Where FooDiva Dines In Dubai: A 2025 Restaurant Guide

My annual Dubai restaurant guide celebrates its tenth edition, so with this milestone, change is afoot. The restaurants featured are those that I choose to frequent socially, some more often than others. I blame Dubai’s insane traffic. All under a new, personal headline: Where FooDiva Dines in Dubai.

47 homegrown, locally developed concepts have made my cut this year. Another record. We’re incredibly lucky that chefs and restaurateurs from every continent around the world have planted roots in Dubai, eyeing up market gaps to translate their culinary traditions into independent, intimate restaurants away from lavish hotels. All blending together like a flawless hollandaise to realistically represent this city that is home to over 200 nationalities.

Dubai still has a habit of entertaining celeb chefs on royalty gigs and franchised restaurant brands – but the emirate’s most intriguing dining concepts are cultivated by homegrown talent serving every cuisine under the sun. Palestinian maqlouba. Lebanese kibbeh nayeh. Filipino adobo. Balkan burek. Greek saganaki. French beef tartare. Peruvian ceviche. Indian dosas. Mexican tacos. All proudly displayed on menu after menu across the city, from cheap, cheerful eats to pricey, polished dining.

These predominately chef-led and owner-operated, independent establishments tick every box in equal measure – food, service, location, interior, atmosphere and value for money – in line with my no-freebies editorial policy where I always pay the bill. They have all consistently impressed across the whole à la carte dining experience, allowing you to eat as much or as little as you want, according to your budget. You won’t find tasting menu concepts or beach clubs in this guide, but you will find my go-to restaurants for delivery.

Whether you’re a UAE resident or a visitor, this guide is designed as a bucket list round-up to inspire your next breakfast, lunch or dinner. That’s how I use it. Entries are categorised by licensed (with alcohol) and unlicensed (sans booze), sub-divided into districts, and then alphabetically.

If you sign up to my newsletter for a paid subscription, not only will you receive this guide as a PDF, but my personal Google Maps link with all 47 restaurants mapped out.

If you’re after bespoke tips and foodie itineraries, then check out the FooDiva restaurant recommendations service or my Restaurant Whisperer Substack subscription offer. To experience some of these restaurants first hand, I organise dining experiences. For other handy tips, My Little Pink Lifestyle Book is regularly updated.

I am keen to know your haunts, which may just inspire my restaurant outings this year – so please feel free to share.

LICENSED

Bluewaters Island

Alici: An Amalfi-inspired seafood restaurant made for leisurely lunches on the upstairs terrace. The three anchovy ‘alici’ dishes are must-eats – marinated, deep-fried, or with spaghetti – as is the sea urchin pasta. All paired with picture-worthy views and a striking coastal décor. Walk off lunch or dinner with a stroll across the pedestrian footbridge from Bluewaters to JBR Walk soaking up the scenic skyline.

The Spaniel: A new-ish British brasserie by the team behind Rivi (Rivington Grill), Ivy and Marina Social. Weekend roasts for all-day dining, as well as old-school classics like chicken Kiev oozing with garlic butter; Scotch egg; and steak tartare.

Dubai Marina

Bistro des Arts: This gem on Dubai Marina Mall’s promenade transports diners to a quintessential Parisian bistro offering a genuine taste of classic French fare with go-to plates of escargots, steak tartare and crêpes Suzette.

JB’s: Our ‘local’ gastropub. At Amwaj Rotana on JBR Walk. The roast pork belly and Scotch egg, amongst the plethora of cooked pork dishes, has everything to do with it.

Tamoka: Latin-American meets Caribbean restaurant Tamoka; a sundowner beach bar Cana; and a food truck Cana-van. With, very importantly, pork on the menu. Don’t miss the melted provolone with ‘nduja. A dedicated, slick team runs this hotel-operated show at Ritz-Carlton JBR Walk.

JLT

Hawkerboi: A modern twist on hawker stall fare, mainly Malaysian, Thai and Indonesian. Buzzing, boisterous vibe guaranteed.

Mythos: Greek restaurateur-siblings Fay and Alex Economides own this Grecian white-washed taverna. Long-standing head chef Ilias Kokoroskos with his wife Eva as general manager, both also from Greece serve traditional meze, pork included, paired with a well-priced Hellenic wine list. A second, larger licensed restaurant with a dreamy terrace sits at City Walk – sans pork.

