Thanksgiving in Dubai – Bring a hearty appetite!
Winter holidays are just around the corner – it’s time to bond with the family and have loads of fun celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. But that potentially comes with the bittersweet twist of having to spend all your time prepping in the kitchen for your Thanksgiving in Dubai, doesn’t it?
If the thought of cooking for a Thanksgiving feast is stressing you out, why not check out the many eateries around town that offer takeout and dine-in options? Whether you are planning a big family feast or just a cosy dinner for two, these restaurants cater to all. So, with your stress-free holiday season in mind, here’s our guide to the best places for Thanksgiving in Dubai in 2023.
When is Thanksgiving in Dubai in 2023?
Popular in the USA and Canada, the history of Thanksgiving dates back to 1621. This is a festival that celebrates a fruitful harvest season. It falls on the fourth Thursday of November each year, which means that Thanksgiving in Dubai will be celebrated on Thursday, 23rd November 2023.
BEST THANKSGIVING DINNERS IN DUBAI
Thanksgiving festivities usually involve gathering friends and family around a sumptuous dinner — with roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, beans, pumpkin pie, and so much more! A Thanksgiving tradition is to have all these food items laid out and share what you’re most grateful for.
Since life in Dubai is fast-paced, organising a Thanksgiving feast at home in traditional fashion can be challenging. Fortunately, plenty of restaurants honour this special occasion, offering wholesome Thanksgiving dinners in Dubai.
BULL AND BEAR
If you’re looking to celebrate Thanksgiving in Dubai, head to Bull and Bear at DIFC — one of the most popular American steakhouse restaurants in Dubai. Located on the 18th floor of the DIFC Waldorf Astoria, Bull and Bear is known for their delightful Saturday brunch and Sunday breakfasts, where great food meets glamourous interiors and attentive service.
Bull and Bear offers patrons a grand Thanksgiving dinner under the theme, ‘A Bearish Feast of Gratitude’. This is a part of their Festive season menus as they gear up for Christmas, New Year and the holiday season. The New York-themed Thanksgiving dinner at Bull and Bear promises to have you thinking about Wall Street with their three-course turkey dinner – with the turkey being roasted to perfection – and delicious pecan pie. You can book your dinner on the Bull and Bear official website.
- When: 23rd November, 07:00 pm to 11:30 pm
- Where: Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre
- Price: AED 375 per person
- Contact: +971-4-515-9888
FOGO DE CHÃO
How about a Thanksgiving dinner with Brazilian food, a break from the norm? Fogo De Chão, located in DIFC, is where you can enjoy Thanksgiving with a specially curated Brazilian menu. This Brazilian Steakhouse is offering an extensive menu with traditional Thanksgiving favourites and three hours of drinks!
What we love about Fogo De Chão is the impressive interiors of an intricately furnished grand dining room with suitably well-stocked bar, a White Carrara marble Market Table, and an open kitchen where the Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs show off their skills. The outdoor courtyard and terrace shisha lounge offer fabulous views of the Burj Khalifa, which can add to your Thanksgiving experience. Highlights at Fogo De Chão include roasted meat cuts, roasted turkey, and various Brazilian side dishes. Sounds tasty!
- When: 23rd November, 11:00 pm to 09:00 pm
- Where: Central Park Towers, DIFC
- Price: AED 399 per person
- Contact: +971-4-343-8867
CLAW BBQ
It’s almost time for the much-awaited annual gathering in the most American way possible! CLAW BBQ, a famous American barbeque and seafood restaurant with multiple branches in Dubai, is hosting a Southern-style Thanksgiving feast in Dubai.
Their special Thanksgiving feast includes a three-course menu with the choice of starters, traditional turkey and all the trimmings, plus a tasty dessert. CLAW BBQ will offer plenty of your old favourites, and you know how fun this restaurant can get after the people start streaming in. Book early to ensure you get your Thanksgiving turkey prepared the American way with all the fixings.
- When: 23rd November 2023, From 12:00 pm onwards
- Where: The Pavilion at The Beach
- Price: AED 125 per person
- Contact: +971-4-577-4357
Carna by Dario Cecchini
Are you looking for a place to celebrate Thanksgiving in Dubai in style? How about a 10-course extravaganza served with starters, entrées, and desserts? Sounds too good to be true?
Carna by Dario Checchini is offering exactly that! With its top-notch holiday special menu, this contemporary steakhouse in Business Bay is taking Thanksgiving to the next level. The menu will feature all the classic dishes with that unique Italian twist for Thanksgiving.
Take your taste buds on an indulgent journey with delicacies, including Roasted Lamb Leg, roasted stuffed turkey, and more. Once you’re done with the food, let your heart soar with desserts such as the classic Pecan Pie or Pumpkin Pie.
- When: 23rd November 2023, 06:30 pm to 02:00 am
- Where: SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences, Business Bay
- Price: AED 395 per person
- Contact: +971-4-607-0737
Publique
Publique, an alpine restaurant in Dubai, is hosting an entertaining Thanksgiving feast and party at their premises. Located in Souq Madinat Jumeirah, this restaurant evokes the feeling of cosiness and comfort through its interiors, making it an ideal place to celebrate Thanksgiving in Dubai.
Publique is hosting its Thanksgiving dinner on November 23rd and 24th, with a menu that’ll have you dreaming about the Alps this time. You can try traditional delicacies like roasted pumpkin soup, a slow-roasted turkey breast with cranberry sauce on the side, and pumpkin cheesecakes. Bonus: there are free-flowing drinks for two hours!
