Among everything that makes Dubai an attractive tourist destination, food plays a big part. The gastronomical options available to travellers from all over the world make the city an international hub for food lovers.
On Gulf Insider trips to the city that never sleeps, we got to check out a number of dining spots that had much to offer. We’ve narrowed them down to our favourite 5 restaurants of 2022 where we enjoyed the food, the ambience, and the service, leaving us wanting more.
GRAZE
Cuisine – Steakhouse
The Dubai City Walk has the perfect location for steak lovers in GRAZE. We dined at the restaurant as a group and the quality of the food coupled with the ambience and the warm service made for an exquisite dining experience. GRAZE boasts an impressive selection of meat, poultry, and seafood choices and an array of great side dishes to go with the international variety of steaks. A visit to GRAZE is recommended if you are a steak-lover and looking for a new dining spot to explore!
Location: City Walk, Al Multaqa Street, Dubai
Contact: +971 (4) 4033111
Attiko Dubai
Cuisine – Pan-Asian
An Asian garden, spectacular views of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Harbour, and a high-energy environment with loads to offer – that pretty much sums up the new ATTIKO at W Dubai Mina Seyahi. The club is most recommended for sundowners and late-night gatherers looking to soak up the most of Dubai’s sunset glow and iconic cityscapes from this rooftop spot. Grab offers on drinks every day during sunset, dance under the stars every Saturday night, or enjoy free-flowing drinks every Tuesday during Ladies’ Night. We visited the lounge in November and have not been able to get it out of our minds!
Location: W Dubai – Mina Seyahi
Contact: +971 (4) 350 9983
Fi’lia
Cuisine – Italian
This is a gem in the middle of Dubai that’s immensely close to our hearts! Believably, the first female-led restaurant in the region, Fi’lia is a Mediterranean-Italian concept and was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 title. The classics takeover at Fi’lia – a rustic wood oven-cooked pizza, a delicious caesar salad, Spaghetti al Pomodoro and the Fi’liamisu for dessert are all recommended to be tried when you visit this charming spot in the heart of Dubai.
Location: Marasi Dr Business Bay, Dubai
Contact: +971 (4) 607 0737
Din Tai Fung
Cuisine – Taiwanese
This Taiwanese restaurant is exceptional for its dumplings – soft, warm, and succulent. Not only is the food at Din Tai Fung delicious and bursting with flavour, but the dishes are also simple yet wholesome. If you’re visiting the restaurant, a trip to Dumpling City will definitely be a rewarding experience. We particularly enjoyed the Steamed Chicken & Vegetable dumplings and the Steamed Shrimp & Chicken Shumai. The Schezuan Chicken Wontons and the Truffle Chicken Xiaolong Bao get honorary mentions for sure. If you’re looking for a full-course meal, start with the Dumplings, then move on to their Wok dishes (noodles or fried rice), accompanied by a plate of Wontons, and end with a delectable Xiaolong Bao dessert.
Locations
Dubai Mall: +971 (4) 3200477
Mall of the Emirates: +971 (4) 2651288
Nakheel Mall: +971 (4) 5807788
Al Ghurair Centre: +971 (4) 2264448
The Galleria Al Maryah Island: +971 (4) 4467273
Bait Maryam
Cuisine – Levantine
Inspired by her mother’s relationship with the community, Chef Salam Daqqaq established Bait Maryam, providing a homely experience for those visiting the Levantine restaurant. In 2022, Bait Maryam was also awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand award. Fatet mouskhan is among the more popular dishes at this joint – a take on the traditional dish which in fact is quite cumbersome to consume. Chef Daqqaq has simplified the dish to make it easy to eat while memorable as well. Nestled in Jumeirah Lake Towers, the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant makes it a favourite among expatriates in Dubai.
Location: Cluster D – Jumeirah Lake Towers
Contact: +971 (4) 2418447