Where to eat in Dubai: restaurants and brunches

Dubai eats out a lot, and the choice runs from long weekend brunches and rooftop dinners to Arabic grills and Indian canteens. Browse by type, then filter by area, price, cuisine and dress code.

Restaurants by type

  • A traditional Middle Eastern breakfast spread with a cup of tea, fried egg, tomatoes, walnuts, cheese, jam and flatbread

    Arabian Tea House, Al Fahidi

    • Arabic, Emirati
    • Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

    about AED 68 per person

  • A toasted shawarma wrap cut in half to show the meat filling, on a wooden board with lettuce and chips

    Al Mallah

    • Arabic, Lebanese

    about AED 43 per person

  • Saffron-marinated grilled chicken kebab with a charred tomato and vegetables, in the Persian style

    Al Ustad Special Kabab

    • Arabic
    • Bur Dubai

    about AED 31 per person

  • A bowl of Thai green curry with meat and green chillies, surrounded by fresh coriander and red and green chillies

    Thiptara

    • Seafood, Asian
    • Downtown Dubai
    • Alcohol served

    about AED 212 per person

  • Four pleated soup dumplings in a bamboo steamer under warm restaurant lighting

    Asia Asia Dubai Marina

    • Asian
    • Dubai Marina
    • Alcohol served

    about AED 178 per person

  • A Neapolitan-style margherita pizza with a blistered crust, mozzarella and fresh basil on a wooden board

    Papas Dubai Marina

    • Modern European
    • Dubai Marina
    • Alcohol served

    about AED 157 per person

  • Fresh oysters dressed with a colourful relish on crushed ice in a grey stone bowl

    The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill, JBR

    • Seafood, International
    • JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence)
    • Alcohol served

    about AED 140 per person

  • Peruvian-style ceviche with red onion, sweet potato and lettuce on a white plate

    Amazónico Dubai

    • Seafood, International
    • Alcohol served

    about AED 263 per person

Eating out in Dubai: what to know

Alcohol is served only in licensed venues, mostly inside hotels and in some leisure districts; each restaurant page says whether it serves alcohol. Most restaurants are halal, and vegetarian dishes are easy to find, especially in Indian and Lebanese restaurants.

Weekend brunch is a Dubai institution. It is usually sold as a package with a fixed start and end time, and the price mostly depends on the drinks package. Book ahead for Friday and Saturday brunches and for tables with a view at sunset.

Check the dress code before you go: smart casual is common in hotel restaurants, and beachwear is not welcome outside beach clubs.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book restaurants in Dubai in advance?

For weekend brunches, popular rooftop venues and fine dining, yes: book a few days ahead, and earlier around holidays. Casual restaurants usually take walk-ins.

Is alcohol served in Dubai restaurants?

Only in licensed venues, which are mostly in hotels and some leisure districts. Each restaurant page on this site says whether alcohol is served; many excellent restaurants are alcohol-free.

What does the price level mean?

It is our estimate of the average spend per person for a meal without drinks: $ under AED 100, $$ AED 100 to 250, $$$ AED 250 to 450 and $$$$ over AED 450.

What is a Dubai brunch?

A long weekend meal, usually on Friday, Saturday or Sunday afternoon, sold as a package with unlimited food and a choice of drinks packages. Prices differ mainly by the drinks package.

Our editors choose the restaurants on these pages; paid placements, if any, are always labelled “Sponsored”. How we rank