There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Dubai, and you will never get bored of the food. You have food from all over the world right at the palm of your hand.
Use this list as guidance, but I suggest looking each up first before you go to check for dress code/pricing/exact location/alcohol restrictions. What I mean by alcohol restrictions is that if you’re in the mall, on the street, or basically any very public area you will most likely not find alcoholic beverages to drink there. Most alcohol is served in hotel restaurants, resorts, and private areas. They do this on purpose to keep their city classy and alcohol hidden from locals as a sign of respect. Please make sure to enjoy yourself here because you will most likely have the time of your life, but also be respectful of the Muslim community. Emiratis are some of the nicest people you’ll meet, so make sure to be kind.
Dubai Mall
1. Tulum: Mexican
2. Café Blanc: Lebanese
3. Zaytoni: Lebanese/Armenian
4. ARABICA: coffee shop
5. Markette: American
6. HUQQA: Turkish and hookah
a. Many of these restaurants have outdoor seating and you can look out to the fountain show, and this restaurant is my favorite to go to. It has great food, incredible hookah, and the mocktails are SO fun and unique.
7. Social House: Intercontinental
8. Angelina: Coffee shop
9. Chocomelt: Dessert
a. Probably the best chocolate dessert you'll ever have in your existence
10. Café Bateel: Coffee shop
11. Ladureé: Afternoon tea
a. Same one in NYC
12. Al Forno: Italian
13. Logma: Emirati
14. L’eto: Café
a. Unreal dessert, you're not going to be able to just have one kind
Souk Al Bahar/Burj Khalifa
1. BiCE Mare: Italian
2. Galliard: Turkish
a. Fun brunch
3. Armani Restaurant: European
4. Atmosphere: Intercontinental - 123rd floor of Burj Khalifa
a. VERY expensive, but if you want a dinner of a lifetime, I suggest saving up and trying it out.
b. Also, when you go to the bathroom it's literally all window so you're looking down from the 123rd floor while using the restroom LOL
5. Neos: Finger food bar - Address Downtown
6. The Grand Café: Middle Eastern
a. Live music at night, hookah
City Walk
1. Lima: Peruvian
a. Upstairs is a bar/club
b. Sometimes they have salsa classes!
2. Butcha Steakhouse: Steak
3. Al Saja: Café (breakfast-lunch-dessert)
a. The cafe is filled with roses, it's very picturesque
4. Toro & Ko: Asian
5. Clinton Street Bakery: American (breakfast-lunch)
a. The same one in NYC
6. L’Antica de Michele: Authentic Italian pizza
Dubai Media City
1. Zaatar Wa Zeit: Quick Lebanese breakfast/lunch
a. Basically the healthy fast food of the Middle East
b. Open late night, people come here to eat after the club
2. This is it: coffee shop
a. The people that work there are my favorite humans and they make great coffee
3. Mr. Miyagi’s: Asian
Dubai Marina
1. Buddha Bar: Asian (sushi) – Grosvenor House
2. Observatory Bar & Grill: American – Dubai Marriott
3. Zaroob: Lebanese street food
4. Toro Toro: Latin American – Grosvernor House
5. Bella Vista: Italian – Grosvernor House
6. Pier 7:
a. There are 7 floors in total, each floor has a different restaurant/bar
b. I suggest doing a bar crawl through each one for one night
i. Atelier: European
ii. Abd Al Wahab: Lebanese
iii. Cargo: Asian
7. Shades Lounge: European
a. Very cool vibes, you sit by a pool and feel like royalty while having dinner
8. Pickl: American - Jumeriah Lake Towers
9. Sarouja: Syrian breakfast
10. Mythos Kouzina: Greek - Jumeirah Lake Towers, Cluster P
11. NOLA Eatery: Cajun - Jumeirah Lake Towers, Cluster P
a. Both Mythos and NOLA are right across from each other. They are so fun to eat at and they turn into bars later on in the night.
12. Pure Sky Lounge & Dining: Bar
13. El Secreto Brunch La Carnita: Intercontinental
BlueWaters Island
1. Puerto 99: Mexican
a. Upstairs turns into a bar and they have fun dancers to watch!
2. Alici: Italian
a. I literally felt like I was in Positano while eating here. Such romantic vibes.
