Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Best restaurants in Dubai
About this list
The 7 restaurants that appear in the most SquadAbroad trips to Dubai, ranked by how many trips include them.
7 places
Ranked by how many SquadAbroad trips include each place.
Rank 1
Photo: Al Ustad Special Kebab Restaurant
Al Ustad Special Kabab
Operating since 1978, this Bur Dubai institution is famous for its yogurt-marinated Persian kababs served with fragrant saffron rice and warm flatbread. The dining room is an attraction in its own right, lined from floor to ceiling with vintage photographs, banknotes, and memorabilia accumulated over decades. It is an essential stop for travelers wanting to experience authentic old-world Dubai hospitality and hearty culinary heritage.
Rank 2
Photo: AMANY Restaurant
Arabian Tea House
Tucked within Dubai’s historic Al Fahidi quarter, Arabian Tea House invites diners into an airy courtyard shaded by trees and framed with white rattan chairs and turquoise benches. The cafe is celebrated for authentic Emirati fare, serving generous traditional breakfast trays, fresh khobz flatbread, and fragrant pots of karak tea. Visitors seek it out to slow down and experience classic Gulf hospitality inside a beautifully preserved slice of old Dubai.
Rank 3
Photo: Bait Maryam - Dubai Restaurant
Bait Maryam
Tucked away in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Bait Maryam offers comforting Levantine home cooking inspired by the family recipes of Chef Salam Dakkak. The Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded bistro captures the warmth of an Arab grandmother's living room, serving deeply flavorful clay-pot stews, fragrant fattehs, and fresh-baked flatbreads. It is a beloved destination for travelers seeking soulful hospitality and authentic regional flavors in Dubai.
Rank 4
Photo: Bu Qtair Restaurant Restaurant
Bu Qtair Restaurant
Originally a humble beachside shack, Bu Qtair is a legendary Dubai institution famous for its unpretentious, coastal-style seafood. Visitors select fresh catches like hamour and king prawns by weight, which are marinated in fiery South Indian spices and deep-fried to order. Paired with flaky parottas and rich coconut curry sauce, it offers an authentic, flavor-packed alternative to the city's upscale dining scene.
Rank 5
Photo by Darcey Beau on Unsplash Restaurant
CÉ LA VI Dubai
Perched high above Downtown Dubai at the Address Sky View, CÉ LA VI is renowned for its open-air terrace overlooking the Burj Khalifa. The venue blends contemporary Southeast Asian dining with a high-energy lounge and poolside bar scene. Guests visit for elevated cocktails and sunset dinners framed by striking, panoramic views of the city skyline.
Rank 6
Photo by Ondrej Bocek on Unsplash Restaurant
Museum of the Future
Housed in a striking, calligraphy-covered torus structure, Dubai's Museum of the Future is an architectural marvel dedicated to exploring humanity's next chapter. Visitors journey through immersive, multisensory exhibitions that tackle themes from space travel and bioengineering to ecological restoration set decades ahead. It offers an inspiring, thought-provoking encounter with cutting-edge technology inside one of the world's most complex modern buildings.
Rank 7
Photo: Zuma Dubai Restaurant
Zuma
Located in the Dubai International Financial Centre, Zuma is renowned for its sophisticated, contemporary take on Japanese izakaya-style dining. Guests visit for precision-crafted sushi, robata-grilled specialties, and the iconic miso-marinated black cod served in a sleek, multi-level setting. The buzzing bar and stylish lounge make it a premier destination for both refined dinners and lively late-night cocktails.
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