We head back to some of the city’s top terraces and beachfront restaurants to take in the views before summer strikes…

From wallet-friendly dinner deals perfect for pairs, to unique dining experiences you wouldn’t get anywhere else, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to dining out in Dubai.

And if you’re looking for somewhere to head to this weekend, we’ve rounded up three spots we reckon you won’t want to miss out on. Rather than bringing you the freshest spots out there, this week we’ve revisited some places you might have heard of. But, before summer sets in, we reckon you’ll want to revisit them too.

Here are three al-fresco restaurants to dine at this weekend. 

For fountain views: Serafina

Authentic Italian trattoria Serafina is nestled on the corner of Souk Al Bahar, with prime fountain and Burj Khalifa views. Of all the spots around Souk Al Bahar, Serafina is one of our favourites, and longest standing. The menu changes regularly, and it’s always worth checking in on the daily specials – which the chef changes due to which ingredients the executive chef has sourced that day. We’d always order the burrata, it’s light and creamy and when served up alongside fountain shows timed to hits by Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, it tastes extra good. One other thing worth noting is the exceptional staff- they’re knowledgeable and attentive without being pushy and in your face – a service style that’s always successful in this city.

Serafina, Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, Sun to Weds 11am to 12am, Thurs to Sat 11am to 1am. Tel: (04) 363 8447. Serafinadubai.com.

For top Asian dishes: Maiden Shanghai

Maiden Shanghai might not be on your radar as an al fresco Chinese restaurant you need to try, but it should be. The contemporary menu is extensive, and as well as featuring typical dishes such as a sweet and sour chicken, and Shanghai spring rolls, but you’ll also find some pretty inventive dishes which are well worth adventuring out of your comfort zone for. MaLa soft shell crab is a dish you won’t want to share to start with, and a Kung Pao prawn dish has enough punch to add flavour, but not too much that it has us reaching for litres of water. As well as serving up some top Chinese dishes, there’s also some blissful views out to the pool area and across the Arabian Gulf served up from the terrace, which snakes round the restaurants. Don’t miss a post (or pre) dinner drink at The Penthouse, it might be the best looking bar in the city.

Maiden Shanghai, FIVE Palm Jumeirah, lunch 12pm to 3.30pm, dinner 7pm to 11.30pm (until 12.30am weekends). Tel: (04) 455 9989. Maidenshanghai.com.

For beachfront dining: Fish

With its beachfront location, whitewashed fit-out and twinkly lights, it’s not hard to see why Fish has become one of the city’s most romantic spots. As well as tables in the garden, there is seating right on the beach, so you can enjoy the restaurant’s Turkish, Greek and Mediterranean fusion dishes with your toes in the sand. Open for both lunch and dinner, it’s a sharing concept that invites guests to sample a variety of hot and cold plates. The focus for main course is grills and casseroles, and guests can have fresh fish grilled to order in front of them by Fish’s chefs.

Fish Beach Taverna, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, daily 12pm to 11pm. Tel: (04) 511 7139. fish-dubai.com

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