The city’s dining scene has exploded in recent years, thanks to the arrival of the Michelin Guide and World’s 50 Best.
From celebrity chefs and fine dining hotspots to homegrown gems and buzzing street food joints, Dubai has officially cemented its place on the global culinary map.
If you’re wondering where to eat in Dubai in 2025, here’s the ultimate guide to the 28 best restaurants in Dubai – spanning Emirati fine dining, buzzing bistros, rooftop gems, and beloved street food institutions.
1. Gerbou – Nad Al Sheba
Must-try dish: Chicken Machboos
Dubai’s first fine-dining Emirati restaurant, founded by Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum. Expect mezze, falafel curry, and inventive twists on local flavours.
📍 Nad Al Sheba 1 – gerbou.com
2. Manāo – Jumeirah 1
Must-try dish: 11-course tasting menu
Thai-inspired dishes reimagined with global flair by chef Abhiraj Khatwani. Don’t expect pad Thai—this is bold, creative dining.
📍 Wasl Vita – manao.ae
3. Sufret Maryam – Jumeirah 1
Must-try dish: Khobez al bait
Palestinian chef Salam Dakkar brings a refined upgrade to homestyle Levantine cooking. Save room for the labneh crème brûlée.
📍 Wasl 51 – sufretmaryam.com
4. Mythos Kouzina & Grill – JLT
Must-try dish: Spanakopita
Authentic Greek taverna vibes with standout grilled octopus, dips, and cheese saganaki.
📍 Armada Avenue Hotel – mythosdubai.com
5. Fusion Ceviche – JLT
Must-try dish: Signature clásico ceviche
A Peruvian gem led by chef Penelope Diaz, famous for tangy ceviches, scallop tiradito, and hearty lomo saltado.
📍 Cluster Q – @fusioncevichedxb22
6. La Petite Maison (LPM) – DIFC
Must-try dish: Escargots de Bourgogne
A Dubai dining institution with flawless French-Mediterranean classics, impeccable service, and the iconic Tomatini cocktail.
📍 Gate Village 8 – lpmrestaurants.com
7. Bussola – Mina Seyahi
Must-try dish: Linguine alle vongole
One of Dubai’s longest-standing Italian restaurants with fine dining downstairs and woodfired pizza upstairs.
📍 Westin Mina Seyahi – destinationminaseyahi.com
8. The Guild – DIFC
Must-try dish: Wood-fired seafood feast
An ambitious, multi-concept dining destination with champagne bars, seafood counters, and elegant dining rooms.
📍 ICD Brookfield Place – theguilddubai.com
9. Estiatorio Milos – Palm Jumeirah
Must-try dish: Milos Special
Refined Greek seafood at Atlantis The Royal with views of the Skyblaze fountains.
📍 Atlantis The Royal – milosdubai.com
10. Row on 45 – Dubai Marina
Must-try dish: 17-course tasting menu
Two-Michelin-starred Jason Atherton serves a seasonal journey blending Japanese techniques with global ingredients.
📍 Grosvenor House – rowon45dubai.com
11. Soul Kitchen – Business Bay
Must-try dish: Wagyu Kafta
A Levantine-Latin fusion restaurant and cultural hub with jazz nights, art, and soulful dishes like shawarma empanadas.
📍 Marasi Drive – soulkitchendxb.com
12. Ninive – DIFC
Must-try dish: Tamarind chicken
Modern Middle Eastern dining inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Known for pumpkin spinach kibbeh and lamb tashreeb.
📍 Emirates Towers – ninive.ae
13. Trèsind Studio – Palm Jumeirah
Must-try dish: 16-course tasting menu
The world’s only Indian restaurant with three Michelin stars. Chef Himanshu Saini delivers a breathtaking tasting journey.
📍 St. Regis Gardens – tresindstudio.com
14. The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill – JBR
Must-try dish: Dibba Bay oysters
One of Dubai’s most stylish yet relaxed seafood restaurants. Best enjoyed on the terrace with oysters and Champagne.
