Savouring the United Arab Emirates' Crossroads of Cuisines

A global crossroads of cuisines and cultures, the UAE’s dining scene puts a world of flavours at your fingertips. From celebrity chef bistros and family-friendly spots to sky-high terraces with sparkling city views, here's how to go on a gastronomic journey of discovery around the region.

Marvel at some of the world's finest buffets

You will be spoiled for choice at Yasmina restaurant, a Mediterranean restaurant based at Four Points by Sheraton Sharjah (Photo: Marriott International)

Nowhere does buffets like the UAE. Here, platters are carefully crafted using the finest ingredients and top-quality dishes, while chefs whip up bespoke creations to order at ‘live cooking stations’ – expect anything from premium steak and fresh lobster to sizzling tikka straight from the tandoor.

In Dubai, Mina’s Kitchen takes all-you-can-eat extravagance to the next level, with a pizza-making station and expansive international offering, featuring everything from Hong Kong dim sum and British roast dinners to seafood, sushi and stir fries. Meanwhile the award-winning Kitchen6 – at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai – features six live cooking stations filled with globetrotting dishes. Indian, Middle Eastern, Asian, European… it’s all here, freshly cooked on request.

Alternatively, choose a buffet that specialises in one region’s food, exploring its culinary culture from every angle – like Yasmina at Four Points by Sheraton Sharjah, which features all-things Mediterranean. Styled as a modern Greek taverna, it’s a laid-back and convivial spot where you can dig into souvlaki, lasagna, boeuf bourguignon, paella and more – plus a rainbow of salads, and hot and cold mezze.

Meanwhile at Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi, Dine offers a multitude of cuisines: think stonebaked pizzas and Italian pastas, noodles and curries from all over Asia, and a chocolate-laden dessert menu.

For something spicy, try dinner at Khayal Restaurant, whose Indian-inspired offering features authentic dishes from all over the country, with pillowy naan breads and a rich range of curries. Pace yourself: from starters of crispy pakoras and bhajis, to the final syrupy gulab jamun, this is an epic spread. 

Experience the art of the masterful set menu

The set menus offered at Li Jiang restaurant, based in The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, are a gastronomic work of art (Photo: Marriott International)

Expertly curated for seasonality, freshness and wow-factor, set menus feature a selection of dishes across multiple courses: a chance for the chef to showcase their proudest creations. 

From the rich Asian flavours of Abu Dhabi’s critically acclaimed Li Jiang – think aromatic Vietnamese curries, plump Japanese noodles and a panoply of dim sum – to the stonebaked pizzas and handmade pastas of Fujairah’s Italian-inspired Sapore, these dining options evoke the world's culinary richness.

At Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Bebemos puts a fresh twist on authentic Spanish tapas dishes, serving up small plates so delicious that you won’t want to share – as well as fragrant seafood paella, jugs of red wine sangria and playful decor that’ll whisk you straight to Barcelona.

Across the city in Dubai Marina, Blue Jade puts the Far East in the spotlight, and its open kitchen adds a dash of drama to dinner. The flash of flames from stir-fry pans, the intricate art of hand-rolling sushi, the careful balance of spices in steaming curries: it’s all on-show here, plus a set menu that reflects Blue Jade’s pan-Asian prowess.

Whether glittering skyscrapers or wild desert landscapes, the UAE’s scenery often steals the show at dinner. Want amazing city views? At Observatory Bar & Grill on the 58th floor of Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites, the Marina’s mighty towers feel so close you could touch them. Craving serenity? The elegant Shore House sits on the soft sands of The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach, with premium seafood to match.

Meanwhile, on the buzzing racetrack of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, Garage puts the whole world on your plate. From butter-soft barbecue ribs served Southern USA-style to sumac-spiced and molasses-drizzled Middle Eastern mezze – via flavours from Singapore, Mexico and Italy – this is truly globetrotting fare. 

Go on a gastronomic journey around the world

Enjoy authentic flavours of Italy in the atmospheric surroundings of the Abu Dhabi desert at Terra Secca, based at Al Wathba, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa (Photo: Marriott International)

From globally famed restaurants to locally loved bistros, you can sample a new à la carte feast every night in the UAE.

Praised in Dubai’s Michelin Guide for its ‘magical terrace with breathtaking views’, Akira Back blends Japanese and Korean cuisine with work-of-art cocktails on the sea-facing crescent of The Palm Jumeirah. Perhaps you’ll venture to Indego by Vineet, lauded by the Michelin Guide for its ‘delicate’ flavours and ‘playful’ presentation, inspired by the simple-yet-sensational joys of Indian street food.

Meanwhile at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, Kaheela mixes both Indian and Arabic influences, with an elegantly exotic menu that spans tandoori, grills, tagines, curries, mezze and more. It’s a heady, romantic setting – as is Gonu Bar & Grill, on Fujairah’s wild coast. Here, the mountains yield to a long sandy beach: the perfect pairing for champagne-on-ice and moonlit suppers for two.

Whether you’re devouring mozzarella-laden pizzas and velvety gelato at Villa Toscana, or savouring fine wines and seafood at Terra Secca – both in Abu Dhabi – you can expect a genuine flavour of Italy, with ingredients and recipes sourced directly from Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Umbria.

Meanwhile in Dubai, Vivaldi Restaurant and Lounge pairs its antipasti and à la carte dishes with panoramic views of the Creek, where million-dollar yachts and traditional dhows cruise a stone’s throw from your table.

For more unforgettable suppers, look to Farmhouse at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, which combines a hearty farm-to-table menu – including fillet steak, smoked brisket and home-grown salads – with views of the pristine sand dunes. In Abu Dhabi, Sontaya overlooks the Arabian Gulf from its Saadiyat Island setting, where sapphire waters meet pure, pearl-white sands.

Check out More Cravings by Marriott Bonvoy™, Marriott International's one-stop destination to discover a world of culinary inspiration and rich rewards. The new half-board dining package from More Cravings covers more than 130 restaurants across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, allowing you to try a new dining experience every night. With a choice of dining credits, set menus and seriously decadent buffets, each meal brings a fresh gourmet discovery. For more information, check out More Cravings on Instagram or visit www.morecravings.com

Published: October 07, 2024

Last Updated: November 28, 2024