The 14 best new restaurants in Dubai right now

Looking to try somewhere new? Bookmark these…

If you’ve exhausted all of your usual dinner spots, you’re in the right place as new restaurants in Dubai are always popping up. Whether it’s a fancy fine-dining spot for a romantic date night, or somewhere more cool and casual to gather with your mates, we’ve got the inside scoop on the must-visit places across the city.

Here are 14 new restaurants in Dubai you need to try.

Tête à Tête

Described as a culinary destination where French indulgence meets Dubai glamour, Tête à Tête is the final piece of the culinary puzzle at FIVE LUXE. Now open alongside Japanese fun-dining restaurant Ronin; Barcelona’s renowned Paradiso bar, and Ibiza-born Playa Pacha, Tête à Tête is a swanky Monte Carlo-inspired brasserie. The restaurant is split between a gorgeous terrace, where Marie Antoinette-style chairs are arranged around tables adorned with crisp white tablecloths; and the indoor restaurant, where you’ll find a bar inside a jewellery box, multiple private dining spaces, and a ceiling covered with faux lavender. On cooler evenings, the windows fully open allowing one to lead into the other. On the menu, guests can look forward to refined Southern French fare, with dishes like niçoise salad, foie gras terrine and escargot to start; followed by roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, and dover sole for main.

Tête à Tête, FIVE LUXE, The Walk, JBR, 6pm to 1am Mon to Thurs, 6pm to 3am Fri to Sun. Tel: (0)4 455 9989. @teteatetedubai

Studio Frantzen

Studio Frantzén is the first of two new restaurants acclaimed chef Björn Frantzén is bringing to Atlantis, The Palm. Taking the spot formerly occupied by Nobu, the restaurant offers a star showcase of the best of Chef Frantzén’s creative Nordic cuisine in a relaxed yet immersive setting. Seating up to 220 guests, the restaurant features a lively bar, private dining area, intimate booths, as well as space at the kitchen counter for an intimate dining experience. Serving Nordic gastronomy with Asian influences, menu highlights include porterhouse steak, as well as blistered lobster with curry hollandaise, pomegranate-infused mirin, dried cloudberries, ginger and coriander butter.

Studio Frantzén, Atlantis, The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, daily 6pm to 1am. @studiofrantzendubai

Dragonfly

The first restaurant at The Lana Promenade, Dragonfly is an elevated Japanese eatery bringing bold, vibrant flavours to Business Bay. It’s set to bring star flavours to the city, serving up a menu of Japanese cuisine with a wider pan-Asian influence, with the menu curated by star local chef, Reif Othman. Gourmet flavours to look forward to are options like Hokkaido scallop with Uni and Cristal bread topped with black caviar. A must-try will be the  Dragonfly Peking Duck, complemented by foie gras. And for dessert, a matcha molten cake provides a sweet and Instagrammable end to any meal. For alfresco dining, the Burj Khalifa facing terrace snakes its way around the whole outside of the restaurant, and features an array of lounge seating and restaurant tables. Inside, the dining room boasts 8-metre high ceilings, and sits under a super-sized dragonfly hovering above the restaurant. At the centre, a red glass bar adds a touch of drama to the space, while the open kitchen invites diners to watch the culinary artistry unroll.

Gigi

The first venue at J1 Beach is St Tropez hotspot, Gigi Rigolatto, and it’s now welcoming guests.At the beach club’s 5,000 square meter space, there’s loungers on the beach, a gorgeous pool area lined with around 40 loungers, and a Bellini bar where the signature tipple gets a chic Gigi upgrade. But it’s mostly about the culinary experience, and guests dine on an Italian menu either indoors or out on one of two picture-perfect terraces. Start off with bites of truffle arancini, move on to a zesty lemon-infused octopus, then round out your meal with a classic tiramisu or the beloved pistachio gelato. As for its aesthetic, a timeless and enchanting atmosphere has been created, complete with lush green foliage.

Gigi Rigolatto, J1 Beach, pool 10am to sunset, restaurant 12pm to 6pm and 8pm to 1am. Tel: (0)4 558 2067 @gigi_beach_dubai

Arrogante

Located in the Opera District of Downtown Dubai in the belly of new-ish entrant Salvaje, is Arrogante. The ethos of Arrogante is to keep the fare and the experience wholly authentic. No insane fusions, no crazy combinations, just good old, authentic Italian food. This is a premium casual restaurant – a new brand of laidback spots that you can choose from for your weekend dinner dates or spontaneous mid-week lunches. On the menu we have the very best of real Italy, from handmade pastas to pizzas, and an array of seasonal dishes. The drinks menu is another highlight, with expertly crafted cocktails.

Arrogante, The Address Opera Residences, Opera District, Downtown Dubai, 12pm to 12am daily. Tel: (0)4 570 3653. @arrogantedubai

Adaline

From Fundamental Hospitality, the creators of Gaia, Shanghai Me, and Alaya in DIFC, Adaline is a sultry supper club now open in DIFC, blending traditional Italian cuisine with a roster of live music. Oozing old school glamour, it’s a vibrant social spot with a strict no-photos policy. With glamorous marble, velvet and gold elements to the aesthetic, it’s divided between a relaxed and refined lounge, and a more formal restaurant, where tables are neatly arranged around the stage. Guests can look forward to live musical performances that blend jazz and modern soul sounds, making you feel as much like you’re in an intimate jazz club as you are a haute DIFC restaurant. And on the food front, acclaimed chef Izu Ani presents a menu of timeless Italian classics paired with a curated drinks menu that honours traditional Italian aperitifs and classic cocktails.

