La Liste's best restaurants in Dubai - guide

If you love culinary “wow” moments, Dubai is where fine dining and luxury food experiences meet views of skyscrapers and the city skyline. Below you’ll find a selection of places that regularly rank highly in La Liste (as well as in the Michelin guides and top media) – this is our essential overview: the best restaurants in Dubai according to La Liste, including top Dubai restaurants from the La Liste ranking, with ideas for a romantic dinner, a “dinner with a view,” or a light route “from lunch to dessert.”

How to read La Liste – restaurants in Dubai

La Liste is a ranking of restaurants in Dubai and worldwide, built from thousands of sources: guides, press, portals and reviews. The final score is a weighted average of ratings, which reflects a solid “quality consensus.” It doesn’t dictate a single “taste,” but shows which places are rated highest across many independent sources.

See also: Guide to Michelin restaurants

Top restaurants in Dubai for a romantic dinner

The places below regularly earn high scores in La Liste and its sister guides (Michelin, 50 Best, major media). Match them to your mood: skyline views, seafood, international cuisine, or intimate chef-driven experiences.

1) Il Ristorante – Niko Romito (Bulgari Resort)

Fine dining in a modern key: Italian elegance, top-quality ingredients and technique without fireworks, with the effect being pure flavours. Ideal for an evening with “class” – excellent salads, pastas, fish and desserts in a “less is more” style. The restaurant is located in a luxury waterfront resort – a perfect place for a celebration.

2) Trèsind Studio (Palm Jumeirah)

An intimate dining room and a tasting menu of “India reimagined.” The dishes tap into the memories and landscapes of India: from curries to street food in haute cuisine form. Impeccable service, storytelling, food and drinks woven into a narrative. Perfect for a romantic sunset dinner (before or after, take a walk along the Palm Jumeirah promenade).

3) Ossiano (Atlantis The Palm)

Seafood and grilled prawns under the glass of giant aquariums – “theatre” in the best sense. A tasting menu focused on seafood, often paired with white wines or sake. For a special occasion, combined with a “dinner with a view” of the underwater world.

4) Hōseki (Bulgari Resort)

One of the most intimate experiences in the city: omakase-style sushi, a handful of seats at the counter, the chef setting the pace. If you love minimalism and absolute precision, this may be your “best culinary experience in Dubai.”

5) Al Muntaha (Burj Al Arab)

A restaurant set high above the city, with views over the skyline and the Gulf – a dinner with an “icon” in the background. Fine dining that blends Dubai’s international cuisine with French techniques. “Sunset + a window table” is a dream scenario.

6) Armani/Ristorante (Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa)

Italian finesse at the city’s most recognisable address. The restaurant is in the Armani Hotel; the kitchen focuses on pasta, excellent veal, often delicate aubergine and tomato-based sauces. After dinner, stroll through Dubai Mall (fountains!) or head for a drink with a view of the city.

7) STAY by Yannick Alléno (One&Only)

Desserts from a dedicated “pastry library” and a broad take on French cuisine in a signature style. An excellent place for a classic “best fine dining in Dubai” experience with elegant service. Book your table in advance.

8) Zuma (DIFC)

An icon of the contemporary scene – a wide range of Japanese dishes in izakaya style: gyoza, tempura, robata. Always buzzing, and for many it’s their “first time” with Dubai’s premium dining scene. Weekday lunch offers a great quality-to-price ratio.

9) Hakkasan Dubai (Atlantis)

Modern Cantonese cuisine in a luxurious setting. Duck, dim sum, sauces – tahini might appear more in fusion-style dips than in classic dishes, but the compositions are rich and polished – “best in class” for this part of the world.

10) Pai Thai (Madinat Jumeirah)

For those who love Thai food and atmosphere: arrival by boat along the canals, terrace tables by the water, aromatic curries, pad thai and prawns. It’s an ideal spot for dinner for two – less “ranking-focused,” but we often recommend it as “eat with a view and atmosphere.”

For “everyday perfection”: Din Tai Fung (Dubai Mall) – if you simply crave legendary quality dumplings and rice in a mall setting. Not fine dining, but consistently excellent.

Practical tips: when, where, how much?

Time: golden hour – just before sunset; window tables are the first to go.

Dress code: smart (often required in hotels).

Budget (roughly):

• Fine dining tasting menus: higher range (dinner + drinks).

• Premium à la carte: mid-to-high.

• Casual classics (Din Tai Fung): low-to-mid.

Districts / “different parts of the city”: Palm Jumeirah (Atlantis, STAY), DIFC (Zuma), Downtown (Armani), Jumeira Bay (Bulgari), Madinat (Pai Thai), La Mer area – for a walk before/after.

Read also: 10 best cheap restaurants in Dubai

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Which restaurants in Dubai are rated highest according to La Liste?

Regularly highly scored (and awarded in other guides) are, among others: Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, Trèsind Studio, Ossiano, Hōseki, Armani/Ristorante, Zuma, Hakkasan. This is a safe “first list” for your reservations.

• Does Dubai have Michelin-starred restaurants or places highly rated by La Liste?

Yes. Many of the venues above hold Michelin stars and at the same time have very strong La Liste scores, which makes them a “double-checked” choice.

• How do I book a table at Dubai’s top restaurants?

Ideally online (restaurant/hotel website) or via your hotel concierge. For sunset and “window seats,” book well in advance. In the notes, ask for a table with a view – they’re often assigned by reservation order.

• What are prices like in Dubai’s best restaurants?

It depends on the format: tasting menus (most expensive), à la carte (mid-to-high), casual premium (Zuma lunch, Din Tai Fung) – more accessible. Remember to factor in taxes and service charges.

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