📍 DoubleTree Hilton JBR – themaine.ae
15. Orfali Bros Bistro – Jumeirah 1
Must-try dish: Corn Bomb
A Syrian family-run gem blending Middle Eastern roots with global flavours. Chef Mohamad often greets diners himself.
📍 Wasl 51 – orfalibros.com
16. Gaia – DIFC
Must-try dish: Sea bream carpaccio
Chef Izu Ani’s homegrown fine-dining Greek-Mediterranean restaurant that sparked Dubai’s fine dining renaissance.
📍 Gate Village 4 – gaia-restaurants.com
17. Flamingo Room by tashas – Madinat Jumeirah
Must-try dish: Calamari Mozambique
A pastel-pink showstopper overlooking Turtle Lagoon. Don’t miss the malva pudding for dessert.
📍 Jumeirah Al Naseem – flamingoroombytashas.com
18. 11 Woodfire – Jumeirah 1
Must-try dish: Wagyu burger
Chef Akmal Anuar champions woodfire cooking with bold simplicity. Locals flock here for its flavour-first approach.
📍 Villa 11, Jumeirah 1 – 11woodfire.com
19. 21 Grams – Umm Suqeim 2
Must-try dish: Phyllo pie
Founder Stasha Toncev serves authentic Balkan comfort food in a warm, community-focused restaurant.
📍 Meyan Mall – 21grams.me
20. Solara – Downtown Dubai
Must-try dish: Truffled Milk-Fed Veal Carpaccio
Solara’s kitchen celebrates bold, ingredient-led cooking designed for connection. The stunning pool takes centre stage, creating a chic poolside ambience with breathtaking views of the Burj Khalifa.
📍 Solara – Solara
21. Takahisa – Bluewaters Island
Must-try dish: Kaniku
An omakase-led Japanese restaurant with world-class Wagyu beef and sushi masters flown in from Japan.
📍 Bluewaters – takahisa.ae
22. Mimi Kakushi – Jumeirah 2
Must-try dish: Miso black cod gyozas
1920s Japanese-inspired design with standout signature dishes and a chic bar crowd.
📍 Four Seasons Jumeirah – mimikakushi.ae
23. Kinoya – The Greens
Must-try dish: Spicy duck ramen
From supper club to cult ramen shop, Neha Mishra’s izakaya serves unforgettable bowls of ramen and Japanese bites.
📍 The Onyx Tower 2 – kinoya.com
24. Reif Japanese Kushiyaki – Al Wasl Road / Dubai Hills
Must-try dish: Angus beef claypot rice
Chef Reif Othman’s Asian-inspired izakaya with bold small plates and a loyal following.
📍 Dar Wasl Mall – reifkushiyaki.com
25. Il Borro Tuscan Bistro – Madinat Jumeirah
Must-try dish: Strozzapreti all’anatra
A Tuscan oasis by the Turtle Lagoon, serving sustainable farm-to-table Italian cuisine from the Ferragamo estate.
📍 Jumeirah Al Naseem – ilborrotuscanbistro.ae
26. Al Ustad Special Kebab – Bur Dubai
Must-try dish: Chicken kebab
Since the 1970s, this casual Persian grill has been beloved for its platters of kebabs, rice, and flatbreads.
📍 Al Mankhool Road – alustadspecialkabab.has.restaurant
27. Jun’s – Downtown Dubai
Must-try dish: Heirloom carrots
Chef Kelvin Cheng brings global flair to Downtown with inventive dishes rooted in his multicultural heritage.
📍 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard – junsdubai.com
28. 3Fils – Jumeirah Fishing Harbour
Must-try dish: Hokkaido scallops
A no-reservations Japanese-inspired spot ranked #1 on MENA’s 50 Best list in 2022. Casual, cult, and consistently outstanding.
📍 Jumeirah Fishing Harbour – 3fils.com
