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MENA's 50 Best Restaurants 2024: All the Dubai restaurants that made the list
Tue, February 13, 2024
World's 50 Best unveils its third Middle East North Africa Best Restaurants list. Here's a look at all the Dubai winners, as per their rankings.
World's 50 Best unveils its third Middle East North Africa Best Restaurants list. Here's a look at all the Dubai winners, as per their rankings.
No. 1 - Orfali Bros Bistro
For the second year in a row, Orfali Bros. Bistro retains its number one spot. Three brothers, one dream. At Orfali Bros ‘bistronomy’ the brothers are proud to serve up dishes that reflect their shared culinary passion. You’ll want to factor in repeat visits to try everything on the menu, including favourites such as the shish barak a la sgyoza (beef dumplings with a Middle Eastern twist), salmon with miso and creamy tahini, and Umm Salah torrijas (Spanish-style French toast with a touch of spice). They also support local farming, so look out for homegrown produce across the menu.
No. 2 - Tresind Studio
Retaining its second-place position is the ever-popular Tresind Studio. Chef Himanshu Saini weaves stories with the intricately-plated and expertly-spiced degustation menus at this modern Indian fine dining spot. Found in St. Regis Gardens, this insider haunt seats just 20 at a time and presents a multi-hour extravaganza that unfolds with theatrical flourish. The innovative, Insta-worthy dishes taste as good as they look, and themes change seasonally so fans never get bored. This is must-try for serious foodies.
No. 3 - Ossiano
Enjoy a uniquely Dubai dining experience at Ossiano at Atlantis, The Palm. A rite of passage for the culinary crowd, chef Gregoire Berger helms a kitchen that serves up an immersive, multi-course degustation offering in a grand gold and blue-hued setting, with floor-to-ceiling aquatic views. Specialising in seafood, the plates are as astounding as the surroundings. Perched under glistening chandeliers, watch more than 65,000 marine creatures swimming past your table. It is perfect for a romantic experience mixing fine European cuisine and an adventure into the sea.
No. 4 - Moonrise
Set at the summit of the luxurious apartment complex Eden House, twelve-seater Moonrise appeals to the serious foodie. Serving a set multi-course degustation menu, with no exceptions or tweaks to the order of service, chef Soleman Haddad heads up a young, dynamic team whose passion shows on the plate and is the reason behind their 4th place position. Guests perch on stools set in a semi-circle, so everyone gets prime positioning and can see the intricate plating being done across the counter once service starts. A feast for all the sense, the restaurant itself is a sleek glass box with views of the city at all sides.
No. 6 - 3Fils
This homegrown favourite has long charmed Dubai's foodies so it's no surprise that it places in the top 10. The chic yet casual dining experience, coupled with calming harbour-side views and no-reservations policy, makes this one of Dubai's most unassumingly spectacular dining hotspots. Serving modern Asian cuisine with a Japanese influence, you’ll find tantalising dishes such as salmon carpaccio, wagyu beef, sushi and fire–grilled octopus on the menu.
No. 11 - Kinoya
She started her foodie career with sold-out supper clubs and was the chef behind the @astoryoffood Instagram page, but Neha Mishra has been successfully spearheading her own Japanese restaurant since 2021. Loyal fans flock to Kinoya for a taste of her take on izakaya. Taking the everyday ramen and transforming it to a foodie revelation, everything here – right down to the noodles – is handmade with love, following closely-guarded recipes. This proudly homegrown gem is a favourite, so book in advance to avoid disappointment.
No. 13 - Zuma
Zuma is located in the heart of Dubai city at the DIFC and has stood the test of time as one of Dubai's most popular fine-dining destinations. It fuses a mix of a contemporary culinary methods with the comfort of traditional Japanese flavours. Serving Japanese classic dishes including miso-marinated black cod, Chilean sea bass and Boston lobster. Zuma is a multi-award-winning restaurant with a reputation for crafting a meal and atmosphere that exceeds expectations.
No. 14 - 11 Woodfire
Located along Jumeirah Beach Road, this restaurant is chic but casual, centred around the concept of gathering around a warming fire. The culinary force behind 11 Woodfire is chef and restauranteur Akmal Anuar who showcases a menu filled with simple, natural flavours. Dishes are prepared using specialist grill techniques and different wood types. Try the wagyu kebab, sea bass with hay-salted crust and tamarind and Australian T-bone steak.
No.17 - Boca
Boasting Mediterranean flavours and local ingredients, this cool European restaurant in DIFC is known for super-creative dishes with a big emphasis on sustainability. The interiors of this award-winning restaurant are minimal and chic and extend a modern vibe to the space. Come here for a meal with friends or a date night — the relaxed ambience makes it a worthwhile option for both. The ingredient combinations are exciting and inventive, and there's a strong push on vegan food too. The knowledgeable staff can guide you through a selection of their tapas-style plates.
