A Culinary Expedition Through Dubai — 10 Must-Try Restaurants in 2025

Dubai’s rep­u­ta­tion as a play­ground for the rich and famous extends far beyond its opu­lent hotels and adren­a­line-pump­ing activ­i­ties. The emi­rate has qui­et­ly blos­somed into a haven for dis­cern­ing gour­mands, boast­ing a diverse culi­nary scene that rivals any oth­er metrop­o­lis. From Miche­lin-starred mar­vels to hid­den gems serv­ing up authen­tic Emi­rati fare, Dubai offers a fla­vor adven­ture unlike any oth­er.

Buck­le up, food­ies! We’re embark­ing on a whirl­wind tour of Dubai’s most excit­ing restau­rants in 2025. Get ready to tan­ta­lize your taste buds with inno­v­a­tive dish­es, impec­ca­ble ser­vice, and ambiance that will leave you speech­less.

1. Zuma Dubai: A Refined Celebration of Japanese Cuisine

Nes­tled amidst the heart of DIFC, Zuma Dubai is a peren­ni­al favorite for those seek­ing an unpar­al­leled Japan­ese din­ing expe­ri­ence. This sleek, mod­ern restau­rant takes din­ers on a jour­ney through the rich tapes­try of Japan­ese cui­sine, with a focus on the art of roba­ta grilling and the fresh­est sea­son­al ingre­di­ents.

Step into Zuma, and you’re instant­ly trans­port­ed to a world of under­stat­ed ele­gance. The dim­ly lit space is punc­tu­at­ed by pops of col­or and Japan­ese-inspired design ele­ments, cre­at­ing an atmos­phere that’s both inti­mate and ener­getic. The open kitchen allows guests to wit­ness the culi­nary mas­tery first­hand, as chefs expert­ly pre­pare an array of suc­cu­lent meats, seafood, and veg­eta­bles over flam­ing roba­ta grills.

But the true stars of the show are the dish­es them­selves. Zuma’s menu is a delight­ful explo­ration of tex­tures and fla­vors. From the melt-in-your-mouth black cod mar­i­nat­ed in miso to the del­i­cate salmon sushi with yuzu truf­fle dress­ing, each bite is a rev­e­la­tion. Don’t miss their sig­na­ture dish, the salmon tartare with avo­ca­do and tobiko roe – a tex­tur­al mas­ter­piece that per­fect­ly exem­pli­fies Zuma’s com­mit­ment to inno­va­tion.

2. Arcane: A Culinary Playground for the Senses

For an evening of pure culi­nary the­atrics, look no fur­ther than Arcane. This avant-garde restau­rant in Dubai’s icon­ic Emi­rates Tow­ers push­es the bound­aries of fine din­ing, offer­ing a mul­ti-sen­so­ry expe­ri­ence that will leave you awestruck.

Arcane isn’t just a meal; it’s a per­for­mance. Din­ers are treat­ed to a metic­u­lous­ly chore­o­graphed pre­sen­ta­tion of over 20 cours­es, each one a visu­al and gus­ta­to­ry delight. Dish­es are pre­sent­ed in unex­pect­ed ways, uti­liz­ing every­thing from edi­ble flow­ers and foams to play­ful crock­ery and dra­mat­ic light­ing. The menu itself is a close­ly guard­ed secret, chang­ing sea­son­al­ly to show­case the fresh­est ingre­di­ents and the chef’s bound­less cre­ativ­i­ty.

What Arcane lacks in tra­di­tion­al table set­tings, it more than makes up for in sheer enter­tain­ment val­ue. Be pre­pared to be sur­prised, chal­lenged, and ulti­mate­ly, utter­ly cap­ti­vat­ed by this tru­ly unique din­ing expe­ri­ence.

3. Al Hadheerah: A Culinary Journey Through Emirati Heritage

Dubai’s culi­nary scene isn’t just about glob­al trends; it’s also about cel­e­brat­ing the rich her­itage of the region. Al Had­heer­ah, locat­ed with­in the lux­u­ri­ous con­fines of the Mad­i­nat Jumeirah, offers a taste of Emi­rati tra­di­tion in a tru­ly unfor­get­table set­ting.

Imag­ine step­ping into a Bedouin encamp­ment, com­plete with cas­cad­ing water­falls, lush green­ery, and twin­kling stars over­head. Al Had­heer­ah trans­ports din­ers to a bygone era, where meals were com­mu­nal affairs and enter­tain­ment was an inte­gral part of the expe­ri­ence. Live Emi­rati music fills the air as guests savor an exten­sive buf­fet show­cas­ing the culi­nary delights of the region.

