The MICHELIN Guide Debuts In Dubai With 11 MICHELIN-Starred Restaurants — Here's What The Michelin Inspectors Said

Il Ristorante-Niko Romito

What the inspectors say: This uber-cool, stylish and understated restaurant is located within the Bulgari Resort Hotel, and diners are cossetted from the moment they step through the door by the charming Italian team. The sleek, design-led interior boasts an impressive cocktail bar, the atmosphere is intimate and romantic, and the walls are punctuated with black and white photos of Italian movie stars. When the weather allows, the terrace overlooking the marina is the place to hang out. 

Experienced Italian chef Giacomo Amicucci cooks assured, sophisticated modern Italian dishes, which are far more complex than they at first appear and come with balance, purity and clarity. Many of the top-quality ingredients are flown in from Italy; fish dishes are a highlight, as is the pasta. For the full experience, plump for the 'Degustazione' menu.

STAY by Yannick Alléno

What the inspectors say: This elegant, high-ceilinged restaurant is exclusively set at the end of the Palm in a Colonial-style property, which is breathtakingly opulent in design, with magical tropical gardens and a private dock. Inside, it's luxurious without being stuffy, and service follows suit, with staff that are attentive and professional yet relaxed and personable.

The wide range of menus could include surprise, tasting, seasonal caviar and truffle options; cooking has a French base and takes a 'less is more' approach to some outstanding ingredients. Precise, sophisticated dishes are perfectly judged and packed with flavour; beautifully conceived and skilfully crafted with an intelligent and intriguing array of textures, flavours and temperatures. The langoustine tart is a highlight.

11 Woodfire

On-trend industrial styling, intimate lighting and a laid-back feel are the hallmarks of this striking modern villa conversion in the residential suburb of Jumeirah, along with the huge open kitchen and grill which gives the restaurant its name. 

The impressive variety of global ingredients are of excellent quality, with vegetables, seafood and meats grilled to perfection over oak, hickory or hay, each of which impart their own distinctive flavour. The talented kitchen have the experience to know when and how to keep things simple, enhancing the skilfully cooked dishes subtly with well-judged seasoning. Delicious homemade kombuchas partner the dishes, and the relaxed yet professional service adds to the restaurant's appeal.

Al Muntaha

What the inspectors say: It sits atop of what many consider to be the most beautiful hotel in the world: the architectural masterpiece that is the Burj al Arab. It is fitting, therefore, that the both the restaurant and the food it serves should be sophisticated and refined; take the lift to the 27th floor and ask for a table by the floor-to-ceiling windows, as the views are breathtaking.

The experienced chef's menu has a French base and Mediterranean influences; top quality ingredients are cooked with precision to create modern dishes with bold flavours and playful textures. Expect luxury ingredients like truffles and caviar, excellent sauces and desserts which are as beautiful as they are delicious. Attentive, professional staff explain dishes to diners with enthusiasm.

Armani Ristorante

What the inspectors say: An elegant, opulent restaurant set in the Armani Hotel on the lower floors of the Burj Khalifa; the capacious space comes with high ceilings, well-spaced tables, marble flooring and a large, central glass-fronted kitchen where diners can watch the chefs hard at work. The professional team provide attentive, enthusiastic service; if you fancy a view of the fountains, then make sure you ask for a window table.

Precise, modern Italian cooking features first-class ingredients in beautifully presented, rich dishes full of colour, flavour and textural contrasts. Expect choices such as agnolotti del plin, filetto di scorfano or agnello al mirto and make sure to order a dessert! For the full Armani experience, go for one of the tasting menus.

Hakkasan

What the inspectors say: Located within the Atlantis Hotel, the Dubai outpost of this ever-growing global brand delivers all you need for a fun night out. It's moodily lit and atmospheric, with smooth service, a party soundtrack, and lattice screens which add an element of privacy. The best place to sit is in one of the booths to the side of the lounge and next to the back-lit blue bar.

