7 best summer terraces in Dubai
Thanks to high-tech cooling setups, shaded terraces and a serious investment in outdoor ACs, you can now technically eat outside without feeling like you've just stepped into a hairdryer.
Whether you're after art, ambience, shisha or steak frites, here are five spots where 'outdoor' dining is back on the menu.
No sweat. Literally.
Blume Dubai Marina
Best summer terraces in Dubai. Credit: Blume Dubai Marina
Tucked away in District 8 on Dubai Marina Walk, this space reflects Blume's garden-inspired style with leafy interiors, Marina views, and an inviting atmosphere perfect for summer dining.
Guests can dine alfresco all summer long thanks to the state-of-the-art cooling terrace, surrounded by lush greenery and botanical serenity, offering a true Mediterranean escape in the heart of the city. Don't miss the handmade artisan ice cream, crafted in-house with seasonal flavours to cool and delight.
Open daily from noon-1pm. District 8, Dubai Marina Walk, blumedubai.com (04 495 6888).
Brunch & Cake
Best summer terraces in Dubai. Credit: Brunch & Cake
Talk about being in a 'Dubai bubble'… Brunch & Cake has these super-cool terrace domes, and they were the first of their kind in Dubai. Made from heat-resistant materials and resembling a bubble, each dome is fitted with individual air-conditioners so you can keep cool while enjoying a cuppa and a cake.
The first dome can accommodate a table of up to six people and boasts its own private entrance, while the second dome comprises multiple socially distanced tables to cater to smaller groups.
Open Sun-Wed 8am-10pm, Thu-Sat 8am-10.30pm. Al Wasl Road (800 4726362).
Café Belge
Best summer terraces in Dubai. Credit: Café Belge
Need a break from glitzy rooftop scenes? Step into the sunken garden terrace at Café Belge in DIFC — an underrated alfresco escape that feels cool in every way.
Nestled below street level, this Art Deco gem offers a surprisingly chill space even in the height of summer. With a little help from elegant ceiling fans and AC, you can enjoy an outdoor lunch without breaking a sweat.
Open daily from noon–2am. The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, ritzcarlton.com (04 372 2323).
Couqley French Brasserie
Best summer terraces in Dubai. Credit: Couqley French Brasserie
Couqley just gave its terrace a Parisian makeover – and we're not talking red umbrellas and accordion music. The Downtown branch has enclosed its outdoor space and cranked up the air con, transforming it into a breezy, French bistro fantasy with Dubai Canal views.
From leisurely lunches to pink grape-fuelled dinners and that Sunday Funday two-course deal (starting at Dhs218), this terrace is très chic and chill in every sense.
Open daily from noon-1am. Pullman Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, couqley.ae (04 514 9339).
GÅL Restaurant & Lounge
Best summer terraces in Dubai. Credit: GÅL Restaurant & Lounge
Who says you can't have a Mediterranean feast under the stars in the middle of July? GÅL at Address Downtown proves otherwise. Using the state-of-the-art outdoor cooling tech, this high-energy spot lets you dine alfresco and beat the heat.
Expect dramatic Burj Khalifa views, live DJs and singers, as well as a menu that jumps between Italy, Greece and Turkey. Bonus: it's open until 3am, so you can live your best (sweat-free) nightlife.
Open daily from 5.30pm–3am. Address Downtown, Downtown Dubai, galrestaurants.com (04 589 7883).
Trove
Best summer terraces in Dubai. Credit: Trove
As a restaurant with the biggest terrace in Dubai Mall, Trove offers some of the city's rare front-row seats to the Burj Khalifa. It would be a shame not to enjoy it all year round. But luckily for us, it's cooled down throughout summer with outdoor ACs and other clever cooling methods, so you can enjoy it in comfort.
Open daily from 10am–2am. Trove, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, @thetrove (04 347 7444).
Zenon
Best summer terraces in Dubai. Credit: Zenon
This futuristic fine-dining experience at Kempinski Central Avenue doesn't just bend the rules of gastronomy — it also bends the laws of summer.
Its sleek terrace is fitted with a high-tech climate control system, letting you enjoy food, drinks and shisha vibes without a single bead of sweat.
Open daily from noon–3am. Kempinski Central Avenue, Downtown Dubai, zenonrestaurant.com (04 356 1100).
In other foodie news…
14 top-tier places to go in Dubai if getting a matcha is your entire personality
From some of our favourite cafés in the city
How to enjoy a luxe three-course dinner at Atlantis The Royal for only Dhs295
This is not a drill
Museum of the Future is hosting a cool BKRY pop-up this summer
If you're tired of queuing up at BKRY in Alserkal, you can now queue up at MOTF
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