05 September 2010 05:42 GMT
AirAsia Indonesia starts flights to Singapore
London City goes 'silent' this month
Easyjet to open more routes from Geneva
Keep flying wise! Sign up for our free e-newsletter The Transiter, which delivers the latest airport travel tips, news and feedback straight to your inbox every month
Exploring the city
- Top sights |
- Restaurant picks |
- Hotel picks |
- Bar picks |
- For the family |
- Outdoors |
- Shopping |
Dining in multi-cultural Dubai is all about international cuisine. With foreigners, most from South Asia, far outnumbering the local population, there are some particularly good Indian, Lebanese and Thai restaurants in the city.
There’s something for every taste and budget in Dubai, from glitzy restaurants run by celebrity chefs in five-star hotels to cheap and cheerful eateries in less than glamourous parts of town.
From amongst the hundreds of restaurants, we've picked out a few highlights for those who need to stay near the airport, plus some favourites a little further afield.
Note that local licensing laws mean only restaurants attached to a hotel are able to serve alcohol.
Near the airport
If you’ve only got a few hours to spend, then the following restaurants are all within a short drive of Arrivals.
As always beware of the traffic at peak hours on weekdays (Sunday-Thursday), which can turn what should be a 15-minute taxi ride into an hour-long crawl.
Kiku
Le Meridien, Garhoud (+971 4 282 4040)
$$$
Ideally located opposite the airport in the Meridien hotel complex, this Japanese restaurant is one of the best in the city.
Manhattan Grill
Grand Hyatt hotel (+971 4 317 1234)
$$$$
Inside one of the largest hotels in Dubai, this grill is quite pricey, but has a cosy interior and serves up excellent steaks imported from the US and Japan.
Blue Elephant
Al Bustan Rotana hotel, Garhoud (+971 4 282 0000)
$$$$
One of a number of ‘Blue Elephant’ restaurants around the region offering up an extensive menu of tasty Thai favourites and colourful cocktails. Good food and friendly service.
Irish Village
Near tennis stadium, Garhoud, (+971 4 282 4750)
$$
Well-known pub built in mock-Irish style, the Irish Village offers hearty pub fare, including pies and fish and chips. Lively atmosphere and plenty of outdoor seating.
Verre
Hilton Dubai Creek (+971 4 227 1111)
$$$$$
This is Gordon Ramsay’s foray into Dubai. Fine dining by one of Britain’s top chefs and not too far from the airport either. Need we say more?
Further afield
Coconut Grove
Rydges Plaza hotel, Bur Dubai (+971 4 398 3800)
Cost: $$
One of our favourites, the Coconut Grove offers a mouth-watering range of southern Indian and Sri Lankan dishes at reasonable prices. It’s around 15-20 minutes from the airport outside of peak times.
Karam
Kempinski hotel/Mall of the Emirates (+971 4 341 2202)
Cost: $$$$
Dishing up great Lebanese fare of mezze and grilled meat with a unique view overlooking Ski Dubai, Karam is an offshoot of an established Beirut restaurant. Some distance away but a solid favourite.
Ravi's
Satwa Road, Bur Dubai (+971 4 331 5353)
Cost: $
Growing ever-more popular amongst residents, Ravi's serves simple but delicious Pakistani food at rock-bottom prices in a canteen-style venue. Try to get a table out on the busy pavement to watch the local streetlife. No credit cards accepted, and no alcohol served.
Pierchic
Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah (+971 4 366 8888)
$$$$$
Hidden at the end of a seaside walkway, this restaurant can be hard to find but is one of the most romantic dining spots in Dubai. It's tpward the other end of town but the food is excellent.
Al-Mallah Cafeteria
Diyafah Street, Bur Dubai (+971 4 3984723)
$
Cheap, tasty street food, Al-Mallah is popular with residents looking for a snack after a night on the town. It serves grilled meat sandwiches, fries and other Middle Eastern nibbles served at plastic tables on the pavement or to take away.
Price Guide gives the average you can expect to pay for a meal for two: $ = Under Dhs 100, $$ = Dhs 100-200, $$$ = Dhs 200-350, $$$$ = Dhs 350-500, $$$$$ = Dhs 500+
Your Comments