Dubai's restaurant scene runs on seasons, and the summer lull is officially over. A batch of big-name venues has reopened or announced comeback dates, ranging from Marina institutions to sky-high newcomers, and a few have returned looking completely different.
The most established name back on the roster is Buddha-Bar, a Dubai Marina fixture since 2005 at Grosvenor House. Its new season introduces Red Tsuki, a fresh theme under the Sakura's Secret dining experience built around the red moon, with live performers and choreography, plus the Pan-Asian staples people keep coming back for: lobster dumplings, sushi, sashimi and handmade dim sum. Doors open 7pm daily, running later on weekends.
Beach-lovers get Shimmers at Jumeirah Mina Al Salam, an Aegean-style spot right on the sand facing Burj Al Arab. Think lobster orzo, chicken souvlaki and a resident DJ, percussionist and sax at dinner. From October 1 it adds lunch, including a three-course Aegean Pause business set.
Hakkasan returns to Atlantis The Palm on September 23 after its summer break, with executive chef Andy Toh leading the Michelin-starred Cantonese kitchen and a new drinks list to match. Dinner runs Wednesday to Sunday, 6pm to 12.30am.
A couple of spots have used the break to move or reinvent themselves. Indonesian restaurant Andaliman has relocated from One&Only One Za'abeel's poolside to the 24th floor of The Link, 100 metres up, where chef Ismawan Dzabir serves beef rendang and coconut-husk charcoal-grilled seafood, with a Sambal Trolley letting you choose your own chilli heat. Scalini at Four Seasons Jumeirah has had a Mediterranean refresh with a citrus-tree veranda and new dishes like Sicilian red prawn crudo and tableside beef tartare. Tattu is back across Levels 74 and 81 of Ciel Dubai Marina, keeping its giant suspended cherry blossom tree and adding a weekday business lunch and daily sunset ritual; the Level 81 Sky Lounge has 360-degree views over Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
Three more are on the way. Lion in the Sun, with its open-fire Mediterranean menu and enormous full-moon installation, reopens on the 62nd floor of Mandarin Oriental Downtown on September 25. Ninive, the lantern-lit urban majlis garden at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, returns October 1 with its Iraqi, Turkish and Moroccan-inflected menu. And Tapasake at One Za'abeel comes back this autumn, keeping its infinity pool and adding a restaurant and Sky Lounge with a Wafu-inspired Japanese-Mediterranean menu.
If you're planning a Dubai trip between now and December, this is the sweet spot: the weather is cooling, the beach clubs are reopening, and the city's glitziest tables are freshly polished and hungry for bookings. Business lunches at Shimmers and Tattu make high-end venues more affordable at midday, while Buddha-Bar, Ninive and Lion in the Sun are best saved for cooler evenings, when outdoor and terrace dining are the whole point. Book ahead for weekends — the most theatrical rooms fill fast.
