The last three months of the year bring with them a flurry of activity – from family-friendly spots reopening for the season to an array of activities to add to your fitness calendar. Prime among winter's attractions in the UAE is the spate of new restaurant launches, with enough options to keep even the most discerning of diners spoilt for choice.
Here are a dozen of the latest to check out this month, plus 14 that opened in October.
November
Almayass By The Sea
Cuisine: Lebanese-Armenian
One of the 13 restaurants to open at J1 Beach, Almayass by the Sea is led by chefs Mardiros Barsoum and Jad Abou Zeid, and promises “authentic flavours in a relaxed coastal ambience”.
Dishes on the menu are infused with ingredients such as sour cherry sauce, Armenian pepper paste and basterma, included in offerings such as stuffed eggplant with yoghurt; kebbeh nayeh with chilli paste, Armenian mante and souburek; and grilled shrimp and grilled octopus that diners can choose from the restaurant’s fresh fish display.
Daily, noon-1am; Jumeirah 1
Arrogante
Cuisine: Italian
The latest in a rather limited list of dining options within a stone’s throw of Dubai Opera, Arrogante is located in Address Residences Dubai Opera. It offers Burj Khalifa views, Italy-imported ingredients and a family-friendly ambience.
On the menu is a selection of gourmet pizzas and pastas, from Napolatina with pomodoro, garlic, oregano and Cantabric anchovies, to tagliatelle al limon with stracciatella and caviar. Mains are limited, but equally indulgent, with options such as dorada fish with olive oil, Italian parsley and pickled lemon.
Daily, noon-midnight; Downtown Dubai
Baoli
Cuisine: Mediterranean, East Asian
One of 13 beach clubs at J1, Baoli makes its way to Dubai from Cannes. Pool, beach and live entertainment aside, it has a petal-shaped sun deck, a Sunset Lounge, the Moon Room speakeasy-style bar plus the main restaurant with an indoor and outdoor area.
Dishes include sashimi and nigiri rolls; tartares and carpaccio; caviar and oysters; plus robata and woodfire-grilled dishes such as Argentinian red prawns, glazed octopus, king crab, Wagyu skewers and Italian violet aubergine. Desserts include strawberry cheesecake kakigori, sesame and dark chocolate fondant, and Ispahan rose milk cake with matcha and white chocolate.
Open 10am-1am from Sunday to Wednesday; and 10am-3am from Thursday to Saturday; Jumeirah 1
Biscuiteers
Cuisine: International, bakery
The Emirati-owned bistro and cafe offers breakfast and mains on its menu, plus baked goods from a charming space on Al Wasl Road, near Safa Park.
They offer oven-fresh breads, as well as dishes such as bang bang shrimp roll, beef sliders and creamy mushroom pasta. The bistro’s USP, though, is its pastry and dessert selection, which takes in everything from butter biscotti and carrot cake to choco-nut tart to sticky date pudding.
Daily, 8am-midnight; Al Wasl Road
Chouchou
Cuisine: French
J1 beach’s only private club, Chouchou offers its members exclusive access to its pool, beach and expansive second level of the restaurant, with membership rates starting at Dh15,500 per person per year.
The main restaurant is open to non-members and serves dishes such as artichoke salad with green beans, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, truffle water dressing and truffle shavings; French onion soup with Comte cheese; and john dory fish seared in olive oil and served with whelks, soft-boiled quail eggs and vegetables.
Daily, 9am-2am; Jumeirah 1
Duo Gastrobar
Cuisine: European, Asian
After Dubai Hills, chef Dmitrii Blinov has opened his Bib Gourmand-recommended restaurant (a Michelin Guide category that lauds value-for-money eateries) at a second location in the emirate, at the buzzing Dubai Creek Harbour.
Serving the same premium ingredients and Asian-infused modern European cuisine, the menu includes dishes such as Parmesan-crusted Hokkaido scallops; rib-eye with wasabi root glaze; Atlantic cod with potato cream; and Zucchini flowers stuffed with Kamchatka crab. Desserts are equally creative, with options such as passion fruit with Gorgonzola and panna cotta with prunes and dates.
Daily, 6pm-11pm; Ras Al Khor, Dubai Creek Harbour
FZN
Cuisine: European, Japanese
The two-floor restaurant is the second by award-winning Swedish chef Bjorn Frantzen at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai. While Studio Frantzen is upscale yet casual, FZN is pure fine dining and offers a nine-course tasting menu, priced at Dh2,000, all served to a playlist of 300 songs curated by the chef himself.
