19 Top New Restaurants in Dubai
SOURCE: TIME OUT DUBAI
Looking for a brand-new restaurant in Dubai to check out? There are loads of exciting new openings to book into, from sushi spots to cool new Italian restaurants. We’ve also rounded up the newest cafés, burger joints and more. For the hottest new restaurants in Dubai, read on.
99 Sushi Bar
Popular Abu Dhabi sushi restaurant 99 Sushi Bar is now open in Dubai, and it has stellar Burj Khalifa views. The new sushi restaurant is at Address Downtown, in the space that formerly housed Katana, and can seat 99 guests with both indoor and outdoor seating. The menu promises signature dishes in-cluding gunkan sushi, spicy tuna tartare and foie gras nigiri. Fancy.
Address Downtown, Downtown Dubai, www.99sushibar.com.
Al Beiruti Restau-Café
Al Beiruti Restau-Café is now open in Umm Al Sheif, Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai and aims to combine homely café culture with a restaurant. The eatery promises “Lebanese hospitality and friendly vibes”, while there’s an outdoor terrace and modern interiors. The centrepiece is the show kitchen – allowing diners to see the chefs in action. Signature dishes to look forward to include za’atar hummus, mustard ras asfour, Al Beiruti kibbeh, Al Beiruti fries, manakish, Lebanese coffees and more. There’s also plenty of mezze on the menu, as well charcoal grills. The design is billed as “traditional Lebanese architectural elements combined with modern-day industrialism”.
Open daily 8am-1.30pm. Umm Al Sheif, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 320 0043).
Avocadolicious
Love avocado? This new restaurant in Dubai is for you. Avocadolicious is opening its first Dubai café – and you can guess by the name what the star ingredient is. The café is on Jumeirah Beach Road, and avo dishes are promised to be “fun and innovative”. The menu stars everything from guacamole and tacos, to smoothies and ice cream. And the best-selling dish is the brand’s avocado fries – which are made from Mexican avocado, fried and served with a variety of sauces. There’s even an avocado burger – served in an avocado “bun”, otherwise known as two halves of the fruit. Avocado for breakfast, lunch and dinner? You know where to go.
Open daily 1pm-midnight. Jumeirah Beach Road, Umm Suqeim, www.avocadoliciousdxb.com (050 419 8333).
Black Tap Mall of the Emirates
Popular US burger brand Black Tap has opened its doors at a brand-new location in Mall of the Emirates – and there’s a new milkshake counter, too. It’s a fifth branch for Black Tap in Dubai – following restaurants Rixos Premium JBR, Dubai Festival City Mall, The Dubai Mall and the original at Jumeirah Al Naseem. Black Tap Mall of the Emirates covers 3,525 sq ft and offers up a casual all-American dining experience – with all the burgers and CrazyShakes you know and love. Housed on the first floor of the mall, the interiors, as with other branches, reflect Black Tap’s New York hip-hop roots and feature street art from UAE artists. As well as the milkshake counter with a to go service including Black Tap’s top three bestselling shakes – the Brooklyn Blackout, Cookies ‘n Cream and the Cookie Shake in a to-go format.
Open Sun-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri & Sat 11am-midnight. Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha (04 234 3338).
Brunch & Cake
Brunch & Cake, the popular café in Al Wasl, is opening a second new restaurant in Dubai, on Palm Jumeirah. Brunch & Cake will be launching at The Pointe in November, and there will be views of the world’s largest fountain. The new outlet will be called Brunch & Cake by the Sea, and will span a 1,500 sq ft indoor area, with a 1,000 sq ft terrace. Known for its Instagrammable grub – especially the breakfasts – the Barcelona-born coffee shop set up in Dubai in October 2019. The café covers 6,000 sq ft and recently revealed cute dining domes too.
Opening November 2020. The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, www.brunchandcake.ae.
Café 302
Looking for a new casual café to grab a cuppa or breakfast? You’re in luck as one of the UAE capital’s most popular spots has launched in Dubai. Café 302 – a Time Out Abu Dhabi Restaurant Award winner – is now open in Dubai, in BurJuman Arjaan. And you’re in for a treat as there’s a heap of tasty dishes on the menu including all-day breakfasts such as breakfast sandwiches, smoked salmon and eggs Ben-edict, Belgian waffles, omelettes and more. There are also soups, salads, sandwiches including the Ca-fé 302 chicken club or tuna melt, pizzas, burgers and kebabs. If you have a sweet tooth visit hungry, as there’s a Sweet Street menu with loads of desserts including rockslide brownie, red velvet cake, date and toffee pudding and more. There’s an extensive soft drinks and coffee menu, with a dedicated milkshake section too (think Nutella and hazelnut crunch, cookies and cream and more).
BurJuman Arjaan, Bur Dubai (04 352 4444).
