Eating Out

Dubai’s gastronomic landscape is expansive. At one end of the spectrum, celebrity chefs, picturesque cocktail lounges and mammoth clubs compete for your hard-earned dirhams. At the other end, bargain ethnic eateries, drink-deal bars and plenty of bang-for-your-buck brunches are there to help at the end of the month. Dubai’s social scene revolves around club nights,…

Hygiene

Food and drink outlets are subject to regular checks by Dubai Municipality, and unclean outlets are warned to either scrub up or shut down. You can be fairly confident that restaurants within hotels and most independent restaurants meet basic health and hygiene requirements. The city isn’t immune to the odd food poisoning incident, however, so…

Food Allergies

If you suffer from food allergies, take extra care when eating out in Dubai’s restaurants. A lack of clearly-marked menus and a serving culture that is trained to tell customers what they think they want to hear can combine to form a dangerous situation. Don’t hesitate to inform servers about the seriousness of your allergies…

Taxes & Service Charges

Look out for the small print at the bottom of your menu and you may spot the dreaded ‘prices are subject to 10% service charge and 10% municipality tax’. In most hotel restaurants and bars these extras are already included, but in an independent outlet they may appear as an additional charge. The 10% service…

Vegetarian Food

Vegetarians should be pleasantly surprised by the variety available to them in Dubai’s restaurants. Dubai is home to a large population from the subcontinent who are vegetarian by religion, and numerous Indian restaurants offer a range of cooking styles and tasty vegetarian dishes. Try Saravana Bhavan and Aryaas in Karama. In other restaurants (even in…

Cultural Meals

Bastakiya is a great place to eat while soaking up local culture. This traditional part of the city is best experienced by strolling through the streets, visiting the museums and dining at one of the many cafes. A cultural and culinary experience rolled into one. The Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing is working closely…

Independent Restaurants

While hotel restaurants tend to draw in the crowds, especially at the weekend, Dubai’s independent choices are not to be missed. Areas like Oud Metha, Karama and the Jumeira strip are home to restaurants serving everything from authentic Arabic kebabs (Al Mallah) and tempting pad thai (Lemongrass) to crispy Peking duck (Lan Kwai Fong) and…