Fine Dining in Dubai: Top Restaurants You Must Try
Dubai firmly positions itself as a leading global culinary center, with chefs from all over the world. They are creating dining experiences that are even better than those in the best cities in the world. The emirate offers an unequaled fine dining scene, ranging from small omakase places to huge restaurants with magnificent views, which has been recognized by the famous Michelin Guide. Here is your guide to the most outstanding fine dining restaurants in Dubai that are a must for every food lover.
The Pinnacle: Three Michelin Star Excellence
Trèsind Studio - The World's First Three-Star Indian Restaurant
Situated at St. Regis Dubai Gardens on The Palm Jumeirah, Trèsind Studio made a world-first culinary breakthrough by winning the three Michelin stars for the first time in history by an Indian restaurant around the world. The restaurant has only 20 spots and is a creation of Chef Himanshu Saini, who introduced the "Rising India" tasting menu that offers clients a fantastic voyage through the geographical regions of India: the Thar Desert, Deccan Plateau, Coastal Plains, and Northern Plains.
The food theatre of the restaurant and the presentation of the dishes are the best fusion of creativity and imagination, such as street food, molecular gastronomy or traditional reinterpretations from different regions. The seldom-seated six tables facing the open kitchen gives an impression that the meal is very private and like a show.
What to expect: A 16-20 course tasting menu that redefines Indian cuisine entirely, featuring dishes like a pickled pepper with tangerine flowers and khandvi ice cream.
FZN by Björn Frantzén - Scandinavian Meets Japanese Perfection
The Dubai debut of world-famous Swedish chef Björn Frantzén was able to collect three Michelin stars already in its first year. The restaurant is located within the beautiful Atlantis The Palm, and it is a sleek 27-seat restaurant with a fishing theme. The capital of modern Nordic cuisine and Japanese influences is masterfully blended in this 12-course tasting menu.
The open concept kitchen of the restaurant, which makes it possible to see the chefs at work, is complemented by dishes such as duck barbecue with yuzu, Kampot pepper plus foie gras, or turbot with Cecina de wagyu. The wine cellar is impressive with 1,300 labels and the knowledgeable sommelier has curated wine pairings for every course.
Signature experience: A rooftop terrace where you relax while enjoying a stunning view of the skyline makes this both a culinary and visual feast.
Two Michelin Star Destinations
STAY by Yannick Alléno
Flaunting Chef Yannick Alléno's creative perspective on traditional French fare, this classy French fine dining hall has been regularly honored with two-star status for the perfect carrying out and the eye-catching presentations.
Il Ristorante – Niko Romito
Melding Italian artistry with state-of-the-art techniques is this elegant destination by Chef Niko Romito who has been hailed for its pure flavors and a minimalist Mediterranean cuisine.
Row on 45
Positioned 45 floors above Dubai Marina, this impressive presentation of a chef's dining experience offered by celebrity chef Jason Atherton with a production of 17 courses, is arranged in three acts with a spectacular cue of the city.
One Michelin Star Gems
Moonrise - Middle Eastern Meets Japanese Fusion
The founder of Moonrise, Solemann Haddad, who was born in Dubai and is a self-educated cook, occupies the rooftop at Eden House and has a birds-eye view of the city. The restaurant has 12 seats and the omakase experience where Middle Eastern dishes are blended with Japanese techniques is a great highlight. The dishes delivered to the patrons come with a writing postcard that has a description of the dish's origin, which makes eating them a total embraced culinary and narrative adventure.
Don't miss: The Seat 1 at the counter of the chef for a full interactive experience
Ossiano - Underwater French Elegance
Located within the loveable Atlantis The Palm and directly in the aquarium of the residence, ossiano guarantees visitors an unforgettable experience. The place is an underwater dining venue for French cuisine filled with an interactive setting and views of the restaurant’s wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling aquarium that is charming for the chef Grégoire Berger who specializes primarily with seafood in his tasting menus.
Hakkasan - Elevated Cantonese Cuisine
The slick, moody restaurant at Atlantis The Palm adds its own twist to traditional Cantonese cuisine as it becomes art. The signature lattice screens, dim lighting, and backlit blue bar promote an intimate environment where one can indulge in sophisticated Chinese dining.
Smoked Room by Dani García
It is a sneaky 14-seat venue that focuses on premium products and infuses them with smoke as well as the smoking technique, which is the main highlight of the exclusive tasting menu from Spanish chef Dani García. This venue is behind Leña at St. Regis Dubai Gardens.
Jamavar - Contemporary Indian Excellence
The Dubai venue of this famous Indian restaurant chain is home to a Michelin star which it got for the precisely balanced meals prepared with top-level products, located at the vibrant Opera district.
Manāo - Modern Thai Innovation
This fresh concept by the culinary talents of chef Akmal Anuar and the Orfali Brothers is a distinctive one that proposes an 11-course tasting menu dedicated to the new creations of the Thai tastes the brothers made by using contemporary devices old-fashioned techniques.. The eatery was recognized as one of the Best New Openings in Dubai and it lies in Wasl Vita Mall.
Rising Stars and Notable Mentions
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The famous British chef's concept at Atlantis The Royal, the Dubai outpost, is the place for his signature historically-inspired British dishes including the famous Instagram sensation 'meat fruit' that has become a restaurant signature dish.
La Petite Maison - A French Mediterranean Classic
The time-honored restaurant that has been voted as Time Out Dubai’s Restaurant of the Decade La Petite Maison is a DIFC gem that shines through with its outstanding Niçoise cuisine, an extensive wine menu, and top-notch service, preserving the success recipe all these years.
Avatara - Ayurvedic Vegetarian Fine Dining
Avatara is a different restaurant type entirely as it focuses on Ayurvedic meals which are strictly free from meat, onion, and garlic while at the same time giving 16 courses of that menu to the customers that challenge all your beliefs about vegetarian fine dining.
Bib Gourmand: Exceptional Value
For all diners interested in excellent quality food at a more affordable range, Dubai’s selections of Bib Gourmand offer three-course meal for around AED 250:
3Fils - Asian fusion with harbor views
21Grams - Modern Australian cuisine
Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant - Authentic Emirati dining
Kinoya - Japanese ramen and comfort food
Teible - Plant-forward dining with sustainability focus
Planning Your Fine Dining Journey
Reserve in Advance
Most Michelin-star restaurants require reservations in advance, some even months ahead, especially three-star ones. Mostly the establishments have both à la carte and tasting menus, but usually, the tasting menu represents the full culinary vision these chefs have.
Dress Code
Principal dress codes are smart casual to formal but different places may have a different outlook, so it pays to check. Wine pairings, expertly curated by sommeliers, are also available in many restaurants and they significantly enhance the dining experience.
Budget considerations
One-star restaurant prices are expected to be around 400-800 AED, two-star places are around 800-1,500 AED, and three-star experiences are 1,200- 2,000+ AED, plus wine pairings.
The Dubai Dining Scene's Unique Character
Dubai's fine dining scene is characterized by its cosmopolitan approach and its tremendous creativity, attracting world-class chefs who interweave their traditional recipes with local and worldwide styles. From Indian molecular gastronomy to Japanese-Middle Eastern fusion, the city’s restaurants push culinary boundaries while earning global recognition, with 19 Michelin-starred establishments since the guide’s 2022 launch. Whether it’s the artistic display of Trèsind Studio or the elegant underwater sensation of Ossiano, eating in Dubai is way beyond the act of eating-it becomes a journey involving inventive fare, service that is precise in every detail, and feelings that the customers would find hard to forget, thus the emirate being one of the best places for a culinary trip.
