Top 10 Most Popular Restaurants in Dubai in 2024

Atmosphere Burj Khalifa, Bombay Bungalow or 3Fils among the most searched for, according to Google Trends Data

Since the beginning of 2024, restaurants in Dubai have experienced a revitalization, mainly influenced by the return of the ‘going out’ trend that is coming back strong, but also by the abundance of expats in the city, which helped us create this top 10 restaurants in Dubai, based on their search volumes.

Research plays an increasingly important role in people’s selection of the places they want to go out for dining, looking into how many reviews the restaurant received before making their choice for going out to dine.

Among the most popular Google searches, according to a Google Trends report, ‘best restaurants in dubai’ (with a popularity of 100%), ‘best restaurants in dubai mall’ (popularity score: 41%), ‘best indian restaurants in dubai’ (37% popularity), or ‘best restaurants near me’ (with a popularity of 27%).

According to Google, search queries’ (or words) relative popularity across Google Trends is measured by the number of instances the query was searched, against the time and location of where the search is being conducted. “The resulting numbers are then scaled on a range of 0 to 100 based on a topic’s proportion to all searches on all topics.” A popularity score higher than 100% shows that the searched word is breaking out, meaning that the search volume is highly popular during the selected period of the analysis.

Users are also looking for restaurants by name, and we have pulled up a timely list of the most popular restaurants in Dubai, according to Google Trends, based on results from the first half of the year (January to June, 2024). 

Here are the top 10 most popular restaurants in Dubai

We’re starting in reverse:

Number 10: Kashkan by Ranveer Brar | Indian Restaurant

At number 10 we find Kashkan by Ranveer Brar | Indian Restaurant, offering a wide variety of Indian dishes, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. 

“It is a culinary odyssey curated by Celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar, where he explores India’s diverse landscapes and cultures to create a remarkable gastronomic journey.”

Here is where you will find Mumbai’s street food, Vadapav, south style flavors, and much more!

Google Reviews:

4.4 stars, with 1,076 reviews

Number 9: Señor Pico 

The most popular Mexican restaurant in Dubai, Señor Pico Dubai the Palm, is positioned at number 9 in terms of search popularity, according to Google Trends results from January till June 2024. 

Besides its amazing location, this beloved South American restaurant is also a pet friendly heaven, and it allows access to its sandy shores in the Palm.

Guacamole, tacos, quesadilla, or the famous pico chicken and signature cocktails are best enjoyed with a view, so that’s why Señor Pico Dubai the Palm is a popular choice!

Google Reviews:

4,2 stars, with 835 reviews

Number 8: Atmosphere Burj Khalifa

There’s no surprise that Atmosphere Burj Khalifa is in the top of the dining out searches for customers in the UAE. What’s not to like? Amazing service, panoramic views of the city, fine dining French cuisine with top-drawer menu items, including caviar and Wagyu steak, all these on the top of Dubai (literally).

This Michelin-starred restaurant is also the worlds’ highest restaurant, situated on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa, and it’s a testament of Dubai’s luxurious lifestyle.

Google Reviews: 

4.5 stars, with 3,029 reviews      

Number 7: Pierchic

Moving further down, on the 7th place in Google Trends’ top searches for restaurants in Dubai, we find Pierchic. This Michelin-starred, award-winning Italian restaurant, welcomes guests with à la carte, chic lunch and dinner, tasting menu, and a selection of desserts and beverages signed by the Head Chef, Beatrice Segoni.

Sitting at the end of its own pier, overlooking the Arabian Gulf, Pierchic offers serene views of Burj Al Arab, perfect for Instagrammable moments.

Google Reviews:

4.2 stars, with 1,863 reviews

Number 6: Hakkasan Dubai

Located inside the iconic Atlantis the Palm, Hakkasan Dubai is a fine dining, Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant enticing guests with contemporary Chinese cuisine, including various meat, sea food, or vegetarian options, along with cocktails created by world-class mixologists.

