11 Best Restaurants in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

101 Dining Lounge and Bar

$$$$ | Jumeirah Beach Fodor's choice
101 never fails to impress. You're bound to be surrounded by potential grooms popping the question, couples clinking champagne glasses, and tourists snapping shots of the New Dubai skyline. 101 is a lounge, tapas bar, and restaurant, so it fits most timetables, and also ticks plenty of tourist boxes. Views? Check: water and skyline views from Palm to Marina. Romantic? Check: bobbing pontoons, candlelight, smooth tunes, and intimate spaces. Exclusive? Check: boat trip from the other One & Only, or a long drive down the Palm crescent. Delicious? Check: smart cocktails and classy modern Mediterranean food and wine. Expensive? Check, but considering all the other advantages, worth it.

Coya

$$$$ | Jumeirah Beach Fodor's choice
Dubai didn't know it needed Peruvian dining until Coya opened. It's not the original, but you'd never know it; this place oozes soul. Decor is vibrant and plush; the food is exotic, service smooth, and two piscos later, you'll never want to leave. Look for special events like cocktail making, ceviche master classes, and art exhibitions, which take place almost weekly. Brunch on Friday here is one of Dubai's best. Their hidden members' club has a pricey yearly fee, which you might be able to bypass with some sweet-talking, though we wouldn't count on it. Don't miss the scallop tiradito and the sea bass cazuela, two dishes you will never forget.

Abshar

$$ | Jumeirah Beach
The Jumeirah Beach Road is lined with ethnic restaurants—Turkish, Saudi, Lebanese— all inside villas. Most are very good, and Abshar is a favorite of many. They have other branches in Knowledge Village, Media City, and Al Rigga, but none quite match the opulence of this location. The building retains its dimension of a lavish villa, complete with chandeliers and damask curtains, and each room is a different color representing a different region of Iran. Go for authentic sagnak bread out of the traditional oven, jojeh masti kebabs (chicken in yogurt), gormeh sabzi (lamb stew with leafy greens and beans), and kashk o bademjan (roasted eggplant dip, served warm with sweet mint sauce and whey). Service is quiet and efficient, though not what most would call welcoming or particularly friendly, except for Sam in the sweets shop out front. Finish there with traditional Persian cookies, pastries, and mastic ice cream. No alcohol served.

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Biryani Pot

$ | Jumeirah Beach
For a feast costing only around 35 dirhams, this is a great choice in the otherwise pricey Jumeirah district. As the name would suggest, the dum biryani is your best bet. Served in a terra-cotta pot, the dish is covered with pastry, which you must crack open to a rush of steam. They are usually enough to feed two, especially if you add some of their decadent dal makhani or butter chicken (great salads and chaat are also available as lighter options). The venue is clean and contemporary but tiny, and more diners take out than sit in. There are still pleasant places to sit, though, especially when the weather is not too hot and the terrace is open. No alcohol served.

Café Ceramique

$$ | Jumeirah Beach

This has been a favorite of expat families for many years. Not only is there a large terrace with Arabian gulf glimpses, but the kids (or young at heart) can decorate ceramics while they wait for their food. Service is friendly and varies in efficiency. The menu contains a long list of café basics, including salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, pasta, and some larger mains, and there's a kids menu, too (nuggets, hot dogs, and the like.)

Do note, in busy times, it can take up to 10 days to have your artwork fired after decorating it. If you are only in town briefly, make sure you check before you start.

Farzi Cafe

$$ | Jumeirah Beach
New to Dubai's Indian molecular food scene, Farzi is all about image, and their interior and dishes are some of the most Instagrammed in the city. The menu is primarily made up of small bites, pretty, unique, and unusual, always with elements of Indian cuisine. They call themselves a "modern spice bistro" to differentiate from the more standard curry houses. Situated in the new development of City Walk, Farzi is surrounded by glamorous and unusual boutiques. No alcohol served.

Lime Tree Cafe

$ | Jumeirah Beach

The Lime Tree Cafe was probably the first modern Western café to open in Dubai (2001), and although its popularity paved the way for many other similar establishments, many retain this as a favorite. Pop in for free-trade organic coffee and tea, and order superfluous salads, cakes, and other items by sight at the counter. Service is efficient and easy; its a great place for a quick, no-fuss bite, or to grab some home-made treats to take with you. No alcohol served.

Pierchic

$$$$ | Jumeirah Beach

Resting on a wooden pier on the Arabian Gulf, with views over two of Dubai's most stunning resorts and skyline, Pierchic is one of the most romantic settings in the emirate. The contemporary decor is breezy and casual while still oozing wealth and class, and glass walls allow diners to sit in air-conditioned comfort while enjoying views of the iconic Burj Al-Arab. In season it is possible to sit on the deck and catch the breeze coming off the sea, or perch on a stool in one of their pier-side pods for a quick champagne before dinner. The menu is modern British with a strong seafood element, and is partnered by one of the Emirate's most prestigious (and expensive) wine lists. This is definitely one for a special occasion.

Senara

$$$ | Jumeirah Beach
Senara is not flashy, trendy, or glamorous, but it's a lovely and quiet place to sit and watch the sun go down over million-dollar yachts at one of Palm Jumeirah's many marinas. The interior is contemporary Moroccan in feel, and the outside is supercasual: benches, umbrellas, and a sea breeze, with fish-and-chips and ice-cold beers being the order of the day. Service is casual and friendly, but nothing happens too fast in this part of the world. There's not much around Senara; it's in a sleepy cove and hides behind a complex that looks a little like a cell-block, but it's perfect for those who want to enjoy the Palm (and some great food) without the pomp and ceremony.

Social by Heinz Beck

$$$$ | Jumeirah Beach
With a German chef serving Italian cuisine at this American hotel in Dubai, Social has managed to seamlessly blend together elements of multiple cultures. Heinz Beck, head chef at Rome's Michelin three-star restaurant La Pergola, entered the Dubai scene in 2014, and often drops by Social for a visit. His stamp is obvious in the elegant and complex Italian cuisine, and the luxurious ambience. The staff is highly attentive, and each dish is delicately presented in the quiet atmosphere. Go with an empty belly—there are often in-between courses that you will receive without ordering. Alcohol served.

Surf Cafe

$$
Positioned a short walk from Umm Suqueim seashore, Surf Cafe is always packed with smiling patrons refueling after some serious beach activity. Sand on your shoes is not a prerequisite though, and you'll also find school mums enjoying a veggie breakfast, travelers chowing down one of the only good steaks in Dubai for under 150 dirhams, and families heading in for some kid-friendly yet healthy food. Offerings include a range of burgers, salads, and sushi, great coffee and smoothies, and plenty of superfoods for those who need more than starch and caffeine. The atmosphere is clean, wholesome and lively, and service friendly, if a little slow during busy hours. No alcohol served.