Top 10 places to dine in Dubai

By Hermoine Macura-Noble
Special to The Times Kuwait

Dubai is known for its exceptional cuisine, ambiance, and service, which is why it is considered as the city of choice for many visitors looking to try new gastronomical creations. Here are some of the top places for food lovers to dine in Dubai.

Pierchic: An iconic spot that is known as one of the best places to dine in Dubai, Pierchic is an overwater restaurant at the end of a pier, known for its seafood and stunning views of the Arabian Gulf and Burj Al Arab. It is great for couples as well as special occasions. The menu offers a variety of dishes including seafood and meat dishes that will tickle your tastebuds.

Zuma: A contemporary Japanese izakaya-style restaurant offering high-quality sushi, robata grill dishes, and a lively atmosphere. The Dubai outpost of this global brand is set over three floors and comes with trendy, contemporary styling, several sushi counters and a lively atmosphere. Super-fresh, high quality ingredients are prepared with dexterity. Flavors are superb and the charming staff provide friendly, efficient service.

At.mosphere: Located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, this restaurant provides breathtaking views of the city and serves international cuisine. Here you will find options for breakfast, high tea, light lunches and a fine-dining dinner service. The haute dinner menu features European cuisine made with top-quality ingredients. Decadent dishes include foie gras, oysters and wagyu tenderloin. Choose between the lounge and restaurant, with the lounge having a relaxed yet elegant environment and armchair seating, perfect for anything from a cup of coffee to a full dinner. The restaurant offers a more formal fine dining setting, making it ideal for a special occasion.

Fouquet’s Downtown: A classic restaurant everyone loves, Fouquet’s is spread across four floors and features a patisserie, brasserie, private lounge and a rooftop bar which has views of Burj Khalifa. The interiors reflect those of the original restaurant in Paris, with wooden panels, black and white portraits of movie stars hanging on the wall, and red chairs contrasting against white-clothed tables. However it is the exquisite food that draws the crowds more than anything else. The Crab tartare with avocado and citrus jelly is highly recommended as is the Wagyu beef carpaccio with red pepper confit and parmesan flakes. The service is outstanding.

Eauzone: Known as one of the most romantic locations in Dubai, Eauzone is located at the One&Only Royal Mirage and offers Mediterranean-Asian fusion cuisine with breathtaking views. Featuring a menu with mostly Asian inspired creations, some of the best to try include the Pad Thai, Asian Tacos, Ceviches and the wok-fried beef tenderloin with black pepper sauce which can be served with or without pan-seared foie gras.

Black Flamingo: Featuring stunning interiors made up of neon lights, palm trees and other hints of the Miami vibe, Black Flamingo offers a sharing style menu that celebrates the Latino and Caribbean Creole cultures. Visitors can look forward to feasting on fresh guacamole and beef skirt fresh tacos with veggies rolled in soft tortilla wraps. The seabass fritto is also divine as is the strawberry churros for dessert. Neon palm trees and the R&B tunes also set the scene for an unforgettable dining experience in Dubai.

Seven Sisters: An oasis in the heart of the city, Seven Sisters is found along the Dubai canal, next to the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel. Guests are warmly welcomed to a green environment where they can either watch the sunset while having a drink at the bar or enjoy great food in the fine dining space. Offering amazing mocktails that refresh the senses, the best dishes on the menu are the watermelon and feta salad, brie cheese croquettes and the ceviche platter. Combining a Mediterranean and Japanese fusion style, the hand cut truffle fries and the crispy calamari are also a must for food lovers.

La Nina: Located in ICD Brookfield, La Nina is named after one of Christopher Columbus’s ships and seeks to draw together both the old and new. Accessible through a discreet door, high ceilings and sweeping curtains frame the dining experience which features unique Iberian and Latin cuisines. Some of the best choices on the menu include the tuna tartare with habanero truffle dressing and shards of rice crisps and the wagyu striploin of beef tartare with crispy potato and manchego. As for mains, seafood lovers must try the Locrio de Langosta, one of the best dishes on the menu.

Cafe Beirut by the Sea: A new Lebanese hot spot in Dubai, Cafe Beirut boasts stunning interiors featuring Lebanese legends such as opera singer Fairouz and other interior features that tell the story of the streets of Lebanon. With a focus on seafood, visitors can expect fresh seasonal catches including some of the most mouth-watering grilled octopus and even lobster linguine in Dubai. The menu also includes Lebanese classics such as mouttabal, warak enab, shanklish, and labneh with garlic as well as grills, and shawarma. The Fattoush features ingredients that are flown in especially for Café Beirut directly from the motherland: One of the best versions in Dubai.

Meda: Located in the Taj Hotel in Business Bay, Meda Tapas & Bar serves sharing-style dishes influenced by Spanish, Italian and Greek cuisines. Visitors can expect fresh creations such as the Sea Bream Ceviche, served with, crispy corn, piquillo, olives, and pickled red onion, the Tuna Tartare wrapped in filo pastry cones with avocado cream, and the tomato confit and pesto topped Smoked Burrata. The sumptuous array of mains including a signature traditional Neapolitan Calamarata Lobster Pasta served with confit tomato, bisque and fresh basil, and a decadent lamb rack with green mojo sauce and truffle mashed potato. The menu also flaunts a range of vegetarian favorites including a truffle ravioli and a classic vegetarian paella with saffron, porcini mushrooms, artichokes and green peas, as delectable non-meat alternatives that will make your tastebuds sing.

By Hermoine Macura-Noble
The first Australian English speaking News Anchor in the Middle East. She is also the Author of Faces of the Middle East and Founder of US-based 501c3 charity – The House of Rest which helps to ease the suffering of victims of war. For more from our Contributing Editor, you can follow her on Instagram, here.