As much as we love our favourite foodie spots and watering holes we’re also all about trying something new.
Which is why we’ve rounded up our top 10 new restaurants in Dubai to try.
From international exports from Monte Carlo and America, to home grown spots inspired by 1930s Paris, these new additions to the foodie scene all opened in the last three months and are all well worth a visit…
Masti
Fun and mischief. That’s the Hindi translation for Masti, La Mer’s first licensed restaurant.
As Indian restaurants go, Masti is definitely not your typical neighbourhood curry spot. Firstly, its location overlooking the sea is brilliant.
The terrace that snakes around the restaurant is a kaleidoscope of lime, aqua and fuchsia surrounded by leafy foliage that creates a contemporary, bright and inviting atmosphere.
On to the food, and the menu is split into cold plates, sea, earth, poultry, red meats, sides and sweets, and each person is advised to select two or three plates.
Each dish is inspired from around the world, but incorporates Indian spices and flavour combinations.
La Mer, Jumeirah 1, Dubai, daily noon to midnight, upstairs lounge 5pm to midnight.
Scalini
The just-opened Scalini, is a quintessential fine-dining Italian, that serves up a Dubai-twist to its traditional trattoria menu.
Dishes are silver served, the traditional bread basket is complimented by condiments such as olives, parmesan and tomato and basil, and you can expect a beverage order to be taken by your dedicated sommelier.
For the food, you can expect a typical Italian trattoria menu, led by antipasti and zuppe into an extensive pasta section, which moves to a final page of padella and sides.
You’ll find Dubai classics such as a beef tartare and signature burrata alongside signature spaghetti dishes served in a pasta wheel and tossed with truffle.
Scalini Dubai, Four Seasons Resort Jumeirah Beach Road, daily 12pm to 12am.
Ninive
At Ninive, the new restaurant occupying the outdoor space next to la Cantine du Faubourg Dubai at Jumierah Emirates Towers, food from across the regions is celebrated and served in the most unusual of settings.
The fully outdoor restaurant is recreated to look like a luxurious nomadic tent with lanterns and candles lighting the cosy, individual enclaves hidden underneath a slanted canvas.
Ninive’s menu is drawn from across the Middle East and North Africa, with Iraqi, Egyptian and even Khaleeji elements.
If you’re looking for hummus and tabbouleh, you’ve come to the wrong place. Instead you’ll find more unusual dishes such as the Iraqui tashreeb, vegetable tagine and a a Ninive twist on a mixed grill.
Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai Sat to Weds 4pm to 2am, Thur and Fri 4pm to 3am.
Beefbar
One of two new openings in Al Fattan Currency House, Beefbar is set to become a meat lovers paradise in DIFC.
The sixth outlet of the chain, the menu is built on simplicity and quality ingredients. Designed to share, expect top quality cuts of meats from Australia to Japan, served alongside over fifteen kinds of purees with a selection of spices & condiments to choose from.
An additional space, the Beefbar Butcher Shop is also housed in the venue, which allows guests to choose and buy the various cuts of exclusive meat to take away.
We love everything about Beefbar, from the sleek interiors, to the expertly trained staff under the guidance of operations director Domenico Iannone, to the consistently flavoursome dishes.
It’s already got a lively vibe on the weekends, and we’d recommend booking a table in the lounge to enjoy the atmosphere.
Beefbar, Al Fattan Currency House, DIFC, Sun to Weds 7pm to 1am, Thurs and Fri 7pm to 2am, Sat closed.
BB Dining
BB is the brainchild of some big names in the Dubai foodie scene. The founding team includes Shabnum Stumpf and Spero Panagakis, both formerly of Zuma, with chef Alex Stumpf who is most recently of Peyote, helming the kitchen.
The restaurant sits in a space that used to house an art gallery which immediately ups the cool factor. Spread across three levels, which are connected by a spiral staircase, it feels like a trendy little townhouse.
There are plenty of cozy nooks and crannies where you can settle in for the night, or you can dine al fresco on the licensed terrace, surrounded by greenery.
The mostly Asian-inspired menu is split into Bs – bao, bites, bowls and BBQ. Every dish is designed for sharing, which is where the social dining theme comes in.