Dishes are replete with gourmet ingredients and include truffle maxime, Jerusalem artichoke and apple; blini, shima-aji, pomelo and jalapeno; langoustine, koshihikari rice and ginger; and chawanmushi, smoked beef broth and caviar.
7pm-1am from Tuesday to Saturday; Palm Jumeirah
Gitano
Cuisine: Mexican
One for bona-fide beach club buffs, Gitano began life in party hotspot Tulum in 2013, and is famed for its giant disco ball and neon pink signage. “Born in the jungle, Gitano’s design philosophy embraces wabi-sabi, celebrating beauty in imperfection. However, understanding that a more polished approach resonates in Dubai, it has evolved its concept to emphasise bohemian glamour,” says James Gardner, founder and chief executive of Group Gitano. “The J1 Beach venue will combine Spanish-colonial architecture of Yucatan towns such as Merida and Valladolid with Tulum Beach’s rustic and lush jungle ambience.”
Signature dishes include mushroom sopes with black truffle; lobster tostada; branzino in banana leaf with kiwi; and 12-hour slow-roasted short-rib birria.
Daily, 11am onwards; Jumeirah 1
Khadak
Cuisine: Indian
Chef Naved Nasir, of Dishoom fame, has taken over the reins at Dubai’s latest Indian restaurant, nestled in villa 426 on Al Wasl Road. His art-filled restaurant is a dedication to “underrepresented dishes rarely seen on menus today, from India’s legendary food streets and weddings, plus recipes that have disappeared because of how labour-intensive they are”.
On the menu are dishes such as Khadak raan (slow-cooked goat leg braised in a spice mix); bheja akuri (scramble of lamb brain and eggs on crispy baguettes); shabrati nihari (pulled mutton infused with spices from Delhi’s Chitli Qabar bazaar); morel cheese kulcha with truffle butter; and chillia bread & butter pudding, a sweet- spiced concoction inspired by the Konkani Chillia community.
Noon-midnight from Monday to Friday; noon-1am on Saturday and Sunday; 12 Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah
Raising Cane’s
Cuisine: Fast food
After the viral success of its JBR outpost, the Louisiana-born fried chicken chain is opening its first drive-thru in Dubai, in Al Barsha. This marks the brand's 47th restaurant in the GCC, with a presence in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Raising Cane's is best known for its “secret sauce”, a creamy pink concoction with a zesty and peppery flavour. This can be slathered over golden chicken fingers, chicken tenders, French fries, burgers and Texas toast. The chicken here is fried in canola and cooked only to order so, unlike other fast-food joints, the meat is not placed under heat lamps.
Daily, 10am-4am; Al Barsha 1
African Queen
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Designed by the Monegasque architects Humbert & Poyet, African Queen’s interiors include bold designs, animal prints, wooden accents and a palette that takes in hues of green, beige, brown, white and gold. The brand was founded by film buffs Lila and Pierre Brizio – inspired by the Humphrey Bogart-starring movie of the same name – on the French Riviera in 1969. Bogart himself has visited the venue in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, as have Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Bono.
On the menu at the Dubai outpost are five time-tested dishes including a family recipe of salad Nicoise, with tuna ventresca, Taggiasca olives and fava beans; wood-fired truffle pizza with hand-stretched dough; fresh fish served with Virgin sauce made from extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes and herbs; artichoke salad with Piedmont hazelnuts, aged Parmesan cheese and truffle; and warm shrimps with Menton lemon.
Opens this month, Jumeirah 1
Lunico
Cuisine: Latin American
Yet another J1 Beach property, this DJ-powered restaurant and lounge takes its design cues from all things lunar. The venue is dominated by graphic displays and light effects that draws inspiration from the phases of the moon, and guests can “expect the moon to appear in all its different forms at various points during their dining experience”, says Eva Greppelova, the restaurant's marketing brand manager.
The menu is dominated by Spanish and Latin American flavours, and signature dishes include Basque red mullet fish with cassava croquettes and chilli sauce; vieiras with caviar; Spanish guacamole bonbon with almond citrus sauce and corn tortillas; and crema Catalana with berries and lemon balm.
