Restaurants in Dubai
Dubai is a food lover’s paradise. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of restaurants in this relatively small city. From cheap and cheerful road-side curry houses, to large, expensive, celebrity extravaganzas, expats would be hard-pressed to go hungry in this Emirate. It follows that choosing where to eat out is more a matter of deciding how much you want to spend, and where you wish to be seen.
One not-to-be-missed eating experience in Dubai is the famous "Brunch", not to be confused with the typical “late breakfast or early lunch” affair. Hosted mainly by the larger hotels, a brunch is an eat-as-much-as-you-like buffet, normally accompanied by unlimited beverages or house wine and beer, even champagne in some cases, and held on a Friday from 12pm onwards. Prices vary widely, as does the quality of the food on offer, so it’s best to get some recommendations before you make a final choice.
Dubai liquor laws permit the serving of alcohol at lunch until 4pm, unless the restaurant has a special licence. Make sure you book your taxi and table in advance, as this is a popular Friday tradition with expats.
Meal costs vary widely, and are dependent on the standard of the restaurant chosen. Fast food is always a cheaper option, but the more adventurous expat can also uncover some of the hidden gems in the older parts of town for a fair price: a curry meal for two will cost around the equivalent of 20 USD. On the other hand, meals at one of the high end establishments will set you back a couple of hundred USD, especially if alcohol is included.
The shopping malls are always a good bet for a quick bite, as is the area along Jumeirah Beach Residence called "The Walk". A unique meal you may want to try is a camel burger (at Local House).
A great weekly publication for restaurant listings and special offers, as well as other events worth checking out, is TimeOut Dubai. Their extensive website allows expats to search for restaurants by type of food, price or area, and read other patron's reviews.
Booking is always adviseable, especially on weekends and for the popular hotel restaurants.
All licenced restaurants will add a 10 percent municipality tax onto your bill, as well as a service fee of 10 percent. Tipping over and above that is appreciated, but only if the service warrants it. In unlicenced restaurants, you will not have to pay either of these fees so it's necessary to leave a tip.
For the most part, the dress code when eating out is smart casual, with some people leaning more toward the smart side, and others more toward the casual. Technically speaking, a code isn't strictly enforced unless you are dining at one of the very upmarket five-star hotels, but most restaurants in Dubai would prefer if you didn’t wear jeans, trainers, or your bathing suit. It’s also good manners to be slightly more conservative in your dress if eating somewhere frequented by local Emirati families, or during Ramadan.
Expats moving to Dubai do need to remember that the metropolis is a Muslim city, so alcohol is only served at select restaurants licenced to serve liquor. In most cases, the impressive array of hotel restaurants satisfies this requirement.
You will also notice any dishes containing pork or alcohol are clearly marked on the menu. Pork products are only served in establishments that have a pork licence. So when you order a pizza with pepperoni for home delivery, nine times out of 10 it will be beef, veal or turkey meat cleverly disguised. You probably won’t notice the difference.
Bear in mind that during the holy month of Ramadan, the timing of which is based on the lunar calendar, Muslims and even some expats, fast. You are not permitted to eat nor drink in public during the day for the duration of the holiday. Many restaurants remain closed until evening, although in the larger hotels you will still be able to get a meal.
Lunch-time dining takes place behind covered windows in order to show respect. As take-away meals are allowed, for you to eat at home out of sight, many restaurants remain partially open to provide this service, or else do home deliveries. Fasting is broken after sunset, and restaurants will open as normal at this time, often remaining open into the early hours of the morning. The sale of alcohol is also impacted during this period, with some restaurants not serving it at all for the duration of Ramadan. Expats should confirm this upon booking.
Le Classique (French)
Set amongst the fairways of Emirates Golf Course, home of the Dubai Cup, Le Classique is one of the oldest restaurants in Dubai, some 22 years! Romantic and marked by understated elegance, this restaurant is surprisingly reasonably priced too (for Dubai that is). Open Sat-Thu 7.30pm to 12am.
www.dubaigolf.com/emirates-golf-club/indulge/le-classique.aspx
Tel: +971 (0)4 380 2222
Fazaris (International)
Named after an Iranian philosopher, this restaurant hosts a fantastic Friday Brunch. Based at The Address Hotel, Downtown, the restaurant offers a view of Burj Khalifa from the outside terrace. The food presentation is impresssive and delicious; five sections offer Japanese, Asian, Indian, Arabian and Mediterranean delights. Open daily 6.30am to 11am, noon to 3.30pm, 6.30pm to midnight
www.theaddress.com/en/dining/fazaris
Tel: +971 (0)4 436 8880
Pierchic (Seafood)
For a special occasion you cannot beat Pierchic. Sitting on its very own private pier at Al Qasr hotel the inside of the restaurant makes you feel like the little mermaid, complete with jellyfish shaped lighting. If you have a terrace table you are treated to a breath-taking view of the Burj al Arab. Delicious food too, but it isn’t cheap. Open daily 7pm to 11.30pm.
www.jumeirah.com
Tel: +971 (0)4 366 6730
Il Rustico (Italian)
Hidden inside the Rydges Hotel in Satwa, this cheerful eatery is a surprisingly pleasant spot to have a pizza or indulge in a delicious risotto. Cosy and cheap, it's a firm favourite! Open daily noon to 3pm, 6pm to 11.30pm.
www.rydges.com/hotel/RODUBA/Rydges-Plaza-Dubai/restaurants.htm
Tel: +971 (0)4 398 2222
One not-to-be-missed eating experience in Dubai is the famous "Brunch", not to be confused with the typical “late breakfast or early lunch” affair. Hosted mainly by the larger hotels, a brunch is an eat-as-much-as-you-like buffet, normally accompanied by unlimited beverages or house wine and beer, even champagne in some cases, and held on a Friday from 12pm onwards. Prices vary widely, as does the quality of the food on offer, so it’s best to get some recommendations before you make a final choice.Dubai liquor laws permit the serving of alcohol at lunch until 4pm, unless the restaurant has a special licence. Make sure you book your taxi and table in advance, as this is a popular Friday tradition with expats.