Media City

Marini: I discovered this Italian restaurant on my Media City doorstep after a recommendation from an Italian foodie, and it has since become a neighbourhood favourite. Quite how it has bagged an alcohol licence is beyond me, but Mr S is very grateful. An expansive all-day menu, breakfast included.

Palm Jumeirah

Chez Wam: Named after the French slang for chez moi, Chez Wam is French chef Hadrien Villedieu’s playground for modern French cooking with a nod to Japanese influences. Atop the St Regis Gardens Palm Jumeirah.

Ibn Al Bahr: My go-to restaurant at the Club Vista Mare complex on Palm Jumeirah’s eastern shoreline – a Lebanese seafood tavern. Choose fish from the daily catch on display, along with a selection of meze plates from the à la carte, and enjoy a meal on the terrace, or even the sand, soaking up vitamin sea.

TagoMago: The lighthouse-style design ensures a serving of breeze at this stellar Spanish tapas restaurant. Don’t miss the orange-stuffed olives; the Gilda bluefin tuna à la San Sebastián’s pintxo bars; the squid ink paella; AND the flan dessert.

Umm Suqeim

Sushiyaki: This casual, independent gem at Souk Madinat abides by its portmanteau of sushi and yakitori – the latter served on mini charcoal grills. A terrace setting overlooks the waterway.

Taverna Greek Kitchen: This Greek restaurant, next door, by the same restaurateur, lives up to its taverna name with a casual, rustic décor and expansive boardwalk. Greek chef Thodoris Rouvas ensures classic, authentic dishes including the slow-barbequed lamb shoulder and a fresh fish display – all at a wallet-friendly price point.

Barsha

Xu: My new go-to independent Chinese. At Kempinski MOE. The crispy shrimp cheung fun and Peking duck are mandatory orders.

Dubai Hills Business Park

Pitfire: We can now enjoy these Roman-Neapolitan hybrid wood-fired pizzas with delicious hot honey margaritas. And famed garlic knots, of course.

Reif Japanese Kushiyaki: Maverick Singaporean chef-restaurateur Reif Othman’s licensed restaurant. Reif is a creative soul, constantly adding new dishes to his tick-your-own-order menu. Thankfully, my favourite dish, the baked avocado with seaweed butter and teriyaki sauce remains a constant feature. His venture into Korean cuisine, Hoe Lee Kow, sits in the same complex, whilst the OG at Dar Wasl remains.

Pearl Jumeirah

Bungalo34: Al fresco, beach-fronted dining, independently operated by Tashas Group at Nikki Beach Hotel. A Mediterranean concept that dares to do something different in a sea of copycat approaches – like the warm salmon carpaccio and grilled calamari in lemon butter sauce. Paired with, likely, the best playlist in town.

City Walk

Nola: The upscale City Walk sibling of the OG in JLT. New Orleans, Southern-style fare. Your three course meal should kick off with baked filo-wrapped Camembert, followed by maple-syrup-marinated lamb chops, and culminating with the fluffiest, most pillowy, sugar-dusted beignets in town.

Downtown Dubai

Jun’s: Progressive fusion cuisine by Chinese-American chef Kelvin Cheung. A menu with intriguing ingredient and flavour combinations that, unusually for high-end restaurants, caters for many a dietary requirement.

Time Out Market Dubai: A food hall in Souk Al Bahar with 17 best-in-class Dubai concepts, whilst a terrace overlooks Burj Khalifa and the magical fountains. The breadth of menus is overwhelming, so I would use the app to help decide in advance, which also saves time with online ordering and payment.

DIFC

Avli: A cavern-cum-temple to modern Greek dining. A test of any Greek kitchen is the execution of feta saganaki – and Avli’s, with crisp honey-drizzled filo is the city’s best, rivalling those in Greece. I taught myself to bake it – no mean feat.

BB Social Dining: This owner-operated townhouse of a restaurant hidden in DIFC feels like a cosy speakeasy, with a Far-Eastern menu. The plump, pillowy bao buns, freshly baked in-house daily are Dubai’s best. The ground floor terrace makes for pretty conservatory-style surroundings.

Boca: A sustainability-driven restaurant, hugely deserving of its Michelin green star. A Spanish and broader Med menu sits alongside a mammoth wine list dedicated to natural, organic and biodynamic bottles, with many from the Middle East’s wine-growing countries. The working wine cellar makes for an intimate private gathering.

Josette: A French restaurant in ICD Brookfield Place. Classics with a teeny twist – from the snails with garlic almond butter, and pan-fried seabass with ‘fish scale’ potato slivers, to the tableside flambé finale of crêpes Josette with blood orange. I expect it’s the sole restaurant in Dubai to boast an affordable white-labeled house Champagne. All interwoven with extraordinary entertainment.