Opens this month, Jumeirah 1
October
Tete-a-Tete
Cuisine: French
A lavender-themed venue that takes its cues from the French Riviera, Tete-a-Tete is the latest restaurant to open in “party hotel” Five Luxe JBR. On the menu are French classics such as Nicoise salad, escargot in garlic-herb butter and seafood in bouillabaisse sauce, as well as dishes with a twist. Think foie gras terrine with Medjool dates; grilled lamb chops with aubergine caviar, goat's cheese and mint; and a whole barbecued squid.
Opens October 31, Monday to Thursday, 6pm-1am; Friday to Sunday, 6pm-3am; The Walk, JBR
Studio Frantzen
Cuisine: French-Asian with Nordic influences
Swedish chef Bjorn Frantzen, whose two restaurants have six Michelin stars, will launch his first venue in Dubai this month. Studio Frantzen is a casual version of the upscale venue similar to the one in London, and will be followed next month by the chef's FZN, which is a fine dining restaurant.
Fusing Asian and European techniques is a calculated choice for Frantzen, who says he loves the “lightness of Asian food”, but uses his French training to come up with balanced meals. While the full menu is still under wraps, Studio Frantzen will serve seabass ceviche; salmon, tuna and Wagyu nigiri; and Swedish and Rockefeller oysters, each with a Scandinavian twist.
Opens October 31, Daily, 6pm-1am, Atlantis, The Palm
Argianos
Cuisine: French-Italian
Led by Turin-born chef Alessandro Bertinetti, the restaurant at Conrad Dubai is studded with frescoed ceiling, massive angel sculptures and baroque design.
Chef-recommended dishes include: Saint-Jacque carpaccio with scallops, caviar and orange juice; slow-cooked veal tenderloin with tuna, capers and egg sauce; charred octopus with black olives and roasted cherry tomatoes; and sole meuniere with white asparagus.
Monday to Saturday, 4pm-11pm; Sheikh Zayed Road
Calcutta Chai & Co
Cuisine: Indian
The third outpost of the Kolkota-themed cafe opened in Cluster F this month and can seat a generous (by JLT standards) 40 diners. The eatery is known for its competitive pricing, with snacks and desserts priced at Dh12 and mains costing Dh20.
Chai aside, the menu offers East Indian specialities such as malai toast, green peas kachori, kathi rolls and spiced momos, as well as freshly made Bengali sweets including sandesh.
Daily, 9am-10.30pm; Jumeirah Lakes Towers
Chipotle
Cuisine: Mexican
The 3,500-strong American chain opened its first UAE branch at The Beach, JBR this month. The venue will be immediately familiar to anyone who’s eaten at a Chipotle, with its countertop and glass barrier through which customers can see their orders being put together and the freshly prepared ingredients visibly laid out.
The straightforward menu offers five items, burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas and salads, all of which can be personalised with options such as rice, beans, salsa, cheese and protein. Additional sides include chips, guacamole and queso.
Top tip: Add the sweet white corn salsa Chipotle is known for to your meal; it tastes the same as in the US.
Daily, 10am-1am; The Beach, JBR
Dragonfly
Cuisine: Japanese
Chefs Reif Othman and Vladimir Kim come together to open the latest restaurant by the Bulldozer Group (Not Only Fish, Miya) at The Lana Promenade by Dorchester Collection. The venue comes with Burj Khalifa views, and is dominated by a dragonfly sculpture hovering under an eight-metre-high ceiling, plus Japanese vases and Kokeshi dolls.
The menu pays ode to the bustling markets of Asia, with a focus on fresh seafood and flavours ranging from yuzu and charred miso to shiso leaves and soy. Signature dishes include Beijing duck, bikini sandwich with otoro and black caviar, duck gyoza with foie gras and cherry hoisin sauce, and a selection of dim sum.
Daily, 6pm-2am; Business Bay, Dubai
Gigi Rigolatto
Cuisine: Italian
The first restaurant and beach club to open at J1 Beach, Gigi Rigolatto is designed by Franco-Mexican architect Hugo Toro, and its is dominated by lush foliage, a rustic palette and white parasols. The family-friendly space includes a Mediterranean-style garden, two terraces, a concept store, a court for the ball game petanque and a play area for children.
Offering coastal Italian dishes, the menu includes signatures such as linguine alle vongole, ricotta ravioli, meringue lemon tart and panna cotta.
