Top 10: Best Restaurants in Dubai with Teletext HolidaysBy Alicia Grimshaw
Planning a trip to Dubai this summer? Along with our pals at Teletext Holidays, we’ve found the best restaurants in Dubai – discover more on their blog and see more about Dubai holidays. Here’s what to do in Dubai in 3 days if you’re in a rush! For foodies, here’s 10 the Dubai restaurants you simply must visit:
Best Restaurants in Dubai: Breakfast + Brunch
Order: The New Benedict – poached free range eggs, BBQ braised veal, hollandaise, yuzu and apple chutney, shisho, shoots and Bhan mi toast.
The Lowdown: When planning Dubai holidays, you need to factor in brunch. Tom & Serg is where the avid brunchers of Dubai come to satisfy their egg kicks. Light, airy and super stylish, this all-day eatery is a hit with the freelance crowd who come to lap up the free WiFi and indulge in their many cakes and coffee. Alas, you don’t have to own a Macbook to blend in here; Tom & Serge is teeming with all kinds of folk who relish in the no frills, fuss-free food.
Eat and Drink: Tom & Serge’s brunch menu reads like a death row meal list; everything tastes good. The team have a wonderful gift of putting ingredients together that work. Try the brekkie bao – a soft, pillowy Tawinese bao stuffed with buttermilk fried chicken and topped with Sriracha hollandaise, or the super sweet Belgian chocolate waffles with caramelised banana and cheery chocolate sauce. And if that’s all too much, there’s also the scrambled eggs on toast for the traditionalists.
Where: Al-Joud Center,15A Street,Sheikh Zayed Rd,Al Qouz, Near ACE Hardware، Near Burjeel Hospital – Dubai
2. For Bacon: Bertin Bistro and Restaurant
Order: Bacon Benedict with freshly baked bread, crispy beef bacon bits and sautéed spinach (AED 44)
The Lowdown: From the outside, Bertin Bistro and Restaurant looks more like a car showroom. However, inside is a totally different story. Bertin is incredibly swish – think marble counter tops, leather banquets and floor to ceiling windows. You wouldn’t be wrong in thinking you were sipping coffee in LA. This Alsatian bistro transports you back to the roaring 1930s with its classic, simple dishes and quirky interiors.
Eat and Drink: The sweet bakery smell hits you as soon as you walk in. Give into the freshly baked scent and order the pain au chocolate. Layers upon layers of buttery, flaky pastry hiding thick slabs of gooey melted chocolate. The one dish you always see coming out of the chicken is the shakshuka omelette, nice bit of spice and plenty of tomatoes. It’s popular for good reason.
Where: Manara, Street 21B, Opposite Times Square, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al – Dubai – Emirati Arabi Uniti
3. For Coffee and Pastry: La Serre
Order: Pain au chocolate (AED 14) and French toast (AED 65)
The Lowdown: People come to La Serre to ogle at the interiors as much as to enjoy the food. Partly because, Le Serre is achingly beautiful. Natural light pours through the two-storey windows, and the clean, white interiors look fresh off the pages of some glossy magazine. Combining the chicness of a Parisian street café with the electricity of a Downtown Dubai hotspot, La Serre Boulangerie is a neighbourhood hub which hums from sunrise to late evening.
Eat and Drink: Dubai holidays are all about taking things easy, discover the best 15 things to do in Dubai here. First on the agenda: coffee. Because the caffeine creations at La Serre are fantastic, with the team using Boon Coffee with beans source from Ethiopia. And their iced coffees taste like liquid magic (try the iced mocha blended with their homemade chocolate). All of the breakfast greats feature on their morning menu including eggs Benedict, scrambled egg and truffle, and omelettes. But have your cake and eat it for breakfast with their banana bread with clotted cream, candied walnuts and maple syrup – tasting is believing.
Where: La Serre Bistro & Boulangerie, VIDA Downtown Dubai, Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, UAE
Best Restaurants in Dubai: Lunch
Order: All the mezze
The Lowdown: Lebanon meets Dubai at waterside haunt, Ibn Albahr. The restaurant is known on the foodie circuit for serving some of the freshest fish in Dubai – straight from the ocean onto your plate. Hidden away on a private beach, Ibn Albahr operates at a different pace of life to busy Dubai found down the road – and different to normal Dubai holidays. Head here on the weekends for lunch alfresco and a spot of people watching.
Eat and Drink: It’s a mezze party here, so the best thing to do is order a few dishes and just get stuck in. Hummus, stuffed vine leaves and tabbouleh should be first on your list. The crispy calamari is wonderfully light, and the local clams with black pepper are delightful. Make sure you check to see what the fish of the day is. It never disappoints.
Where: Club Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
5. For Chic Food: Culinary Boutique
Order: Grilled chilli lamb (AED 120)
The Lowdown: Culinary Boutique is chic and oh-so-pretty. This day-to-night hangout proves once again that Dubai’s food scene is coming on leaps and bounds. From its creative breakfasts to hearty lunches, and exciting dinner dishes – Culinary Boutique’s food offering is second to none. The outside patio is perfect for sinking afternoon cocktails, and basking in the Dubai heat. Wear your best shirt – the clientele are as clean looking as the interiors.
