Where to lunch over Ramadan in Dubai?
NOTE; This post is for 2012. For the 2013 Ramadan daytime dining round-up please click here.
Despite living in a Muslim society, we’re pretty lucky many independent restaurants in Dubai do obtain a special licence to operate in daylight over Ramadan. Aside from the usual hotel and clubhouse establishments which will always have an eatery or two open, here’s FooDiva’s round-up of lunch and in some cases brekkie spots open throughout the holy month – compiled in conjunction with Geordie Armani.
Just be mindful of our Muslim friends and patient with serving staff who could be fasting. One last thing, there’s definitely no booze from dawn to sunset. Links included where FooDiva has reviewed.
Shakespeare and Co (three locations open daily 7am – 2am) – Al Attar Business Tower, Sheikh Zayed road. T; +971 4 3311757. Safa Centre, Al Wasl road, next to Park & Shop. T; +971 4 3941121. Arabian Ranches retail centre. T; +971 4 4470444.
Bateel (two locations open weekdays 7.30am – 6pm and weekends 9am – 6pm) – Dubai Media City, Tower B, Business Central Towers. T; +971 4 4494010. DIFC. T; + 971 4 3700404.
More (two locations) – Gold & Diamond Park. T; +971 4 3234350. Open daily 8am – 6pm. DIFC T; +971 4 3700469. Open daily 8am – 7pm.
Oregano (two locations) – Dubai Media City. T; +971 4 4343010. Open daily until midnight. Limitless, Downtown Jebel Ali. T; +971 4 8848885. Open daily until 4pm.
Wagamama (two locations open daily 12noon – 11.30pm) – Al Fattan towers at JBR. T; +971 4 3995900. Crowne Plaza on Sheikh Zayed. T; +971 4 3056060.
1762 (two locations open daily 8am – 6pm) – DIFC and JAFZA, The Galleries. T; 800 1762.
Make Business Hub at JBR, Level 1, Al Fattan House. T; +971 4 3929216. Open daily 8am – 10pm.
Sumo Sushi Bento at Dubai Media City, Building 10 (BBC World). T; + 971 4 3914141. Open Saturday – Thursday 11am – 10pm and Friday 1 – 10pm.
Pascal Tepper – French bakery-cum-cafe at Dubai Media City (next to Radisson). T; +971 4 4542408. Open daily 8am – 9pm.
Sophie’s Gastro Café on Palm Jumeirah, Riva Complex, Shoreline Building 8. T; +971 4 4515982. Open daily 8am – 9pm.
Bidi Bondi on Palm Jumeirah, Clubhouse Al Manhal, Shoreline (between buildings 3 & 4). T; +971 4 4270515. Open daily 11am – midnight.
West 14th on Palm Jumeirah, Oceana Beach Club. T; +971 4 4477601. Open daily 12noon – 3pm.
Lime Tree Cafe in Al Quoz next to Courtyard Gallery. T; +971 4 3498498. Open daily 8am – 6pm.
Park Central deli at Park Place on Sheikh Zayed (near Fairmont). T; +971 4 3589777. Open 24 hours.
Sino Chai – Taiwanese cafe with tea tugging at its heart. Dubai Healthcare City, Building 27, Block A. +971 4 4355650. Open daily except Monday 11.30am – 4pm.
Hard Rock Cafe at Dubai Festival City, Festival Centre (next to Marks & Spencer). T; +971 4 2328900. Open daily 12noon – 1am.
Madinat Jumeirah has a couple of restaurants open daily from 12noon to midnight:
- Noodle House in the souk. T; +971 4 3666730.
- Toscana – Italian trattoria on the waterway. T; +971 4 3666730.
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Boulevard (the office tower +971 4 3198088) has a number of restaurants open:
- Noodle House – open daily 12noon – midnight.
- ET Sushi – open daily 12noon – midnight.
- Alfie’s – open daily 12noon – 3pm.
- The Ivy T; +971 4 3198767. Open Sunday – Thursday 12noon – 3pm. Special lunch deal – two courses (AED 120) and three courses (AED 150).
And last but not least, at DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) there’s aplenty open:
- Gaucho T; +971 4 4227898. Open daily 11.30am – 11.30pm.
- La Petite Maison T; +971 4 4390505. Open daily 12 – 3pm.
