28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Mena's 50 Best Restaurants 2025: Orfali Bros tops list for third time, Dubai leads with 18 spots
Dubai's Orfali Bros has been named the best restaurant in the Middle East and North Africa region for the third time in a row, at a glittering ceremony held at Erth Hotel in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening. The Michelin-starred restaurant run by three Syrian brothers clinched the top spot at the 2025 Mena's 50 Best Restaurants, which is organised by the 50 Best group. Venues from Dubai also took the second and third spots, by way of Tresind Studio and Kinoya. Commenting on the achievement, Tresind Studio's chef, Himanshu Saini, says: 'We are proud to have our grounds in a region that celebrates cultural roots and has immense talent that pushes boundaries in every sense. This award is a testament to our team's hard work, creativity and passion.' Khufu's in Egypt and Ossiano in Dubai round up the top five. Japanese-inspired restaurant 3 Fils, which topped the first Mena list in 2022, landed at No 14 this year. Eighteen of the restaurants in the list are in Dubai, including Michelin-starred Row on 45, Smoked Room and 11 Woodfire, while Abu Dhabi also has a strong showing by way of Niri, Marmellata Bakery and LPM. Last year, there were 20 restaurants from the UAE among the top 50, a number that rose to 21 this year. Among the other countries, Egypt led the charge with a total of eight restaurants on the list; Jordan had six; Saudi Arabia and Morocco had five apiece; Lebanon and Bahrain had two restaurants each; and Tunisia had one entry (see full list below). New restaurants among the top 50 include: Niri and Marmellata Bakery both from Abu Dhabi; Smoked Room, TakaHisa and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal all from Dubai; La Grande Brasserie by Helene Darroze and Le Petit Cornichon both from Marrakesh; and Aseeb from Riyadh. Among the special awards handed out, Table 3 in Casablanca, Morocco, won the One to Watch award; Carmen Rueda Hernandez of Dubai's Brix dessert cafe won Mena's Best Pastry Chef; Bahrain's Tala Bashmi was given the Chef's Choice award; and Omar Shihab of Boca Dubai took home the Icon award – Boca was also the Sustainable Restaurant awardee. Earlier this year, Ossiano at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai received the Art of Hospitality Award, which celebrates restaurants that provide exemplary service; and UAE-based Yasmina Hayek of Em Sherif was named Mena's Best Female Chef. The ranking is based on the recommendations of more than 250 voters, made up of anonymous restaurant experts, including chefs, restaurateurs and well-travelled gourmets from 19 countries across the region. There is no set criteria for the votes, say the organisers, and 'what constitutes best is up to each over to decide. Of course, the quality of food is going to be central, as is the service – but the style of both, the surroundings, atmosphere and indeed the price level are each more or less important for each different individual.' Referring to the 'challenging times in the region", William Drew, director of content for Mena's 50 Best Restaurants, said: '50 Best is always aimed at bringing people together through food. We firmly believe that gastronomic cross-border collaboration and co-operation can lead to greater mutual cultural understanding.'