Meal costs vary widely, and are dependent on the standard of the restaurant chosen. Fast food is always a cheaper option, but the more adventurous expat can also uncover some of the hidden gems in the older parts of town for a fair price: a curry meal for two will cost around the equivalent of 20 USD. On the other hand, meals at one of the high end establishments will set you back a couple of hundred USD, especially if alcohol is included.
The shopping malls are always a good bet for a quick bite, as is the area along Jumeirah Beach Residence called "The Walk". A unique meal you may want to try is a camel burger (at Local House).
A great weekly publication for restaurant listings and special offers, as well as other events worth checking out, is TimeOut Dubai. Their extensive website allows expats to search for restaurants by type of food, price or area, and read other patron's reviews.
Booking is always adviseable, especially on weekends and for the popular hotel restaurants.
Tipping
All licenced restaurants will add a 10 percent municipality tax onto your bill, as well as a service fee of 10 percent. Tipping over and above that is appreciated, but only if the service warrants it. In unlicenced restaurants, you will not have to pay either of these fees so it's necessary to leave a tip.
Dress code
For the most part, the dress code when eating out is smart casual, with some people leaning more toward the smart side, and others more toward the casual. Technically speaking, a code isn't strictly enforced unless you are dining at one of the very upmarket five-star hotels, but most restaurants in Dubai would prefer if you didn’t wear jeans, trainers, or your bathing suit. It’s also good manners to be slightly more conservative in your dress if eating somewhere frequented by local Emirati families, or during Ramadan.
Eating out in a Muslim nation
Expats moving to Dubai do need to remember that the metropolis is a Muslim city, so alcohol is only served at select restaurants licenced to serve liquor. In most cases, the impressive array of hotel restaurants satisfies this requirement.
You will also notice any dishes containing pork or alcohol are clearly marked on the menu. Pork products are only served in establishments that have a pork licence. So when you order a pizza with pepperoni for home delivery, nine times out of 10 it will be beef, veal or turkey meat cleverly disguised. You probably won’t notice the difference.Bear in mind that during the holy month of Ramadan, the timing of which is based on the lunar calendar, Muslims and even some expats, fast. You are not permitted to eat nor drink in public during the day for the duration of the holiday. Many restaurants remain closed until evening, although in the larger hotels you will still be able to get a meal.
Lunch-time dining takes place behind covered windows in order to show respect. As take-away meals are allowed, for you to eat at home out of sight, many restaurants remain partially open to provide this service, or else do home deliveries. Fasting is broken after sunset, and restaurants will open as normal at this time, often remaining open into the early hours of the morning. The sale of alcohol is also impacted during this period, with some restaurants not serving it at all for the duration of Ramadan. Expats should confirm this upon booking.
Recommended restaurants in Dubai
Le Classique (French)
Set amongst the fairways of Emirates Golf Course, home of the Dubai Cup, Le Classique is one of the oldest restaurants in Dubai, some 22 years! Romantic and marked by understated elegance, this restaurant is surprisingly reasonably priced too (for Dubai that is). Open Sat-Thu 7.30pm to 12am.
www.dubaigolf.com/emirates-golf-club/indulge/le-classique.aspx
Tel: +971 (0)4 380 2222
Fazaris (International)
Named after an Iranian philosopher, this restaurant hosts a fantastic Friday Brunch. Based at The Address Hotel, Downtown, the restaurant offers a view of Burj Khalifa from the outside terrace. The food presentation is impresssive and delicious; five sections offer Japanese, Asian, Indian, Arabian and Mediterranean delights. Open daily 6.30am to 11am, noon to 3.30pm, 6.30pm to midnight
www.theaddress.com/en/dining/fazaris
Tel: +971 (0)4 436 8880
Pierchic (Seafood)
For a special occasion you cannot beat Pierchic. Sitting on its very own private pier at Al Qasr hotel the inside of the restaurant makes you feel like the little mermaid, complete with jellyfish shaped lighting. If you have a terrace table you are treated to a breath-taking view of the Burj al Arab. Delicious food too, but it isn’t cheap. Open daily 7pm to 11.30pm.
www.jumeirah.com
Tel: +971 (0)4 366 6730
Il Rustico (Italian)
Hidden inside the Rydges Hotel in Satwa, this cheerful eatery is a surprisingly pleasant spot to have a pizza or indulge in a delicious risotto. Cosy and cheap, it's a firm favourite! Open daily noon to 3pm, 6pm to 11.30pm.
www.rydges.com/hotel/RODUBA/Rydges-Plaza-Dubai/restaurants.htm
Tel: +971 (0)4 398 2222
