5 Dubai Michelin Guide Restaurants To Try, From Recommended To Starred (With Video)

Do you want to try some of the Dubai restaurants in the Michelin Guide?

Celebrating a vibrant and diverse food scene, shaped by over 200 nationalities, Dubai has cemented its position as a culinary hub and gastronomic destination, being named one of the world’s top 10 cities for foodies and ranked second in the world for restaurant density.

So it’s not surprising that there’s a Michelin Guide in Dubai.

I had the pleasure of attending the 8th annual edition of The Best Chef Awards in Dubai on October 2024, which was the first time this global culinary awards was held in both the City of Gold and the Middle East.

The Best Chef Awards celebrated top global culinary talent, honoring nearly 600 chefs for their innovation and impact on modern gastronomy, including Dubai’s very own chefs.

This was my first time in Dubai, and I was thrilled for the opportunities to explore Michelin dining experiences as part of The Best Chef Awards because I love trying Michelin restaurants around the world.

I tried Dubai restaurants in both Michelin Recommended and Michelin Star categories and loved the fact that diverse cuisines are very well-represented, from Japanese and Portuguese to Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines.

In this travel guide, I’m featuring 5 of the Michelin Guide restaurants I got to try, which are considered some of the best restaurants in Dubai. Plus, a video of the entire Dubai trip, including travel tips and The Best Chef Awards.

Dubai Michelin Guide

The MICHELIN Guide Dubai made its debut in June 2022 and recognized 69 restaurants in 21 cuisine types with two 2 MICHELIN Star restaurants, nine 1 MICHELIN Star restaurants and 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants.

The Michelin rating is awarded to restaurants based on anonymous dining experiences by the Michelin inspectors.

The Bib Gourmand distinction in Dubai means you can get a high-quality three-course meal for an average price of 250 AED.

VIDEO: 7 Days in Dubai with Local & Michelin Guide Restaurants, and The Best Chef Awards

In this video, I take you through 7 days in Dubai, which was my first time in United Arab Emirates:

• Landing Dubai from Canada through my Emirates flight
• Attending The Best Chef Awards including Area Talks, Food Meets Science and the Awards Gala
• Dining at some of the the best restaurants in Dubai from street food and local restaurants to Michelin Guide restaurants
• Exploring some of the best free things to do in Dubai including Bur Dubai, the Dubai Fountain and Jumeirah Public Beach
• Staying at a 3-star hotel with rooftop pool and complimentary breakfast and shuttle

3 Michelin Star Restaurants in Dubai

Tresind Studio

The best culinary experience I had in Dubai was the best fine dining Indian food I’ve ever had at Tresind Studio, a Three Michelin star restaurant ranked No. 13 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, located at St. Regis Dubai Gardens, The Palm Jumeirah.

I dined at Tresind Studio in 2024 when they were 2 Michelin Star, and they became 3 Stars in 2025.

Upon entering Tresind Studio, I was immediately struck by the intimate ambiance—just six tables facing an open kitchen.

The WORLD'S FIRST 3 Michelin Star Indian Restaurant! Tresind Studio Dubai

The Rising India tasting menu is a journey through India’s 4 diverse culinary regions: the Thar Desert, Deccan Plateau, Coastal Plains, and Northern Plains – with each region and course telling a story.

Winner of the Best Chef in UAE award and the 3 Knives Award, Chef Himanshu Saini’s vision shines through each course, blending traditional Indian flavors with modern techniques.

The interactive elements, such as the Sadya ceremony representing the celebration of flavours during first harvest, add a unique and engaging touch to the dining experience.

I love Indian cuisine, and have travelled in India for a 2 week road trip in South India. It was great seeing dishes I’ve tried from that trip be reflected in such creativity like vada, a popular Indian street food, and South Indian filter coffee.

Tresind Studio‘s attention to detail extends beyond the food and drinks. The presentation of each dish is a work of art, with thoughtful touches that enhance the dining experience.

Here’s everything else I had on the Rising India tasting menu with Synergy Drink Pairing at Tresind Studio.

