Guide

Time Out's Best Restaurants in Dubai

Guide·26 places

Discover Dubai’s culinary gems! Over the past year, we’ve meticulously explored every nook and cranny to bring you the ultimate list of the top restaurants, spanning various cuisines and themes. Whether you’re craving Asian delights or a gourmet Turkish feast, we’ve got you covered. Dive in and satisfy your taste buds with the finest dining experiences Dubai has to offer.

Time Out

Time Out Dubai is your ultimate guide to the city’s best dining, events, and experiences.

If you’re in the mood for a cooler-than-cool casual dining experience, then Hawkerboi in Dubai’s JLT is the place to check out.

Hailed as one of the most creative Asian restaurants in Dubai, Jun’s is the brainchild of lauded chef Kelvin Cheung and proudly serves up ‘third culture cooking’, a blend of flavours from around the region, with some North American influences.

For lovers of French food, this restaurant from the late great Joël Robuchon is a must-visit. Found in DIFC, it has a cool vibe which gets livelier as the night goes on.

Despite facing new competition every year, Mythos remains the best Greek restaurant in Dubai, without question. It is the go-to if you want incredible Greek food prepared expertly at a reasonable price.

Set on the waterways of the Madinat — where you can arrive by abra — this is an occasion spot that’s brilliant for a date night or if you have visitors in town.

This year, Chic Nonna has come back better than ever with delicious food, a mixture of both home-style dishes like pizza and pasta and a more refined tasting menu that shows off the chefs’ skills.

This cooler-than-cool Japanese restaurant is inspired by 1920s Osaka. With excellent sushi, robata, clay pots, and grills (the black cod is terrific), this restaurant has retained its title as the best Japanese restaurant in Dubai.

One of the coolest spots in DIFC, Amazónico is a super spot for a lively evening out. Start off with drinks at the centrepiece downstairs bar and try the Latin American flavours before heading to the restaurant or sushi counter for dinner.

Consistently excellent, Orfali Bros Bistro is renowned as one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Dubai. Helmed by celebrity chef Mohamad Orfali, the menu here is fresh, fusion, and has plenty to talk about.

The younger sister of the popular New Orleans-inspired bar and restaurant Nola in JLT, Nola Bijou Bistro & Bar opened in the licensed area of City Walk in 2023, bringing the cooking of the deep south to another area of the city.

The winner of Time Out Dubai’s Best Thai Restaurant for several years running, Café Isan really is the most authentic, fun, and friendly spot to enjoy Thai food in Dubai.

This long-standing Turkish restaurant has legions of loyal fans thanks to its incredible kebabs and glorious grills.

This has been one of the best à la carte brunches for many years, with diners coming back time and again to enjoy the all-encompassing brunch offering.

A Dubai institution, Al Qasr Brunch has been through many guises in recent years, but it’s now at its all-time best. It is an elegant afternoon out, although it’s still open to families, so you can bring your kids, and there are live stations serving a variety of global favourites.

Into The Jungle, as the name suggests, takes into account the foliage-filled surroundings of Giardino’s interiors at Palazzo Versace Dubai and has a strong theme. Expect an international buffet and plenty of entertainment throughout your Saturday afternoon.

A modern Japanese bakery, Pekoe is a top shout if you’re after a chilled-out weekend morning in Dubai in 2024.

One of the coolest spots in town, Honeycomb Hi-Fi is a hit with music lovers. With a music listening station, a vinyl record store, and a roster of top DJs, it’s a popular spot for a hip evening with your friends, with creative mixed drinks, too.

Opened in JLT in 2023 and tucked away in an unassuming corner of Cluster F, right next to Asian Street by Thai, San Wan Hand Pulled Noodles' popularity has rocketed into its claiming the title of the best budget restaurant in Dubai, hands down.

The brainchild of husband and wife duo Sultan and Kinda Chatila, this brilliant burger bar meets all expectations.

BRIX café and dessert bar comes from the team behind 3 Fils and is a cute spot for a lazy meal and moreish coffee.

Limonata is a cute spot for a day out on the sand with the family. With bright yellow and white striped sunloungers, including mini loungers for the little ones, a play area for very small kids, and plenty of beach to run around on, it’s our top choice for a relaxed meal.

Set up by a husband-and-wife team, the pizzas here are massive and come fully loaded — Pitfire doesn’t skimp on the toppings.

This gastropub hails from Chicago and serves some pretty amazing pub grub. With plenty of deals, including happy hours and ladies’ nights, as well as a golf simulator, there’s a lot to help you work up an appetite.

This teeny tiny tasting experience in Dubai comes from chef Solemann Haddad, a young chef known for his creativity. The degustation menu stars seasonal, regional ingredients with a focus on locally sourced produce on a menu that encompasses Middle Eastern and Japanese cuisine.

Time Out's Best Restaurants in Dubai

Hawkerboi

Jun’s

Hutong

L’Atelier Robuchon

Mythos Kouzina & Grill

Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia

Chic Nonna

Mimi Kakushi

Amazónico Dubai

Orfali Bros

Nola Bijou Bistro & Bar

Café Isan

Sultan Saray

La Cantine du Faubourg

Al Qasr Brunch

Into the Jungle

Pekoe Tea & Bread Bar

Honeycomb Hi-Fi

San Wan Hand Pulled Noodles

Eleven Green

BRIX Café

Limonata

Pitfire Pizza

Goose Island Tap House

Bordo Mavi

Moonrise