Eat and Drink: If you’re in a rush, this is one place you don’t want to miss – and here’s the top ways to spend 3 days in Dubai. The lunch menu boasts fresh salads, sharing plates and sandwiches. The prawn and coconut curry is wonderfully light, and aromatic, and the saffron risotto topped with wagyu cheek is inventive and totally moreish. It’s the grilled chilli lamb that deserves all the praise, and a must order for any Culinary Boutique first timer. Save room for pud – their matcha chocolate fondant is bang on.
Where: Villa #56,Jumeira Beach Rd,Jumeirah 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Order: Crispy dough base topped with beef carpaccio, wild rocket, parmesan shavings and black truffle.
The Lowdown: Granted, when you’re thinking of Dubai holidays, Italian food may not be on top of your hit list. But when there’s places like Roberto’s churning out some of the best past in town – you make the exception. The kitchen team blends Roman devotion to food with Venetian hospitality and Milanese flair, resulting in a unique and homegrown reinterpretation of Italian cuisine.
Eat and Drink: Two words: gnocchi mare. A bowl of freshly made gnocchi peppered with shrimps, mussels, clams in garlic oil and Datterini tomatoes. It should be illegal it tastes that good. But there’s plenty more to choose from, and we wholeheartedly recommend the homemade tortelli filled with spinach and ricotta in a light cream sauce and black truffle brunoise. It’s creamy. It’s delicious. It’s worth your money.
Where: Building 1, Gate Village, DIFC، towards DIFC Parking – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Restaurants in Dubai: Dinner
Order: Sweet and sour chicken
The Lowdown: Gone are the days where hotel restaurants were seen as a last resort. Yuan in Atlantis The Palm has proved itself among the big foodie dogs in Dubai. They’ve picked up a mantlepiece full of awards, and was most recently named 2016 Best Chinese Restaurant in Dubai. Yuan is sexy; low-lighting, darkened decor, leather seating. It’s
Eat and Drink: The peking duck is legendary – perfectly cooked to a golden crisp on the outside, moist and tender on the inside, this is a dish you don’t want to miss. The yellow mustard har gau is a yuan signature – shrimp dumplings are meshed seamlessly with the natural flavours and colours of beetroot and dijon mustard to create this visually stunning, palate pleasing dish. And there’s a peanut butter, chocolate rocks dessert that is mind-blowingly good.
Where: Crescent Rd – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Order: John stone fillet
The Lowdown: With Dubai such a melting pot of cuisines, its easy to overlook more lesser known eats. But that’s where Play Restaurant and Bar comes in with their ‘Mediterrasian’ menu. They taken fresh Mediterranean flavours and fused them with the gusto Asian bite for a real celebration of food. Dubai holidays are all about fun – the food here is playful and a bit out there. And it’s one of those meals where you’ll be talking about it for years to come.
Eat and Drink: You will not find a bad dish on the menu. Everything is executed well – from the seasoning to the presentation. It’s a work of art. The seafood gyoza and black cod are imperative. You can really taste the quality of ingredients here. And the Japanese sweetcorn with butter and lime is proof that you don’t need to mess round with concept too much.
Where: H Hotel – Floor 36 Office Tower, One Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai 4011 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
9. For Traditional Grub: Al Hadherrah
Order: Buffet (AED 425)
The Lowdown: You could easily holiday in Dubai and not sample any Arabian munch. But Al Hadberrah within the Bab Al Sham is out of this world. Quite literally. As it’s located in amidst the enchanting desert dunes. The restaurant is housed within a traditional fort, and along with your dinner, that put on a variety of shows. Loosen your belt, and fill your boots with a plethora of Middle Eastern delicacies.
Eat and Drink: It’s a flat rate situation – so grab a plate and hop foot it over to the buffet and endless live cocktail stations, where you can swim in a sea of hummus, dips and other Arabian favourites. The barbecued meats, cooked over charcoal benefit from a rich, smoky flavour. Try the lamb – it’s too good to miss. And there’s salads a plenty to dig into.
Where: Al Qudra Road, Opposite Endurance City – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Restaurants in Dubai: Sweet Treats
10. For Cake: The Hamptons Cafe
Order: Opera cake
The Lowdown: Wear a stripy shirt and/or a pair of deck shoes and you’ll fit right in. The Hamptons Cafe brings the outdoors in with its nautical interiors and conservatory-style restaurant. It’s subtly elegant without being pretentious. Switch off for an afternoon, and come soak up the beach vibes, with a coffee, cake or smoothie. This place is pure bliss.
Eat and Drink: Baked goods is the name of the game here. It’s a treasure trove of pastries and sweet delights. Their famous for their macaroons – opt for the Sicilian pistachio or the hazelnut, both are amazing. And the carrot and pecan cake tastes a hundred times better when enjoyed with one of their cappuccinos. Don’t get us started on their almond and apricot croissants. Seriously.
Where: Jumeirah Road, Umm Suqeim 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Sponsored post in assocation with Teletext Holidays – see more on their blog here, follow them on Twitter here and like them on Facebook here.
