Restaurants
No one would ever call Atelier M subtle. Located in the Dubai Marina’s Pier 7, the restaurant is grand, from its three Art Deco-styled floors that are swathed in gold and crystal, calling to mind the Great Gatsby-era, to the sweeping 180-degree views over the Dubai Marina, best enjoyed from the rooftop lounge. But it’s not all looks here, the kitchen dishes out flavourful fusion fare dreamed up by chef and co-owner Mohammad Islam. Islam worked alongside culinary impresario Jean-Georges Vongerichten in New York, and Vongerichten’s influence on the Bangladesh-born, up-and-coming restaurateur can be seen in the Asian-inspired offerings, like the…
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.
For a taste of the Mediterranean in Dubai, head to the Armani/Mediterraneo and enjoy a feast of sunny flavours. This is an elegant restaurant, but casual enough to pop into for lunch or dinner after shopping in The Dubai Mall or taking in the sights of Downtown Dubai. Using traditional Mediterranean ingredients, Armani/Mediterraneo offers a tempting variety of classic creations, from fresh salads and vegetables, to grilled seafood and meat.
Wingsters is the UAE’s first restaurant dedicated to Buffalo wings, located in Dubai Marina. Start by selecting your wings, from a selection of 8, 16, 24 or 32—then take your pick from a large list of different sauces with quirky names, including Machine Gun Kelly (Rich Glazed Barbecue Sauce), The Snitch (Sweet Thai Chill) and The Enforcer (Smooth Mustard Infused WIth Honey). The menu also features a choice of burgers, milkshakes and crepes.
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
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
Craving for fresh fish? Head to Asmak for a choice of daily catches that have been seasoned and prepared Mediterranean style. Choose your style of cooking from simply grilled, deep-fried or oven-baked. The dishes arrive piping hot with aromas of herbs and spice – the spicy garlic potatoes are a must-order. You can sit indoors or outside on a beautiful wooden deck.
For authentic Syrian cuisine, head to Aroos Damascus in Deira. This is a large restaurant with seating both inside and outside, and you can expect most of the tables to be filled until the small hours of the morning, giving the place a buzzing ambience. Order a selection of hot and cold starters, before moving on to grilled meats and kebabs.
