Restaurants
New to Bluewaters Island is Vaga serving up plates of Armenian and Arabic food daily from noon until late. All the dishes on the menu will be familiar to those who like to eat Arabic and Armenian cuisine but VAGA’s presentation has aesthetic appeal due to being prettily presented. The décor across the sprawling eatery is just as stunning. Expect warm copper tones, plush velvet chairs and a mirrored spinning DJ deck which will is the main focus after dark. Open daily, noon-late, Bluewaters Island, Dubai.
Dramatic, eclectic decor and mood lighting lend itself to the cafe setting at The Orchestra Restaurant & Cafe in Deira. Featuring a menu with an assortment of dishes—you can choose from Mediterranean, Arabic and continental cuisines. Breakfast options, seafood and pastas are also available here. If you’re not on the hunt for a meal, but want to relax over coffee and a quiet chat, you can also order pastries and espressos.
If you’re seeking high quality Arabic cuisine that reflects regional culture, Khan Murjan, set in the Souk area of Wafi Mall, will fulfil your desires. Sit back with friends and take in the open air courtyard and lively setting before ordering. Delicious hummus, hot breads straight out of the oven, and salads sprinkled with fresh pomegranate seeds delicately offset the menu’s succulent meat grills and Middle Eastern specialties.
The name of this restaurant, Al Barza, means ‘a gathering place’ and conveys a coming together of people who want to try Emirati food. Now that the weather is perfect, you can have breakfast in the extensive garden under shady umbrellas. There’s a whole area of the menu dedicated to sweet things including a selection of items to share like khan faroush (cakes with cardamom and saffron) and the irresistible lugaimat – the Emirati equivalent of freshly fried doughnut holes dipped in date molasses. Tel No. +971 4 343 5310
While there’s a relaxed vibe inside the light flooded interior of this quirky cafe, you may just hear the revving of some pretty powerful machines outside. Bike lovers congregate on this eatery dedicated to petrol-heads on two wheels to enjoy their menu of eclectic delights. Feast on their ‘Flavor of Arabia’ breakfast platter and tuck into khameer, chebab, balaleet and muhalla (a date and wholewheat crepe). Tel No. +971 4 349 3585
This tea house is a hidden gem situated in Dubai’s historic heart. The quaint cafe is an oasis of calm and it’s easy to imagine times gone by while you relax within its traditional walls made of coral, shell and clay. Settle down to sip your morning tea as the sun rises, taking in the cool breeze coming off the nearby Creek with a traditional breakfast platter that includes balaleet – a dish of egg and cardamom flavoured vermicelli. Tel No. +971 4 353 5071
Looking for traditional Emirati food with contemporary presentation in Jumeirah 1? Step into Al Barza Restaurant & Café where you’ll be served some of the most authentic biryanis and curries in the city. Or choose between an Arabic breakfast with halloumi cheese or sumptuous grilled meats.
If you can’t decide between Italian or Arabic food for dinner, Mamma Mia Ristorante & Pizzeria offers both cuisines on the menu so you can create the perfect meal. The restaurant, which is located inside Radisson Blu Hotel in Dubai Marina, has a covered outdoor terrace area that makes a romantic backdrop to a meal for two. There is also valet parking, free wireless internet and big screens to catch the latest sporting action.
Head to Karam Beirut for Arabic food that is consistently tasty and always a good value. Light dishes of mezze, salads and hummus are standout dishes, though you’ll be just as pleased with the mains, which include standard mixed grills and kebabs. Authentic Lebanese drinks are also available as well as pastries and desserts, all in a sophisticated Arabic-themed atmosphere.
