The cooler weather has brought with it the launch of several new restaurants, and the UAE food scene is abuzz with activity once again. New establishments include home-grown venues and highly anticipated international outposts that have all popped up in the span of a few months.
So if you’re thinking of heading out for a bite to eat, here are some dining destinations that are well worth a visit.
In Dubai
Al Beiruti Restau-Cafe
All-day dining destination Al Beiruti Restau-Cafe opened its doors on October 1, giving guests a chance to experience warm Lebanese hospitality over freshly baked manakeesh and more.
The restaurant, located in Umm Al Sheif, offers a cosy ambience with plenty of natural light and pops of green. On the menu are dishes such as zaatar hummus, mezze, shawarma, Al Beiruti kibbeh, Al Beiruti fries and more. Wrap up a meal with a traditional Lebanese coffee on the terrace.
Open daily, 8am-1.30am; Umm Al Sheif, Exit 41 from Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai; 04 320 0043, info@albeiruti.com
Armani Kaf
On September 17, Armani Hotel Dubai in the Burj Khalifa added a new fine-dining experience to its list of culinary options. Armani / Kaf is a kosher-certified restaurant located on the ground floor of the hotel, adjacent to Armani / Hashi, the hotel’s Japanese restaurant. The interiors are in line with Armani's luxury aesthetic, with views of the Dubai Fountain and Downtown Dubai.
The restaurant specialises in kosher cuisine that complies with kashrut – Jewish dietary laws. Expect dishes such as challah, the classic braided bread, as well as braised beef brisket.
More information is available here.
Open Sunday-Thursday, 6.30pm - 11.30pm; Armani Hotel Dubai, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai; 04 888 3666
Avocadolicious
Are you a fan of all things avocado? This home-grown brand opened its first cafe in October, serving up the much-loved fruit in a number of creative ways, along Jumeirah Beach Road. Whether you're up for the original avo fries and blackened shrimp avo bites or an avo popsicle, sorbet or smoothie, there's plenty to savour, all within a casual setting.
Open daily, 1pm-midnight; Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai; 050 419 8333, avocadoliciousdxb.com
Black Tap, Mall of the Emirates
The New York burger and shakes brand has won plenty of hearts in the region, so fans will be excited to hear that Black Tap has launched a new flagship outlet on the first floor of Mall of the Emirates. On the menu are all the favourites – the classic all-American burger, superfood salads, spicy Korean barbecue chicken wings and crazyshakes, including the Brooklyn Blackout, Cookies 'n' Cream and Cookie Shake.
You can also expect the brand’s signature interiors, which reference its New York roots, but with custom street art murals created by UAE artists.
Open Sunday-Thursday, 11am-11pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-midnight; Mall of the Emirates, Dubai; 04 234 3338, www.blacktapme.com
Brass Monkey
One of the most anticipated launches of the year, Brass Monkey is an entertainment hub that opened on Bluewaters Island on October 1. Expect vintage arcade games, VR racing, pool, snooker and a 12-alley bowling lane, all set within a retro venue, complete with neon lighting. Once guests get their fill of the action, they can turn their attention to the food. There's American-inspired comfort food on the ground floor, including pizza, sliders and tacos; and pan-Asian restaurant Bushido on the first floor, which is a more upscale dining venue serving up bao buns, gyoza, miso salmon, short ribs and more.
More information is available here.
Open daily; Sunday-Wednesday, from 2pm-1am; Thursdays from 2pm-3am; Fridays, noon-3am; and Saturdays, noon-1am; Bluewaters Island; 052 775 5317 or 04 582 7277; reservations@brassmonkeysocial.com
Caya
This new home-grown restaurant is located in Nshama Town Square and opened in mid-October, bringing relaxed Mediterranean vibes to Dubai's culinary scene. The interiors offer plenty of natural light, while the expansive terrace is a great spot to unwind.
The menu includes a royal shakshuka, kleftiko and a slow-cooked lamb shank with roasted vegetables and vongole linguini, with clams layered in a lemon butter sauce. There’s will also be acoustic entertainment and themed nights to look forward to in the coming weeks.
Open daily, 8am-11pm; Nshama Town Square, Al Qudra Road, Dubai; 04 564 6689
Koko Bay
A slice of Bali arrived in Dubai on September 1 in the form of new beachfront restaurant Koko Bay. Located on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, Koko Bay prides itself on its relaxed vibes – think beach beanbags, umbrellas and hammocks outdoors, while the indoor seating area consist of wicker furniture set against lush greenery.
Diners can expect plenty of fresh seafood options, including a Hokkaido scallop ceviche with a citrus granite, Cantonese-style steamed red snapper, Koko Bay fish and chips and crispy sea bream with Thai coconut and young peppercorn sauce.
The restaurant’s private beach can also be enjoyed by diners during the day, with lockers and showers available to use. As an added bonus, it's also dog-friendly.
More information is available here.
