United Arab Emirates · Sky-high ambition
Dubai
Dubai built a dining scene the way it builds towers: fast, tall and without apology. Michelin arrived in 2022, Trèsind Studio and FZN reached three stars in 2025, and the world’s highest restaurant sits on the 122nd floor.
Ten years ago Dubai’s best restaurants were hotel outposts of famous names. Today it has its own: Himanshu Saini’s Trèsind Studio, an Indian tasting menu of astonishing detail; Björn Frantzén’s FZN at Atlantis The Royal; Orfali Bros, three Syrian brothers whose small plates topped the Middle East’s 50 Best; Grégoire Berger’s Ossiano, cooking beside a 65,000-fish aquarium at the Atlantis.
The imports still matter and they are better here than almost anywhere: Zuma’s DIFC branch, Nobu at the Atlantis, Il Ristorante Niko Romito at the Bulgari, Amazónico in the financial district, Tasca by José Avillez with the Gulf below. Pierchic sits at the end of a pier with the Burj Al Arab as backdrop, and At.mosphere serves dinner at 442 metres.
Dubai is expensive, air-conditioned and open late. Alcohol is served in licensed hotel restaurants, Friday brunch is a local institution, and the winter months from November to March are when the terraces, the beach clubs and the outdoor tables come alive.
The dining profile
- Tasting menu
- €300
- Main course
- €50
- Glass of wine
- €16
- Tip
- 10 %
Glamorous and respectful; smart at all hotel restaurants.
November to March for outdoor dining; avoid July and August.
Guide prices 2026, per person, in euros
A day in Dubai
From breakfast to the nightcap.
November to March
- 09:00Breakfast
Hotel breakfast on the Palm or a karak tea and chapati in Deira.
- 13:00Lunch
Pierchic at the end of the pier or Orfali Bros for small plates.
- 16:00Afternoon
Beach club, mall, an Arabic coffee with dates.
- 19:00Aperitif
A rooftop bar in DIFC as the towers light up.
- 20:00Dinner
Trèsind Studio, FZN or Ossiano: the three-star evening.
- 23:00Nightcap
At.mosphere on the 122nd floor, the desert glittering below.
The districts
DIFC
Zuma, Amazónico and the financial district’s glossy dining scene.
Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis
Ossiano, FZN, Nobu: the resort restaurants of the Palm.
Jumeirah and Wasl
Trèsind Studio, Orfali Bros, Pierchic and the Bulgari’s Niko Romito.
Downtown
At.mosphere in the Burj Khalifa and Tasca at the Mandarin Oriental.
The restaurants
9 restaurants in Dubai.
Seafood restaurantStarredDubai · Atlantis The Palm
Ossiano
Dinner beside 65,000 fish
Fine diningStarredDubai · Palm Jumeirah
Trèsind Studio
Indian haute cuisine, three stars
Fine diningStarredDubai · Atlantis The Royal
FZN by Björn Frantzén
Nordic-Japanese, three stars
Asian restaurantHotspotDubai · DIFC
Zuma Dubai
The DIFC institution
Seafood restaurantViewDubai · Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah
Pierchic
A pier facing the Burj Al Arab
View restaurantViewDubai · Burj Khalifa
At.mosphere
The 122nd floor
Italian restaurantStarredDubai · Bulgari Resort
Il Ristorante Niko Romito
Three-star Italian at the Bulgari
HotspotStarredDubai · Wasl 51, Jumeirah
Orfali Bros Bistro
The Middle East’s best, in a strip mall
HotspotHotspotDubai · DIFC
Amazónico Dubai
A rainforest in the financial district
Good to know
Tips for Dubai.
- Trèsind Studio and FZN book months ahead; the reservation platforms open in blocks, so check the dates.
- Alcohol is served only in licensed venues, mostly hotels; plan the wine pairing accordingly.
- Ten percent service is often added; a further five to ten percent is customary for good service.
- At.mosphere needs a reservation and a minimum spend for window tables at sunset.
- Summer is 45 degrees; November to March is the season for terraces and beach dining.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dubai have three-star restaurants?
Yes, since 2025: Trèsind Studio and FZN by Björn Frantzén were the first in the Middle East.
Can I drink wine in Dubai restaurants?
In licensed restaurants, mostly inside hotels, yes. Standalone restaurants may be alcohol-free.
Which is the best view restaurant?
At.mosphere in the Burj Khalifa at 442 metres, Pierchic on its pier facing the Burj Al Arab, and Ossiano beside the aquarium.