La Nina: Chef Tim Newton has engineered an Iberian-cum-Latino menu with his Portuguese head chef Ricardo Gonçalves at another ICD Brookfield Place restaurant. Tim has a knack for turning out creative fare that is fuss-free, delivering on style AND substance. Refreshing to see oxtail on the menu; braised for 48 hours. The star dish? A flan-meets-crème caramel dusted with 12-month aged Manchego. Tim has always excelled at pastry, unusual for executive chefs, and would do well to consider a dessert-only concept.

Sheikh Zayed Road

Opa: The only Greek restaurant in Dubai to offer plate smashing, a tradition no longer prevalent in Greece, which adds to the atmosphere. The menu may pay homage to mostly modern Greek fare, however, Ottoman influences do creep through. An intimate setting in Fairmont Dubai.

Wafi

The Nine: This pub at the Sofitel Obelisk is our favourite for a Sunday roast lunch when you’re desperate for pork. It’s all about the Yorkies (Yorkshire puddings) whether with beef, as tradition dictates – or any protein – all of which are on the menu here. The prime rib-eye of beef hails from Canada, whilst the English pork is showered with love from Dingley Dell, evident in the tender meat. And the crackling is simply put – a cracker – as are the cauliflower cheese croquettes. Make sure to leave room for the piping hot and ridiculously moreish apple pie.

UNLICENSED (WITHOUT ALCOHOL)

JLT

Bait Maryam: A Palestinian owner-operated gem in JLT by chef-owner Salam Daqqaq. Traditional dishes from Palestine and the broader Levant region whether breakfast, lunch or dinner. Last summer, she opening a second, more plush restaurant, Sufret Mayram in Wasl 51 complex.

Fusion Ceviche: Head to this teeny gem for ceviches galore but stay for the beef empanadas made with love from a recipe by Peruvian chef-patron Penelope Diaz’ grandma.

Dubai Marina

Kooya: Tucked away in the depths of Dubai Marina sits an enchanting bistro serving a genuine taste of Filipino food by chef-owner and brand ambassador for all things Philippines, JP Anglo.

Barsha

Maisan15: A Middle Eastern café in the depths of Barsha by Emirati-Yemeni Rami Farook – with head chef Rita Soueidan, a Palestinian-Jordanian, bred in the UAE on the pass.

The Lighthouse: If you’re after healthy Mediterranean fare in Mall of the Emirates away from the white noise of the main thoroughfare, head upstairs to the Apple Atrium. I never fail to order the grilled aubergine with minced lamb. The concept store with quirky gifting items and novel cookbooks will pull at purse strings. There are three more branches in Dubai – the original licensed restaurant in D3; Nakheel Mall; and recently opened at Dubai Hills Business Park, also with booze.

Umm Suqeim

21grams: Founder Stasha Toncev brings her Serbian roots to this charismatic Balkan bistro in the residential Umm Suqeim neighbourhood. The all-day breakfast plates (Brunch Bestie, I am looking at you), phyllo pies and burek are legendary. A terrace offers both Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa views.

Al Fannah: Forget Bu’Qtair and instead head to this small unassuming joint in neighbouring Umm Suqeim 2 fish harbour for South Indian seafood. Order the fried prawns, grilled sheri fish and warm, flakey parathas – all incredibly moreish.

Blu Pizzeria: A teeny menu of solely six wood-fired sourdough Neapolitan pizzas. That’s all you need. At the fishing harbour in Umm Suqeim 3. Walk-ins only.

Lila Wood-Fired Taqueria: Chef and co-founder Shaw Lash may hail from Texas, however she serves up honest Mexican food, far removed from commercial Tex-Mex cuisine in this teeny gem on the Umm Suqeim 3 end of Jumeirah Beach Road. Tacos are hand-pressed using masa dough, ground daily from native heirloom corn. A second restaurant, Lila Molino has opened at Al Serkal.

Jumeirah 3

Odeon: A gleaming white multi-storey villa on Jumeirah Beach Road houses an Aladdin’s cave of French deli fare, and a restaurant with a rooftop terrace – under the helm of French chef-owner Thomas Duhamel and his wife Morgane. I often order platters of oysters (pre-shucked), king prawns and crab for at-home entertaining.

