Food aficionados will be wowed by what's on offer to tantalise their taste buds during a sensational holiday in dazzling Dubai.

This magical destination caters for all tastes, whether you yearn for romantic meals in intimate surroundings, delicious treats during a fun-packed family adventure or mouth-watering delicacies during a night out with friends. We've turned the spotlight on the best places to eat in this awe-inspiring metropolis to give you a flavour of what’s on offer. We provide plenty of advice to get your teeth into about the city's world-class restaurants, celebrity dining venues and popular spots for savouring delicious street fare. A burgeoning food scene is the icing on the cake in this enchanting Arabian escape where you’ll marvel at beautiful beaches, epic theme parks and water parks, giant shopping malls and famous landmarks. Dubai is also renowned for its luxurious 5-star hotels, bustling souks, rolling deserts, unrivalled hospitality and water sports aplenty.

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Gourmet Dining

Dubai is home to magnificent restaurants, offering the best of Emirati food and global cuisines including Indian, Chinese, Lebanese, Italian, French and Mexican. The culinary prowess in many of these venues is out of this world, with several having gained Michelin-star status. These include the 2-starred Trèsind Studio in Nakheel Mall, offering an Indian gastronomic experience, and Il Ristorante by Niko Romito in the Bvlgari Resort on Jumeirah Bay Island, which presents a healthy take on gourmet Italian cuisine. Other fine dining establishments include Hakkasan, serving contemporary Chinese cuisine; the one Michelin star Al Muntaha, which delivers incredible European flavours on the 27th floor of the Burj Al Arab and Ristorante L' Olivo at Al Mahara, also at the Burj Al Arab, which offers exceptional Italian Fare. Several dining venues have also received Michelin Bib Gourmand awards, presented for top-quality food at more moderate prices.

Celebrity Restaurants

Dubai boasts a myriad of top-class restaurants where the world’s leading celebrity chefs showcase their creations. Enigmatic British chef Gordon Ramsay offers his cuisine at Bread Street Kitchen, in Atlantis, The Palm and Hell's Kitchen at Caesars Palace Dubai, on Bluewaters Island. An epicurean adventure awaits at STAY by Yannick Alléno at One&Only The Palm, a 2-starred Michelin restaurant where the French celebrity chef works his magic. A phenomenal dining experience can be had at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, in Atlantis The Royal, with a menu created by the pioneer of multi-sensory cooking. Korean snowboarder turned chef Akira Back hits the spot with his pan-Asian fare at W Dubai – The Palm. The same hotel is home to Torno Subito, an Italian Riviera-inspired restaurant where chef Massimo Bottura presents exceptional Italian cuisine. Other maestro chefs with Dubai restaurants include Nobu Matsuhisa, Alvin Leung and Daniel Boulud.

Street Eats

Visiting the lively street food outlets in Dubai is a great way to tuck into delicious fare, at an affordable price. Foodies will be in their element, with Lebanese, Arabic, Iranian, Japanese and Indian cuisines among the choices available. Popular spots for fabulous culinary offerings include the Al Habasha Ethiopian restaurant in Deira’s Abu Hail area and the Rangoli Indian vegetarian restaurant in Karama. Satwa, which is home to the city’s oldest street life, also boasts many authentic dining areas, including 2nd December Street. Chinatown in Dubai Mall is the place to enjoy flavoursome Asian fare, while Global Village is a magnificent multicultural family destination where you can devour everything from Indian spicy pani-puri and ramen sushi to zombie donuts and Turkish ice cream. You can also enjoy tasty delights at the city's souks, with street food vendors and stalls serving scrumptious local dishes and snacks.

Cheap Feasts

If you fancy a flavoursome feast but don't want to spend big bucks in a fine dining restaurant, there are plenty of excellent options which will go easy on your bank balance. There's no shortage of budget-friendly dining venues offering very affordable fare, such as Mama'Esh Restaurant in Al Abraj Street which serves superb Palestinian cuisine, the Wokyo Noodle Bar at Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Amritsr Restaurant, a no-fuss eatery for tasty Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine. Another way to get a hearty meal which won't bust your budget is to visit the giant shopping malls which feature impressive food courts, with many types of fare available including Indian, Chinese and Italian, plus all the big fast food chains. Beachfront barbecues and downtown cafes are other options for satisfying your appetite at a great price, with plenty of sizzling fare, Emirati classics and fresh seafood favourites on offer.

