Dubai pairs a global roster of chef-driven fine dining with a surprisingly strong homegrown scene, from Indian tasting menus to Levantine and Japanese neighborhood cooking. Michelin arrived in 2022 and the city now holds two three-star restaurants.
Dubai at a glance
What to eat
Shawarma and falafel; Biryani; Emirati dishes (harees, mandi); Kibbeh, hummus and manakish; Kunafa.
When to go
Best: January–March and November–December. Also good: April and October. Hardest: May–August.
Top tables
FZN by Björn Frantzén, Michelin 3★ (2026); Trèsind Studio, Michelin 3★ (2026); Orfali Bros, Michelin 2★ (2026, promoted); Il Ristorante - Niko Romito, Michelin 2★ (2026). This guide lists 12 award-winning restaurants in all.
Where locals eat
Local favorites off the prestige lists include Sufret Maryam and Kinoya.
New places change fast. “Provisional” means a guide or directory lists it as new but we have not confirmed the opening date. Check hours and book ahead before you go.
Memorable breakfasts in Dubai
The top pick here; the rest are on their own page.
At.mosphere
Burj Khalifa, Downtown
Order: Breakfast set
An extraordinary high-floor city view is the defining experience.
Full breakfast; reserve and check access arrangements.
Crazes move fast. “Just spotted” means one report so far, and most entries rest on a single source: confirm hours and expect a wait.
The Dubai food map
Every place in this guide, pinned. Tap a pin to see what to order, then add it to your trip.
Open the full Dubai food map: every place on our lists too (pizza, ice cream, romantic, where locals and the famous eat, cooking classes), searchable by dish.
· Pins are placed by address or name and can be a little off; always confirm in your maps app.
Plan my days in Dubai
Tell us what you like and we will line up the places on this page into a day-by-day plan. Only places from this guide, never anything else.
What to eat in Dubai, and where
Each dish comes with the places that do it best. Tap Add to my trip on the ones you want, or find them on the map above.
Machboos
spiced rice with lamb, chicken or fish, the Gulf's home-style staple
Where to eat it: we are still verifying the best places for this dish.
Shawarma
the city's everyday street food, found on nearly every corner
Audley Travel (Jul 2025): September to April is 'sunny but not too hot'; May-August is 36-40C with almost no rain (indoor malls/museums are the draw), quieter with lower hotel prices; Jan-Apr is the busiest period; Sep-Oct has few visitors (Sep still 38C, Oct 35C); Nov-Dec visitor numbers rise again. Peak/shoulder split by month is our reading of the source's temperature table (Nov-Mar 31C or below).
Closures to plan around
Ramadan: most restaurants, cafes and food courts stay open for non-fasting customers, some with screened or designated areas; some venues adjust daytime hours and fully reopen at iftar; some stay open into the early...
Eid al-Fitr, at Ramadan's end, can be very busy in Dubai (Audley Travel)
Meal costs and tipping (AED)
Casual: 15-35 shawarma/falafel/biryani in Deira and Al Karama; mall food courts 30-60
Mid-range: 70-180 per person (Two Continents, Jan 2026). Differs: Bhomes (Mar 2026) gives casual dining 30-80 per person
Tasting menus from: 350-1,200 for Michelin-starred or prestigious hotel restaurants per person (Two Continents); Bhomes: At.Mosphere 450-600 dinner, Sonara Camp from 690
Tipping: Optional; AED 5-10 usually sufficient; some restaurants add a 10% service charge (Bhomes, Mar 2026)
From published guides and tourism boards. Months are our mapping of how guides describe the seasons; 2027 event dates are expected, not confirmed. Prices come from single sources of varying age, so treat them as a rough guide. Compare cities by month
The best of Dubai, by category
The top pick in each, then every place on its own page with what to get and a map.
Levantine home cooking presented with polish and generous portions, with the tangy labneh dessert the standout. It is unlicensed, so pair it with a Jaffa orange drink.
Awards come from the guides named on each listing (Michelin Dubai 2026; MENA's 50 Best 2025). Researched October 25, 2026. Restaurants change; confirm hours, reservations and current stars before you go. Some addresses, phone numbers and websites come from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), so call ahead to confirm. Local favorites are editorial picks, not rankings.
Chef Amazing’s lists for Dubai: where locals eat, new openings, romantic dinners, ice cream, cooking classes and more, each place with what to order. Cooking classes in Dubai: who teaches, what you cook, how long and how to book.