Open Saturday-Wednesday, noon-midnight; Thursday-Friday, noon-1am; Palm Jumeirah Dubai; 04 572 3444
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon
The restaurant chain already operates venues in 12 cities around the world and on October 6, it opened its first branch in the UAE, in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
Under the mantel of chef Axel Manes, protege of Joel Robuchon, the late chef who founded the chain, the menu aims to be “a 2.0 version of Robuchon’s signature dishes”. Expect crispy poached eggs with caviar, truffle pizza, dover sole a la plancha and the chef’s most popular dish, mashed potatoes, famed for their buttery texture and chestnut-like flavour.
All this within the bold red and black colour scheme the restaurant chain is so well known for. More information is available here.
Open daily, 11.30pm-3.30pm and 6.30pm-midnight; Gate Village Building 11, DIFC; www.atelier-robuchon.ae
Ro
Sal
If you’re looking for a chic yet casual spot, Sal opened at Burj Al Arab on September 20. The venue is located on the terrace of the world-famous hotel, which means guests can enjoy uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf. There are several packages so you can also lounge by the infinity pool after a bite.
The restaurant is headed by chef Roberto Rispoli and offers seafood dishes, including a catch of the day, grilled or baked in sea salt. More information is available here.
Open daily, 12.30pm-11pm; Burj Al Arab, Dubai; 04 432 3232 restaurants@jumeirah.com
The Pangolin
The latest concept from restaurateur Sergio Lopez, known for The Sum of US and Common Grounds, and chef Troy Payne of Sanderson’s fame, has a safari vibe and sustainable menu. The Pangolin, located at The Els Club in Dubai Sports City, opened on October 5, and is being touted as a lifestyle complex as it has four distinct seating areas across two levels.
Guests can expect an outdoor terrace with an open fire pit for barbecue season, as well as a deli counter, which will open in the coming weeks, serving freshly baked breads and brined meats. For now, the ground-floor seating area, with its African safari-themed interiors, is open. The menu champions local produce, sourced from farms in the region, with dishes such as avocado mousse with halloumi croquettes and local tomato salsa on grilled sourdough on offer. Another draw? Everything served here is made in-house, from the bread to the cheese.
More information is available here.
Open Sunday-Wednesday, 8am-midnight; Thursday-Saturday, 8am-1am; The Els Club, Dubai Sports City; 054 443 8288, hello@thepangolindubai.com
In Abu Dhabi
Kareem's
A new Indian Mughlai joint has popped up on the ground floor of the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre. Kareem's opened to the public towards the end of September, and serves a variety of kebabs, biryanis and rich curries, all within plush, colourful interiors that pay tribute to Mughlai culture.
Open daily,12.30pm to 11.30pm; Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, Abu Dhabi; 02 633 3575
Langkawi Cafe
Named after the island in Malaysia, casual joint Langkawi Cafe launched in September, giving Abu Dhabi residents the opportunity to tuck into authentic dishes such as karipap, nasi lemak served in a banana leaf, mamak fried mee, mee goreng, fried kuey teow and more. There are also some fun dishes like Maggi goreng, made with the popular noodle brand, to tease the tastebuds. The interiors are fuss-free and the service is warm.
Open daily, 8am-1pm and 4pm-11pm; Hamdan Street, Abu Dhabi; 054 433 5058
Rozana Alreem Restaurant & Cafe
The quaint Syrian restaurant opened on Al Reem Island in mid-August, giving residents a taste of Aleppo. The interiors feature wood-panelled ceilings and intricately carved furniture, while there is also an outdoor seating area for those wanting to enjoy the cooler weather and water views.
On the menu are dishes including hummus, kibbeh, sausages, spicy potatoes and a variety of grilled meats. They also have some Aleppo special plates, such the majoka halabia and cherry kebab.
Open daily, 9am-12am; Bab Mofleh, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi; 02 444 0415
The Bosporus
The restaurant chain known for its authentic Turkish cuisine already has branches across Dubai and, on October 8, it launched its first branch in the capital at Abu Dhabi Mall. The newest outpost is located on Level 1 and features a floor-to-ceiling glass wall for plenty of natural light and views of the city. One can expect all the classics the restaurant chain is so famous for, including soups, salads, kebabs and grills. End the meal with a cup of authentic Turkish coffee or a kunefe, served with cream or chocolate.
Open daily, 10am-10pm; Abu Dhabi Mall, Abu Dhabi; 04 380 9090; www.thebosporus.com
In Ras Al Khaimah
1484 by Puro
Whether you live in Ras Al Khaimah or are simply visiting, it's worth taking a trip to the UAE’s highest restaurant, which opened on October 1. Located, you guessed it, 1,484 metres above sea level, 1484 by Puro is the latest addition to Jais Adventure Peak, next to Jais Adventure Centre.
The menu is international, offering calamari fritti, wasabi shrimp and Korean fried chicken, among others, for starters. Fish and chips, duck confit, braised beef ribs and pan-fried sea bass are some of the mains on offer.
The restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows, meaning uninterrupted views of the craggy Hajjar Mountains. More information is available here.
Open daily, 8am-7pm; Jais Adventure Peak, Ras Al Khaimah; 07 244 5018, info@puro.ae