Local Delicacies

Dubai excels when it comes to local delicacies to satisfy the most discerning palate. Traditional Emirati food in Dubai reflects many regional influences, with delicious meat, fish and vegetable dishes being enhanced by a host of exotic spices and herbs. Machboos, which is considered the national dish, features lamb, chicken or seafood prepared with rice, dried lemon, onions and spices, while Thareed is a wholesome chicken or lamb stew. Shawarma is slow-roasted spiced meat wrapped in roti or pitta bread, while Al Harees is a porridge-like staple in Dubai made with wheat and chicken or lamb. Other favourites include Madrouba, Fattoush and Khuzi. A much-loved local dessert is Luqaimat which are deep-fried balls of pastry, drizzled in date syrup or honey. A great time to sample local fare is during Ramadan in Dubai, when the dining delights include traditional religious feasts and superb iftar meals after sunset.

Best Time To Visit

All-year-round sunshine makes Dubai a dream come true for anyone craving a relaxing time, catching the rays on pristine sandy beaches nestled beside the inviting waters of the Arabian Gulf. The emirate’s arid desert climate brings an average of 8 to 10 hours a day, throughout its distinct seasons of summer and winter. A great time to visit is between September to April when the warm and sunny weather is perfect for setting out to explore Dubai’s amazing theme parks, jaw-dropping landmarks, and fascinating animal wildlife attractions. Typical temperatures during this time are 25°C in November, 19°C in January and 24°C in March. The city’s wonderful restaurants, its shopping malls featuring food courts and other indoor dining venues have excellent air-conditioning systems, so you’ll feel pleasantly comfortable when you sit down to enjoy gastronomic delights. Temperatures soar from May to August to around 30°C, and sometimes hit 45°C.

“Dubai is a food lover’s paradise, with no shortage of fantastic places where you can savour everything from wonderful street food to sensational meals in fine dining venues.

“This beguiling Arabian Gulf getaway is a dream come true for anyone wanting to create magical holiday memories. There’s so much to see and do that your main challenge will be trying to fit it all in.

“It’s certainly worth checking out our Dubai travel guide before you jet off, so you can get on with having a great time the moment you arrive. The emirate enjoys invigorating sunshine all-year-round so make sure an ample supply of sunscreen is among your essential items to pack.

“Dubai makes a big impression on every visitor, with its futuristic skyscrapers, giant shopping malls, incredible beaches, water sports action, pulsating nightlife and romantic desert wilderness.

“The city’s opulent beachfront and downtown hotels are truly spectacular, with exquisite accommodation, exceptional restaurants, sumptuous spas, glistening infinity pools and other luxurious amenities which will take your breath away.”

Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark

A splashing time awaits at this magnificent 5-star family friendly beachfront retreat where you’ll be wowed by exquisitely-appointed accommodation, an impressive array of world-class restaurants and a stunning 700m private sandy beach. The sensational Jungle Bay Waterpark and 5 glistening swimming pools are among the delights at this opulent all-inclusive escape. A myriad of other superb amenities which add to the appeal of this charming Arabian Gulf getaway include a plush spa, a lively kids club, a fitness centre, a water sports centre and a games room.

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W Dubai – Mina Seyahi

Jet off for the ultimate luxury holiday adventure at this spectacular 5-star hideaway nestled beside silky soft sands and offering incredible views of the Ain Dubai, the world’s biggest observation wheel. This imposing adults-only (16+) haven, where modern design meets Middle East mystique, oozes sublime luxury, style and elegance. Treat yourself to head to toe pampering in Dubai’s swankiest spa, keep in shape in the impressive fitness studio and sip creative cocktails in the iconic Attiko rooftop restaurant.

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Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah

Succumb to blissful relaxation, comfort and tranquillity at this luxurious 5-star family-friendly hideaway on the world-famous Palm Jumeirah. Catch some rays on the pristine private beach, practise your backhand on the tennis court or enjoy a refreshing dip in a temperature-controlled swimming pool. You’ll also discover lavish accommodation offering spellbinding views, a choice of exceptional restaurants, a cutting-edge fitness centre, water sports galore and a fun-packed kids club to keep young guests entertained throughout their stay.

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Caesars Palace Dubai

Treat yourself to taste of the good life with a stay at this awe-inspiring 5-star escape on Bluewaters Island where you’ll dine in celebrity chef restaurants, spend heavenly nights in beautifully-designed accommodation, harmonise your body, mind and spirit in the award-winning spa and soak up the sun on a glorious private sandy beach. Other delights at this oasis of relaxation and pleasure include a state-of-the-art fitness centre, action-packed clubs for kids and teens, sparkling swimming pools and a bumper programme of year-round live evening entertainment.

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