The Most Romantic Restaurants in Dubai 

Set between gleaming towers of Dubai, Ninive offers one of the city’s most quietly romantic dining settings. This outdoor-only restaurant is designed as a contemporary urban majlis, inspired by the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ninawa and the legend of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Low tables, rugs and lanterns among dense greenery create a sense of intimacy that feels worlds away from the surrounding skyline. There’s a clear nod to Bedouin heritage, reinterpreted for today, while the menu brings together generous, shareable plates from across the Middle East and North Africa. Think lamb chops, pumpkin kibbeh and lobster tagine shared during a long evening with softly lit conversation.

Looking for your next date night spot? Little Miss India delivers bold Indian cooking in a setting that feels both fun and romantic. Guests move between the richly decorated bar, an elegant dining room or a terrace overlooking the water, where attentive service and warm lighting set the mood. The menu balances confident spicing with comfort, from freshly baked naan breads to homestyle classics and fiery curries, all lifted by excellent house-made chutneys to spoon generously on your plate. Framed around the fictional character of Mohini (a glamorous globetrotter whose travels inspired the menu) the experience is a playful journey through India’s regional cuisines.

Want to impress your loved one? Ristorante L’Olivo at Al Mahara offers one of Dubai’s most immersive and romantic dining rooms. Set on the ground floor of Burj Al Arab, the Italian restaurant is wrapped around a vast blue aquarium, lending an otherworldly scene that sets it apart. Cooking is rooted in Italian tradition, led by Chef Andrea Migliaccio, whose Capri-born Ristorante L’Olivo inspired the menu. Daily-made pasta, standout seafood and generous portions — from blue crab tortelli to the signature lemon-scented tagliolini al limone with red prawn — ensure the focus remains firmly on the plate. With warm service and a thoughtfully curated wine list, this is a place designed for the most memorable evenings.

Few restaurants in Dubai feel quite as removed from the busy city as Pierchic. Set at the end of its own private pier stretching into the Arabian Gulf, this long-standing favorite for engagements and anniversary dinners delivers romance before the food even arrives. The journey itself sets the tone, with a buggy ride followed by a stroll along wooden decking complete with Burj Al Arab views. In recent years, the menu has shifted towards a more Italian-led direction under Chef Beatrice Segoni, pairing raw dishes, oysters and caviar with modern Italian plates like tender grilled octopus, seafood pasta and a delicious tagliata di manzo. Visit by day for shimmering turquoise water below or at night for a dramatically lit skyline, and dress to impress.

At.mosphere brings romance on a positively dizzying scale. Reached via a dedicated lift through the Armani Hotel, the restaurant sits on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, where sweeping city views instantly set a special mood. A recent refit has softened the space with muted tones and a refined lounge-like area, allowing the spectacle outside to take center stage. The menu offers modern French cuisine with polished, ingredient-led dishes including oysters, caviar and Wagyu, alongside tasting menus for those looking to settle in for the evening. Sunset is the coveted moment to book as the city shifts beneath you — a natural choice for milestone dates and once-in-a-while dinners.

Tucked away on the second floor of Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, XU feels deliberately discreet — the kind of place chosen for evenings that call for atmosphere as much as food. The setting blends traditional Chinese motifs with a modern, almost underground edge, where lanterns, neon accents and mirrored surfaces create an intimate, low-lit backdrop. The kitchen delivers Cantonese-inspired cooking made for sharing, with confident flavors and carefully executed techniques: dim sum is a highlight, the Peking duck is among the city’s standouts, and house-made condiments add depth throughout the menu.

Hawkerboi proves that romance doesn’t always have to mean white tablecloths and hushed tones. A Bib Gourmand restaurant in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, it began life as a series of secret supper clubs before settling into a relaxed, neon-lit space inspired by Southeast Asia’s underground hawker culture. The atmosphere is easygoing and informal, and the kitchen explores the street foods of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar. Highlights include the deeply comforting fish curry based on the chef’s mother’s recipe, alongside Wagyu skewers, dim sum and crowd-pleasing desserts designed for sharing. It’s a place to turn up, settle in and enjoy a quieter kind of romance that feels refreshingly unfussy.

At Ossiano, romance is delivered on a cinematic level. This restaurant at Atlantis The Palm places diners at the heart of a vast aquarium, where sharks, stingrays and schools of fish drift past the table. The sense of theatre begins the moment guests arrive with a descent down a marble spiral staircase before eyeing the immersive tasting menu that unfolds like a carefully paced journey, with dishes often finished tableside. The menu is seafood-focused and globally inspired, combining technical precision with storytelling. Prepare to be impressed.