Restaurants

A spectacular view is sure to set the tone for an impressive business meeting, and the one from high on the 52nd floor of the Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel – looking out over Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah – is hard to top. Once diners have torn themselves away from the floor-to-ceiling windows, they can look forward to modern classics such as prawn cocktail, herb-crusted rack of lamb, and crème brûlée with a hint of espresso to leave guests office-ready after a sumptuous meal, which is available from Sunday to Thursday between 12-3pm and is priced from AED90 for two courses.

If you’re nervous about what to talk about other than business, then this venue provides all the talking points combining technology, art, music, cuisine and, of course, cars, all under one roof. This Lexus boutique-café located in the Dubai International Financial Centre is the second branch in the world (after Tokyo). And with its set business lunch (two courses AED90 or three courses AED110) served from 11am to 3pm, there’s no need to speed through the proceedings.

In Dubai’s fast-changing, big business scene, no location in the city is more vibrant than Dubai International Financial Centre. And when it comes to the best restaurants for wooing business associates or potential clients, nowhere is better equipped than the sleek sushi restaurant, Zuma. With its clean-lined furniture, striking feature staircase made from glass and wood, and simple layout, the venue is very much in alignment with its key clientele: modern, sophisticated and chic professionals. And when it comes to the food, the experience loses none of its allure. The Ebisu Lunch (AED130) is served from Sunday to Thursday between…

Walk across the metro footbridge outside DWTC and you’ll end up at Cave, a cool lounge that oozes sophistication, from the trendy décor with dim lighting (for the ‘cave’ effect), to the regular clientele of young professionals. Pull up a stool at one of the communal tables or head off to a private lounge by the fireside, and work your way through an extensive menu of drinks, tasting platters and gourmet bites – with specials every day of the week. +971 4 444 7444

A relaxed nightspot that is great at getting the basics right, The Stables has carved out a reputation as a particularly safe pair of hands when it comes to an evening venue to please everyone. With sport on the televisions, live music performances, excellent food and reasonable prices, it is a great all-rounder, ideal for quenching a think-tank conference thirst. +971 4 342 5571

Super-sleek sushi restaurant Okku is famous in Dubai for delivering Japanese cuisine that the city’s foodies go absolutely mad for. Headed by executive chef, Hugo Sato Gardiner, the restaurant has won a clutch of awards – including most recently the prestigious Caterer Award for Restaurant of the Year and TimeOut Dubai’s award for Best Japanese – which brings with it a distinctly A-list clientele. It’s not cheap – but with caviar and black truffle in the sushi, it’s certainly memorable. +971 4 501 8777

With a kitchen team lead by executive chef Himanshu Saini, who was crowned ‘Best Young Chef’ at the 2014 Delhi Gourmet Club’s Top Chef Awards, Tresind serves up classic Indian flavours, elevated to levels of modern brilliance using molecular gastronomy. The “textures of mushroom” dish is truly out of this world. +971 4 308 0440

The hipsters of Dubai have long since been banging the drum for Al Quoz coffee house Tom & Serg which now has a cult following in the city, and in The Sum of Us, the talented duo behind Tom & Serg have struck gold once again. With 20 different blends of coffee and a food menu that changes daily to accommodate the fresh local produce, The Sum of Us is every bit as cool as its Al Quoz counterpart. +971 56 445 7526

Lemonade is a unique cafe serving both hearty and healthy meals, and a few sugary treats, too. The cafe serves six types of lemonade, hence the name, including tangy guava and lime, and the surprisingly delicious combination of watermelon and rosemary.