The Spaniel

Traditional British brasserie, The Spaniel, is the newest addition to the dining scene at Bluewaters. This quintessentially British gastropub is cosy, two-floor space complete with a roaring fireplace, where you can enjoy the best of British flavours – including a classic Sunday roast. On the culinary front, former Marina Social head chef Will Stanyer has a passion for reinterpreting British classics, so expect fun and flavourful twists on Welsh Rarebit, beef Wellington, and sticky toffee pudding. With a licensed bar, a premium beer selection, and live sports, it’s the perfect spot for a laid-back family meal or a fun night out.

The Spaniel, The Wharf, Bluewaters Island, daily 12pm to 11pm. Tel: (0)4 554 3728. @thespanieldxb

Ren

An elevated Nikkei dining experience from the Sushi Library team, Ren is the newest addition to the culinary landscape at Grand Plaza Movenpick Media City. Promising a fusion of Japanese and Latin American flavours, the menu pairs sharing plates of Izakaya bites, gyozas, signature rolls and robata grills, with a colourful array of cocktails and a sultry, vibrant atmosphere. The decor is sleek and sophisticated – and there’s even a private karaoke room, so when you’ve dined your way through the menu, you can sing your heart out in the exclusive surrounds of a private karaoke pod.

Ren by Sushi Library, Grand Plaza Movenpick Media City, 12pm to 12am Sun to Thurs, 12pm to 1am Fri and Sat. Tel: (0)50 670 4922. @ren_dubai

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse has opened a new licensed eatery in Dubai Hills, serving as a more upscale sister restaurant to the original in D3. Promising a self-described ‘elevated dining and social experience’, guests can grab a drink in the bar, where you’ll find a mix of high tables and cosy lounges; or opt for a full restaurant experience, where a selection of Mediterranean-style dishes is paired with an exclusive cocktail menu. As is customary at this community-driven brand, we can look forward to unique experiences, including wine tastings, book readings, and other events.

The Lighthouse, Dubai Hills Business Park, 12pm to 12am Sun to Thurs, 12pm to 1am Fri and Sat. @thelighthouse_ae

Casa Amor

From the ultra chic shores of St Tropez, glitzy beach club and restaurant, Casa Amor, is now open at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai. The dreamy beach club is bringing its lively music rituals, free-spirited ambience, and delicious Southern French cuisine to Dubai. By day, beachgoers will be able enjoy Casa Amor’s signature alchemy of music, art, food, and wellbeing. As the sun sets, the tempo goes up, as Casa Amor welcomes guests to for sundowners with signature cocktails at the world-class bar. The menu features sharing-style dishes blending South of France flavors with subtle Latin influences, served in an inviting, warm, and unpretentious atmosphere, surrounded by palm trees, earthy textures, and summery light wood.

Casa Amor, Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, daily 9.30am to 11pm. Tel: (0)4 777 2223. @casaamordubai

Lucia’s Mare

After closing its doors at Address Sky View, Capri-inspired Lucia’s has been reborn as Lucia’s Mare, and now sits pretty on the beachfront at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The new iteration of the pretty Italian restaurant is smaller than the original, with a laidback, seaside feel and stunning Burj Al Arab views. The same Capri-inspired interiors remain, with lashings of lemon, a fruit display, and lots of plants peppered around the space. On the foodie front, Southern Italian flavours take centre stage, with fresh salads, homemade pastas served in giant wheels, and locally-sourced fish all providing the perfect options for sharing.

Lucia’s Mare, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, daily from 6pm. Tel: (0)4 422 4321. @luciasdubai

Jamavar

Hailing from London’s swanky Mayfair neighbourhood, upscale Indian restaurant Jamavar is a new addition to the Downtown dining scene. Design-wise, it features a show-stopping, detail-led dining hall, bar and pretty outdoor terrace that ooze glamour and sophistication. The menu, helmed by culinary director Surender Mohan, is a presentation of pan-Indian flavours that fuse traditional techniques with local ingredients, with dishes drawing inspiration from the Royal kitchens across Indian’s north, coast and southern states. Highlights include Andhra lamb uttapam slow cooked in guntur spice, crab pepper masala, and the Hyderbadi pathar gosht, an A5 Wagyu hot stone and bone marrow salan

Jamavar, Dubai Opera District, Downtown Dubai, 12.30pm to 2.30pm Mon to Fri, 12.30pm to 3.30pm Sat and Sun, 6pm to 10.30pm Sun to Thurs, 6pm to 11pm Fri and Sat. Tel: (0)4 553 7852. @jamavardubai  

Isabella Cucina Italiana

Isabella Cucina Italiana is a new basilica of European cuisine at Vida Emirates Hills. It comes from the same team and let-the-produce-do-the-talking philosophy as steakhouse, Hunter and Barrel. Isabella knows very well who she is, proudly flaunting low-lit earthy tones, a functioning glass-fronted pasta-drying cucina, a grand brasserie-style bar, horseshoe dining booths, dainty frilled lamp shades and soft-edged art deco influences. The menu offers playful takes on the classics, with their 48-hour proofed pizza tonda, which comes fresh out of the statement wood-fired oven, among the must-try dishes.

Spica

A new addition to the dining scene at Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa is Spica. Named after the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, Spica promises a sparkling new dining experience on the waterfront of one of Dubai’s quintessential resorts. Serving up globally inspired dishes in a sophisticated yet relaxed environment, there’s both an indoor dining room that’s warm and inviting, and a stunning alfresco terrace, where guests can dine while listening to the gently lapping waves. Open from 6pm, menu highlights including an extensive raw bar, where guests can order scallop crudo and hamachi tiradito; a selection of sushi rolls; pizzas and pastas, and more meaty mains, where you’ll find premium cuts of steak.

Spica, Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, Jumeirah 1, 6pm to 2am Tues to Sun. @spica.dxb