside and a small terrace. You cannot book a table, and getting inside is a challenging task. From the moment it opens until late at night, there is a daily line at Blu, which can last an hour or more. There are two solutions to this dilemma: either sign up for the wait list with the hostess and go for a walk along the sea on Al Soon Street or order a pizza to go. The menu offers just five pizzas, and all of them are impeccable. If you want something beyond the classic offerings, choose the Musakhan, which is topped with chicken fried with onions and almonds, inspired by a Palestinian street food of the same name.

A Chinese cuisine restaurant whose story began more than 50 years ago at small street food stall selling xiao long bao in Taipei has evolved into one of the world’s best chains offering Asian street and home food in an express café format. In Asia, people visit Din Tai Fung for a quick business lunch or to purchase fried rice and fried noodles to go. They also come specifically for the signature xiao long bao, which has collected all conceivable culinary awards over the years. This is a top choice for any occasion.

This is a small conceptual speakeasy bar with original decorations that include a starry sky over Athens, a monumental bar counter made of Lemurian blue granite, and the vibrant atmosphere of contemporary Attica’s capital. The bar features unique signature cocktails, some of which are based on brandy from the Greek liquor brand The House of Metaxa, a long-time partner of the bar. The top items on the bar menu are Andromeda (gin, peach, basil), Pillar of Heaven (gin, vermouth, miso-based umami distillate), and Thunderbird (mezcal, grapefruit, white pepper). The waiters and bartenders are happy to provide recommendations to anyone struggling with the problem of choice. Advance booking is recommended.

This is a secret Japanese izakaya and music bar, hidden behind a backdoor in the vinyl record store on the second floor of the Pullman Hotel. It is one of Dubai’s best bars, offering a vast selection of sake, shōchū, umeshu, Japanese beer, and signature cocktails with an original Asian twist. We recommend the Manga Rita, which is based on tequila with umeshu, and also contains Japanese sudachi citrus fruit, pineapple, and chili pepper. Another excellent choice is the B*tches Brew, made with sake, vermouth, and apple cordial. That said, Honeycomb Hi-Fi is also renowned for its kitchen, having earned several prominent regional awards in its first year of operation. It is a perfect option for an end-of-week dinner with friends.

This intimate jazz bar at DIFC features a slightly old-fashioned atmosphere, outstanding acoustics, and probably the city’s most beautiful ceiling fresco. It also offers a small but creative cocktail menu dedicated to music. The best options include the Jasspresso Martini with notes of chocolate and vanilla and the mezcal-based Side Winder with a citrus taste. You can also ask the bartenders to mix any classic cocktail. Hidden in the heart of Gate District 2 and sitting no more than 40 people, it’s hard to access. If it’s your first visit, be sure to book the table in advance and call ahead for directions to the entrance.

This is one of Dubai’s most fashionable and entertaining bars, inspired by 1970s New York Chinatown establishments. The cocktail menu is impressive and avoids boring classics. The best cocktails include the Wrong Island Iced Tea (rum, mezcal, Cointreau, cola), the Love Hotel 75 (gin, aniseed, yuzu sorbet), and the signature Electric Pawn Star Martini (plum wine, vodka, passion fruit). The bar also features a small but interesting menu with Asian appetizers, intriguing main dishes such as seabass katsu, and some desserts, a pleasant industrial interior, and avant-garde music.

This is the perfect bar for an afterparty following a dinner at the Gaia restaurant located one floor above. It is the best nighttime project from the Fundamental Hospitality group and one of Dubai’s most successful speakeasy bars. Its cocktail menu is inspired by Greek culture and the European tradition of digestifs. The signature mixes include chamomile infusion, homemade syrup made from pineapple rind, and other unique ingredients. Strictly speaking, NYX is one of the most popular secret night bars in the DIFC district. It accommodates around 60 people and frequently hosts celebrities from around the world, so advance booking is a must.

