12 of the most unique restaurants in Dubai
Sure, the city's packed with world-class dining spots, but if you're in the mood for something a little unexpected (read: eating spaghetti while suspended in the sky, or biting into a sandwich on a manmade ski slope), we've got you covered.
From the wildly weird to the wonderfully whimsical, these unique restaurants are anything but ordinary.
Buckle up, it's going to be a deliciously bizarre ride.
Al Dawaar Revolving Restaurant
The most unique restaurants in Dubai. Credit: Al Dawaar Revolving Restaurant
Choosing where to sit in a restaurant is high-stakes stuff, and we're not embarrassed to admit we've wandered from window to window multiple times, sat down and then ended up moving again.
But at Al Dawaar Revolving Restaurant, you don't have to worry about choosing the best view of Dubai, as it's guaranteed to come to you. In the 90 minutes it takes to rotate the entire way around, you'll get to enjoy 360-degree views of Deira and beyond as you tuck into classic buffet dishes.
We will admit, that the novelty does wear off (it's the city's only revolving restaurant for a reason), but the views from the 25th floor make this spot well worth a visit at least once.
Mon-Fri, 6.30pm-11.30pm; Sat-Sun 12.30-4pm, 6.30pm-11.30pm. Hyatt Regency Dubai, Deira Corniche (04 209 6912).
At.mosphere Dubai
(Credit: Pexels)
Located on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa and known for its super views, Atmosphere has long been a destination of choice for afternoon tea, evening drinks and fancy dinners.
The venue features a restaurant, along with a relaxed lounge and bar area. The more casual lounge serves up international cuisine, including tasty bites and small-portion meals. Atmosphere is open throughout the day, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the restaurant, and breakfast, high tea, and dinner in the lounge. Visitors to Atmosphere can expect to sample the likes of foie gras, billionaire sliders, braised wild mushrooms, oysters on ice, Wagyu tomahawk, blue lobster and much more.
Check out our full At.mosphere Dubai review here
Open daily, 7am-2pm. Burj khalifa (04 888 3828)
Avalanche Café
The most unique restaurants in Dubai. Credit: Avalanche Café
This is one Dubai café that you can only access via a ski slope. Spend a morning at Ski Dubai and snowboard your way down to Avalanche Café to enjoy a nice warm bowl of soup and a sandwich with views of all the action on the slopes.
Make sure you end your meal with hot chocolate, which comes topped with whipped cream and mini marshmallows.
Open daily 8.30am-midnight. Mall of the Emirates (04 409 4228).
Blume
All the glamour of the Orient Express… but make it Dior. Tucked inside Dubai Mall, Blume is a luxe dining spot that's styled like a vintage train carriage, complete with plush Dior-print cushions, glossy brass fittings and artfully stacked designer luggage by the door.
It's all very extra, and we're here for it. The menu is as globe-trotting as the décor, with dishes spanning the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Think caviar, sushi, raw bites, grills, pasta, pizza and just about everything in between. A perfect pitstop for fashion lovers with an appetite.
Open daily 10am-1am. Fashion Avenue, Dubai Mall (04 547 6444).
Dinner in the sky
The most unique restaurants in Dubai. Credit: Dinner in the Sky
Ever thought of dining on a table that's suspended by a crane 50 metres high up in the sky? Even if you haven't, in Dubai it's still an option. The menu includes a selection of high-end dishes and views of the entire city.
You'll be safely strapped into a chair and can watch each course be prepared by chefs up in the sky. The whole experience takes about 90 minutes. Definitely one you won't forget. The Dinner in the Sky table can seat a maximum of 22 people per session.
From Dhs650. Daily 2pm-3.30pm, 3.30pm-5pm, 5pm-6.30pm, 6.30pm-8pm, 8pm-9.30pm and 9.30pm-11pm. Al Sufoh, next to Zero Gravity dinnerinthesky.ae (058 819 3296).
GÅL Restaurant & Lounge
Credit: GÅL Restaurant & Lounge
Located at the Address Downtown Dubai, this vibey restaurant is perfect for a unique, late-night out. The menu features a Mediterranean blend of Italian, Greek and Turkish cuisines. Beyond the tasty food, there are insane Burj Khalifa views, high-energy entertainment including live DJs, musicians and wild performances (yeah, that's the napkin show that went viral). Plus, the space itself is an art gallery, featuring contemporary art that seriously ups the ambience.
Open daily 5.30pm to 3am. The Address Downtown, Downtown Dubai, galrestaurants.com (04 589 7883).
