FooDiva’s top Dubai restaurants: a 2021 guide
On the back of my new editorial policy to only profile homegrown restaurants, this year’s FooDiva guide to top restaurants in Dubai proudly celebrates SOLELY independent, locally developed concepts. 27 to be exact..in 2021, FooDiva’s tenth birthday year. Many are owner-operated and none are hotel-operated – even though some may sit in hotel locations. And that’s a key dining trend moving forward.
In an interview a couple of months ago, a leading restaurateur asked me who I most admire. My response: “Any entrepreneur or SME who has had to hustle over the crisis.” Many of these restaurant operators in this guide have had to do just that – with some even morphing into chefs overnight. Chapeau to each and every one of these 27 establishments who have survived the lockdown and crisis, and dare I say, in some cases, thrived. These outlets were forced to change business models and start deliveries, with some continuing to do so – but the strong rebound of the dine-in sector here in Dubai shows that a delivery will never replace the social experience of dining out. Another trend 😉
Restaurants are selected based on go-to haunts that tick ALL the boxes – food, service, location, interior, atmosphere and value for money – in equal measures, as per my editorial review policy.
In its sixth consecutive year, this guide has never ranked the restaurants by numbers. Entries are categorised by licensed and non-licensed, sub-divided into districts, and then alphabetically. See it as a bucket list guide to inspire your next breakfast, lunch or dinner outing.
Any favourites of yours that should be on my radar this year?
LICENSED
Bluewaters Island
Alici: an Amalfi-inspired seafood concept with picture-worthy views and a striking coastal décor to match. The deep-fried anchovies – ‘alici’ – are a must-eat – as is the sea urchin spaghetti. Walk off lunch, brunch or dinner with a stroll across the pedestrian footbridge from Bluewaters to JBR Walk soaking up Dubai’s scenic skyline.
JLT & Dubai Marina
Bistro des Arts: this gem on Dubai Marina Mall’s promenade transports diners back in time to a quintessential Parisian bistro offering a genuine taste of classic French fare. Breakfast, a Frenchie ‘brunch’, as well as lunch and dinner menus.
Mythos: this slice of Santorini in JLT impresses with its no-frills simplicity and charm across both food and décor, despite the lack of a view. A husband and wife team run the kitchen and front-of-house respectively. Always rammed (with safe spacing), so book ahead.
Palm Jumeirah
Food District: Dubai’s first licensed dine-in market with 13 concepts across two levels. At The Pointe overlooking the world’s largest fountains. Popular vendors are Sticky Rice for mama’s Thai cooking, an outpost of Reif Japanese Kushiyaki with a predominately sushi menu, and Dibba Bay Oysters.
Ibn Al Bahr: the Club Vista Mare development on Palm Jumeirah’s eastern shoreline boasts many restaurants. My top pick at this complex is a Lebanese seafood tavern owned by fishermen. Choose fish from the daily catch on display, along with a selection of meze plates from the a la carte menu, and enjoy a meal on the terrace soaking up vitamin sea.
Dubai Sports City
The Pangolin: Sergio Lopez’ (ex-Tom & Serg) new dining complex at The Els Club – in partnership with chef Troy Payne, Greg Malouf’s chef de cuisine for many years. On the ground level sits the more casual eatery – Lowlands serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – whilst upstairs, the smarter restaurant and sundowner terrace, Highlands is open for lunch and dinner. In what is a new dining trend, there’s no clear cuisine category – simply some South-African influences (think home-made biltong) and old-school Australian dishes inspired by Troy’s childhood. Every single dish boasts a story with intriguing flavour profiles.
Umm Suqeim
Folly: no other sundowner setting comes close in Dubai with this Souk Madinat Jumeirah location overlooking the waterway and Burj Al Arab. The Folly ‘Pop’ cocktail is an Instagram must. Linger for dinner on one of the terraces and indulge in chef patrons’ Nick and Scott’s table d’hôte menu.
Taverna Greek Kitchen: this Greek restaurant at Souk Madinat lives up to its ‘taverna’ name with a casual, rustic decor and expansive boardwalk. A Greek chef ensures classic, authentic dishes at a wallet-friendly price point.
The Meat Co: a dramatic refurb at the Souk Madinat outpost has overhauled this homegrown steakhouse concept into a classy Art Deco inspired dining room, terrace and wine tasting room. Beef cuts across all budgets are on display, including the buttery Japanese Saroma Wagyu.
DIFC
Avli: a cavern-cum-temple to modern Greek dining, Avli, which translates to ‘courtyard’, ticks the upscale restaurant box from Dubai’s Grecian craze in DIFC. A test of any Greek kitchen is the execution of feta saganaki – and Avli’s, with its crisp honey-drizzled filo is the city’s best, rivalling any one might find in Greece.
