10 restaurants in Dubai that are loved by the royals

Ever wondered what a meal fit for a sheikh would be like? MyBayut brings you a list of royal-approved restaurants in Dubai where His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai and his son, the Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum have dined. Take a look at some of the top Dubai restaurants loved by Royals. 

Royal-Approved restaurants in Dubai

There are many restaurants in Dubai that the Royals love to visit. These restaurants offer different dishes ranging from Mediterranean to Indian cuisine.

Avli by Tashas

Located in DIFC, Avli is an uber cool restaurant in Dubai that has been operating for quite a long time. The long list of patrons of one of the popular DIFC restaurants includes Dubai’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan. He visited this restaurant three days after its opening and enjoyed the Mediterranean food in the beautifully-designed courtyards of the restaurant.

This Royal-Approved restaurant in Dubai has an extensive menu that includes dishes such as grilled halloumi, Greek salad, tzatziki and fried scallops in appetizers and lobster pasta in the main course. And there is also a popular lamb chops platter that you can try.

• Location: Unit C-01, First Floor, Gate Village Building 9, DIFC, Dubai
• Average Cost: AED 575 for two
• Timings: 12:00 am – 03:00 pm, 07:00 pm – 01:00 am
• Contact: +971-4-359-0008

Ammos

Another addition to the list of royal-approved restaurants in Dubai, Ammos is the result of the ceaseless efforts of a multi-award winning chef, Dimitris Lazarou. In a bid to bring Greek culture and culinary legacy to the city, Lazarou’s restaurant had been visited by none other than Dubai’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan. He enjoyed the hearty meals produced by the chefs there and appreciated their food too on his highly followed Instagram page. Ammos’s food items include traditional Greek tzatziki, eggplant dip, stuffed calamari, octopus carpaccio and the chef’s special lobster spaghetti.

There is a designated day for women at Ammos when they can come and check out all the dishes they want from the a la carte menu of the restaurant. 

• Location: Level 1, Rixos Premium Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Dubai
• Average Cost: AED 470 for two people
• Timings: 12:00 pm – 05:30 pm, 07:00 pm – 11:30 pm
• Contact: +971-52-777-9473

BB School Dining

BB Dining is one of those royal-approved restaurants in Dubai that offers oriental delicacies with a twist. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited this cool eatery in February for a quick lunch and enjoyed crispy sprouts, cauliflower popcorn, edamame hummus and the popular BB bao there. He loved the food so much that he, in fact, shared some amazing pictures of the food on Instagram. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes that include chicken bang bang, crispy duck, kung fu wings, cauliflower popcorn, wagyu ramen and veal ribs. Its menu also includes some refreshing beverages such as watermelon splash, raspberry rose fizz and ginger tale.

• Location: First Floor, Gate Village 08, DIFC, Dubai
• Average Cost: AED 250 for two
• Timings: 08:00 am – 12:00 am
• Contact: +971-4-407-4444

Masti

Founded by award-winning chef Hari Nayak, Masti is one of the top hotspots in Dubai that offers a reinterpretation of Indian cuisine in the city. An eternal favourite of Indian expats, it offers dishes such as caramelized onions with chilli garlic masala, roasted chicken and succulent lamb. In February, Sheikh Hamdan also paid a visit to the place and enjoyed tuna bhel tartare and lotus tiramisu there.

• Location: Shop 29, South, La Mer, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
• Average Cost: AED 430 for two
• Timings: 12:00 am – 01:00 am
• Contact: +971-800-62784

Gaia

Our list of royal-approved restaurants in Dubai can’t be complete without Gaia as it is one of the most favourite restaurants of Sheikh Hamdan. The founder of this Greek restaurant, Chef Izu Ani has other restaurants too – The Lighthouse and Izu Brasserie – and the prince has visited them as well, which clearly shows how much he admires the chef’s creations. Gaia offers dishes such as sea bass ceviche, lobster pasta, lamb cutlets, baked feta cheese and pistachio millefeuille and coconut cake.