Lana Lusa
This new restaurant in Dubai is on Al Wasl Road. Lana Lusa promises classic Portuguese dishes, served from Dubai’s Wasl 51 mall. The “neighbourhood-style space” looks chic yet cosy, and so far it’s promising to transport diners away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Lana Lusa will be serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner, while you can also pick up a cake or two to take away. Décor is authentic as can be too, with loads of elements created by Portuguese artists – including colourful ceramic plates from Barcelos, and copper light fixtures and cork-fashioned menus from Porto adorning the interiors. Recipes come from founder Jessica Viveiro’s grandmother’s journals, so you can expect some creative and authentic Portuguese dishes, while family photos decorate the walls of the new restaurant. But what about the food? Here’s the good stuff. The menu include pateis de bacalhau (salted codfish croquettes), bacalhau com natas (oven-baked cod gratin), arroz de tamboril (a fish-based rice stew) and Cataplana de peixe (Algarve fish stew cooked in a special copper pot). Plus there are desserts and treats including the glorious, globally renowned Portuguese custard tarts pasteis de nata, lemon mousse and biscuit-based cake bolo de bolacha.
Open daily 8am-11pm. Wasl 51, Al Wasl Road (04 380 1515).
Jones the Grocer
The Australian café chain’s first waterfront restaurant is set to open at the brand-new Palm West Beach in November. It will feature an authentic wood-fired oven, a trendy beach bar, a pastry and sandwich counter and even cheese and charcuterie walls. The licensed venue will also be welcoming dogs and guests can also expect signature mixed drinks and dishes made using artisanal ingredients. Highlights on the menu include freshly made pizzas using a first-in-the-region wood fire oven, wood-fired peri-peri octopus, surf and turf, crab sliders, garlic and chilli linguine and chargrilled harissa chicken. Guests can also shop from a range of gourmet products such as artisan cheeses, chutneys and jams, single origin coffee, a range of meats including wagyu bresaola and spicy chorizo and more.
Opening in November 2020. Palm West Beach, Palm Jumeirah, www.jonesthegrocer.com.
Kimura-Ya
An authentic izakaya-style restaurant in Business Bay, Kimura-Ya specialises in Japanese shabu-shabu hotpot and nabemoni-style sukiyaki. The restaurant is a popular name in Tokyo and is now in The Oberoi Dubai, promising traditional dishes, sushi and ramen.
Open daily noon-midnight. The Oberoi Hotel, Al A’amal Street, Business Bay (04 444 1455).
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
The new restaurant from the famed late French chef in Gate Village 11 is now open, and is said to “represent the next era in the Joël Robuchon story”. The new DIFC restaurant promises a casual at-mosphere, that’s “refined by informal”. There is an open-plan main dining room, bar area and outside terrace. It’s all focused around an open kitchen too, which is designed by Gatserelia Design studio. Robuchon’s protégé, executive chef Axel Manes, takes the helm at the DIFC venue and we can expect healthy and seasonal ingredients in simple dishes. Highlights on the menu include a selection of Robuchon’s signature dishes including crispy poached egg with caviar, truffle pizza, dover sole à la plancha, fresh fish, veggie ceviche and more.
Gate Village 11, DIFC, www.atelier-robuchon.ae.
Palm Bay
This Club Vista Mare bar and restaurant opened last month, promising a “fresh, funk concept offering a taste of the Caribbean and a vibrant sunshine vibe”. The new restaurant and bar takes the place of Ras Beach Vibes at the far end of the popular beachside strip, and it’s a casual spot to spend the weekend or evening. Expect Caribbean sharing dishes, from chef Gregory, who was born and raised in Saint Vincent, who’ll be serving up cooking inspired by his grandmother.
Open daily noon-late. Club Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah, www.palmbaydubai.com (04 554 2665).
Pickl
The popular burger joint is now open in City Centre Deira as part of the new Food Central, and is now open for burger and fried chicken fans. Serving up all the much-loved favourites including the Chicken Sando, loaded fries and, of course, burgers, Pickl in City Centre Deira is open from Sunday to Wednes-day 10am to 10pm, and Thursday through Saturday 10am to midnight.
Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. City Centre Deira, www.eatpickl.com (04 252 4500).
SAL
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah has launched a brand-new pop-up beach experience and restaurant called SAL. Housed on The Terrace of the world-famous hotel, SAL promises a chic vibe and super views. The menu boasts fresh fish and seafood dishes from chef Roberto Rispoli, head chef of Shimmers, with dishes inspired by the Iberian Peninsula in Spain and Portugal. Dishes are designed to share, and with the weather cooling, it looks set to become a dining hotspot over the winter. You can also book to spend the day by the pool, or in a cabana, starting from Dhs450 per person, with Dhs300 back in food and drinks.
From Dhs450 (pool access). Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, www.jumeirah.com (04 432 3232).