This is one of Dubai’s most flamboyant speakeasy bars: it is opulent in an Oriental way, decorated like a luxurious Bedouin tent, and relaxed in a European manner, hosting regular costume parties and featuring Western DJs. The best cocktails on the menu are the Hakawati Gimlet (gin, yuzu, bergamot, basil) and the Dallah Negroni (gin, Campari, coffee). The ideal time to visit is from Tuesday to Saturday, starting at 11 pm and continuing into the night. The best option is to book a table at the Middle Eastern restaurant Alaya, located just above LY-LA, and then continue your night at the bar.

The lounge with a view of the gulf inside Il Ristorante at the Bulgari Hotel is the most “public” in this selection, but it is also one of the region’s most distinguished. Despite its Italian heritage, the menu at Bulgari Bar offers some original mixes inspired by local products and tastes. We recommend the Lemon-Knees (gin, lemon, honey) and the So-Fig (vodka, lime, fig) sours, as well as the Souk Lento (whiskey, bitter, kiwi, persimmon). Choose the homemade focaccia, arancini with veal ragout, and the assortment of classic Italian cheeses and meats from the Antipasto menu. Advance booking is required for end-of-week and weekend visits.

The steakhouse by the renowned Spanish chef Dani Garcia opened in late 2023 and immediately topped the list of Dubai’s best meat restaurants. Its interiors meticulously replicate those of the flagship establishment in Marbella, which was named The World’s Most Beautiful Restaurant in 2021. The venue features an open kitchen and exceptional terrace. Visit for the UAE’s best Australian Wagyu 9+ steaks impeccably grilled over an open fire.

This is a cozy villa with a wood-fired grill that the restaurant’s chef-owner, Singaporean Akmal Anuar, uses to cook almost everything on the menu, from cauliflower steak to opulent 800-gram Australian black Angus steaks. The meat is what made the restaurant famous: in its first year of operation, 11 Woodfire earned a reputation as an establishment with Dubai’s most generous servings of outstanding beef, perfectly infused with the aromas of pine and hickory.

An exemplary tournedos from Wagyu beef with pepper sauce and a classic rib-eye with young potatoes and tempura-fried Padron peppers are the two principal signature steaks on the à la carte menu of the international chain L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. These dishes have remained bestsellers in all 11 countries of the brand’s presence throughout the years. The UAE is no exception. This restaurant is the best choice for meat enthusiasts who also value classic French culinary techniques and high standards of quality.

This elegant Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant offers a sizable selection of rotisserie dishes. The main highlights are the dry-aged tomahawk steak, which can be easily shared by two or three people, and the Wagyu striploin with caramelized onions and mustard sauce. The best side for any of the meat dishes, including the lamb, is a simple mix of beautifully grilled vegetables and the Arabic meze with freshly baked bread.

Contemporary Spanish cuisine paired with an extensive wine menu. Boca is one of the region’s few restaurants with its own wine cellar. There are at least two exceptional meat dishes on the menu that warrant a dinnertime visit: the tenderest beef cheek with cauliflower and quinoa in a red wine glaze and farmer lamb chops with celeriac puree. These dishes are perfect options for comfort food enthusiasts.

A branch of the renowned French cuisine restaurant from Nice, an establishment with an old-world atmosphere and a traditional view of gastronomy. La Petite Maison prepares all the main cuts of beef in a French manner for all occasions. These include impeccable rib-eyes, grilled Wagyu fillet, and the legendary lamb chops, Сôtelettes d’Agneau Vivienne, named in honor of Vivienne Waney, the wife of the restaurant chain’s owner who was a big fan of the original recipe.

This is a classic French cuisine restaurant offering Dubai’s best Rossini tournedos steak with truffle Perigueux sauce. Other premium offerings include Wagyu Japanese A5 tenderloin and rib-eye steak from Black Angus calves. The latter is listed on the menu under its French name, Côte de bœuf, and is served with bone marrow and onion pickle. It is the simplest and most sure-fire option for a perfect lunch that could easily place in a trendy Paris brasserie.