Gastronomic Weeks and Restaurant Week in Dubai: Dates and Participants

Your ticket to Dubai's fine dining world at unbelievable prices. We break down Restaurant Week in detail: dates, insider tips, and restaurants you simply can't miss.

Dinner for two at a Michelin-starred Dubai restaurant for around $130? Sounds like science fiction, but during Dubai Restaurant Week, it’s a reality. And yes, we’re talking about those very establishments you wouldn’t even consider visiting without a good reason under normal circumstances.

Today, Dubai is truly one of the world’s most vibrant gastronomic capitals, where culinary innovation and almost audacious luxury await at every turn. The annual Dubai Food Festival and its flagship event, Restaurant Week, are the perfect way to dive into this bustling scene.

At the heart of the festival is the concept of “affordable luxury,” offering you the chance to sample menus from top chefs at fixed, remarkably pleasant prices.

This guide is your navigator through Dubai’s premier gastronomic celebration: we’ll cover dates, prices, the most sought-after restaurants, and, most importantly, how to secure a table with certainty.

What is Dubai Restaurant Week? The essentials in detail

The principle behind Restaurant Week is elegantly simple: for 17 days, the city's best (and often most expensive) restaurants set aside their regular prices and offer guests special set menus at a single, pre-announced rate.

In 2025, the festival took place from May 9 to May 25, and as a rule, it is held annually during the spring season.

Essentially, this is the most honest way to peek behind the scenes of haute cuisine without risking a heart attack from the bill at the end of the evening.

Pricing policy (a key section for tourists):

• Two-course lunch: 125 AED. A smart way to "sample" the cuisine of an upscale restaurant while strolling through the city, without spending an entire evening—or your entire budget—doing so.
• Three-course dinner: 250 AED. The main event. A full immersion into the world of haute cuisine from top chefs—at a price that would barely cover a single main course under normal circumstances.

Dubai’s flavor map: Where to find the festival’s best restaurants?

One of the best features of Restaurant Week is that the festival doesn’t stay in one place. It literally takes over the entire city, turning Dubai into a giant buffet, where each dish represents a new district with its own unique character and atmosphere.

This is a great opportunity to explore different corners of Dubai, each of which has its own distinctive vibe.

Key gastronomic clusters:

• Downtown Dubai: Dinner with a view of the Burj Khalifa. Perfect for those who want to combine dining with sightseeing of the city’s main attractions.
• DIFC (International Financial Centre): The heart of business life and home to the trendiest, most conceptual restaurants. The dress code here is usually more formal.
• Dubai Marina & JBR: A relaxed atmosphere, waterfront restaurants, and stunning views of skyscrapers and yachts.
• Palm Jumeirah: Luxurious restaurants located in famous hotels. An ideal choice for a special evening.

Star-studded participants: Our shortlist by district

The festival features not just good, but the very best of the best—on our list you’ll find establishments from the Michelin Guide and the prestigious The World’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking.

Our shortlist includes iconic restaurants from key districts, carefully selected to cover diverse cuisines and concepts—from Michelin-classic fare to bold Asian fusion projects.

Palm Jumeirah

• Akira Back (W Dubai – The Palm): This isn’t just Japanese cuisine; it’s art crafted by Akira Back, a true rock star of the culinary world. Here, the chef’s Korean roots boldly intertwine with Japanese techniques, giving birth to hits like his famous “tuna pizza.” Add to that impeccable views of Dubai’s skyline, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect evening.

DIFC

• Beefbar: A mecca for anyone who believes that the perfect steak isn’t food—it’s a religion. Located right in the heart of the business district DIFC, this spot offers meat served in an atmosphere of understated luxury, the kind you’ll be telling your friends about.
• L’Atelier Robuchon: The legacy of “Chef of the Century” Joël Robuchon in the heart of Dubai. This is a theater of haute French cuisine with an open-kitchen stage, where every dish is a meticulously crafted masterpiece down to the millimeter. Impeccable, elegant, and incredibly delicious.

Downtown Dubai & Jumeirah

• Jun's: Chef Kelvin Chung’s culinary autobiography, told through food. This progressive Asian cuisine weaves together memories of his childhood in North America and his Asian roots. Dining here, with a postcard-perfect view of the Burj Khalifa, is not just about the food—it’s an entire story.
• COYA Dubai (Four Seasons Resort): This isn’t dinner; it’s a fiesta. A lively, vibrant, intoxicating carnival of Peruvian flavors that captivates you from the very first step. Interiors inspired by Incan culture, electrifying music, and ceviche you’ll never forget.
• Mimi Kakushi: A true time machine that transports you to a 1920s Osaka jazz club. Dim lighting, velvet, live music, and impeccable Japanese cuisine, where each roll is a work of art.

Of course, the full list of participants is extensive and includes cuisines from around the world, from French and Italian to Pan-Asian and Middle Eastern, so there’s something for everyone.

Your action plan: How to guarantee entry to Restaurant Week

Rule #1: Book first, then dream

Remember the key rule: you don’t go to Dubai Restaurant Week spontaneously. The only gateway to this world of gastronomic wonders is the partner platform OpenTable. No calls to the restaurant, no "can we just show up?" Only online reservations through the official channel grant you access to the special set menu.

How to seize your chance? Three simple steps:

First, get ahead of the game—sign up for the Dubai Food Festival newsletter to be among the first to know when bookings open. Second, have a plan B (and C, and D): prepare a shortlist of 5-7 restaurants you’d like to visit in advance. The most sought-after spots will disappear in minutes. And third, be flexible: if Friday night dinner is already booked, try lunch on the same day or dinner on Monday. Your chances of success will increase dramatically.

Budget planning: what to consider besides the set price?

It’s important to remember that drinks, coffee, and any additional dishes are not included in the set price and must be paid separately at the restaurant’s standard rates.

Transportation and logistics: how to get around between restaurants?

• Metro: The most budget-friendly and convenient way to reach Downtown, DIFC, and Marina areas. A single ride using the Nol card costs only 3–7.5 AED.
• Taxis and Ride-Sharing (Careem/Uber): A comfortable but more expensive option. A trip between the main districts will cost, on average, 50–90 AED. Keep in mind that traffic jams are possible during evening hours.
• Parking: Finding a free parking spot in popular locations can be challenging, so public transport or taxis are often the preferred choice.

A gastronomic adventure you can’t miss

In essence, Dubai Restaurant Week is much more than just a discount promotion. It’s your personal backstage pass to the world’s most luxurious culinary scene, an opportunity to gather in just one week a collection of flavors that would normally take months and a small fortune to achieve.

It’s a concentrated dose of the best experiences, turning an ordinary vacation into an unforgettable gastronomic adventure.

So open the list of participants, pick your favorites, and get ready—because the tastiest adventure of the year is about to begin.

Bon appétit!