The botanic bar, resembling a chemistry lab, showcased the restaurant’s commitment to innovation by making their own spirits through redistillation like the Masala Chai spirit.

I’ve never had Indian cuisine at this level of fine dining creativity, and the storytelling throughout is impeccable.

1 Michelin Star Restaurants in Dubai

Moonrise

Located on the rooftop of Eden House (near Museum of the Future) with amazing city views, Moonrise was my second favourite meal in Dubai. This one Michelin Star restaurant, ranked No. 4 in MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, offers an intimate Chef’s table setting with just 12 seats.

Moonrise beautifully fuses Middle Eastern flavors with Japanese techniques and other European influences for an exceptional culinary experience.

For the best experience, I highly recommend sitting at Spot 1, where you can see all the action and intricacies of each course up close, reminiscent of the Chef’s Table experience at Michelin Star restaurants Turk Fatih Tutak in Istanbul and Moebius Sperimentale in Milan.

One of the unique aspects of dining here is the storytelling that accompanies each course.

Along with the chef’s presentation, each dish comes with a postcard featuring a fun custom graphic on the front and a detailed story with ingredients on the back.

The dishes are bold and bursting with flavors while, at the same time, not feeling heavy nor overly rich. Highlights for me included the pani puri and grilled cheese.

The tasting menu maintained a consistent high throughout, with each course progressing cohesively through the meal – an impressive and rare feat!

Here’s everything else I had on the tasting menu with wine pairing at Moonrise.

Chef Solemann has an impressive backstory—born and raised in Deira to a French mother and Syrian father, he became a completely self-taught chef during the 2020 pandemic.

Despite having no prior formal restaurant training, he opened Moonrise in 2021, and it has quickly become one of the best restaurants in Dubai.

Chef Solemann is recognized as one of the best chefs in the world and was awarded 1 Knife at The Best Chef Awards.

Related: Best Michelin Guide Restaurants in Istanbul To Try (With Video)

Smoked Room

Located at the St. Regis Dubai Gardens, The Palm Jumeirah, Smoked Room is a one Michelin Star haven by Chef Dani Garcia, renowned for his multiple Michelin-starred restaurants in Spain, including the 2 Michelin Star Smoked Room in Madrid.

This intimate space, tucked at the back of Leña, boasts a dark, cozy ambiance with a large semi-circular table that seats 14 guests.

With the name Smoked Room and what they call “Fire Omakase,” expect smokey notes through the courses.

Chef Garcia’s creativity shines with unique dishes I’ve never had before like sea cucumber noodles, dashi tomato snow, and Sturgeon nitro tomato.

The combination of the intimate atmosphere, the open kitchen, and the unique dishes makes Smoked Room a special culinary experience, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the artistry of the chefs.

Here’s everything else I had on the tasting menu with wine pairing at Smoked Room.

Tasca

Located within the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Tasca is a one Michelin star restaurant that stands out for its unique blend of Portuguese cuisine, stunning views, and exceptional service.

Perched on the sixth floor, this is the only Michelin Starred restaurant in Dubai with an open kitchen and infinity pool, overlooking the Arabian Gulf on one side and Dubai skyline on the other, for a truly unbeatable ambiance.

Guests can enjoy bites and cocktails by the pool, enhancing the overall pool experience.

The menu features small bites like Algarve prawn ceviche (a unique way of enjoying ceviche I’ve never done before!), bluefin tuna tartare, and wagyu beef skewers—each bursting with fresh, high-quality ingredients and delicious flavor combinations.

For something heartier, enjoy a Portuguese sandwich like their wagyu tenderloin prego.

The heart of Tasca’s appeal lies in its Portuguese culinary offerings.

Chef Jose Barroso, alongside renowned chef José Avillez (who was awarded 3 Knives at The Best Chef Awards), brings the rich flavors of Portugal to Dubai.

The five-course Taste of Tasca tasting menu, paired with exclusive Portuguese wines, is a culinary journey through Portugal.

Highlights include marinated seabass with passion fruit, creamy Atlantic rice with blue lobster and carabineiros (the best dish and a must-try with unique squid ink turned into ash!), and fork-tender slow-cooked veal cheeks.

