Dubai manages to tow the fine line of being a genuinely Arabian destination, while maintaining the pluralism for which it has become famous. That multi-cultural outlook is fully reflected in the cuisine on offer in the emirate. Much like the majority of European cities, there’s a wide choice in Dubai’s restaurants, including Indian, Chinese, Arabian, Persian, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Korean, French and seafood. On the whole, however, restaurants in the region tend to gravitate towards the spicier more fragrant foods of the east. The better restaurants are usually found in hotels and most westerners prefer to eat in these as they are some of the only places where alcohol can be served with meals. Thursday nights represent the beginning of the weekend and, as such, you’ll need to reserve, especially during summer months when terraced dining areas will be closed due to the heat.

Three of the most highly recommended restaurants in Dubai:

1. Located within the stunning Dubai Beach Resort and Marina – one of the biggest and grandest hotels in Dubai – Al Qasr offers up an incredible and vast menu of local flavours and seasonings. The restaurant embraces the conventional slow-cooking methods of the east and is considered to be perhaps the finest restaurant in which to enjoy regional fare, such as the breads made on the premises and fantastic Baklava and Tahini dishes. It is worth waiting until the cooler winter months to eat here as the outdoor dining areas are spectacular – overlooking the resort’s gardens, pools and beach. As if the setting alone was not enough, a traditional Arabic band and belly dancers bring even more Eastern promise every evening. Open: 12.30 – 3.30pm and 7pm – 2.30am.

2. Residents at the Dubai Beach Resort and Marina are truly gastronomically spoiled as, in the same complex as Al Qasr lies Thai Bistro. Thai cuisine is extremely popular in Dubai and many of Thailand’s best chefs now ply their trade in the emirate, so the fact that most locals believe Thai Bistro to be the best in class speaks volumes about the quality of the Lamb Gai, Tom Yum Kung and Gai Hor Bai Toey on offer here. Needless to say, the restaurant enjoys the same advantageously enchanting setting as Al Qasr but, rather than entertainment, it is the quality of the service at Thai Bistro that sets it apart. The colossal selection of dishes may leave recent recruits to Thai cuisine a little defuzzled, but, fear not, the waiters are always on hand with some excellent recommendations. Open: 12.30 – 3.30pm and 7pm – 2.30am.

3. Given that so many restaurant reviews of Ashanti start with something like “Oh my God, WOW!” it seems almost redundant to point out that this Indian restaurant, found in the Sheraton Dubai Hotel and Towers, is pretty damn well thought of. It specialises in Northern Indian dishes and the venue itself – decked out in authentic Mughal era furnishings and with several of the tables enjoying an unrivalled view over Dubai Creek – is every bit as good as the food. While the chicken and lamb dishes are truly excellent, even the most committed carnivore will be overwhelmed by the vegetarian dishes and the subtlety of spices. The resident band is just as fiery, playing authentic Urdu tunes. Open 12.30 – 3pm and 7.30pm – 12am.
Food for Thought

While the luxurious hotels, incredible shopping and amazing attractions may be what it is best known for, Dubai is also building up a reputation as a culinary hotspot and melting pot – where eastern and western cuisine meet. An indication of this newly-found status is that world-renowned chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, John Wood and Viktor Stampfer have opened up restaurants at the Hilton Dubai Creek, Burj al Arab and Ritz-Carlton respectively. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to cough up the big bucks to eat out in Dubai. For real value for money, head to one of the extravagant Friday brunches for which Dubai is famous. The buffet will usually take in several types of international food and they last for hours; some even all day. Most of the big hotels run these brunches and, therefore, you’ll often find superb prices – sometimes including use of the swimming pools – in order to entice you in.

If you need a quick fix or a bite on the go, then almost all of the western fast food chains are represented in Dubai, such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Wimpy, Dunkin Donuts and Kentucky Fried Chicken, which is surprisingly popular with many locals too. As you would expect, the chain restaurants which appear to have spread to every corner of the globe have not missed Dubai out, so expect to see plenty of tourists sporting Hard Rock Dubai t-shirts, with many others rubbing their bellies after a good munch at TGI Friday’s, Fashion Café and Planet Hollywood. Jabal Al Noor is a chain that offers a middle-eastern take on fast-food and serves up drinks with grand names such as ‘Burj al Arab’ and ‘Lexus’ at its various restaurants around the city.

For a more genuine taste of the region, there are small cafes and corner stalls all over Dubai that dish up authentic street foods. Gulf food is very similar to other Arabian cuisine; if you’re after something substantial, then go for seafood – usually freshly caught from the Gulf – like shrimp, crab, lobster, tuna and red snapper. If it’s a snack you’re after, then street food in Dubai is delicious. ‘Shwarma’ is the most common type – much like the kebabs you find in the UK, they consist of thin strips of meat cut from a skewer and then placed in pita bread with vegetables and sauces. ‘Felafels’ – fried patties made from spiced beans or chickpeas – are also readily available and served in much the same way. Arabs love coffee and stopping in one of the shisha cafes for a taste of the local coffee, tea or juice and smoking the shisha pipe is a wonderful experience.

Although based on other Arabian and Persian cuisines, the United Arab Emirates does have its own take on traditional foods and there are certain local specialities. The traditional Arabic breakfast comprises cheese and spinach-filled deep fried pastries known as ‘fattayers’, or a dish called ‘ful medames’, which is beans in tomato sauce with egg and onion on top and is usually complemented with yoghurt and pita bread. The mezze is the traditional starter in the UAE and is a wonderful assortment of fresh breads, falafels, humus, stuffed vine leaves, minced lamb patties, aubergine dip and stuffed courgettes. In terms of main courses, the best include ‘makbus’ casseroles, slow cooked wheat and lamb ‘hareis’, and Indian-style ‘biryanis’. As with most Arabic cuisine, these are usually served on a bed of rice and followed by fruit and dates.