Paparazzi Tuscan Business Lunch in Dubai

Pranzo d’Affari, Italian for “business lunch”, is the midweek three-course set lunch at Paparazzi Tuscan Restaurant on the 14th floor of Paramount Hotel Midtown in Business Bay, Dubai. It runs from Wednesday to Friday between 12.30pm and 2.30pm, and comes with Paramount water and an espresso or a pot of tea, with a second package that adds a glass of Tuscan wine.

It is designed for exactly the kind of lunch the name suggests: a proper sit-down Italian meal that fits inside a working day, close to the offices of Business Bay and Downtown.

Paparazzi: Tuscan cooking on the 14th floor

Paparazzi Tuscan is the signature Italian restaurant of Paramount Hotel Midtown, the second Paramount hotel in Dubai, which opened in Business Bay in 2022 with 281 rooms and suites, three years after the brand’s first Dubai hotel. The whole hotel takes its cue from the film history of Paramount Pictures, and the restaurant’s name is a playful nod to the photographers who follow film stars.

Inside, the restaurant is more Italian trattoria than Hollywood set. Reviews describe a cosy room reminiscent of 1960s Italy, bathed in natural light, with an open kitchen, a chef’s table, muted lighting and a central chandelier. Sitting on the same floor as the hotel lobby, it feels calm and removed from the street below, which is useful for a business conversation.

The restaurant has a playful side too. In 2024 it hosted The Midtown Wedding, billed as Dubai’s first theatre dining experience, which paired a brunch with a live romantic-comedy musical. The weekday lunch is a much quieter affair, but it shows the restaurant’s range beyond the lunch table.

The hotel around it

The ground floor holds reception, while the 14th floor is home to the lobby and Paparazzi, and the business centre with its four meeting rooms, known as Business Studios, sits on the 15th. The lobby carries the film theme with images of stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn and a life-size Charlie Chaplin statue, so it is worth a look on your way in. Up on the 64th floor is the rooftop pool and Malibu Sky Lounge.

What the lunch includes

Both packages are built on the same three-course set menu, with the choice of dishes subject to availability and liable to change without notice. Paparazzi does not publish the business lunch menu in advance, but the kitchen’s Tuscan focus runs through its other menus, which have included dishes such as crostini with olive tapenade, spinach ravioli, purple potato gnocchi and tiramisu.

• Standard package: three-course set lunch, Paramount water, and one espresso or one pot of tea.
• Premium package: everything in the standard package plus one glass of Tuscan red or white wine.

Anything beyond your package, including extra glasses or bottles of wine, is charged separately, as are transport and personal expenses. Unused inclusions cannot be swapped or exchanged for cash.

Tuscan cooking, from the region around Florence, Siena and Pisa, is known for letting a few good ingredients do the work: olive oil, bread, beans, fresh pasta, grilled meats and seasonal vegetables. That style suits a set lunch well, since dishes tend to be generous and satisfying without being heavy, which matters when you have an afternoon of work ahead.

Wine and age rules

The lunch tickets are for adults aged 18 and over, and the wine package is only for guests aged 21 and over. Valid original ID is required if you are having wine, so bring yours to the table.

Who it suits

• Client lunches: the two-hour window, set menu and espresso to finish keep a meeting on schedule, and the refined room makes a good impression.
• Team lunches: a fixed menu makes ordering easy for a group, and the meeting rooms one floor up suit a working session afterwards.
• Midweek treats: if you work nearby, it is an easy way to turn a Wednesday or Thursday lunch break into a proper Italian meal.

If you have allergies or dietary requirements, let the restaurant know in advance, as the menu is set. Paparazzi also runs other dining offers at different times of the week, such as Tuscany Love, but Pranzo d’Affari is the one aimed squarely at the working lunch.

Booking and getting there

• Reservations: recommended, and subject to availability. Bring your Platinumlist ticket to show on arrival.
• Changes: bookings are non-cancellable and non-changeable once confirmed.
• Offers: the lunch cannot be combined with other discounts, promotions or loyalty benefits.
• By Metro: Business Bay Metro station on the Red Line is a short walk from the hotel.
• By car: the hotel is on Al Mustaqbal Street in Business Bay, reached via Al Safa Street and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. GPS is recommended.
• By taxi: taxis and ride-hailing apps are an easy option, especially at lunchtime.

For more places to eat and meet in the city, see our dinner and brunch guide, the business and networking calendar, the full list of things to do in Dubai, and what is on in November.