As one of the top five tourist cities in the world, Dubai receives almost 16 million tourists every year. So, just like any other tourist hotspot, the city needs excellent places to eat. Luckily, downtown Dubai, around Meydan, is one of the best places for restaurants.
Spending time in Dubai is always breathtaking. However, the Meydan area feels almost surreal. It’s hard to believe how much Dubai has evolved so quickly, and this is even more incredible when surrounded by the best that Dubai has to offer. Meydan is one of the best places to experience in Dubai and the world. Let’s look at some of my favorite restaurants in this beautiful area.
1. Soho Garden DXB
Soho offers a wide variety of choices. Whether you like sushi or wagyu burgers, there is something for everyone at Soho Gardens. This venue is more than just a restaurant; it is all about entertainment and delivering the best experience to its guests through great food, live music, and other events.
Before arriving at Soho Dubai, it is advisable to make a booking; however, even still, you can expect to wait 20 to 30 minutes before being seated at your table. Don’t worry; you can have a few drinks while you wait.
The garden is the most popular venue in Soho. You can sit outside and enjoy live music or whatever event is happening while ordering some of the best food in Dubai. Don’t forget to try the cocktails as well.
- Location: Racecourse, Grand Stand
- Contact: +971 52 388 8849
- Website: Soho Garden
2. Prime Steakhouse
Eating at the Prime Steakhouse is more of an experience than anything else. From the moment you step in the entrance to when you leave, you feel the energy in the restaurant.
The chateaubriand is my favorite steak on the menu, and it gets carved right in front of you at your table, which adds a nice touch. Some restaurants try to do that but don’t do it right. However, the staff at Prime are professional and make the experience as enjoyable as possible without being intrusive.
Prime Steakhouse is another venue where reservations are almost mandatory because it is a hotspot known for serving some of the best meat cuts in the world. That is because the meat is sourced from the best farms worldwide.
When it comes to fine dining restaurants, people tend to throw around words like elegant and classy, which can be used to describe the Steakhouse. However, the best word is Classic, at least in my experience.
The venue is perfect for business meetings and dates. Its decor is superb, with beautifully carpeted floors, the main stage for live music, and also a beautiful ivory piano situated in one of the corners that will often have a pianist playing beautiful classical music.
- Location: Nad Al Sheba 1
- Contact: +971 4 381 3111
- Website: Prime Steakhouse
3. Iris Meydan
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My favorite dish served at the Iris is the Australian Wagyu, served with chimichurri and a little bit of wasabi, a combination you don’t see in many other places worldwide. Another must-try at Iris is the sushi.
Whether I was eating lunch, brunch, or dinner at the venue, the music was always great and always the perfect music for whichever occasion, which shows how thoughtful and insightful the team behind the restaurant is.
The Iris in Meydan is a vibe that can make you feel energetic. It is a massive open-air environment complemented by some of the best views in downtown Dubai. Eating there feels almost surreal.
The lighting in the restaurant is superb. Whether you are sitting close to one of the trees that light up or the beautiful chandelier, the mood is set by some of the most thoughtful lightings I have seen.
- Location: Meydan Grandstand, adjacent to the Ticket Sales Office
- Contact: +971 4 334 3355
- Website: Iris
4. The Bluez Restaurant
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Many of the restaurants on this specific list are fine dining or a blend of multicultural dishes; However, if you’re in the mood for something a little bit more casual, say burgers or pasta, then the Bluez restaurant might be the place for you.
The restaurant, while being more about burgers, feels modern and almost like fine dining for fast food. The venue is family-friendly, so it is a great place to wind down with a great atmosphere, excellent food, and an all-around good experience.
The OB burger is one of my favorite dishes in Dubai. Americans will recognize the chicken as chicken tenders, and it even has a dash of Nashville hot sauce. Throw in one of their famous pretzel shakes, and you’re in for an experience. If pretzel shake is not your thing, they have a variety of shakes available.
Another great dish on the menu is the Bluez Special, which is Wagyu beef paired with veal bacon and a delicious sauce that is a secret the restaurant holds close. Trust me, I tried.
- Location: Al Meydan Rd – Nad Al Sheba 1
- Contact: +971 4 457 8021
- Instagram: The Bluez
5. Nova Restaurant And Lounge
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If you want to impress your partner, going on a date to the Nova restaurant and lounge is one of the best ways to do so. That said, the restaurant it’s also great for private events, business meetings, and family dinners.
One of the most famous dishes that the restaurant serves is the 1.5 kg tomahawk steak. You don’t realize just how big it is until it is sitting on a plate right in front of you. That said, the steak will always be cooked to perfection and your choosing.
With the Nova restaurant and lounge, you don’t need to be told that it’s all about the finer things in life; you will immediately notice it through something like its gentlemen’s corner, where you can go and enjoy the cigar with your friends. Don’t forget to take your drink with you, especially since you won’t be able to put it down if it is one of their cocktails.
If you are more into pasta, I highly recommend trying out the truffle, which is a mixture of mushrooms topped with truffle, parmesan cheese, and some mascarpone.
For starters, you could either go for one of their sushi dishes, but I highly recommend trying out the oysters. They’re always fresh and are an excellent appetizer to set the tone for the rest of your dinner.
- Location: Dubai Marina
- Contact: +971 58 603 0063
- Website: Nova
6. Farriers
Whether you want breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Farriers is a fine dining experience that caters to families. In addition, the restaurant offers various discounts and complimentary services for your kids.