No.19 - Mimi Kakushi
Proudly making its re-entry into the 50 Best list is Mimi Kakushi. Located in the Restaurant Village at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, step inside and you’ll feel transported to another world with an almost homely vibe, while the jazz soundtrack treats you to nostalgic tunes and chefs work on artfully-plated dishes at the open kitchen. The Japanese menu presents a few playful twists to traditional favourites – starters such as wagyu tataki with yuzu daikon, rock shrimp popcorn tempura, and marinated black cod and tiger prawn gyoza are highlights, while mains such as braised short ribs with sweet garlic soy, and steamed king crab leg with ponzu butter sing with flavour.
No. 21 - Jun's
Drawing on celebrity chef Kelvin Cheung's French training, Canadian roots and Asian heritage, Downtown Dubai-based Jun's has a prime location and proven pedigree. Expect North American comfort food, combined with Asian flavours, served up in an upmarket, chic setting. Top plates include the tempura and sweet potato chaat, sitting alongside his take on a carrot, labneh and furikake 'bagel', spiced garlic prawns with Korean kimchi served on khichdi rice, and the Macau-sauce lobster.
No. 23 - LPM
Transport yourself to the Cote d'Azur at LPM Dubai — a spot that serves up what many think is the best French food you can find in Dubai. The award-winning restaurant, situated in DIFC Gate Village, focuses on Niçoise cuisine, with Italian flavours coming into play on the Mediterranean dishes that put a spotlight on quality ingredients. The classy restaurant has been winning awards since it opened, which will be no surprise once you’ve tasted the food. Within the high-end hotspot, the cream walls are hung with modern art with tables draped with crisp white cloths and silverware. Fresh tomatoes, lemons and olive oil provide a centre-piece, showing everyone that the focus is on high-quality ingredients.
No. 28 - Bait Maryam
Starting as a collection of recipes handed down through generations, Bait Maryam has quickly transformed into a staple choice for unpretentious and authentic Middle Eastern meals. To chef Salam, the venue serves a slice of home, as it is named after her mother and inspired by many dishes and keepsakes from her childhood. Those who enter are sure to feel a sense of warmth and nostalgia too, thanks to the modern but cosy interiors with various vintage bric-a-brac filling the shelves and cupboards. The windows are covered in familiar drapes, along with the thinly-brushed colours on the light wood furniture. Outside features a quaint terrace that grants sterling views of the surrounding suburbs and high-rise structures at the Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT).
No. 30 - Reif Kushiyaki
Known for his kitchen performances at Zuma among other top names, local chef extraordinaire Reif Othman set up shop on his own to massive applause at Reif Japanese Kushiyaki. This casual dining spot in Jumeirah's Dar Wasl Mall serves up Singaporean street food – and it’s fantastic. Whether it's the raw sea bass starter, the luxurious Sanchoku Wagyu 'sandos', silky soft homemade ramen and hearty sea bass claypot rice – you’ll want to order it all...and you won't regret it if you do.
No. 32 - 21 Grams
For delectable Balkan-style cuisine, head to 21 Grams, a homegrown neighbourhood bistro. Nestled within the cosy suburban centre of Dubai – Umm Suqeim – the local hotspot is always bustling with good food, delightful coffee and cheerful banter. If you're looking for a bright, comforting and spacious dining experience, 21 Grams is the place to be. Trendy and upbeat, the bistro is home to experienced baristas serving speciality coffees and freshly baked goodies. Whether dining solo or entertaining family and friends, you can spend hours in conversation and memorable catch-ups over comforting food.
No. 35 - Gaia
A celebration of all things Grecian, GAIA is a collaboration between two Dubai homegrown icons – Evgeny Kuzin from hospitality group Bulldozer and celebrated chef Izu Ani. Bringing a sense of conviviality to the table, starters such as the refreshing watermelon salad, smoked aubergine melitzanosalata, stuffed vine leaves and baked feta cheese set the scene for brighter mains like the cooked-to-your-liking fish, lobster pasta, lamb cutlets and more. If dining as a group, consider booking the chef’s table on the lower level beside the kitchen, right where the magic happens.
No. 37 - Lowe
Everything about this contemporary spot with a sleek open kitchen, pared-down aesthetic and a central wooden fire intrinsic to their style of cooking is absolutely spot on. A quick glance at the menu will do a disservice to what lies within. With amazingly creative, sustainable concoctions, the dishes here blend heaps of flavours and genres to produce excellent plates that you’ll want to keep coming back for.
No. 41 - Row on 45
Curated by renowned chef Jason Atherton, this fine dining concept within City Social offers an intimate experience for just 22 guests in a luxury penthouse-inspired setting. The evening is split into three acts, beginning in the lounge for appetisers before moving onto the main dining room, which is complemented by a state-of-the-art show kitchen. A 17-course haute cuisine menu reflects Atherton’s culinary journey and love for worldly ingredients, while each course comes with insights from the talented chefs.
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