What to eat in Dubai: Must-try spots across the city

Dubai is simply a multi-cultural wonderland that offers thing for connoisseurs of each conceivable palate. In fact, the sheer standard of Dubai’s culinary options tin overwhelm adjacent a seasoned traveller’s itinerary.

To assistance you navigate this planetary banquet, present is simply a idiosyncratic enactment of eating landmarks for your upcoming travel to Dubai:

Bikers Cafe

Sometimes a sanction says it all. And the nomenclature Bikers Cafe — for Dubai’s archetypal motor-themed cafe — does a near-perfect occupation of conveying what it stands for: a spot to substance your psyche with classical bikes and vintage memorabilia, portion you refuel your assemblage with scrumptious food.

Whether it was the pinkish Vespa that welcomed maine extracurricular the doorway oregon the reddish and grey Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 adjacent the cafe counter, this constitution successful Jumeirah volition person its guests — riders and non-riders alike — linger implicit its curated and ever-changing show of vintage and high-performance contention bikes.

The pridefulness of place, though, was fixed to a bluish and achromatic Honda C70, implicit which lies a packed ‘Hall of Fame’ board, which besides documents Formula One fable Michael Schumacher’s sojourn immoderate years ago. The edifice regularly hosts bikers for assemblage get-togethers and barbecues, making it a uncommon destination wherever culinary brilliance meets centrifugal culture.

“We person been astir since 2011… large events travel and go, but our item has been erstwhile we had the Ken Block Meet and Greet (former American rally driver),” personage racer Saeed Bintowq, who was besides the archetypal Emirati to instrumentality portion successful the FIA World Rallycross Championship, says.

To lone speech astir Bikers Cafe’s ambience would beryllium doing an injustice to the delicious nutrient served there. It’s an perfect meal destination, offering a versatile paper that ranges from accepted Emirati spreads to classical English breakfasts. They person burgers and salads, too, if that’s what you are craving.

The champion choice, and easy their astir celebrated offering, would beryllium the Royal Platter. Served arsenic a combo for two, the broad sheet pairs savoury staples specified arsenic ful medames, dango and sambousek jibneh with khameer, muhalla and ovum mulawah. The saccharine elements successful balaleet and chebab circular retired the repast superbly.

Whatever you determine on, don’t miss their refreshing Spanish Iced Coffee.

Social House

If you’re successful the hunt for a laid-back luncheon with a presumption of the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain, look nary further than Social House.

In existent ‘East meets West’ style, this fashionable Dubai Mall destination offers an planetary paper of comfortableness food, spanning wood-fired pizzas to sushi rolls to your modular Mediterranean favourites.

The establishment, primitively from Jakarta, draws crowds for its Asian delicacies, including nasi goreng and Malaysian laksa.

And if your cravings thin West, the Spanish-style beef feature baked atom and the hearty carnivore pizza are the go-to options.

With its cosy woody interior and cascading indoor plants, the edifice offers a tranquil retreat from Dubai’s fast-moving gait — each portion being conscionable a stone’s propulsion distant from the serene fountain.

Pro tip: Arrive aboriginal to brace your sumptuous luncheon with a front-row presumption of the stunning day fountain shows close from the comfortableness of your table.

Hawkerboi

A sensory detonation hits you the infinitesimal the assistance doorway opens to Hawkerboi. Between the neon reddish light, the affable barroom crew, and the engaged chefs tossing and tapping the blazing blistery woks wrong the unfastened kitchen, Hawkerboi shoots retired arsenic overmuch vigor arsenic it does a heady unreserved of aromas.

The restaurant’s backstory is arsenic engaging arsenic its vibe, too.

Hawkerboi, portion of the EatX franchise, was started arsenic a secretive meal nine series, wherever the city’s nutrient enthusiasts were fixed clues to find the restaurant’s shifting location. After each the unsocial word-of-mouth experiences, Hawkerboi and its mysterious cook decided to settee down and acceptable up store astatine The Park successful Jumeirah Lake Towers.

The Asian restaurant, inspired by the bustling nighttime markets of Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, got its owed recognition, too, erstwhile it was awarded a Bib Gourmand successful the 2025 MICHELIN Guide Dubai ceremony. The champion dishes to effort (out of the galore bonzer ones) astatine this chic associated are Thai beef salad, duck gyoza, prawn drunken noodles, and mango sticky rice.

Beyond the classics, and for the seafood enthusiasts, the whole-fried (with sweet, sour and spicy sauces) and whole-steamed (including ginger, soy and shallots) oversea bass are bold and authentic highlights.

“Hawkerboi stands retired by offering delicious food, affable service, a welcoming atmosphere, and large worth for money. Moving forward, we purpose to continually elevate our quality, physique beardown impermanent loyalty, heighten the wide eating experience, and turn successful a accordant and sustainable way,” They Aung, caput chef, says.

Time Out Market

If your ‘shopping time’ tends to bleed into your meal plans, Time Out Market astatine Souk Al Bahar is the cleanable mode to reclaim your evening without leaving The Dubai Mall’s premises.

The options are varied and endless astatine this high-octane hub, which comprises 17 restaurants and 3 bars — each cautiously selected by Time Out’s editorial team.

A glimpse done this 43,000-square-foot abstraction reveals the existent standard of the menu(s), wherever a elemental margherita pizza sits comfortably alongside exotic plates of Vietnamese pho and charcoal-grilled kushiyaki.

The layout of the place, too, adds to the spectacle, wherever you tin soak successful Dubai’s finest chefs plying their trade. The operation of communal seating and unrecorded cooking stations transforms the abstraction into a ocular feast, celebrating some assortment and adept craftsmanship.

After all, it’s rather amusive to premix and lucifer planetary cuisines for a three-course repast erstwhile you’ve finished your buying goals.

It is, 1 mightiness say, a genuinely authentic Dubai experience!

The writer was successful Dubai astatine the invitation of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.