Restaurants

Situated in Wafi Pyramids in Oud Metha, Medzo’s splendid Italian food is heightened by the elegant atmosphere of the restaurant. Take in the mix of white decor, chandeliers and dreamy drapes, all of which combine to create a romantic ambience set to a soundtrack of soft piano. When the weather permits, try completing the experience by dining al fresco-style on the beautiful tree-shaded terrace. Telephone +971 [0] 4 324 4100 Email fnb.sales@wafi.com

Contemporary and futuristic in its design, Switch Restaurant & Lounge is the first restaurant in the UAE by interior architect Karim Rashid. Flick through the menu for a simple fusion of international flavours, including appetisers, burgers, pastas and sandwiches—simple, that is, until you get to the page of Camel Meat Tenderloin, Burger and Sliders. Switch Restaurant & Lounge is the perfect place to refuel after shopping in the mall. Make sure you order from the extensive mocktail menu. Telephone +971 [0] 4 339 9131 Email resto@meswitch.com

Enjoy Lunch Or Dinner At Bait Al Mandi Settle down at a table at Bait Al Mandi and enjoy a selection of Yemeni and Emirati dishes. Known for its tender meat entrees and vast array of appetizers and desserts, the chain of restaurants across Dubai is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner. The fresh juices are also notable, with a large range to refresh on the warmest day. Decor is basic, but comfortable.

Offering a wide selection of Uzbek, Kazakh and Russian dishes, this Dubai Marina restaurant is a popular choice for expats craving a taste of home. The eatery is best known for its freshly baked tandir samsas, breads and traditional delicacies prepared in Kazan pots. The interior is also very comfortable with rich berry shades, draped curtains and booth seating. You can also choose to sit on the terrace on cooler days and evenings. Telephone +971 [0] 4 453 4887 Email info@gulnazrestaurant.com

Zheng He is named after the Chinese nautical explorer and diplomat of the Ming dynasty whose expeditions made him an icon in the history of imperial China. As such, you’ll find a menu that features classics with a contemporary twist. While feasting on plates of steaming dim sum, watch the resident duck master in action, cutting up a whole duck for your table and presenting it with rice paper pancakes and condiments for you and your dining companions to help yourselves. +971 4 366 5866

Hakkasan, located in the iconic Jumeriah Emirates Towers, serves fare that incorporates traditional techniques using fresh local ingredients with contemporary dishes that retain the essence of conventional Cantonese cuisine. It is certainly hard to restrain from the roasted silver cod and crispy duck salad amid rustic wooden pavilions, lush exotic greenery and the Michelin-star chain’s signature oak latticing. The Hakka Brunch, which takes place every Friday, features an expansive selection of dishes: steamed, fried and baked dim sum, delicate Peking duck and handcrafted desserts and homemade sorbets. +971 4 384 8484

YUAN, an award-winning Chinese restaurant at the Atlantis, is known to match the traditional and modern, time-stamped traditions with contemporary twists. Bring in Chinese New Year with the Yum Cha Brunch, named after the Chinese tradition of drinking tea in the mid-morning with dim sum. You’ll get to sample a world-class selection of dim sum, salads, Chinese noodles, rice and an array of traditional Chinese desserts and teas. Make sure you sample the yellow mustard har gau shrimp dumplings and the sweet and sour chicken. +971 4 426 2626

Shang Palace offers the taste of traditional Cantonese cuisine, a mystical Far Eastern ambiance and Chinese hospitality in the heart of Dubai. Specialty fare includes Yum Cha, acclaimed Beijing Duck, Codfish with grapes and orange sauce, and an extensive list of fragrant teas and authentic beverages. The restaurant has been known to pull out all the stops during Chinese New Year with celebratory special set menus, traditional lion dances and of course, the auspicious red envelopes containing cash prizes and complimentary stays at the hotel. + 971 4 405 2703

When you’re located as close to the sea as Alto Mar is – right by the Jumeirah Fishing Harbour – you know the seafood is going to be fresh. At this Mediterranean-style restaurant, it is also delicious. The blue and white décor with marine accents is offset by a tranquil view of the bobbing boats at the harbour, transporting diners straight to southern European shores. So too does the menu, with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients and simple home-style cooking. Choose seafood either cooked to your liking or à la carte, with highlights including seabream roasted in a “salt…