Restaurants

Popular Aussie café chain Jones the Grocer has a new licensed restaurant, bar and workspace in Garhoud. The new spot is “laid-back, fun-loving, well-travelled and playful”, and it’s also designed to be a workspace. Plus, get ready for open-fire cooking in an open kitchen – so expect charcoal grills to star on the menu alongside your favourites at the new restaurant. Dishes include grilled lamb chops and tiger prawns, as well as bao buns and more. Opens May 11. Open daily 8am-1am. Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, Garhoud (04 702 8790).

Fish Beach Taverna is one of Dubai’s latest seafood establishments, with an ambiance reminiscent of sitting at a cafe in Santorini. Adorned in blue and white decor, Fish Beach Taverna serves up authentic Aegean sea fare that is traditional along Greece and Turkey’s coastline. With today’s ever-popular sharing culture in mind, this restaurant offers small plates along with fresh daily catches that the chef is ready to cook up to your liking.

Warwick Hotel Dubai has opened World on 44, its signature Peruvian and Mediterranean restaurant and bar located on the 44th floor, offering 360-degreeviews of Dubai. The fine dining venue, which has indoor seating for 50 guests, offers seafood and meat dishes served with a selection of tapas, cheese, ceviche and tartare, tiraditos, rolls and other starters.

For a totally tropical fun night out, head over to the Bamboo Lagoon. You may think that you’ve arrived on an island when you first step inside, with grass-skirted singers, Hawaiian-shirt clad waiters, bamboo huts, and little bridges over waterways. The tempting buffet offers vast amounts of choice, from seafood to sushi, to curries and grills. The band starts playing at around 9pm, with singers performing Polynesian tunes.

For coverage on all your favourite sporting events, head to Goodfellas Sports Lounge. From premier league football and rugby, to Formula One and golf, you can watch all the major events from around the world. With 20 screens showing the live games, you are guaranteed front row viewing every time. If all the sporting energy makes you hungry, Goodfellas restaurant cooks up a hearty selection of dishes, including steaks, seafood and pies.

Measured solely by location, Shimmers gets top marks. Add to that a hearty menu of Greek cuisine, and you’ve landed a winner. Sitting in the heart of Madinat Jumeirah’s exclusive private beach, this relaxed eatery offers views of the azure sea, white beach and the spectacular Burj Al Arab. Try their “Real” Greek Salad with Kalamata olives and feta cheese or savour slow-cooked lamb infused with oregano.

A must for true romantics with an appetite for seafood, Beach Bar & Grill offers delectable fish platters to share. If seafood isn’t your thing, there’s surf and turf options. You must try the chef’s recommendation though, a cataplana of shellfish clams, mussels, prawns, scallops and crabs with cooked beef chorizo, tomatoes, vegetables and fresh herbs. It’s simply wonderful! There’s indoor and outdoor seating, but al fresco is best for romantic sea views. Telephone +971 [0] 4 399 9999 Email fb.acourt@oneandonlyroyalmirage.ae

Housed on the eighth floor of the Media One Hotel in Dubai Media City, The MED serves up fun, energetic a la carte and brunch options. You’ll get good value out of these classic Mediterranean takes on seafood, roasted meats and desserts. Head here on a Friday for a lively brunch. Add to that a trendy ambience, with a DJ spinning awesome music, and your meal takes on a whole new party edge.

Head to romantic restaurant Ossiano, housed in Atlantis, The Palm, to watch 65,000 marine creatures glide past your table as you tuck into your meal. You’ll be served Catalan-inspired seafood dishes, courtesy of famed Spanish chef Santi Santamaria. Enjoy incredible food beneath glistening chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling views of the Ambassador Lagoon aquarium, amid a formal but romantic setting. Telephone +971 [0] 4 426 2626 Email restaurantreservations@atlantisthepalm.com