The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating with classy and elegant decor. The outside terrace has lots of little lights hanging just above the seating area, which offers a great atmosphere even in the daytime.
On some evenings, the restaurant hosts a themed experience complemented by an extensive buffet. In the mornings, they have a wonderful breakfast buffet where you can find anything from Muesli, fruit, yogurt, or muffins.
The staff is always friendly, even at 6:30 in the morning, which is a nice touch, especially if you come from a place where service is not a priority.
The portions at the restaurant are generous. See, some restaurants give you just enough, but when ordering from the Ala carte menu at Farriers, the amount of sides you get is excellent.
- Location: Al Meydan Rd – Nad Al Sheba 1
- Contact: +971 4 381 3111
- Make A Reservation
7. MOOD Rooftop Lounge
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The MOOD restaurant has one of the best-looking designs in terms of decor, with lush greenery hanging down from the ceilings and beautiful ferns placed all over the restaurant. It compliments the natural look and feel of the wood used for the tables, floors, and even chairs.
When seated outside, the views are delightful, and as cliche as it sounds, the atmosphere lives up to the restaurant’s name. You can’t help but be in a fine mood when drinking a good cocktail and eating great food while surrounded by a great team of staff.
Speaking of the food, lobster thermidor is always one of my favorite dishes wherever I go, and MOOD gets it right. It may be one of the most costly things on the menu, but it is always cooked to perfection, fresh, and packed with beautiful flavors.
The lounge has a wide selection of cocktails, the El Professor being my favorite, as whiskey always goes down well, especially in such a beautiful setting. I highly recommend going to this lounge with a group of friends as it sets the tone for what could be a great evening.
- Location: The Meydan Hotel – Nad Al Sheba
- Contact: +971 50 440 2363
- Website: MOOD
8. Equus Pool Bar
Enjoy a variety of refreshing drinks and friendly service reserved exclusively for hotel guests. Lunch by the pool may be as simple or as elaborate as you choose, with food options including snacks, sandwiches, and salads.
The 11th floor of the magnificent Meydan Hotel is a tranquil oasis open 24 hours a day, complete with a refreshing swimming pool and breathtaking vistas.
The rooftop infinity pool is climate-controlled so that you can swim comfortably no matter the weather. The view over the verdant Meydan Racecourse is particularly stunning. Equus Pool Bar provides delicious snacks and refreshing drinks to this rooftop haven dotted with umbrellas and plush sun loungers.
- Location: The Meydan Hotel Rooftop
- Contact: +971 4 381 3111
- Website: Equus Pool Bar
9. Doors Freestyle Grill
This 12,000-square-foot waterfront attraction, located in the heart of the entrancing Al Seef by the Dubai Creek, has a freestyle grill style that will inspire guests to unleash their inner chef. This dining experience is unlike any other; indulge your senses in the delicious fragrances and sensations.
Traditional cuisine with a contemporary touch, such as premium-cut meats, exquisite fish, fresh salads, and delectable desserts, are expertly choreographed by Chef Kemal Eylan.
Their menu of imaginative mocktails has been painstakingly conceived to fascinate and delight, capping off an impressive culinary performance that uses the finest ingredients they can find, almost sealing in the rich tastes of natural ingredients.
Luxury, hospitality, and comfort are at the heart of every visit to Doors Freestyle Grill, where visitors are always made to feel like the stars of the show in a setting so lavishly appointed and fitting for a king or queen that it makes their wildest fantasies seem like a reality.
- Location: 8/5 – 314 Al Seef St
- Contact: +971 4 204 9299
- Website: Doors
10. Shiba Restaurant (Temporarily closed)
Dubai is a multicultural hotspot, with people from around the world calling it their home. It is thanks to this that places like Shiba restaurant exist. Dubai is known for its Mediterranean and American-style restaurants, but Shiba is an authentic Japanese restaurant situated in the Meydan hotel.
With some of the best sushi I have eaten, it is clear that these are some of the best sushi chefs in the Emirates. However, Shiba is more than just a sushi restaurant. They offer traditional and authentic Japanese dishes, and I highly recommend trying some of them.
Behind the traditional Japanese sliding doors are two private rooms that can take up to 10 people. These rooms are intended for private parties and business meetings.
It might be worth trying out their sake bar if you are waiting for a table. One of the best things about this restaurant is its dedicated Chinese wok bar, where you can see your food being prepared.
- Location: Al Meydan Rd – Nad Al Sheba 1
- Contact: +971 4 381 3111
- Website
11. Hola Rooftop (Temporarily closed)
A beautiful blue ocean surrounds Dubai, and one of the best ways to get a view of it is at the Hola rooftop restaurant. The Hola rooftop is a fine dining restaurant that takes pride not only in the atmosphere of the restaurant but also in its menu.
If you want to try something different, I highly recommend having their watermelon salad, a little bit of lettuce that stands on top of chopped-up watermelon; this is sprinkled with feta cheese and surrounded by a soft vinaigrette.
Booking is highly recommended for this venue. After all, it is fine dining with some of the best views. However, if you’re waiting to be seated, it is advisable to try one of their cocktails. They have a large variety, and a lot of care and effort goes into every cocktail they make.
The restaurant offers a variety of cuisine; however, you will instantly notice the Spanish culture, which shows mainly through the food.
While reservations are almost mandatory at this venue, I advise you to check on your reservation at least two days before you go to the restaurant. It is so busy that it is best to make sure, especially if you are celebrating something at the restaurant.
- Location: Nad Al Sheba 1
- Contact: +971 56 358 3333