The menu of reimagined Chinese dishes includes all the Hakkasan classics, as well as a few dishes exclusive to Dubai, such as the lychee lobster with yuzu pearl. If it's spice you're after, go for the Assam seafood toban. Carefully created using top quality ingredients, the accomplished dishes are colourful and vibrant with some punchy flavours. Save room for one of the creative desserts.

Höseki

What the inspectors say: This little 'gem' of a restaurant, set on the fourth floor of the Bulgari Hotel, is elegance personified, with understated, clean-lined décor and stunning views over the Dubai skyline. 

Nine counter seats make for a comfortable, ultra-intimate meal, where sixth-generation sushi master, Masahiro Sugiyama, and his team show off their considerable knife skills. Taking the individual tastes of their guests into consideration, they blend them with the day's beautifully fresh prime ingredients imported directly from Japan to create an omakase experience unique to each diner. 

This is refined, technically adept and beautifully presented cuisine; and the warm service from staff dressed in traditional kimonos further adds to the experience.

Ossiano

What the inspectors say: From the moment you descend the marble spiral staircase into this unique restaurant, you will be transfixed: it is located in the basement of the Atlantis Hotel, and its floor to ceiling windows look out into its aquarium, so get used to fish, sharks and stingrays swimming past your table.

Service is efficient and, at times, slightly theatrical—and with a plethora of marble, a curved, back-lit, azure-blue bar and towering, seashell-inspired pillars, there's a luxurious feel to the room. It could be difficult for the food to compete with such a backdrop; however, the experienced kitchen does a fantastic job. Fish and seafood form the base of the ‘Metanoia’ menus, which gain inspiration from chef Gregoire Berger’s childhood memories, and dishes—some of which are finished at the table—come with fine textural contrasts and impressive clarity of flavour.

Tasca by José Avillez

What the inspectors say: In a lovely location on the 6th floor of the chic, beachside Mandarin Oriental Hotel, you'll find this bustling yet relaxed restaurant, which is set around an open kitchen and has an infinity pool on its terrace, and both sea and city views. Nothing is too much trouble for the attentive service team, who ensure that your dining experience is well-paced and eminently enjoyable.

The eponymous chef is passionate about the culinary traditions of his native Portugal and his kitchen team understand the importance of fresh, great quality produce. The resulting dishes offer Portuguese flavours with a modern edge and are vibrant, innovative and bursting with flavour. The menu offers something for everyone, with plenty of dishes to share—just make sure you leave room for dessert!

Torno Subito

A bright, funky throwback to the Italian Riviera of the 1960s, set within the striking W Hotel on the Palm; look out for the back-lit picture of internationally renowned chef, Massimo Bottura. The restaurant is light and airy and features plenty of neon, as well as an open kitchen, floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace overlooking the beach. Italian music serenades diners, the atmosphere is lively yet relaxed, and service is warm, friendly and unpretentious. 

Choose between the five-course tasting menu and an appealing à la carte: both offer understated, modern Italian dishes which are sophisticated, refined and bursting with colour and rich flavours. Pasta is a highlight and the desserts are not to be missed—try the 'Tiramisubito'!

Trèsind Studio

What the inspectors say: An immersive dining experience awaits in this elegant, 20-seater Indian restaurant set on the rooftop of an exclusive mall, where diners can watch chef Himanshu Saini and his team working calmly in the open kitchen. 

The surprise multi-course tasting menu is a masterpiece of originality and precision, offering perfectly composed dishes with elegance and depth—some familiar, others less so—and some using herbs and flowers grown on the rooftop terrace. The meal begins with a procession of interesting snacks which explode with flavour; these are followed by intricate, sublimely executed dishes such as ghee-roasted crab, tandoori chicken dumpling or morel pulao with Assam tea dashi. Add in wonderfully attentive service and you have all the ingredients for an evening which will live long in the memory.

Check out the full selection of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022 here