Ultimate SkyClub Restaurant Guide: Dubai
Dubai is known for its show-stopping style and over-the-top everything – its diverse dining scene is no exception. Eating out in this Emirate means choosing something from virtually every cuisine from around the world. Most restaurants are not just simply somewhere to eat, but a destination for decadent décor, stunning views and extraordinary culinary experiences.
There are too many options to speak of, but here are some standouts that get our honourable mention…
Go the whole hog and experience Arabic culture in the middle of the desert. Located 60 minutes-drive away from Dubai airport is the signature restaurant of the Bab Al Shams Resort. Surrounded by sand dunes reminiscent of an isolated oasis, you can dine while being entertained by actors riding horses and acting out swordplay. Belly dancers and henna artists complete this ‘Arabian nights’ theme.
Step into Alladin’s cave at this wondrously grand and atmospheric haunt. Every piece of décor at Lalezar has been specially imported from Turkey; from the stained glass chandelier to the crescent-shaped place settings. Anatolian (modern Turkish) specialties like plump vine leaves served with yoghurt and imam bayildi (eggplant-encased lentils) are served alongside traditional Turkish favourites like kebabs and skewers.
Your ears will pop on your way up to the 51st floor of the Emirates Towers where Alta Badia awaits ready to tantilise your taste buds. After a thrillingly fast lift ride, relax by taking in the breath-taking vistas and enjoy fine dining that’s classically Italian. The menu is characterised by seasonal products that highlights freshness and authenticity.
How would you fancy dining in the clouds? Serving up Mediterranean cuisine at an exhilarating 200 metres up into the sky is Al Muntaha, located in the iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab. The atmosphere is sophisticated yet laid back. This is where you go for the quintessential Dubai experience, complete with ‘mixology’ drinks trolley that offers perfectly balanced, tailor-made cocktails.
Not one for heights? Then Al Mahara on the ground floor of the Burj Al Arab will give you a unique subterranean alternative. Hop into a ‘submarine’ to get to your table and savour the impeccably prepared seafood with accents of both the East and West whilst watching the fish within the vast aquarium. There is even a harpist to serenade diners. Gentlemen, don’t forget to wear a collared shirt and jacket.
Pierchic’s black warehouse-style façade seemingly suspended over the waves on wooden stilts looks more like a mysterious Arabian beach house than a top-notch fish restaurant. Set on a bedecked pier jutting out into the Arabian Gulf, it offers some of Dubai’s finest seafood. To reach it, stroll along a lengthy, private pier with the Burj Al Arab on one side and Atlantis the Palm on the other. Served sparklingly fresh are oysters and yellow-fin tuna. Offering unspoilt views of the azure Gulf - be sure to reserve a table on the ocean-facing terrace.
Get Eating
With all the types of gastronomy that your heart could ever desire, and even some you didn’t know you could desire, Dubai is the one place you can let your dining imagination soar. If you’re planning to visit Dubai in the near future, try some of these and let us know about your experience.