Local Flavor: the best places to eat and drink in Dubai

10.06.2024 - 17:29 / lonelyplanet.com

While growing up in Dubai in the early 1990s, our family's culinary adventures were mostly limited to shawarma and falafel takeaways, dining at Indian and Pakistani restaurants, or American fast-food chains.

Today, as a travel writer living in Dubai, I’m completely in awe of its wildly exciting dining scene filled with innovative restaurants, avant-garde concepts and bold chefs keen to show off their creative genius in a city where original ideas are favored and quickly accepted over old-fashioned rules.

Dubai is home to over 200 nationalities and nowhere else does this diversity shine as brightly as it does in its culinary culture. From authentic dosa joints and Afghani bakeries in my neighborhood in old Dubai to Balkan specialties, homegrown burger restaurants, and food that looks like art elsewhere in the city, I’m proud to say that I’ve yet to find another city in the world that does international cuisines with as much flair as here. These are some of my favorite insider spots that I consider to be the best places to eat and drink in Dubai.

Located within walking distance of Jumeirah Beach in the unassuming Meyan Mall, 21grams Urban Balkan Bistro is my top spot for breakfast in Dubai. Founded by Serbian restaurateur Stasha Toncev with chef Milan Jurkovic, this homegrown bistro keeps diners like me coming back for its delicious breakfast and brunch dishes, friendly service and inviting aesthetic.

I order the same dish every time as my tastebuds are unapologetically fixated on the pindjur eggs – poached eggs sitting in a rich slow-roasted tomato and pepper relish surrounded by a luscious chili oil-drizzled yogurt and garnished with fresh basil. It’s served with freshly baked somun bread with which I can’t resist soaking up the tomato relish-yogurt mixture until my plate is wiped clean. Save some space for a slice of their fresh-from-the-oven phyllo pie – my favorites are the creamy spinach and the goat cheese, honey and thyme. They serve breakfast dishes till 5pm, so it’s my go-to spot for a lazy weekend brunch. If you go on a weekend, expect to wait between 15 to 30 minutes for a table – but it’s worth it.

I also like to bring visiting friends and family to Arabian Tea House, an Emirati restaurant set within the restored traditional architecture of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, a short stroll from Dubai Creek. With chatter-filled courtyards, sepia-toned photos of Dubai on the walls, and bread baking in the traditional oven, this place reminds me of traditional homes in the Dubai of my childhood.

I recommend the Special Emirati Breakfast Tray to sample dishes such as balaleet (slightly sweet vermicelli cooked with cardamom, cinnamon and saffron, topped with an omelet), dango (chickpeas), bajella