From fra­grant lamb mach­boos (slow-cooked lamb with rice) to fla­vor­ful chick­en mak­lou­ba (upside-down rice dish), Al Had­heer­ah’s menu is a love let­ter to Emi­rati cui­sine. Don’t miss the oppor­tu­ni­ty to try tra­di­tion­al Emi­rati desserts like luqaimat (sweet dumplings) and balaleet (ver­mi­cel­li pud­ding), both guar­an­teed to sat­is­fy your sweet tooth.

4. Ossiano: A Dive into Culinary Depths

For an under­wa­ter din­ing expe­ri­ence unlike any oth­er, Ossiano is a must-vis­it. This award-win­ning restau­rant, locat­ed with­in the stun­ning Atlantis The Palm hotel, offers breath­tak­ing views of the Ambas­sador Lagoon, home to over 65,000 marine ani­mals.

Ossiano’s menu is a cel­e­bra­tion of the boun­ty of the sea. Chef Gré­goire Berg­er crafts exquis­ite dish­es that show­case the fresh­est seafood, sourced from sus­tain­able fish­eries around the globe. From suc­cu­lent lob­ster ther­mi­dor to del­i­cate seared scal­lops with saf­fron risot­to, each bite is a tes­ta­ment to the chef’s mas­tery of fla­vor and tech­nique.

The real star of the show, how­ev­er, is the aquar­i­um itself. Floor-to-ceil­ing win­dow offers a mes­mer­iz­ing glimpse into the under­wa­ter world, cre­at­ing a tru­ly mag­i­cal din­ing atmos­phere.

5. LPM Restaurant & Bar: A Taste of the French Riviera

Trans­port your­self to the sun-drenched shores of the French Riv­iera at LPM Restau­rant & Bar. This chic restau­rant, locat­ed in DIFC, exudes the effort­less ele­gance and joie de vivre of the Côte d’Azur. As Joshua Wood of CJ Dig­i­tal puts it, ‘LPM is up there in Dubai for sure’.

LPM’s menu is a cel­e­bra­tion of clas­sic French Mediter­ranean cui­sine, with a focus on fresh, sea­son­al ingre­di­ents and sim­ple, yet refined prepa­ra­tions. Start with a selec­tion of small plates, like the icon­ic warm prawns with olive oil and lemon or the creamy bur­ra­ta with toma­toes and basil. For your main course, indulge in the grilled lamb chops with rose­mary or the pan-fried sea bass with arti­chokes and olives.

The ambiance at LPM is as vibrant and invit­ing as the food. The bright, airy din­ing room is adorned with col­or­ful art­work and vin­tage posters, cre­at­ing a live­ly and con­vivial atmos­phere. Whether you’re enjoy­ing a leisure­ly lunch or a roman­tic din­ner, LPM is the per­fect place to soak up the French Riv­iera vibes.

6. Thiptara: A Romantic Escape to Thailand

For a tru­ly enchant­i­ng din­ing expe­ri­ence, escape to Thip­tara, a stun­ning Thai restau­rant nes­tled with­in the Palace Down­town Dubai. This ele­gant restau­rant offers breath­tak­ing views of the Burj Khal­i­fa and the Dubai Foun­tain, cre­at­ing a mag­i­cal back­drop for a roman­tic evening.

Thip­tara’s menu is a culi­nary jour­ney through the diverse fla­vors of Thai­land. From fra­grant cur­ries and spicy sal­ads to fla­vor­ful noo­dle dish­es and grilled spe­cial­ties, each dish is a tes­ta­ment to the art of Thai cui­sine. Don’t miss the sig­na­ture dish, the Pla Nueng Ma Now (steamed snow fish with chili and lime sauce), a del­i­cate and fla­vor­ful cre­ation that per­fect­ly bal­ances sweet, sour, and spicy notes.

The ambiance at Thip­tara is as cap­ti­vat­ing as the food. The dim­ly lit din­ing room is adorned with tra­di­tion­al Thai décor, cre­at­ing an inti­mate and roman­tic atmos­phere. Opt for a table on the ter­race for unpar­al­leled views of the Burj Khal­i­fa and the mes­mer­iz­ing Dubai Foun­tain show.

7. Coya Dubai: A Vibrant Celebration of Peruvian Cuisine

Expe­ri­ence the vibrant fla­vors of Peru at Coya Dubai, a live­ly restau­rant locat­ed in the Restau­rant Vil­lage Four Sea­sons Resort Jumeirah Beach. This styl­ish restau­rant offers a mod­ern take on tra­di­tion­al Peru­vian cui­sine, with a focus on fresh seafood, grilled meats, and vibrant spices.