3. Tete: Syrian café
4. Cove Beach:
a. Beach resort
5. Paru: Asian
Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
1. Eat Greek: Greek
2. Tacolicious: Tacos
a. Very cute taco truck with great food
3. Pots, Pans, Boards: American (breakfast-lunch)
4. Pappa Rotti: Dessert
5. WOFL: Dessert
6. Catch22: American & sushi
7. Aprons & Hammers: Seafood
8. Eggspectation: American (breakfast-lunch)
a. Just like the one in the states and Canada!
9. Karamna AlKhaleej: Lebanese
10. Smoky Beach:
a. Chill hookah lounge
b. It's on the beach and they have comfy bean bags to sit in while you enjoy mocktails and smoke hookah.
11. Yalseh:
a. Chill hookah lounge
12. Sushi Art: Asian
13. Zero Gravity – European
a. Fun pool parties/brunch
b. At night you can go eat buffet dinner, play beer pong outdoors, it basically becomes an outdoor party
c. This place had the wildest Halloween party I've ever been to.
14. Man’oushe Street: Lebanese
15. Lock Stock and Barrel: Finger food and bar
16. Ramusake: Asian
17. Tashas: American
18. Maine Oyster Bar and Grill: Seafood
19. McGettigan’s – Irish pub
a. If you need to watch American football one night, come here
20. Black Tap – Pub
Palm Jumeriah
1. Al Safadi: Lebanese
2. The Penthouse:
a. Happy hour - Five Palm
3. Ibn Al Bahr: Seafood
4. Cinque: Intercontinental - Five Palm
5. Nobu: Asian - Atlantis
6. Saffron: Asian - Atlantis
7. Hakkasan: Asian - Atlantis
8. II Faro: Italian
9. Luchador – Mexican
10. W Dubai
a. Fun brunch – Five Palm
11. Candypants at Maiden Shanghai: Dim Sum Disco -Five Palm
12. Acapella: Intercontinental lounge
13. Five Palm Jumeriah:
a. Amazing pool/beach access
b. Great vibes on Friday and Saturday
Madinat Jumeriah
1. Shimmers:
a. Chill lounge
2. Trader Vics: Caribbean
3. Flamingo Room: Latin
a. Fun brunch
4. Il Borro: Italian
5. Jumeirah al Qasr: Lebanese
Mina Seyahi
1. Bussola: Italian - Westin
2. El Sur: Tapas - Westin
3. Barasti: American - Le Meridien
a. Very fun pool parties and beach parties day and night
b. There is also a bar here to go to
4. Bubbalicious: Westin
a. Fun brunch
Deira (Old Town)
1. Arabian Tea House: Emirati/Lebanese brunch
a. The coolest brunch you'll ever have. You feel like you're sitting in the backyard of a Emirati's house back in 1892.
b. The food is fantastic and the servers are even nicer.
2. Dampa: Seafood
DIFC
1. OPA: Greek – Fairmont
a. This is the place you have to go to while in Dubai.
b. Every night they have parties where the waiters put on a show and have a traditional Greek dance. They allow you to smash ceramic plates and dance on your table like you're literally at a Greek wedding.
c. Also the food is just out of this world.
2. Indie: Intercontinental
a. Very fun bar at night
3. Vault: Bar – Marriot
a. Rooftop bar
4. Seven Sisters: Marriott
a. Extremely fun Arab parties on Fridays, usually brunch parties on other days
5. Zuma: Asian
a. Fun brunch and dinner parties
6. Roberto’s: Italian
7. Antika Bar: Middle Eastern
a. Live Arab singers at night
8. Hotel Cartagena: Latin
a. Fun brunch
9. Cipriani: Italian
a. Same one in NYC
10. La Cantine: French
a. Shows
11. Fogo De Chao: Brasileña steakhouse
a. Same one in USA
Near Jumeirah Beach
1. Al Falamanki: Lebanese (breakfast-lunch-dinner)
a. Open 24 hours, they have couches outside and they give you blankets if you’re cold, the homiest place ever
2. COYA: Latin
a. Fun brunch
Burj al Arab
1. Syrian buffet
2. Scape
a. Chill lounge
3. Skyview Bar and Restaurant: European
La Mer
1. Nikki Beach
2. Babel: Lebanese
3. Masti: Cocktails
a. Fun brunch
4. Kaftan: Turkish
Miscellaneous
1. Billionaire Mansion – Taj Hotel
a. Fine dining and show
2. Treehouse – Taj Hotel
3. Eloquent Elephant – Taj Hotel
a. Fun brunch
4. MAMA-ESH – 1081 Al Wasl Road
a. Syrian breakfast
5. Home Bakery – Near Barsha Mall
a. Café
6. Bagel Yard – Al Wasl Road and Thanya St Intersection
a. Bagels
7. Bab Al Shams – Al Hazeera Desert
a. Resort with buffet and shows
8. Feras Sweets – Al Barsha 1
9. Salloora – 12 Sheikh Rashid Rd
a. Syrian dinner