Samakjé Restaurant & Lounge
Samakjé loosely translates as “fish expert” in Arabic, and as well as a menu bursting with seafood dishes, there’s also a fresh fish market-style counter to pick your catch of the day at this new restaurant at The Pointe on Palm Jumeirah. The menu has both Mediterranean and Levant influences and as well as the fresh catch of the day there’s a range of mezze and inventive dishes such as truffle labneh dip, fish tagine and lobster kibbeh. Desserts include a lemon curd labneh cheesecake, chocolate mousse pastille and more. The restaurant is set on the east side of The Pointe, and has front-row views of the massive Palm Fountain thanks to its massive outdoor terrace.
Open daily noon-midnight. The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah (04 584 6777).
Señor Pico
Ready to siesta all day and fiesta all night in Dubai? This brand-new Mexican restaurant is looking to take up the challenge. Palm West Beach now has a new addition – Señor Pico, an all-new ‘Mexican Ear-ly Californian’ restaurant. Open daily from noon until midnight, the new venue will have a list of Mexi-can and Californian-inspired cuisine, with signature dishes such as pastor lamb marinated for 48-hours in pineapple, onion and coriander, barbacoa beef marinated in 15 different spices for 48-hours, along with beef chorizo, shrimp diablo and zucchini char. There’s also an extensive menu for tortas and en-saladas, along with a mixed drinks selection from its shaken and frozen menus, to some tropical fa-vourites.
Open daily noon-midnight. Palm West Beach, Palm Jumeirah, www.senorpico.com/thepalm (04 471 5748).
SLAB
Dubai’s acclaimed SLAB Test Kitchen restaurant from chef Omar Rodriguez has reopened in a new loca-tion, bringing with it the Peruvian cook’s refined take on Latin American cuisine. Now located in Du-bai’s Mercato Mall in Jumeirah 1, SLAB’s interiors have been designed for living – whether you’re dropping in for a latte at the coffee bar, meeting for a lazy lunch or just looking for an alternative place to remote work from for the day. Its menu, meanwhile, focuses on “food you love to eat”, plus spe-cialty and local coffee. Starters range from zingy snapper ceviche to the fantastically crispy grilled octo-pus, via crunchy Mexican corn fritters and a kale salad tossed with nuoc cham. As you might expect from the chef behind Dar Wasl’s popular fried chicken joint BRD DXB, there are also burgers and chick-en sandos up for scoffing, plus large plates including spicy noodles, miso salmon and crackling short rib served with crispy potato and a shoyu beef glaze. Tasty.
Mercato Mall, Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 1, instagram.com/slab.dxb.
The Pangolin
This new 60,000 sq ft restaurant, bar and terrace area is now open in Dubai Sports City, and it has a strong focus on sustainability. The Pangolin restaurant is now open in The Els Club, Dubai Sports City. The Pangolin comes from Sergio Lopez, of Tom&Serg fame, alongside Australian chef Troy Payne. It’s made up of two casual restaurants, two bars, a private dining room, a members’ room and terrace. There’s also a pool area that’s due to open soon. The ground floor restaurant is now open, while the first floor restaurant, bar and lounge will open in November. An outdoor pool and gym is due to open soon too. The Pangolin prides itself on serving home-grown and locally-sourced produce. And the team will prepare a wide range of cured meats and cheeses on site, as well as working with local farm-ers to serve up sustainable produce. Dishes on the menu at the ground floor restaurant include break-fasts such as hot smoked salmon with pull-apart bread soldiers, caperberry mascarpone, soft boiled eggs with dill dressing, crumpets with poached eggs, halloumi croquettes and local tomato salsa on grilled sourdough.
Open Sun-Sat 8am-midnight, Thu-Fri 8am-1am. The Els Club, Dubai Sports City (054 4438 288).
TJ’s
Not brand-new, but this restaurant has had a revamp, and is now a neighbourhood sports café. The spot at Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers serves up pub grub including nachos, burgers, pies, Durban bunny chow, fish and chips, pizzas and more. It also has three large TVs showing cricket, football, Formula One and more to keep sports fans entertained, as well as hosting brunch, happy hours, gents’ nights and more.
Open daily 11am-late. Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers (04 574 1111).
Trattoria by Cinque
Italian restaurant Cinque at FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai is opening a second branch in Dubai, in the sister hotel FIVE Jumeirah Village. Trattoria by Cinque is opening this week (Thursday October 22) at the popular hotel in JVC (the one that has 269 swimming pools). The menu comes Giuseppe Pezzella and promises “rustic Italian dining with a millennial soul”. Dishes including pizza, pasta and more in a “casual but funky ambiance”. There will also be a high energy vibe with classic and modern tunes, and we’re
Opening Oct 22. Open daily 5pm-11.30pm. FIVE Jumeirah Village, JVC (04 455 9989).
