Dubai’s dining scene was once defined by a handful of celebrity chefs, flashy hotel restaurants, and locals spots that only longtime residents knew about. Gordon Ramsay, Salt Bae, Heinz Beck, and Alain Ducasse all landed here, turning their names into tourist attractions — though catching one of these luminaries in the kitchen was about as likely as the Daily Mail publishing an accurate review of Dubai.
But our fair city is no longer just a stage for imported talent. Dubai’s culinary ecosystem has exploded, driven by homegrown restaurants and chefs who have put the city on the global map. There’s Himanshu Saini with his obsessively precise and artistically exacting Indian cuisine; Gabriela Chamorro bringing Central American flavors to Dubai with her own modern, expressive voice; and Omar Shihab’s hyper-focused approach to locally sourced ingredients and sustainable practices. Alongside them sit Palestinian cafes beloved for years, Michelin-starred establishments, and inventive international concepts eager for a slice of Dubai’s pie.
Menus across town reflect the city itself, a multicultural playground that’s unapologetically full of drama. Rather than tiptoeing around the city’s extremes, we’ve gone full throttle, embracing everything from relaxed brunch spots to over-the-top, multicourse experiences that might max out your credit card.Â
Yalla habibi. Welcome to the very best of Dubai.
In this update, we’ve overhauled our write-ups with a fine-tooth comb, providing more practical info for diners, including a rough price range for each destination: $ for quick, casual bites under roughly 55 dirhams ($15), up to $$$$ for fine dining experiences for two exceeding 1,300 dirhams ($350).
Laura Lai Coughlin is a Dubai-based food writer and culinary emcee, former editor of What’s On magazine, and contributor to New York magazine, Vogue, and Condé Nast Traveller. Follow her at @bylauralai for the city’s most current and delicious dining discoveries.
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