BB Social Dining: this owner-operated townhouse of a restaurant hidden in DIFC feels like a cosy speakeasy, boasting a Far-Eastern menu with a nod to Middle Eastern ingredients. The bao buns, freshly baked in-house every night are Dubai’s best. A new extended terrace makes for pretty conservatory-style surroundings. BB also offers Dubai’s cheapest Champagne by the glass served in an adorable coupe.
Boca: a Mediterranean concept with a strong Spanish slant and a local, sustainable menu ethos in DIFC. The wine list boasts Dubai’s most comprehensive selection of organic, biodynamic, sustainable and natural wines. One can even eat a meal in the socially distanced working wine cellar.
La Cantine du Faubourg: expect contemporary French flavours with a broader nod to the Med at this independently-operated restaurant in Jumeirah Emirates Towers. A gorgeous garden courtyard differentiates this restaurant from other Frenchie options in town. This concept may have originated in Paris, but it closed a few years ago, with the owner buying the rights to the name.
Ninive: the sibling and neighbour to La Cantine du Faubourg boasts a magical open-air setting with a modern Middle Eastern and North African menu. Amongst all the foliage, imagine a plethora of majlis-style alcoves with lounge seating. A bucket-list restaurant to take visitors for their one starlit night in Dubai.
Dubai Design District
Akiba Dori: head here (in D3) for the Tokyo-Neapolitan hybrid pizza that will have you drooling – and perhaps ordering seconds. The very light dough is proofed for 26 hours before baking at a higher than normal temperature (500oC) for a shorter time (45-60 seconds) in a bespoke Japanese wood oven.
The Lighthouse: a café-cum-restaurant in D3 serving simple Mediterranean fare in an airy space with bundles of natural light. Breakfast, lunch, dinner…and booze. Digest the meal by browsing in the quirky concept store.
Sheikh Zayed Road & Business Bay
Opa: the one Greek restaurant in Dubai that needs booking well in advance – and the only one to offer plate smashing. A surprisingly intimate setting with its own dedicated entrance at the Fairmont Dubai. The menu may be mostly modern Greek, however, Turkish influences do creep through.
The Maine Land Brasserie: the just-as-popular Business Bay sibling to The Maine Oyster Bar with a predominantly meat-centric menu. The New York-style grande dame dining room is just as glorious as the short rib poutine.
Tresind Studio: an inventive Indian concept dedicated to a chef’s table experience by chef Himanshu Saini. Seasonal tasting menus with only 20 covers a night.
Garhoud
Fujiya: I know I’ve discovered a good restaurant when a) the place is brimming with natives jovially tucking into their food – in this case Japanese – and b) I want to order every single dish. Independently operated with a dedicated entrance next to the Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai’s ballroom, Fujiya is a traditional Japanese izakaya aka pub. Go here to feast on affordable Japanese comfort food whether kaki oyster fry, ramen or shabu-shabu.
UNLICENSED (WITHOUT ALCOHOL)
Palm Jumeirah
Depachika Food Hall: inspired by Japanese basement level department stores, this food hall in Nakheel Mall on Palm Jumeirah boasts 40+ dine-in and retail vendors, with many homegrown concepts – including Kushi by Reif, Kilikio by Mythos, The Cheese Room and even a bottle (booze) shop.
Emirates Hills, Barsha & Al Quoz
Roseleaf Café: two locations at Dubai Garden Centre and Emirates Golf Club. Unlike popular perception, it’s more than just a bakery and a spot for good cake. The tray bakes are superb, in particular the cottage pie and moussaka, which come in individual or family size portions. Lovely breakfast spot too.
Allo Beirut: retro Lebanese street food joint on Hessa street that is always (socially distanced) heaving. Order the beef and tahini shawarma wrapped in saj bread. And the pan-fried cauliflower.
Umm Suqeim
21 Grams: the crisis allowed the Serbian owner to expand the café-cum-restaurant and re-invent the menu with a broader selection of modern Balkan fare for breakfast and lunch. Now closed in the evenings, except for one-off collaboration dinners. Thankfully, the burek pies with a variety of fillings remain unchanged.
Kaftan: Dubai boasts many casual Turkish eateries, but not many that manage to elevate Ottoman cuisine to a finer, exquisite level in the pretty garden setting of a converted villa.
Jumeirah
Lana Lusa: set in Jumeirah’s Wasl 51 complex, this little corner of Portugal with a verdant terrace and live Fado tunes transports diners to the intimate, family-run restaurants of the Bairro Alto in Lisbon. A Portuguese owner helps deliver on authenticity, including freshly baked pasteis de nata (custard tarts).
Reif Japanese Kushiyaki: an edgy Japanese eatery in Dar Wasl Mall from acclaimed Dubai-based Singaporean chef Reif Othman. Reif is a creative soul, constantly adding new dishes to his tick-your-own-order menu. ‘The Experience’ – a four-seater chef’s table aka kitchen counter allows him to personally cook for guests. He broke social media over the pandemic with his ‘toilet roll’ lemon and yuzu sponge cake – order one to take home.
A bientôt.
FooDiva. x
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