Jumeirah 2

3Fils: Small plates of modern Japanese fare in the picturesque, al fresco setting of Jumeirah Fishing Harbour. Footsteps away by the same Emirati restaurateurs sits Bordo Mavi for quirky seafood dishes – and Brix Café for a roll call of inventive desserts from pastry chef extraordinaire Carmen Rueda Fernandez.

Khadak: The ex-chef director of Dishoom, Naved Nasir, has relocated to Dubai to open his first restaurant here – a modern Indian concept with no similarities to his old stomping ground. Instead, traditional soul food recipes are elevated with a refined, lighter cooking style to create a flurry of modern Indian dishes in a sprawling Jumeirah villa.

Lana Lusa: Lana Lusa continues its stellar Portuguese job in the new Four Seasons Residences overlooking Dubai Canal. Don’t miss the salted cod with scrambled eggs and matchstick fries.

Three by Eva: Jordanian mama Eva and her two daughters run this charming, two-storey villa café on Al Wasl road, serving classic and contemporary Palestinian-Jordanian dishes. At AED75, you’ll spot the most affordably priced bone marrow in town – and the most generous portion.

Jumeirah 1

11 Woodfire: Wood-fired cooking by new head chef Brando Moros in a dining room with the vibe of a licensed restaurant, yet no alcohol will pass your lips.

Itadaku: A traditional Japanese restaurant in the Wasl Vita Mall complex by chef Masaru Sakagami. To help choose from the mammoth menu, sit at the sushi counter and the chefs, Masaru included, will recommend their favourites.

La Fabbrica Focacceria Italiana: It took me a while to make my way to this Italian-owned joint in Wasl 51, but all good things come to those who wait. Focaccia galore aside, visit for the spaghetti cacio e pepe, the best I have ever eaten in Dubai. Demolished in minutes.

Orfali Bros Bistro: Chef-owner Mohamad Orfali and his two pastry chef brothers are on the pass daily for their bijou bistro that has topped the MENA’s 50 Best list for two consecutive years. Expect playful Middle Eastern fare with a nod to their Syrian heritage. With two of the brothers as pastry chefs, the dessert counter is a prominent feature. Be sure to indulge in the caviar-topped ‘doughnut’.

Osteria FunkCoolio: By chef Akmal Anuar, the ex-chef patron of 3Fils that kickstarted the Dubai trend for unlicensed chef-led restaurants. In the riviera-style complex of Port De La Mer. The ‘itameshi’ cuisine veers towards innovative Italian dishes with a nod to Japan and its premium ingredients.

Bastakiya

Arabian Tea House: Good Emirati fare is, sadly, hard to come by in Dubai – but if you dig deep, you’ll uncover Arabian Tea House. Of the city’s four locations, the Bastakiya branch is the prettiest and where the tourists flock (read Instagrammable). My go-to dishes are the grilled halloumi, sumptuous breakfast trays, and lamb kebabs marinated in lumi (black lime). The name is a nod to the free-flow black tea served in dainty Arabian glass teacups. Or for breathtaking creekside rooftop views, sibling Arabian Fish House with a Levantine-style seafood menu.

RESTAURANT DELIVERY

When I eat at home, I tend to prefer cooking to ordering in – but if I do go down the delivery route, other than some of the restaurants already mentioned, here are my go-tos. All have bricks-and-mortar locations.

• Chinese: The Peking duck with pancakes at Han Cuisine can only be ordered direct. Sells out quickly, so plan ahead.
• Greek: Kilikio by the Mythos team in Depachika Food Hall on Palm Jumeirah. The cabbage dolma avgolemono is my go-to dish.
• Lebanese: Allo Beirut for the beef shawarma laced with tahini, and low-carb kebab boxes.
• Pho (pronounced feu please!): Vietnamese Foodies.
• Quiche: A new food truck at Ripe Market Quiche ‘N Croque dedicated to quiche baking and croque toasties. By a French chef. Delivery by slice or whole pies. Buttery, flakey shortcrust pastry of dreams. The Scottish salmon with leek, dill and crème fraîche is my fave.
• Salads, all of them: Zaatar W Zeit.
• Steaks: Steaks are the easiest dish to cook at home – but if I don’t have meat in my fridge or freezer, I will order from Couqley for its famous steak with addictive sauce and frites. Its build-your-own salad is also a winner.
• Sushi: Sumo Sushi & Bento and Sushi Art. The latter’s beautifully presented boxes are perfect for home entertaining.
• Thai: Fuchsia for healthy Thai fare.
• Tray bakes (and whole cakes): Roseleaf Café for casual home entertaining.

A bientôt.

FooDiva. x