KRASOTA Dubai
The most unique restaurants in Dubai. Credit: Krasota
KRASOTA Dubai describes itself as an immersive gastro-theatre destination created by the team behind Moscow's famous White Rabbit restaurant. Based at The Address Downtown Hotel, KRASOTA offers a combination of 'visual art, haute cuisine, and advanced technology' to create a super immersive dining experience.
The restaurant collides with visual art with fine dining. Here, you'll be able to experience dinner surrounded by paintings of international artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
You won't be seated in a regular dining room; it's more of an auditorium with a large circular table for 20 diners, with a pixel-perfect 3D multimedia performance projected across the curved walls and flashed over the table. Every act of the gastro-performance matches each course on the set menu. Definitely an unusual Dubai restaurant.
From Dhs1,500. Daily at 6pm and 8pm. Address Downtown Hotel, Downtown Dubai krasota.art (04 433 1258).
Navat
Tired of dining with humans? Head to Navat in Downtown Dubai, where your dinner date can be a giant teddy bear. No, seriously. Every table comes with a life-sized plush toy. The café serves up Central Asian comfort food (think: manti dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, buttery boorsok) alongside iced lattes shaped like bear heads and cakes that are almost too cute to eat.
It's kitsch, it's cosy, it's a little unhinged, but in the best way. Whether you're in it for the carbs, the cuddles, or the Instagram, Navat is one of Dubai's unique restaurants.
Open daily from 8am-3am. Standpoint Residences, Downtown Dubai, @navatdubai_ (056 879 2607).
Pierchic
The most unique restaurants in Dubai. Credit: Pierchic
Few spots in Dubai serve drama (and uniqueness) quite like Pierchic. Set at the end of a wooden jetty stretching into the Arabian Gulf, this upscale Italian restaurant offers front-row views of the Burj Al Arab and the endless sea. Arrive by buggy, stroll down the pier, and settle in for a memorable meal surrounded by water.
The menu by chef Beatrice Segoni features elegant seafood pastas, raw dishes, grilled octopus and creamy burrata. It's romantic, refined, and seriously photogenic. Pricey? Yes, but make sure you check out the chic lunch deal, which starts at Dhs150 per person.
Open daily, 7am-2pm. Burj Khalifa (04 888 3828).
The Pods
The most unique restaurants in Dubai. Credit: The Pods
Located on Bluewaters Island, the Pan-Asian restaurant offers dining bubbles or pods with views over JBR beach, and there are 22 of them. Inside your pod, you can play your own music by connecting to the Bluetooth speaker, and there is plenty of space for you and your crew to dine in comfort as you look out onto JBR Beach.
Don't worry about keeping cool if it's warm outside, because each pod is air-conditioned. The menu offers Pan Asian cuisine served in a pretty fashion with garnishes including edible flowers that tie with the botanical décor. Booking a pod starts from Dhs199, and everything else is à la carte.
À la carte. Open daily 8am-1am. Bluewaters Island thepods.ae (04 453 8994).
T-Rex Adventure Café
The most unique restaurants in Dubai. Credit: T-Rex Adventure Café
Can I get a roar roar? Dubai's first dinosaur-themed restaurant has stomped into Riverland in December 2024, and it's as wild as it sounds. At T-Rex Adventure Café, life-like raptors lurk between tables, jungle vines hanging from the ceiling, and the dino crew (including Chef Rex himself) brings Jurassic vibes to every bite.
Themed dishes like the Caesar Saladasaur, Dino-mite prawns, and Triceratops penne make it a hit with kids and grown-up dino nerds. Don't miss the nightly 'Dino Mania' show at 8pm. It's weird, it's wonderful, and it's definitely one of the most unique restaurants in Dubai.
Open daily from 10am-11pm. Riverland Dubai, Dubai Parks & Resorts, dubaiparksandresorts.com (800 262 9464).
Trove
The most unique restaurants in Dubai. Credit: Trove
Trove isn't just a regular restaurant — it's a whole visual experience. Set inside Dubai Mall with front-row views of The Dubai Fountain, this art café-lounge hybrid is splashed with bold murals, neon signs and offbeat sculptures at every turn.
It's like dining inside a pop-art daydream. The globally inspired menu spans from Japanese donburi to lemony risotto with short ribs. Come for the food, stay for the R&B nights and Troveback Thursdays. It's fun, flashy, and full of personality.
Open daily, 10am-2am. Trove, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai (04 347 7444).
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