The biggest, boldest openings of this year you can’t miss
Dubai’s food scene is on fire in 2025, with a wave of new restaurants making their mark on the city. From global icons finally setting up shop in the UAE to homegrown concepts reimagining comfort food, these openings define the year’s most exciting dining moments. Here’s your guide to the places everyone is talking about.
Apollo
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Apollo brings nostalgia and modernity with its retro-inspired interiors and a menu that fuses global comfort food with inventive twists. It’s equal parts stylish restaurant and late-night hangout, for a playful, design-driven night out.
Bar des Prés
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From Paris to Dubai, Chef Cyril Lignac introduces his French-Asian fusion concept to the city. The menu is elegant yet playful, served in a setting that feels effortlessly stylish.
Carbone
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From Thompson Street in Manhattan to Dubai, Mario Carbone’s red-sauce classic has become a global phenomenon. At its core are unapologetic New York–Italian dishes -spicy rigatoni, veal parmesan, Caesar salad – served with the same theatrical flair that made it famous. Go here for big, bold Italian-American dining.
China Tang
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A beloved Mayfair institution, China Tang brings its legacy of Cantonese dining to Dubai. Known for its opulent interiors and classic dishes executed to perfection, it’s a restaurant that blends tradition with timeless style.
DIME
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Created by the team behind TABLE4TWO, DIME strips the American diner down to its essentials. It’s designed around just two perfected burgers, with every element, from buns to sauces, made in-house. The vibe is pure nostalgia, with neon signage and an 80s soundtrack, but the execution is chef-driven and quality-first.
Falcone
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Hong Kong’s cult-favourite pizzeria has landed at Galleria Mall, Al Barsha. Founded by Chef Roberta (one of the world’s top pizzaiolos) and Chef Josh, Falcone is famed for its neo-Neapolitan pies baked in a custom Pavesi brick oven. The Dubai outpost promises crisp crusts, airy centres, and a menu of cult classics like Polpette and Salame Piccante.
Gerbou
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Gerbou places Emirati culture at the forefront of fine dining. Using local ingredients and heritage techniques, its menu feels rooted in tradition yet speaks to a global palate. A true reflection of the UAE’s culinary identity. Think modern Emirati dining that honours the past while embracing the future.
Girl & the Goose
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One of Dubai’s most talked-about homegrown debuts, Chef Gabriela Chamorro’s Girl & the Goose celebrates the flavours of Central America. Drawing on heritage recipes and global travels, the menu is designed for sharing, set in an atmosphere that mixes intimacy with vibrant energy, but most importantly, that tells a story.
HANU
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HANU is a bold step into modern Korean dining. With a show-stopping grill, Omakase counter, and a cocktail bar riffing on Korean highballs, it’s a multi-layered experience. Conceptualised by Seoul-born Chef Kyung Soo Moon, the menu fuses tradition and innovation in equal measure.
INA
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From Fundamental Hospitality and Chef Glen Ballis, INA is built around primal open-fire cooking. The restaurant embraces a back-to-nature philosophy, focusing on flame-grilled seasonal produce. Its alfresco setting makes it one of 2025’s most atmospheric launches.
Kira
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A newcomer with a distinctly feminine identity, Kira blends Japanese minimalism with Mediterranean brightness. KIRA’s culinary symphony of Japanese and Mediterranean cuisines represents perfect alchemy, interweaving the finest flavours and techniques into a new signature cuisine. With ethereal interiors, it’s designed as much for ambience as flavour.
Maison Dali
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Led by Chef Tristin Farmer, Maison Dali blends Mediterranean flavours with Japanese precision in a surreal, Dali-inspired setting, offering brasserie classics with an inventive, cross-cultural twist. The menu spotlights open-fire cooking, fermentation, and in-house dry aging, with standouts like King Crab Ceviche, Lobster Donabe, and Wood-Fired Duck.
MEI
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The team behind SHI and Moli by SHI is bringing the sophistication of Hong Kong and Shanghai’s upscale dining to Dubai at Jumeirah Mina A’Salam. With a focus on organically sourced ingredients and elevated takes on traditional dishes, it delivers refined Chinese cuisine in a sleek, modern setting.
Mr Chow
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With branches from New York to Beverly Hills, Mr Chow is truly an icon of Chinese dining, and has become synonymous with glamour. Its Dubai debut delivers the same theatrical service and signature dishes that have charmed celebrities for decades.
Piehaus
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From the team behind 21grams, Piehaus at Warehouse 22A, Alserkal Avenue, is Dubai’s new specialty bakery dedicated to Balkan-style pies. Expect golden, hand-crafted pastries filled with savoury and sweet combinations, all rooted in tradition but made for the city’s modern appetite. Expect to sample authentic Balkan pies baked with heart and heritage.
Revolver
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At The Opus, Revolver reimagines Indian flavours with global influences through an open-fire grill concept. At the helm is Chef Jitin Joshi, whose MICHELIN-starred career includes cooking for King Charles III and Team India at Bocuse d’Or. Designed like a theatre, every seat faces the roaring open kitchen, making dining part of the show.
Tattu
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Located at Ciel Dubai Marina, Tattu brings its signature mix of contemporary Chinese cuisine and dramatic design, with a side of skyline views. Inspired by the Black Dragon, the menu spans colourful dim sum, refined sushi, and indulgent sharing plates, guided by Chefs Evgenios Papadimitriou and David Pang.
Three Bros
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Casual, cool, and confidently bold, this buzzy homegrown concept proves that not all memorable meals need to be formal. With hearty dishes and a lively vibe, Three Bros has quickly earned a reputation for being fun, flavourful, and full of character.
YUBI
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Dubai’s first licensed homegrown handroll bar, YUBI is the latest project from award-winning chef Reif Othman. It’s a concept rooted in spontaneity: freshly rolled sushi handrolls passed directly across the counter, paired with Japanese-inspired cocktails. Located in DIFC, YUBI combines the spirit of Tokyo street dining with Dubai’s appetite for trend-setting experiences. Go here for lively nights fuelled by sushi, sake, and social buzz.
Image credit: @gerbou on Instagram
Curious, expressive, and always chasing new ideas, Zainab sees creativity as a way of life. She thrives on discovering new perspectives, connecting with people, and turning inspiration into something tangible. Her work and her world reflect a balance of intuition, imagination, and authenticity.
