The Best Restaurants in Dubai Marina

Written by Admin | Jul 9, 2023 8:00:00 PM

Dubai Marina has long reigned as one of the city’s most cosmopolitan and alluring destinations. Its soaring towers, winding walkways, and yacht-lined emerald waters create a beautiful dining setting with incredible views from most locations. Popular with residents and tourists alike, this picture-perfect locale offers something for every taste and occasion, from candle-lit Michelin-starred restaurants led by celebrity chefs to entertaining dining experiences with exuberant rhinestone-clad dancers and acrobats. Whether it’s a date night, celebration, or dinner for one, here are the best restaurants in Dubai Marina.

City Social

The brainchild of Michelin-starred celebrity chef Jason Atherton, City Social is a romantic, candle-lit fine dining restaurant in Grosvenor House, Dubai Marina. Floor-to-ceiling windows and burnt orange leather seating create an ambient, cosmopolitan dining experience with views over Bluewater Island and the marina skyline. This bold menu infuses Japanese flavours into European favourites, such as Hokkaido scallop ceviche and mouth-watering miso baby chicken. The grilled Maine lobster is unmissable, served on a fluffy mantou bun with chilli crab sauce.

Row on 45

The only thing better than a Michelin-starred restaurant is a restaurant with two Michelin stars. Also by Chef Jason Atherton, Row on 45 in Grosvenor House is as haute as fine dining gets in Dubai Marina. The inventive 17-course tasting menu features items like bluefin date maguro and Saroma Wagyu A5, but what really stands out is the wine pairing menu. Unique bottles such as fermented Hatta honey wine and 20-year-aged tawny port offer a delightfully moreish dining experience with lovely views over the harbour.

Bar du Port

‘A little luxury, a lot of fun’ is a fitting slogan for this chic new Dubai Marina bar and brasserie. Located in the Dubai Harbour Pier Club, Bar du Port offers an exceptional European menu in a vibrant bohemian setting. Natural textures, amber lighting, and beautiful port views set the mood for exquisite indoor-outdoor dining. Menu highlights include Oscietra caviar, Black Angus rib eye with pink garlic, and fantastic seafood paella. Ladies' night on Thursday evenings at Bar du Port are particularly lively, featuring small plates, free-flowing wine and cocktails, and a live DJ.

Asia Asia

Cavernous and otherworldly, Asia Asia is one of the most awarded pan-Asian restaurants in Dubai Marina. Sumptuous dark interiors and charming features like sakura tree blossoms create an intimate, romantic setting perfect for date nights or birthday celebrations. In the cooler months, the outdoor dining terrace is simply dazzling, especially at night when the JBR and Marina skyline is aglow. Popular menu items include miso black cod and wagyu beef gyozas, alongside a delectable sushi menu that’s served bottomless on Sundays between 2pm and 6pm.

Trèsind Studio

For food so intentionally crafted it looks assembled with tweezers, Trésind Studio in Dubai Marina’s One&Only Royal Mirage is the spot. This beautiful Indian fine-dining eatery holds two Michelin stars, promising an inspired and expertly prepared menu led by renowned Chef Himanshu Saini. Paying homage to India’s agricultural and religious heritage, the menu features exceptionally unique dishes that go beyond familiar favourites, such as mustard and miso scallops with ripe banana, and confit duck with black lime chutney.

For a dining experience that goes into the night, Trésind Studio offers a lovely botanic bar called Papadom, which serves classic cocktails with an Indian twist. Standout drinks include the ‘Maharaja Margarita’, which infuses a reduction of masala spices into a classic margarita, and the ‘Madras Gunpowder’, featuring Amrut fusion whisky with curry leaf and Kashmiri chilli.

The Scene

There is a time for fine dining, and there is a time for something more substantial, like a hearty roast with all the trimmings. If you’re searching for a bountiful British menu served with some cold hops in Dubai Marina, The Scene in Pier 7 is a wonderful choice. Here, you can enjoy a traditional Sunday roast with a choice of meats, along with other British classics such as bangers and mash and fish and chips. The Scene offers a loud and buzzy, family-friendly pub atmosphere, with popular weekly events such as the ‘Big Family Brunch’ on Saturdays and the ‘Wine Not?’ cheese and wine night on Wednesdays. Located in Pier 7, The Scene also boasts a beautiful Marina-facing terrace, perfect for social gatherings or sun-down drinks.

Bussola

Pizza, pizza, pizza – that’s all we need to say about Bussola in Dubai Marina. This award-winning Italian restaurant serves beautiful hand-stretched pizzas with velvety cheese and perfectly bubbly crusts, paired with a sumptuous Italian wine menu. Located in The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, this seafront pizzeria and restaurant is set against the backdrop of the Arabian Gulf, decorated with light and airy textures evoking the Mediterranean. Be sure to stay for dessert: the traditional tiramisu is always a crowd-pleaser, and the refreshing artisanal gelato is perfect on a hot Dubai afternoon.

Dream Dubai

Dinner at Dream feels quite like that. This maximalist Dubai Marina restaurant delivers an exceptional dinner menu against the backdrop of show-stopping immersive performances, from larger-than-life singers to acrobats and feather and rhinestone-clad dancers. The menu is distinctly French, with parsley butter snails, pan-fried foie gras, and grilled frog legs. A perfect dinner destination for an evening of full-glamour and refinement, the Dream Dubai also has a tasteful fine wine and cigar menu. It is located in The Address Beach Resort.

Tasha’s

For exceptional food in a more casual setting, there is Tasha’s inside Dubai Marina Mall. This locally-loved chic cafe features an understated art-deco vibe and is a beautiful spot for coffee, breakfast, and brunch. The menu includes crisp Greek salads, all-day breakfasts, and smoked salmon bagels, all beautifully presented and packed with surprisingly big flavours. It’s a delightful Dubai Marina destination for food that complements conversation – quiet enough to listen, yet bustling with energy. Originally from South Africa, Tasha’s has quickly become one of the UAE’s most favoured cafés, with six branches across the emirates.

Fish Beach Taverna

One of the best restaurants in Dubai Marina, Fish Beach Taverna is seafood heaven: think heaping platters, Greek mezze, and mussels served by the bucket. With its blue columns, white-washed walls, and wooden accents, this seaside eatery is a journey across the Aegean to Greece, offering salty seafront air, a lively atmosphere, and an excellent wine menu. Located in Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, this Dubai Marina restaurant is perfect for family dining, date nights, or celebrations.

Final thoughts

Dubai Marina is a stunning day-to-night destination with a fantastic mix of dining options to suit every palate. Here, you can dress up or down, spend big or small, go alone or with a party of twenty. Whether it’s a breakfast catch-up at Tasha’s or a multi-course Michelin-starred meal at City Social, these nine restaurants will have you coming back for more.

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