The best brunches and dinners in Dubai

Our guide to brunch and dining out in Dubai

Brunch is close to a national pastime in Dubai. Every weekend, hotels, beach clubs and stand-alone restaurants lay on long, leisurely feasts with live cooking stations, DJs and drinks packages, and choosing the right one has become part of planning the week. We built this page to make that easier, bringing together the brunches, set menus, buffets, dinner shows and special dinners on our calendar with a directory of restaurants we know well.

The listings at the top of the page update every day. Use the filters (When, Type, Emirate, Price) to narrow them to this weekend, a particular emirate or your budget, and finished events drop off automatically, so everything you see can still be booked. Further down, our restaurant directory lets you browse by occasion, cuisine and area when you want a table rather than an event.

How a Dubai brunch works

A Dubai brunch is a fixed-price package, usually three to four hours long, with unlimited food and a choice of drinks. Most venues sell several tiers: a soft-drinks package, a house package and a premium or Champagne package, and the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive can be large. The prices we show are the starting tier, so check what is included before you book.

Since the UAE moved to a Saturday and Sunday weekend, Saturday has become the big brunch day, with plenty of Friday evening and Sunday options too. Classic brunches usually start around midday, while night brunches run into the evening. Formats range from grand hotel buffets with dozens of live stations to sharing menus brought to the table, and from family-friendly garden affairs to party brunches with DJs and performers.

Where to go: Dubai’s main dining areas

DIFC is the city’s densest dining district. Gate Village and ICD Brookfield Place are packed with destination restaurants, from Michelin-starred tasting menus to lively Italian, Japanese and Indian favourites. It is the place for business lunches on weekdays and polished brunches at the weekend.

Palm Jumeirah is home to many of the big resort brunches, at hotels such as Atlantis The Palm, Atlantis The Royal and FIVE Palm Jumeirah, often with sea views and pool packages. Downtown Dubai and Business Bay offer Burj Khalifa views, rooftop lounges and canal-side terraces, while Dubai Marina, JBR and Jumeirah lean towards beach clubs and relaxed seafood spots. For something calmer, the Creek and Al Jaddaf have waterfront hotels with good-value buffets.

Prices and budgets

Our restaurant directory groups venues into three price bands: budget (under AED 150 per person), mid-range (AED 150 to 350) and premium (over AED 350). Brunch packages usually sit in the mid-range and premium bands, and drinks packages push the price up. Weekday business lunches and set menus are often the easiest way to try a high-end restaurant for less.

Always read the small print. Some prices include VAT and service charge while others add them on top, and a few venues quote a price for two people. Where children’s prices are offered they are usually much lower than adult rates, and young children sometimes eat free.

Business lunches, set menus and buffets

Brunch gets the headlines, but weekday dining is where Dubai offers some of its best value. Many restaurants run business lunch menus of two or three courses at a fixed price, usually served from noon until mid-afternoon on weekdays, which makes them a good way to try a well-known kitchen without committing to a full evening.

Hotel buffets are another reliable option, with themed nights built around seafood, steak, Asian dishes or international favourites. Set menus are popular with groups because the cost is clear from the start, and they are often the format used for celebrations, office gatherings and festive dinners.

Booking tips

Popular brunches fill up days ahead, especially for groups and during the cooler months from October to April. Book through the venue or the link on each listing, and mention any dietary needs when you reserve, as most kitchens can adapt for vegetarians or allergies with notice. If you are celebrating, say so: many restaurants will add a dessert or a candle.

Check the cancellation policy, because some brunches ask for a deposit or card details for larger tables. Arrive on time too, as the brunch clock usually runs from the published start time rather than from the moment you sit down.

Dress codes, ID and getting home

Most brunches are smart casual. Beach clubs are more relaxed, while fine-dining rooms and hotel ballrooms expect a smarter look, so skip beachwear and sportswear unless the venue says otherwise. Venues that serve alcohol will ask for ID, and the legal drinking age is 21.

The UAE has a zero-tolerance policy on drink-driving, so plan your ride home before you go. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy to find across Dubai, and the Metro and tram serve DIFC, Downtown, Business Bay and Dubai Marina.

Family brunches and dinner shows

Plenty of brunches welcome children, with kids’ corners, entertainers, pools or splash areas and reduced prices for younger guests. Hotel brunches on the Palm, in Deira and around Jumeirah are often the most family-friendly, while party brunches with DJs are usually adults-only, so check age limits when you book.

If you want entertainment with your meal, look for dinner shows. Venues across Dubai pair dinner with flamenco, live bands, cabaret or theatrical productions, and some run themed nights every week. They are a good choice for visitors and birthdays, and many need booking well ahead at weekends.

Seasonal highlights

The dining calendar follows the seasons. The cooler months bring outdoor terraces and food festivals, with Taste of Abu Dhabi usually held in the autumn. During Ramadan, restaurants and hotels offer iftar and suhoor menus and opening times change across the city. December is the busiest month of all, with festive brunches, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus and New Year’s Eve gala dinners, many of which sell out. Summer is quieter, which makes it a good time for hotel offers and indoor dining deals.

Planning a full day out? Try our afternoon tea guide for something slower, see what is on this weekend, check the latest offers or carry on into the evening with our nightlife guide. For December, our New Year’s Eve guide rounds up the big gala dinners.

Run a restaurant, hotel or brunch? Submit an event and we will add it to our calendar.