Daily, 10am-1am; Jumeirah 1
La Cantine Beach
Cuisine: Mediterranean
The beach club version of Dubai restaurant La Cantine du Faubourg by the Rikas Group is located on the premises of the new Delano Dubai hotel on Bluewaters Island. Appealing to beach buffs and families alike, La Cantine Beach offers paddle yoga, child-friendly activities and a DJ.
Dishes such as Wagyu beef carpaccio, sliced salmon and truffle rigatoni aside, the venue features an ice cream car serving six flavours of gelato from a 1969 Fiat Giardiniera.
Daily, 10am-sunset (pool), noon-4pm (lunch), 7pm-midnight (dinner); Bluewaters
Oodles Wok
Cuisine: Indo-Chinese
The first Dubai outpost of the fusion Asian eatery from the UK, Oodles Wok is located in Foxhill 4 in Up Town Motor City – and offers delivery and dine-in options.
The menu focuses on freshly made noodles, available as wok boxes and stir-fries. These can be customised with options such as Malaysian chicken, katsu vegetable curry, wok-fired beef and schezwan paneer.
Daily, 11am-11pm; Motor City
Pela
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Located within BCH:CLB at W Dubai – The Palm, the restaurant offers vibrant weekend brunches (from Dh350) plus an a la carte menu.
Dishes include chicken souvlaki, oak-smoked peppers, sea bass ceviche, ouzo-flamed tiger prawns, black Angus tomahawk, and an Insta-worthy nine-fish seafood tower.
Monday to Thursday, noon-midnight; Friday to Sunday, noon-2am; Palm Jumeirah
Ren
Cuisine: Nikkei
Blending Latin American and Japanese cuisines, Ren is led by chef Luis Eduardo Mora Vargas who earned his chops in the kitchens of Peru and Costa Rica. Located at Grand Plaza Movenpick Media City, the restaurant is done up in rich red and gold tones.
The menu offers ceviche, sushi, karaage, tempura, yakisoba and robata skewers, and also features both classic and creative Nikkei dishes. Think black seafood bomba rice with coriander sauce; miso eggplant fries; a Colombian arepa interpreted here with raw salmon, guacamole, halloumi, lettuce and chalaquita; and cherry blossom ice cream.
Daily, noon-midnight; Media City
The Lighthouse
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Following from its branches in Dubai Design District, Mall of the Emirates, Nakheel Mall and Yas Bay Waterfront, the restaurant and concept store opened its latest outpost at Dubai Hills Estate. Designed by the British architect David Archer, the latest location offers bar seating, high tables and loungers, plus DJ performances.
On the menu are an array of salads (lentil, Greek and beetroot); mezze (burrata, musakhan rolls and stuffed grape leaves); pizzettas and pastas. Mains include the popular steak frites, harissa-crusted sea bass and mushroom risotto.
Sunday to Thursday, noon-midnight; Friday and Saturday, noon-1am; Dubai Hills Estate
The Spaniel Bluewaters
Cuisine: British
The two-level, brasserie-style restaurant is in front of Ain Dubai and led by chef Will Stanyer, who has worked with Jason Atherton and Gordon Ramsay in Dubai and London. The decor includes wood furnishings, brass fixtures, leather seating and even a fireplace.
On the menu are dishes such as Scotch eggs, Welsh rarebit, cod tikka masala, fish and chips with mushy peas and, of course, beef Wellington. Desserts include Cambridge burnt cream and After Eight chocolate tart with mint ice cream and cocoa nibs.
Daily, noon-11pm; Bluewaters Islands, Dubai
Two Birds One Stone
Cuisine: Australian
A poolside lounge and restaurant with sunbeds, a DJ and gourmet kitchen that allows guests to “kill two birds with one stone”, this casual rooftop space is located on the 54th floor of Sheraton Grand Hotel Dubai.
On the menu are dishes such as beef kofta with feta and red pepper ragu; prawns with kumquat and miso butter; kingfish with sofrito and tarragon; and rib-eye with cafe de Paris butter. Desserts include dark chocolate mousse with coco nibs and extra virgin olive oil; and pavlova with lemon curd and Chantilly cream.
Daily, 7am-7pm (pool), 11am-10.30pm (restaurant); Sheikh Zayed Road