What we loved about BB was that it was just really great food, without a touch of snobbery.
You’re made to feel equally welcome whether you’re popping in for a quick drink and a bao, or sitting down for a full-blown meal. Now that we know where BB lives, we’ll definitely be back.
Gate Village 8, DIFC, Dubai, Saturday to Wednesday noon to midnight, Thursday and Friday noon to 1am.
STK
American steakhouse-meets-party-place STK that’s aiming to bring the marina party animals – and foodies – to JBR’s Rixos Premium.
It certainly seems to be working. STK certainly looks the part. A black granite bar leads into a sleek restaurant of leather booths, neon lights and two larger than life pink blossom trees.
There’s also a hidden terrace to the back that leads out onto the resort and down to the beach, and while we dine inside on our visit, we’ll definitely be bagging a seat alfresco next time.
STK is about much more than the steak although they are excellent, with a passion fruit miso black cod a must-try when you visit.
STK Dubai The Walk, Rixos Premium, JBR, Dubai, daily 5pm to 1am,
Bleu Blanc by David Myers
Refined French farmhouse food is what you’ll find at the just opened Bleu Blanc in the Renaissance Downtown hotel.
The first of two openings by celebrity chef David Myers, also known as the gypsy chef due to his love for travel, it’s one of the prettiest venues we’ve seen in Dubai so far.
It’s a warm space, with an open-plan kitchen that allows diners to watch the chefs at work, and there’s a simple menu of wholesome French food that requires at least two visits to work your way through.
Renaissance Downtown, Business Bay, Dubai, daily noon to 3pm, 6pm to midnight.
Crazy Fish
A high end export from Monte Carlo, and one of two new openings in Al Fattan Currency House, Crazy Fish is set to make its mark serving up a host of international seafood.
It’s an intimate space that’s laid out like a formal fine dining room with white tablecloths and cabinets of crystal cut glass, but with a contemporary twist thanks to the colourful artworks, blue leathers, and the addition of a fresh fish bar where you can select your catch, which is brought fresh to the restaurant on the regular.
Dishes on the menu include oysters, fresh prawns from Sicily, langoustine carpaccio with pink salt and Orsini’s olive oil, as well as tuna tartare, with avocado and lime.
The pasta dishes on the menu range from gnocchi with red prawns to homemade trofie with seabass, lime, lemon and basil.
At Crazy Fish, there’s a big focus on simple cooking and high quality products, so you’ll only find fish sourced from fishermen in Spain or Italy.
Crazy Fish Dubai, Al Fattan Currency House, DIFC, Sun to Weds 7pm to 1am, Thurs and Fri 7pm to 2am, Sat closed.
Babiole
Walking into Babiole is like walking onto the set of a glamorous Hollywood film. The grand, but slightly intimidating, entrance is manned by a glamorous and equally intimidating hostess, who leads us through a double door into the restaurant.
The restaurant is stunning. It’s split level and the decor is reminiscent of a glamorous French fine dining spot, complete with white tablecloths, floor to ceiling windows and a mix of chandeliers and candlelight creating a warm ambience.
If the weather permits, take a trip to the terrace. At 44 floors up, it has to be one of the city’s highest vantage points.
You can smoke shisha in a corner booth, or prop yourself up at the neon lit bar for a nightcap. Definitely one of our favourite alfresco discoveries so far this year.
The Westin Al Habtoor City, Dubai, daily 12pm to 2am.
Barbary
The man behind The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill, Joey Ghazal, knocks it out of the park again with his new deli and cocktail club concept, Barbary in Barsha Heights.
The vibe is decidely Parisian with wooden floorboards, cushy sofas, loud music, checkered tiles, red velvet curtains and crystal chandeliers.
All of it combines to make the perfect place to settle in for a hearty meal with lots and lots of drinks.
As far as the food goes, the lobster poutine is a must-eat. On paper it may sound weird – chips, seafood, cheese curds and gravy- but in reality this Canadian dinner staple is the best thing we’d eaten this month.
Barbary, TRYP By Wyndham Hotel, Barsha Heights, Dubai, Sat to Mon noon to 2am, Tue to Thur noon to 3am, Fri 11am to 3am.
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