- Roberto’s T; +971 4 3860066. Open daily 1 – 11pm.
- Royal China T; +971 4 3545543. Open daily 11.30am – 11.30pm.
- Zuma T; +971 4 4255660. Open Saturday – Thursday 12.30 – 3pm and Friday for non-boozy brunch 12.30 – 4pm.
Photo credit to Epicure Catering
Anywhere we’ve missed? Please do drop us a comment and we’ll add to the list.
Ramadan Kareem et a bientôt!
FooDiva. x
Moulin D’or in Bur Dubai has some really delicious lebanese food that they deliver (i have a feeling they may be open, you may want to call and check), along with subway as easy cheap fast and (relatively) healthy delivery.
Thanks Drina – we’ve focused on restaurants/ cafes open for eating in 🙂 Otherwise the list would be never-ending! If you come across any others in your area please let me know. Thanks. x
Hey there. Bateel and Costa in Media City are open for eat-in.
Thanks Ross! I have added Bateel in – the DIFC location is also open. Steering away from the likes of Costa’s and Starbucks as they are more of a coffee joint and the list would be never-ending…
Hey! You should go on YaDig and write your reviews on the places you’ve eaten at in the UAE. You could win 35,000AED+ in prizes this Ramadan for reviewing businesses on YaDig! Local service companies, spas, gyms, hotels, night clubs, coffee shops and more!! It’s pretty cool you should check it out and let all your friends know too! http://www.yadig.com/competition.aspx
Oh and there’s Sezzam at kempinski in MOE. I used to go there… Pretty good food and big choice. I believe après and the lot would also be open (not certain)
Sezzam has closed down Drina…to be replaced by Cheescake Factory apparently!
Shakespeare & Co in the Ranches is open… Happy discovery of the day 😉
Hi Wendy – I just double checked with Shakespeares at Ranches again and they are only open for take-out during the day 🙁 We’ve focused on eateries open for eating in – otherwise the list would be never-ending! Thanks. x
Bummer, I was told the second floor was open for dine in 🙁 That leaves me with just the Ranches Golf club restaurant I guess… better than nothing 😉
Shakespears in teh Ranches is open upstairs for sure. I have eaten there.
Most outlets in DHCC are open as well for dine in.
Mike
Shakespeares at the Ranches keeps on telling me they are only open for take-out this year – but it could be they are just saying that over the phone. Did you eat in this Ramadan Mike?
Yes I have eaten at the Ranches upstairs and at PnS
OK thanks Mike have added it in!
Thanks for the list! I used it to have lunch yesterday 😀
Btw, the list says Lime Tree in Al Quoz is open…is the Media City branch is closed for dine-in?
Yeah great to hear Devina! LT at DMC is only open for take-out – no dining in 🙁
I am coming from Sharjah and I need to have lunch around Jumeirah area. I just called Shakespeare at the Safa Center but they told me they are open at lunch only for take away.
I understand they are saying that Lula but are indeed open through the back door. I tried it last year :).
Thank you! You saved me with your tip. Your list is very useful and a real bless during Ramadan.
Glad to hear Lula. Thanks for dropping by!
The HArd Rock Cafe is also open during Ramadan
Great – have added in! Thanks.
Two good Scotish? places:
Nelson in Dubai Media Rotana
Crown and Lion in Byblos
Lunch deal 59 and 57 aed with one soft drink and one main course. Me and my wife have been there last Friday and YEsterday and they are nice. I prefer the second one though.
Hi. I went to eat at Shakespeare & Co. at The Springs Town Centre yesterday, as I have done during Ramadan in previous years as they’ve always had a screen and was disappointed to hear that, following a complaint, they no longer allow customers to eat in during daylight hours and are now offering a take-away service instead until iftar time. 🙁
Thanks Steve for letting me know. Indeed a shame – have updated the list. Cheers.
Please add circle cafe: http://www.circle-cafe.com/
I went there for dinner last night and wow the food was great and they open during Ramadan!
Hi Janine – this is the 2012 post. For this year’s round-up please refer to this post. Circle cafe is only open for delivery and take-away not to eat in sadly, but I agree their food is great! http://foodiva.net/2013/07/where-can-i-lunch-over-ramadan-in-dubai-oh-and-breakfast-too-please/