With ‘impeccable culinary offerings and service’, this award-winning restaurant features secluded dining areas divided by Hakkasan’s signature dark oak latticing.

Google Reviews:

4.4 stars, with 720 reviews

Number 5: Cipriani

With a legacy going back to Venice, 1931, Cipriani has maintained its bohème signature through the simplicity and elegance of its style and freshness of its authentic dishes and sweets. Located in the DIFC, Cipriani features hugely popular Italian dishes, soups, pasta, risotti, or simply delicious desserts, as well as caviars and a selection of main courses.

Casual dining options, signed Cipriani Dolci, are available in Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates (in Dubai), and Marina Mall (in Abu Dhabi).

Google Reviews:

4.2 stars, with 1,441 reviews

Number 4: Scalini

Getting closer to the top three positions, we have Scalini, a beloved Italian restaurant, at number 4. With its Italian – style interiors, Scalini evokes a southern Italian coastal vibe, bringing the nostalgic riviera ambiance in the heart of Dubai, in the Four Seasons Resort on Jumeirah Beach Road.

Antipasti, insalate, zuppe, pizza, homemade pasta, fish and seafood, or chicken and meat, and many other dishes are available in their rich à la carte menu.  

Google Reviews:

4.5 stars, with 2,177 reviews

Number 3: Tresind Studio

Tresind Studio is the only two Michelin star fine dining restaurant in Dubai. Located in St Regis Garden The Palm, it welcomes guests with exclusive modern Indian cuisine, showcasing flavors both new and familiar through a creative lens.

Along with enticing dishes using ingredients sourced locally from organic and sustainable farmers in the UAE, Tresind Studio features Papadom Botanic Bar, offering a unique selection of specially curated beverages, premium wines, and critically acclaimed cocktails.

Google Reviews:

4.8 stars, with 288 reviews 

Number 2: 3Fills

On the second position of the most popular restaurants in Dubai by search intent, we find the stylish harbourfront restaurant serving international cuisine with a Japanese emphasis, 3Fills. Located in an unflashy and unlicensed venue in Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, with super-casual dining style it is one of the most sought-after places to eat in all the MENA region.

3Fills offers various tantalizing dining options, such as salmon carpaccio, wagyu beef, sushi or fire-grilled octopus. For those who are familiar with the place, there’s a limited quantity of fish-burgers, not on the menu, though.

Google reviews:

4.6 stars with 4,429 reviews

Number 1: Bombay Bungalow

And at the top of the list we find what is labeled as “the best Indian restaurant in Dubai”, Bombay Bungalow. This Michelin-listed restaurant, located on the beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence, is open all day, starting with breakfast onwards.

Some of the signature dishes include the tandoori tomahawk, the sikandar raan, or the Dilli fried fish. This is a modern Indian restaurant that stays true to its roots, embracing tradition, while moving with the time.

When it comes to searching for restaurants in Dubai, this restaurant has been the most popular one in the first half of 2024.

Here’s what makes a restaurant successful in 2024: 

1. Excellent and consistent dishes that make customers return and also recommend the place. Consistency is the key in keeping the quality of the menu, and this needs to be carefully controlled, in terms of what ingredients are used, what quantity, or at what temperature.
2. High quality service and hospitality. This is about being authentic when welcoming guests with a fully hearted smile and overall, a friendly and professional attitude throughout the entire duration of the visit, from the moment they enter the restaurant or book the table, till the moment they leave the premises.
3. A system that helps to improve operational efficiency, especially at peak times, but which also provides recommendations on what items are most popular and most profitable, making sure that these items are always available to offer a great guest experience. The best system that achieves these goals is an enterprise solution planning (ERP), which needs to be designed especially for the dynamic world of food and beverage. 

Polaris ERP is UAE’s only ERP for restaurants, developed to address all challenges and different work functions within a restaurant, from front-of-the-house, to kitchen, inventory management, purchasing, or HR, among many others.

You may also be interested in:

Contact Us & Book A Demo