10. Bulgari Yacht Club
a. Fun brunch
11. Iris – Meydan Grandstand
a. Fun brunch
12. SOHO garden DXB – Racecourse, Grand Stand Al Meydan Rd
13. Nikki Beach – Pearl Jumeriah
14. VIDA Downtown – Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Blvd
15. Ting Irie – Souk al Manzil
a. Jamaican
16. Junipers – Emirates Hills
a. Chill lounge
17. Hot Pot
LIST OF VEGAN CAFES:
- Brew’s Café: DIFC Business Bay
- Wild & The Moon: AlSerkal Avenue
- One Café Vegan: La Mer
- Comptoir 102: Beach Rd Jumeirah
- Little Erth by NABZ&G: Cluster J, JLT
- Menagerie: Mirdif Mall
- Veganity: City Walk
- Life’n One Café: Beach Rd Jumeirah
- Single Fin Café: Beach Rd Jumeirah
- Soul Sante: Jannah Place, Dubai Marina
- Nuez: Al Safa
LIST OF HEALTHY CAFES:
- Bounty Beets: Le Meridien Mina Seyahi
- Friend’s Avenue: Cluster T, JLT
- Projecto Acai: Dubai Marina
- Salad Station: Dubai Media City
- Birch Café: The Greens
- The Coffee Club: The Greens
- Arrows and Sparrows: The Greens
- Flow: Dubai Media City
- HEAT Café: Beach Rd, Jumeirah
- Pineapple Express: Almas Towers, JLT
- Vibe: The Retreat Palm Dubai
- Wildflower: Dubai Studio City
- Kave: Alserkal Avenue
- Zerofat: Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 1
- Super Natural Kitchen: Dubai Mall
- The Acai Spot: Dubai Marina
- Walnut Grove: Dubai Mall
- Kulture House: Beach Rd Jumeirah
ACTIVITIES IN THE UAE:
1. Go to City Walk and explore the outdoor outlet
2. Go to JBR: this is a beautiful area to walk and go to the beach. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, shops to visit, and beach activities to do.
3. Visit Alserkal Ave in Deira, this is a very artsy part of Dubai. People sell their handmade art here, etc.
4. Plan a trip to the desert to see the beautiful sand dunes, go dirt biking, ride a camel, watch the sunset, and have dinner in the desert.
5. Visit the observatory on the 123rd floor of the Burj Khalifa.
6. Visit Global Village. “It combines cultures of 90 countries across the world at one place. It claims to be the world’s largest tourism, leisure, shopping and entertainment project.” You need to go here for an entire day, maybe even three times to see it all.
7. Visit Burj Al Arab to see the magnificent 5-star hotel. There are also restaurants inside and pools to go to and lounge at.
8. Go to the Christmas Market during Christmas season.
9. Visit Atlantis and go to the waterpark! There are plenty of restaurants inside too.
10. Visit the Dubai Miracle Garden, it’s a beautiful flower garden.
11. You can do water sports near Burj al Arab like jet skiing. I highly recommend doing it, you’ll have someone that guides you and lets you go as fast as you want while driving right past the Burj al Arab and Atlantis.
12. The Dubai Mall is going to take you up to 10 hours to see it all. Make a day out of it or 10. They have shops from all over the world.
13. Go zip-lining in JBR. This is the world’s longest zip line.
14. Visit Abu Dhabi: Go to the Lourve and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque
15. Visit Madinet Jumeriah. It’s a very cool building where they sell local commodities. There are also plenty of restaurants here to choose from.
16. Go to old Dubai and visit the Gold Souk. If you’re a girl, you’re most likely going to get cat-called because the salesmen want you to come into their store but just ignore it. Also make sure to BARGAIN like crazy with them.
17. Go to Souk al Bahar right across from Dubai Mall.
18. There are parks where you can go running and biking if you’d like.
19. Brunches here are insane. Find one that I mentioned and go, because most of them become insane day parties.
20. Besides the Dubai Mall there is the Emirates Mall and Marina Mall.
21. There is a skiing place in the Emirates Mall with fake snow. If you miss skiing, come here.
22. Wild Wadi is an amazing waterpark that is worth going to. I had the time of my life and I'm 25 years old! It's perfect for all ages to enjoy.
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