5 Best Restaurants in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

There are two parts to Bussola, and both are well worth a visit. The first is the casual pizzeria, which rests on the rooftop capturing views of Palm Jumeirah, skydivers falling on the target at Skydive Dubai, and the illuminated dinner dhows that cruise the gentle bay in front. They serve delicious wood-fired pizzas, antipasti and salads in a convivial atmosphere, and it's possible to have a beer and share a pizza for around AED100. Downstairs is the fine-dining area, and one of Dubai's best Italian restaurants. Cuisine and the dress code are more serious, prices a little more uppity and the surroundings more sedate. Here look for very special homemade pasta, suckling pig and some luscious desserts.

This part of town is not known for romantic fine-dining restaurants, but Elia gets very close to the more sophisticated offerings in newer parts of Dubai, and it's been ahead of its time for years. The setting is idyllic, particularly when the weather allows eating outside, and you'd be hard-pressed to remember that you are dining within the maelstrom that is Bur Dubai and Mankhool. Elia is about as authentically Greek as you can get in the city, and the Mediterranean menu suits the weather and local palates perfectly. There is a good selection of traditional food and plenty of fine and reasonably Greek wine offered. Music Room, one of the city's better live venues, is also located in the hotel.

The original Fumés (there are now two in the city), this location is in Pier 7, a swanky tower overlooking the Dubai Marina, with seven restaurants serving seven different cuisines on seven levels. They are licensed to serve alcohol, which is done either in the bright and lively restaurant, or at the dark and brooding garage-style bar. The menu is varied, with fried foods partnered with piquant Asian flavors, pulled beef brisket, and banoffee pie. Drinking is a pleasure here—reasonably priced, with plenty of cocktails and mocktails to sample. Staff are casual and usually fairly friendly—just watch for busy times (Thursday and Friday night) when the service can't quite keep up with the crowds. Look for great business lunch and brunch deals; it's possible to eat here for less than AED50.

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.