Dubai is finally opening up for travellers. So, if you’re planning to flock to the UAE’s capital, bookmark these restaurants in Dubai for a delicious meal. By Chef Vidushi Sharma
2020 wasn’t a good year for travel enthusiasts, with most international borders being shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, with many getting vaccinated and COVID-19 cases on a decline, travel is starting to open up, especially international travel. So, if you plan a trip to the UAE, sample some of the world’s best cuisines at these restaurants in Dubai.
These five restaurants in Dubai serve up a scrumptious meal:
Shanghai Me
A Chinese restaurant in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) that’s more of a club than a fine dining place, Shanghai Me features an open bar, a big canvas of Mao and smoky cocktails with passion fruit provide the ultimate drama! Partially open-air, this chic new Chinese restaurant in Dubai is breaking the mould in every way possible. The food was bursting with flavour and their limited menu ensures focus on the star dishes. The top-notch mixology is what puts this establishment in the grey area between restaurant and bar. We suggest sampling their Prawn Toast, Sweet & Sour Chicken and the Blue Pea Gin cocktail that tasted as pretty as it looked!
Clap
Stylish Japanese dining with breathtaking views of the Burj Khalifa, this restaurant in Dubai welcomes you with a humongous chandelier made out of about 3,000 action figures and furniture made out of books! A variety of sake bottles line its glass walls. A great vibe, an open kitchen that runs through the length of the restaurant and a conveyor belt at the top of the bar emits a curious yet nostalgic vibe in Clap that does grunge the Dubai way – with luxury! We suggest the Padron Peppers, Tempura, Sushi and their take on the Negroni, which was our first fizzy Negroni and came as a pleasant surprise!
Penthouse
Another rooftop at the V Palm Jumeirah that serves stunning Sushi, the Penthouse is the hottest restaurant in Dubai right now. We suggest booking a table in the outside seating area so that you can soak in the breathtaking views of the Dubai eye and parts of the palm. This is perfect for a sundowner vibe with luscious sunsets, a small pool to lounge around while the servers refill your sangria! We suggest their Vodka & Rose cocktails and the Michelin-star desserts. It’s one of the places where you can buy Dom by the dozen with sparklers if that’s what you want for the perfect Instagram shot.
Hutong
London’s favourite Chinese restaurant finally has an outpost in Dubai. Decidedly fun, Hutong is tucked away in a not-so-bust corner of the DIFC, which is home to most of the fine-dining restaurants in Dubai. Do sample their Chilled Asparagus, Mala Chilli Chicken & Hutong Fried Rice in its red mood lighting ambience.
La Petite Maison
Very few places are as consistent as this French Mediterranean restaurant. One of those very few fine dining places that serve large portions for family-style dining, La Petite Maison is ideal for lunch with its sun-kissed french windows, minimal art and a chic vibe. Try their Burrata that’s tasted exactly the same for years, the Lamb Chops with Aubergine Caviar, Gratin Dauphinois which is super sophisticated for just cream and potatoes, and finish off with what we feel is one of the best cheesecake in the world – crisp wafer, thin crust, fromagerie frais dotted with vanilla bean and a tart berry coulis that add the spunk to it!
Related: First-hand Account: Our Digital Editor Embarks On A Culinary Trail In Dubai
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