- When: 23rd to 24th November 2023, 07:00 pm to 10:00 pm
- Where: Souk Madinat Jumeirah
- Price: AED 345 per person
- Contact: +971-4-430-8550
BEST TURKEY TAKEAWAY DEALS
Although dining at fancy restaurants is appealing, Thanksgiving for many involves dining at home with your close family and friends. If you plan on ordering your Thanksgiving dishes at home, we have a list of the best turkey takeouts for Thanksgiving in Dubai 2023.
COUNTER CULTURE CAFE – DUBAI MARRIOTT HARBOUR
Order delectable Thanksgiving dishes from Counter Culture Café Dubai, a place that is among the best breakfast places in Dubai Marina. This restaurant’s food can have you remembering Grandma’s cooking and your childhood memories from back in the day.
For Thanksgiving, Counter Culture Café is offering a Festive Turkey Takeaway offer, with roast or mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables, brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, chestnuts, and chipolata included as sides with every order. Note that turkey orders must be placed 72 hours in advance. Yep, it sounds super tasty! Mains include roasted lamb leg or roasted salmon.
- Availability: 24th November 2023 to 7th January 2024
- Price: AED 749 (serves 5- 6) | AED 799 (serves 8-10)
Visit the official website of the cafe for booking or email eatatharbour@marriott.com.
BEN’S FARMHOUSE
Do you want to host a cosy Thanksgiving dinner at home, but the idea of cooking a complete feast scares you? Fear no more; Ben’s Farmhouse might be able to help you out. This catering company is known for creating magic through their extensive menus and delicious dishes – and they are READY to bring it for this festive season – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s!
Order from the ultimate Par-Cooked and hot Festive Menu of Ben’s Farmhouse for Thanksgiving 2023. They have various turkey packages, which include deboned turkey breast, duck fat roast potatoes, multiple veggies, cranberry jelly, exquisite gravy, and bread sauce. Choose from different weights and number of people you’re serving.
If you’re a vegetarian, they also provide a vegan package with wonderful vegan walnut and cashew cheesecake, roast potatoes, red cabbage, roast root vegetables, lentils, chickpeas, and sage nut roast. Note that a 48-hour notice is required, so plan your orders appropriately,
- When: 23rd November 2023 to 30th December 2023 (delivery and collection timing: 11:00 am to 08:00 pm)
- Where: Academic City
- Price: From AED 399
For information about delivery and pick up, visit their website or contact festive-orders@bensfarmhouse.com or +971-55-781-3244
CAFÉ SOCIETY
Don’t fancy cooking during Thanksgiving but want to stay home? Cafe Society is offering one of the best Thanksgiving takeaways in Dubai. You can order a roast turkey dinner with gravy and cranberry sauce from this Dubai Marina restaurant.
Called the ‘Turkey to Go’, you can order a 6 kg turkey for just AED 499. If you are looking for bigger portions, you can get an 8 kg turkey for AED 599, or 10 kg for AED 699.
This takeaway feast includes a complimentary dessert, too. You can add traditional holiday desserts and baked goods as sides at additional costs and make it an entire feast! Additional charges of AED 100 are applicable for deliveries to select locations.
- Where: TAMANI Marina Hotel, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Street, Dubai Marina, UAE
- Contact: +971-4-318-3755
COUQLEY
For the ultimate Thanksgiving in Dubai at home, opt for this turkey takeaway in Dubai. The French eatery in Jumeirah Lake Towers offers celebrators a festive meal – in a French gourmet way, ooh la la! Being one of the popular JLT lounges, you can expect the delicious food to make your home smell like heaven once it’s delivered.
Order a sumptuous turkey roasted with a delicious stuffing of wild mushrooms, grilled rosemary vegetables, sautéed beans in butter, cranberry sauce and gravy. Get generous roasted Brussels sprouts with veal bacon and sweet potato gratin. These deals are available for both dine-in and pick-up. Note that a 48-hour notice order time is required, and orders are accepted until stocks last.
You can enjoy a dine-in feast ranging from AED 999 to 1,299 if you plan to dine at the gorgeous location. In addition, you can GIFT a Thanksgiving takeout with the gift card options available.
- When: 23rd November 2023 onwards
- Where: Movenpick Hotel, Cluster A, JLT
- Price: Whole turkey: AED 799 | Whole turkey with sides: AED 1199 (dine-in for AED 1399)
- Contact: +971-4-435-5577
CIRCLE CAFE
Referred to as a popular family-friendly eatery in Dubai, Circle Cafe is the best place to consider if you want a wholesome yet affordable turkey roast takeaway in Dubai.
For just AED 550, you can have a Thanksgiving banquet at home, including a succulent roasted turkey that can feed up to six people, along with brussel sprouts and chestnuts. You also get traditional trimmings, including oriental rice, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy and pumpkin pie.
The offer mentioned is part of Circle Cafe’s festive menu, and a few dishes are available at their locations too. This menu includes truffle and mushroom pasta, mini mince pie, pumpkin soup, and more!
Reservations must be made 72 hours in advance. Delivery time in Dubai is three hours, whereas the delivery time for Abu Dhabi is 24 hours from order placement.
- When: From 13th November 2023
- Where: Ground Level, CNN Building, Al Falak Street, Dubai Media City
- Price: From AED 550
- Contact: +971-800-247253
FAQS
Does the United Arab Emirates celebrate Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving isn’t a national celebration in the UAE, but there are plenty of places where you can celebrate the occasion throughout the country. For starters, you can use the Meetup app to find out where Thanksgiving events are taking place.
WHERE TO GET THE BEST BLACK FRIDAY DEALS IN DUBAI?
Our definitive guide to all the best Black Friday sales in Dubai has you covered!
That concludes this guide on everything to do for Thanksgiving in Dubai. Have we missed out on any events happening around the city? Let us know in the comment section below.
Are you planning to enjoy Thanksgiving at home? Here are some quick tips on how to throw a perfect dinner for Thanksgiving in Dubai.