The Romeu and Juliete dessert, a fusion of cheesecake, Portuguese-style French toast, and banana ice cream, offers a delightful finale.

Travelling Foodie Secret Tip: Be sure to get the off-menu grilled Carabineiros Prawn, which is uncommon to find in restaurants.

After my first time trying Scarlet Shrimp, I was hooked. They’re seriously the best prawns you’ll ever have!

Dubai Michelin Recommend Restaurants

TakaHisa Japanese Restaurant

Located at the Banyan Tree Dubai Hotel, TakaHisa is a Michelin recommended Japanese restaurant which combines two master chefs: Chef Takashi Namekata is the sushi master, and Chef Hisao Ueda is the wagyu master.

They prepared an omakase specifically for The Best Chef Awards.

Chef Taka and Chef Hisa masterfully combined sushi and Kobe beef, creating a harmony of the best of both worlds.

Starting with a refreshing hamaguri clam soup and followed by melt-in-your mouth dishes like Kobe beef carpaccio and otoro aburi, each dish was a testament to the quality of the ingredients.

The unagi shira yaki, paired with Dom Perignon, showcased the pure taste of grilled eel.

A standout for me was the awabi kimo sauce course, featuring a 15-year-old Japanese black abalone with a rich sea urchin sauce.

I’ve never had abalone made this way before, and it was the best abalone dish I’ve ever had.

The katsu sando wagyu paired with an exquisite Italian wine was a flavor explosion.

TakaHisa has some of the best wagyu you can have in Dubai with a certified Kobe beef bronze statue for quality and authenticity.

A medley of fresh sushi followed, highlighting freshly caught fish direct from Japan, which they get four times a week.

And you can really taste the difference.

Dessert was a delightful combination of Japanese melon, crown melon jelly, and yogurt mousse, perfectly ending the omakase experience.

TakaHisa’s simplicity in showcasing each ingredient’s natural flavors truly shines, and that’s the best way to enjoy Japanese cuisine.

Map: Michelin Restaurants & Where To Stay in Dubai

3-Star Dubai Hotel I Stayed In

I checked-in at Premier Inn Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel, conveniently located close to Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City with Dubai Metro just a 10-minute walk away. The Double Room I stayed in was both modern and spacious.

Complimentary breakfast includes continental and Middle Eastern breakfast, and my go to was the omelette station.

This 3-star hotel has a rooftop pool and a 24-hour gym as well. I love that they have complimentary shuttle to the Dubai Internet City Metro Station, Public Beach and Dubai Hills Mall.

It was very conveniently located for my trip since I’m near The Palm for The Best Chef Awards Gala at Atlantis and also St. Regis Gardens for Tresind Studio and Smoked Room. And I was also close to the metro to explore all the other places I visited.

Free Things To Do in Dubai

While you’re in Dubai exploring Michelin restaurants, here are some of the free things to do in the City of Gold that I did on my trip.

Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in Dubai and the second largest in the world. Don’t miss The Waterfall

I also had to check out the Food Court and it was massive, modern and clean. Each stall is huge unlike other food courts in other countries I’ve visited.

Dubai Fountain Show

Enjoy a fountain show at Burj Khalifa, the World’s Tallest Building, which reminded me of the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Old Dubai / Bur Dubai

I highly recommend a visit to Old Dubai for a different view of Dubai amidst all the luxury and glamour.

Al Seef, Cultural Center and Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood and Fort makes you feel like you’re in the movie Aladdin.

Here’s the full guide on free things to do in Dubai. If you’re looking for adventurous attractions and activities in Dubai like desert safari tours, camel rides, water parks (and more!), it’s all here.

It’s always hard to decide where to eat in a city, and we hope this Dubai travel guide gave you an idea on which Michelin restaurants to try.

Each of these restaurants offers a unique dining experience that reflects the rich culinary heritage and diversity of Dubai and is among the best restaurants in UAE and the world.

We’re always looking for more recommendations for our next visit so please let us know what you find are the best Michelin Guide restaurants in Dubai to visit.