Local chefs to international stars: Why dining in Dubai is an experience like no other

Dubai is turning the page on a brand new culinary chapter, one where homegrown chefs are elevating the city's profile alongside celebrity chefs who are proud to open their finest restaurants on our sparkling shores.

The Best of Dubai: A Dining Experience, a new book by award-winning culinary book author Flavel Monteiro, shines a light on the city's most celebrated food makers and shakers.

"Everyone speaks about Dubai, an emirate that has excelled from a small fishing village to one of the most creative cities in the world. When it comes to dining, it's centred on celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs; so what makes Dubai dining so special? In a decade and a half, this culinary landscape in Dubai has changed. Dubai is not just a dining venue – it is one of the food capitals of the world, and it is an experience where homegrown chefs, such as Reif Othman, Grégoire Berger, Colin Clague, and Praba Manickam; have shined through the years and elevated gastronomy to a new level," says Monteiro.

Local stars that shine

Reif Othman has become a household name in the city. The Singaporean chef has created a lasting legacy at Dubai's best restaurants, including Zuma and PLAY, before opening Reif Kushiyaki in Jumeirah. The latter is a family-style restaurant, inspired by Japanese robata restaurants, and is a homely venue where regulars are welcomed with warm smile. Like Othman, Colin Clague has worked at leading dining hotspots in the city before finding a brand new groove at RÜYA where a menu of Turkish treats delights gourmands near and far.

Nick Alvis and Scott Price are Dubai's most famous culinary duo. Both worked alongside Gordon Ramsay before launching some of the most talked-about restaurants in Dubai, with their pièce de résistance taking the form of Folly by Nick and Scott at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, which operated from 2016 to 2024; diners raved about the Mediterranean menu, slick service and postcard-perfect views. While Price returned to his native UK in 2021, Alvis remains working in Dubai.

There are so many other chefs helping to craft the perfect Dubai culinary experience, including Himanshu Saini at Trèsind, Luigi Vespero at Bull & Bear, Grégoire Berger at Ossiano, Benjamin Wan at Coya, Francesco Guarracino at Roberto's, and Mussabeh Al Kaabi at Al Nafoorah, to name just a few.

Emirati essence

Emirati cuisine is undergoing a revival of late and is celebrated at luxury hotels and culinary events such as the annual Dubai Food Festival. While you can't beat enjoying a communal family feast at a local host's home, many restaurants around the city are close competition.

Tourists love the old-world setting of the Arabian Tea House at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, the upscale charm of Aseelah restaurant at Radisson Blu by Dubai Creek, and the hip vibe at Logma at BOXPARK. For those who'd like more insight into Emirati tradition, a visit to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is worth the detour – the centre hosts delicious traditional feasts as a local guide talks through the city's rich history and social customs that are still practiced today.

Must-try dishes in Dubai

You can't visit Dubai without trying authentic Emirati dishes such as harees (a meaty porridge dish), hearty machboos (spiced rice with meat) or luqaimat (sweet fried dumplings). Ingredients used in the cuisine are as diverse as the city's population, reflecting the emirate's centuries-old heritage as a trade route.

For international restaurants in Dubai, it's gets a little harder to narrow down essentials thanks to the city's incredible array of culinary talent, but The Best of Dubai: A Dining Experience book compiles special signatures from the city's best.

Recipe highlights include 24-hour slow-cooked short ribs with Turkish chilli BBQ glaze and spiced konya chickpea purée by chef Colin Clague at RÜYA, tempura avocado with dehydrated kimchi, cilantro sprouts, lime and lemon from chef Luciano Marques at Tasca by José Avillez, miso Chilean seabass by chef Jin Chul Kim at Armani/Hashi, and the 'Wagyu sando' by chef Reif Kushiyaki.

Read our definitive foodie guide to Dubai or bring a taste of the city to your own home with The Best of Dubai: A Dining Experience.