• Location: First Floor, Building 4, Gate Village, DIFC, Dubai
• Average Cost: AED 400 for two
• Timings: 12:00 pm – 03:00 pm, 07:00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Contact: +971-4-241-4242

Baku Cafe

One of Sheikh Mohammad’s favourite restaurants is Baku Café, a place in City Walk that serves up traditional flavours of Azerbaijan. The Ruler of Dubai visited the restaurant with his wife, Princess Haya bint Al Hussein to enjoy a fine spread of contemporary Azerbaijani cuisine; they both loved the delectable dishes presented to them by the restaurant. A source of culinary delights, the hip and happening gastronomical destination Baku Café offers chicken breast salad, lentil soup, pilaf with dill and lamb shins that you can enjoy amidst classical Azerbaijani music.

• Location: City Walk, Dubai
• Average Cost: AED 320 for two
• Timings: 09:00 am – 01:00 am
• Contact: +971-4299-9081

Flow

Another restaurant that deserves a mention is Flow, the hub of healthy eating in Dubai. Situated near Jumeirah Lake Towers rental apartments, Flow offers a generous mix of dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free and Paleo-friendly options. Their chefs use an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables and create healthy dishes such as vegetable egg white omelette, egg benedict and teriyaki beef.

Admiring their work, the ruler of Dubai and his son popped into Flow Cafe two years ago and enjoyed a hot coffee there while making small talk with the staff. His quote ‘We are a young country, proud of its youth’ inspired everyone at the cafe.

• Location: Level 1, Jumeirah Emirates Tower, Happiness Street, Trade Centre Area, Dubai
• Average Cost: AED 145 for two
• Timings: 09:00 am – 05:00 pm
• Contact: +971-4-319-8767

Farzi Cafe

Established in 2016 by a Delhi-based restauranteur Zorawar Kalra, Farzi Cafe is one of the top Indian restaurants in Dubai where you can eat, read and relax. The restaurant is quite a favourite place of royals as Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum himself has popped into the restaurant as many as four times. One can enjoy burrata salad, khandvi, raj kachori, halloumi samosa and mushroom risotto there.

• Location: City Walk, Al Safa, Dubai
• Average Cost: AED 260 for two
• Timings: 12:00 pm – 12:45 am
• Contact: +971-52689-2012

Siraj

Another favourite of Sheikh Mohammad, Siraj is a cool, fine dining restaurant in Dubai that has walls adorned with Arabic calligraphy and poems written by the Sheikh. With a focus on Emirati, Lebanese and Syrian cuisine, it offers dishes that are made with fresh and gluten-free ingredients. These dishes include vegetable samosa, lobster kibbeh, saffron lobster and sea bass. The restaurant offers some cold, refreshing beverages to help residents beat the heat. These beverages include watermelon mint and strawberry ginger mojito.

• Location: Level 2, Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, Dubai
• Average Cost: AED 260
• Timings: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am
• Contact: +971-4513-6207

Al Ustad Special Kebab

Al Ustad Special Kebab is also one of the longest-running restaurants in Dubai that has been operating since 1978. It has enticed people from all over the city to try its kebabs. From expats to locals to high-profile people, many have dined there, including H.H Sheikh Hamdan. Al Ustad offers kababs koubideh, cholo kebab and khorak barg. If you visit this restaurant, you will see pictures of the Crown Prince all over the popular restaurant. 

• Location: Ground Floor, Bahwan Plaza, Al Mussallah Road, Mankhool, Dubai
• Average Cost: AED 70 for two people
• Timings: 06:00 pm – 01:00 am
• Contact: +971-4-397-1933

Zuma

Another one of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s favourite restaurants, Zuma offers Japanese dishes to customers. It has an extensive menu that includes dishes such as prawn tempura, mushroom rice, maki roll, sushi and sashimi. Considered among the most expensive restaurants in Dubai, Zuma also offers seasonal dishes, snacks, salads and soups to those who want to have a quick bite.

Location: Podium Level, Gate Village 6, Sheikh Zayed Road, DIFC, Dubai
Average Cost: AED 610 for two people
Timings: 12:30 pm – 03:30 pm, 07:00 pm – 01:45 am
Contact: +971-4-425-5660

Royals have been spotted at these restaurants in Dubai. If you are looking for more restaurants in Dubai where you can munch on delectable dishes, take a look at the Lebanese restaurants in Dubai or the Chinese eateries in the city.