Dubai, located on the coast of the Persian Gulf, is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Middle East. The Emirate of Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates and is the country’s commercial, financial, logistics, transport, and tourism hub. Glitzy and glamorous, Dubai is the city of stylish contemporary skyscrapers, modern shopping malls, artificial attractions, a world-renowned shopping festival and celebrated gastronomy that rivals New York, Paris, London Singaporean, and Tokyo.
There are plenty of things to do and places to see in the Dubai holidays. Here travellers can enjoy indoor attractions like Dubai Aquarium, Ski Dubai, Dubai Miracle Gardens, Dubai Frame, etc. Adventure seekers can indulge in skydiving from the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa and enjoy 4WD desert safari dune bashing in the orange-coloured deserts of Dubai. Luxury travellers can stay in super luxury resorts and hotels while experience seekers will love the desert camping under the stars and sailing in Dubai Creek.
However, one of the most amazing aspects of Dubai is its food scene. Dubai’s progressive, cosmopolitan, and tolerant culture has seen expats settling from all over the world. These expats from different countries and continents have brought their food and flavours with them to Dubai. This amalgamation of cuisines from all over the world has resulted in rich gastronomy that rivals the world’s best food cities.
Dubai is known in the world as a shoppers’ paradise but, it is also the fastest growing city in terms of Michelin star restaurants. Dubai has become the playground of celebrity chefs and diverse cuisines competing to satiate the taste buds of millions of visitors.
Here you will find the celebrated French, Japanese, Indian, English, Mexican, and Italian food along with lesser-known Portuguese, Brazilian, Australian, and Peruvian cuisines. Here, travellers can also enjoy regional cuisines like Emirati, Arabic, Lebanese, Greek, and Turkish food along with American fast-food joints, steer food zones and casual eateries. Travelup presents a guide to the top 7 restaurants where you must eat during holidays to Dubai.
Top 7 Restaurants in Dubai
- STAY by Yannick Alleno
- Il Ristorante – Niko Romito
- Hakkasan
- Al Muntaha
- Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara
- Nobu Dubai
- Pierchic
1. STAY by Yannick Alleno
STAY, located in Palm Jumeirah, is a two-star Michelin Star restaurant in Dubai run by celebrity chef Yannick Alleno. This stylish and contemporary designed plush restaurant is famed for Yannick Alleno’s signature recipes of delicious French cuisine. A dinner or lunch at STAY is an amazing gastronomic adventure featuring a series of surprise tasting menus produced with the finest ingredients. Chef Yannick Alleno’s philosophy of ‘less is more’ approach in his recipes elevates the dining experience for patrons and visitors alike. Coupled with high standards of service, stylish contemporary décor, and artistic presentation of dishes makes it one of the best places to eat during Dubai holidays.
2. Il Ristorante – Niko Romito
Il Restorante is the second restaurant in Dubai with two Michelin stars and is run and managed by chef Niko Romito. Located inside the super luxury 5-star resort Bulgari Hotel, Il Restorante, run by chef Niko Romito, presents a lighter, healthier presentation of Italian gourmet cuisine. Il Restorante’s food is light on fats and carbs but focuses heavily on flavours. Fellow Italian chef Giacomo Amicucci cooks delicious and complex dishes all available as part of an extensive ala carte menu for patrons and travellers. Il Restorante is certainly the top restaurant to eat in Dubai holidays.
3. Hakkasan
Hakkasan is a famed Chinese restaurant which first opened in Fitzrovia, London in 2001 by chef Alan Yau, the name behind the Wagamama Japanese restaurants and the Yauatcha restaurant. Hakkasan serves modern Chinese cuisine fused with the western upscale dining experience. Hakkasan Dubai is another feather in the cap for Hakkasan Group which is known for its Michelin stars. Located inside the iconic Atlantis, The Palm, Hakkasan is a stylish club-style restaurant with an upbeat music playlist. Here, you will enjoy contemporary Chinese cuisine in both an a la carte menu and signature tasting menus. If you are visiting the Atlantis, The Palm, known for amazing theme parks and aquariums, do visit the Hakkasan on your holidays to Dubai.
4. Al Muntaha
Al Muntaha is located on the 27th floor of the world’s self-proclaimed 7-star super luxury hotel, Burj Al Arab. Al Muntaha has floor-to-ceiling glass windows that provide sprawling views of Dubai’s coastline, skyscrapers, beaches, and the waters of the Persian Gulf. Al Muntaha is a highly reputed Michelin star restaurant run and managed by chef Saverio Sbaragli. The restaurant serves delectable European cuisines where guests can enjoy classic French flavours and techniques that blend with Mediterranean flavours. The menu of Al Muntaha is bold and focuses on impressive presentation. Al Muntaha also has an impressive list of Champagne.
5. Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara
Ristorante L’Olivio of Capri, Italy is a Michelin-starred restaurant in Dubai, present inside the iconic Burj Al Arab’s iconic restaurant space of Al Mahara. L’Olivo is a newer addition to Dubai’s ever-increasing dining space. Ristorante L’Olivio is run and managed by chef Andrea Migliaccio, famed for his rich culinary delights served with high standards in an iconic aquarium setting. Here the chef takes inspiration from Capri’s history of sea connection and the aquarium setting of Al Mahara. The result is a seafood-based cuisine full of rich flavours and impressive culinary skills. Al Mahara is one of the iconic dining spots in Dubai for several years and Ristorante L’Olivo has an impressive start. In the coming days, it will become one of the trendiest restaurants in Dubai.
6. Nobu Dubai
Located inside the Atlantis, The Palm, Nobu Dubai is a Michelin-starred restaurant run and owned by the world-famous celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, who has redefined Japanese cuisine and put Japanese cuisine at the forefront. Nobu ranks in the top 7 restaurants in Dubai that focus on an iconic menu fusing Japanese style with Arabian influence. Here, you can also enjoy the legendary seared black cod served with sweet miso sauce and yellowtail topped with thin slices of jalapenos. Nobu Dubai also has a sushi bar in a chic décor and private area for a more intimate setting. Patrons and visitors can also take cooking classes to learn the secrets of the world-famous restaurant chain. A dinner or lunch in Nobu Dubai is the must have dining experiences for travellers on their holidays to Dubai.
7. Pierchic
Pierchic is one of the cult restaurants in Dubai, known for offering some of the best seafood in the city. It is also voted as the Best Seafood Restaurant by Time Out Dubai as well. Pierchic is located at the end of the illustrious Jumeirah Al Qasr hotel and set on a pier jutting out into the Persian Gulf, Pierchic is a romantic setting far from the noise and the hustle and bustle of Dubai and offers views of the Persian Gulf. The setting is ideal for savouring European seafood dishes while enjoying the views of the sea and enjoying the fresh sea breezes. A dinner in Pierchic is considered as a must for couples in Dubai Holidays.
