Dubai is a state of superlatives. This is an Emirate obsessed with the best – whether that’s the tallest building, the biggest mall, or, as pertains to this article, the finest cuisine with the best views. We’re not just referring to rooftop panoramas, either (although there are plenty of those, and excellent ones at that). You can also dine with a backdrop of pillowy dunes, sea-seasoned beaches, and plant-packed waterways – if you know where to look (and book). Here are nine of the best.
Dolce&Gabbana x Ounass by Cloud 22, Palm Jumeirah
The view: In case you missed its Beyoncé-heralded arrival, Atlantis The Royal is Palm Jumeirah’s glittering pinnacle – and its rooftop restaurant is the sky-high icing on the cake. Its whimsical, cloud-inspired design has been recently revamped by Dolce&Gabbana, making it a supremely snappable spot to soak up the sun – and views of the azure Arabian Sea.
Cloud 22, Palm Jumeirah: French Mediterranean influenced cuisine served sky-high
The food: Like the design, the menu here is stacked with high-end brands – that’s your caviars and oysters and tartares. Everything leans on the lighter side, which is understandable given the poolside location, and vegans, fear not: there are many plant-based options, too.
Atlantis The Royal, Crescent Rd, Palm Jumeirah; atlantis.com
The Farm, Al Barari
The view: The allure of this greenery-filled restaurant is that it doesn’t feel like Dubai at all. Instead, head out of the city to Al Barari, which is quite literally an oasis in the desert. Alfresco tables overlook a network of tranquil waterways whilst the Arabian sun winks through palm trees, flowers, and shrubs.
The Farm: organic cooking amongst greenery
The food: Although all dining here is exquisite, we recommend booking a table for breakfast. The Farm has won many awards for its healthy, sustainable cooking, and its best dishes exemplify these aspects – like the goji-berry topped açai bowl and the organic shakshuka.
The Farm Restaurant, Al Barari; thefarmdubai.ae
Sea Fu at Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah Beach
The view: The Arabian Gulf is the photogenic backdrop for this alfresco restaurant. When it’s not too hot – winter and spring are ideal – ask for a table on the outdoor terrace, where your food will be seasoned by the ocean breeze.
Sea Fu: Asian-inspired seafood on the beach
The food: Given its seaside location, it’s unsurprising that Sea Fu’s speciality is seafood with an Asian twist. So, expect plenty of sushi, sashimi, and nigiri, alongside other beach-ready bites like bruschetta and salads. It’s best for a long, lazy lunch of grilled Carabinero prawns washed down with an ice-cold cocktail – we, of course, recommend anything from the Quintessence menu.
Jumeriah Beach Road 2, Jumeirah; fourseasons.com
At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa
The view: Found on the ear-popping 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, At.mosphere is the world’s tallest restaurant, with the magnetising views to match. Ask for a table next to the floor-to-ceiling windows – it’s well worth the extra fee – to admire every inch of the skyline from high up.
At.mosphere: the world's tallest afternoon tea
The food: You mostly come here for the view and the novelty of it all, but the lounge is a good place for afternoon tea – especially if you’re entertaining out-of-town visitors. Choose the aptly named luxurious menu, which includes a catch of the day main course and a selection of pastries and cakes – as well as a bottle of Champagne between two.
Burj Khalifa, 122nd Floor, Downtown Dubai; atmosphereburjkhalifa.com
Shimmers at Jumeirah Mina Al Salam
The view: It’s an easy sell: a Mediterranean restaurant sandwiched between a slither of white sand and a wedge of turquoise ocean. There’s more eye candy in the form of the Burj al Arab, which you can admire – or photograph – from one of the restaurant’s sand-set sofas.
Shimmers: Greek-inspired dishes overlooking the Burj al Arab
The food: The plates are just as photogenic and, happily, taste as good as they look. Flavours have a Greek inclination – think oregano-sprinkled halloumi, slow-braised moussaka, and locally-sourced chicken souvlaki – and there’s an excellent seafood selection, too. It’s also vegan-friendly, with options such as veggie carpaccio and baked artichoke for plant-based patrons.
Madinat Jumeirah, Mina A’ Sala; jumeriah.com
SushiSamba, The Palm Jumeriah
The view: The hotly anticipated Dubai outpost of SushiSamba opened on Palm Tower’s 51st floor Palm Tower a couple of years ago. It hasn’t seen a quiet night since. As soon as the elevator dings open, you’ll undoubtedly be drawn to the tilted floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the neon town below, shrunk to the size of a child’s toy box.
SushiSamba: the Dubai outpost of the world-famous restaurant
The food: Not content with sticking to just one cuisine, SushiSamba inventively fuses Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian delicacies. This translates into things like Japanese Wagu taquitos, beautifully fresh seviche (no, that’s not a spelling mistake), and plenty of sushi – the clue’s in the name, after all.
Level 51, St. Regis, The Palm Jumeirah; sushisamba.com
Il Gattopardo, DIFC
The view: It’s true, a leopard never changes its spots. But it does move its spots out to Dubai and bring them eye to eye with some of the city’s tallest towers. That’s the updated adage from Il Gattopardo anyway, which has whisked its popular London restaurant to the 51st floor of ICD Brookfield Place. Floor-to-ceiling windows have, of course, been fitted to make the most of the view, but the Art Deco design provides many leopard-printed reasons to keep your eyes on the interiors as well.
Il Gattopardo: A slice of la dolce vita on the 51st floor
The food: Il Gattopardo’s thing is taking Italian traditions and serving them with a slice of Dubai-style glamour. So, expect lobster-laden pasta, truffle-topped pizza, and huge sharing dishes designed to bring everyone (who’s anyone) together. Save room for dessert – the leopard-stamped tiramisu is an instant signature.
Icd Brookfield Place, 51st Floor, Trade Centre, DIFC; gattopardo-restaurant.com
Fi’lia, Business Bay
The view: Located on the 70th floor of the SLS Dubai, this Italian restaurant looks good – and knows it. You can play spot the landmark from its outdoor terrace, and there’s a lemon-encrusted archway in front of one of the prettier vistas, which practically begs to be photographed.
Fi’lia: 70th floor Italian
The food: Everything here is all about women – from the all-female culinary team, headed up by Célia Stoecklin, to the menu, which is split into three sections: Nonna – traditional Italian flavours à la your grandmother, Mamma – contemporary twists on classic dishes, and Figlia – a daughter’s modern approach to generational masterpieces. What this looks like on the table is seafood spaghetti (Nonna), red prawn risotto (Mamma) and taglione topped with prawn tartare and espelette pepper (Figlia).
Level 70, SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences, Marasi Dr, Business Bay; sbe.com
Sonara Camp, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
The view: With all the skyscrapers, gardens, and yacht-filled marinas, it’s easy to forget that Dubai is actually in the desert. Remind yourself with dinner in the dunes at this luxurious camp. It’s at its best at sunset when the fading light casts everything in a warm copper chrome. After dark, you’ll be serenaded by a jazz band whilst seated under a marquee of fairy lights.
Sonara Camp: dinner in the desert
The food: This is no budget barbecue. You’ll be diving into a Mediterranean-inspired feast that zings with spice; think watermelon and feta mille-feuille, seven-hour-cooked lamb with Yemeni spices, and zesty cheesecake topped with mango yuzu coulis.