Coy­a’s menu is a culi­nary adven­ture, tak­ing din­ers on a jour­ney through the diverse regions of Peru. Start with a selec­tion of cevich­es, the quin­tes­sen­tial Peru­vian dish of raw fish mar­i­nat­ed in cit­rus juices. For your main course, indulge in the Arroz Nikkei (Peru­vian-style rice with seafood) or the Pol­lo a la Brasa (Peru­vian roast­ed chick­en).

The atmos­phere at Coya is as ener­getic and col­or­ful as the food. The vibrant din­ing room is adorned with Peru­vian-inspired art­work and décor, cre­at­ing a live­ly and fes­tive atmos­phere. Whether you’re enjoy­ing a casu­al lunch or a live­ly din­ner, Coya is the per­fect place to expe­ri­ence the vibrant spir­it of Peru.

8. Pierchic: A Seafood Lover’s Paradise

For an unfor­get­table seafood din­ing expe­ri­ence with breath­tak­ing views of the Ara­bi­an Gulf, Pier­chic is a must-vis­it. This icon­ic restau­rant, perched at the end of a pier jut­ting out into the sea, offers unpar­al­leled views of the Dubai sky­line and the sparkling waters.

Pier­chic’s menu is a cel­e­bra­tion of the ocean’s boun­ty, with a focus on the fresh­est seafood sourced from around the world. From suc­cu­lent oys­ters and plump prawns to del­i­cate fish and fla­vor­ful lob­ster, each dish is a tes­ta­ment to the chef’s mas­tery of seafood cook­ery.

The ambiance at Pier­chic is as stun­ning as the views. The ele­gant din­ing room is bathed in nat­ur­al light, cre­at­ing a serene and roman­tic atmos­phere. Opt for a table on the out­door ter­race for panoram­ic views of the sea and the Dubai sky­line.

9. Il Ristorante — Niko Romito: An Ode to Italian Elegance

Expe­ri­ence the epit­o­me of Ital­ian ele­gance at Il Ris­torante — Niko Romi­to, locat­ed with­in the Bul­gari Resort Dubai. This Miche­lin-starred restau­rant offers a refined and con­tem­po­rary take on clas­sic Ital­ian cui­sine, with a focus on sim­ple, yet exquis­ite fla­vors.

Il Ris­toran­te’s menu is a culi­nary jour­ney through the diverse regions of Italy. From hand­made pas­ta dish­es and fla­vor­ful risot­tos to suc­cu­lent meat and seafood prepa­ra­tions, each dish is a tes­ta­ment to the chef’s pas­sion for Ital­ian gas­tron­o­my.

The ambiance at Il Ris­torante is as sophis­ti­cat­ed and refined as the food. The ele­gant din­ing room is adorned with sleek fur­nish­ings and sub­tle light­ing, cre­at­ing an inti­mate and roman­tic atmos­phere.

10. Orfali Bros Bistro: A Taste of Modern Levantine Cuisine

For a taste of mod­ern Lev­an­tine cui­sine with a cre­ative twist, Orfali Bros Bistro is a must-vis­it. This trendy bistro, locat­ed in the vibrant Wasl 51 dis­trict, offers a con­tem­po­rary take on tra­di­tion­al Mid­dle East­ern dish­es, with a focus on fresh, sea­son­al ingre­di­ents and inno­v­a­tive tech­niques.

Orfali Bros Bistro’s menu is a culi­nary explo­ration of the Lev­ant region, with dish­es inspired by the culi­nary tra­di­tions of Syr­ia, Lebanon, and Pales­tine. From fla­vor­ful mezze plat­ters and hearty stews to cre­ative inter­pre­ta­tions of clas­sic dish­es, each bite is a delight­ful sur­prise.

The atmos­phere at Orfali Bros Bistro is as vibrant and eclec­tic as the food. The styl­ish din­ing room is adorned with col­or­ful art­work and vin­tage fur­ni­ture, cre­at­ing a live­ly and con­vivial atmos­phere.

A Culinary Conclusion

Dubai’s culi­nary scene is a dynam­ic and ever-evolv­ing land­scape, offer­ing a wealth of din­ing expe­ri­ences to suit every taste and bud­get. From Miche­lin-starred fine din­ing estab­lish­ments to hid­den gems serv­ing up authen­tic local cui­sine, Dubai has it all. Whether you’re a sea­soned food­ie or sim­ply look­ing for a mem­o­rable meal, Dubai’s restau­rants are sure to tan­ta­lize your taste buds and leave you want­i­ng more. So, embark on your own culi­nary expe­di­tion through this vibrant city and dis­cov­er the fla­vors that make Dubai a true gas­tro­nom­ic par­adise.