Uncover the Middle Eastern Foodie Trail

Al Safadi is a successful chain of restaurants offering excellent authentic Lebanese cuisine with a 'homemade' experience. Head here for breakfast and you'll get to savour fresh creamy labneh, a medley of egg dishes and fresh hummus topped with spiced meat and pine nuts. Lunch favourites feature oven-baked breads, chicken and mushroom manakish, and an array of hot or cold mezze.

Located along the atmospheric pathways of Al Muraqqabat Road in Deira, Al Shami Restaurant is a spot famous for generous spreads of Lebanese and wider Middle Eastern cuisine. Feast on fresh, from-the-oven pita breads with traditional dips like moutabel with smokey aubergine goodness, and move on to aromatic mandi, the traditional slow-cooked rice and meat dish. You're spoilt for choice.

Run by the affable Mr. Reza, this Iranian shop is a treasure trove of exotic Persian goods. Order a scoop of bastani, a stretchy Iranian ice cream dotted with pistachios and scented with the most expensive of spices, saffron. Then, get extravagant with a Persian 'sundae' – where the ice cream is served over a mound of frozen rose-infused faloodeh noodles.