Dubai is a haven for foodies — both residents and visitors.
From French desserts to Asian delicacies and authentic Emirati dishes, Dubai offers a wide selection of cuisines from different parts of the world. And there’s one destination in the city that stands out for being a one-stop shop for dining, leisure, and shopping in Dubai – and that’s the Dubai Festival City mall.
Dubai Festival City mall is located within a business and contemporary community, featuring more than 400 retail outlets and high-fashion shops. Best of all, it houses some of the best restaurants in Dubai.
Whether you are craving Emirati cuisine, Indian dishes or Italian food, the mall is sure to offer something that will satisfy your taste buds.
Here are the 12 best restaurants where you can enjoy delectable meals with your loved ones while exploring Dubai Festival City mall.
1. Al Fanar Restaurant & Café
If you’re craving authentic, contemporary, and tasty Emirati cuisine, Al Fanar Restaurant & Café is the place to go. You can order their Emirati breakfast staples any time of the day. Also, you can try other traditional dishes like machboos, harees, thereed, madrooba deyay, and shorbati. Finish up your meal with any of their Emirati sweet treats, including arrowroot, luqaimat, khabisah, and date cake.
In addition to serving great food, Al Fanar also features a unique interior that’ll take you down memory lane. It is decked in traditional Emirati features and décor, reflecting the Old Dubai of the early 1960s.
2. Peppermill
With Indians making up the majority of the Dubai population, finding restaurants offering India’s fascinating food culture won’t be a problem.
At the Dubai Festival City mall, one of the best Indian restaurants you must try is Peppermill. They serve richly flavoured Indian dishes and creative recipes to satisfy your palate. These include tandoori chicken, masala lamb chops, kadai paneer, butter chicken, and different types of biryani. They are also known for their sumptuous vegetarian dishes.
3. PF Chang’s
Craving Chinese cuisine? Head to PF Chang’s.
PF Chang’s is an Asian-themed restaurant chain known for its delicious Oriental and Chinese dishes and for using only the freshest ingredients. All their offerings are also wok-fired and made from scratch, giving your palate the best Asian and Chinese flavours.
PF Chang’s dynamite shrimps are a must-try. Other dishes you should order include chicken noodle soup, shrimp dumplings, VIP duck, hot and sour soup, lo mein, salt and pepper prawns, and chicken lettuce wraps.
4. Eataly
Italian food has plenty of things to offer that treating yourself to such cuisines is a must when craving a hearty meal.
Eataly offers authentic Italian dishes, including a variety of pastas, vegetable dishes, meat, fish, and the traditional Neapolitan pizza. You can grab any of these meals any time of the day.
Cap off your meal with their Italian desserts, such as panna cotta, tiramisu, and cannoli.
5. Semson
Another popular mainstay in the city’s food scene is Lebanese cuisine.
If you want to try it, go to Semsom — a Lebanese restaurant known for serving healthy and delectable Lebanese dishes with a modern twist and fresh ingredients. These include labneh, seasoned hummus, kafta, kibbeh, and falafel.
Don’t miss their Lebanese sandwiches, too, such as Lebanese beef fajita and chicken taouk sandwich. End your meal with their sweet treats, including ghazel bel wared, halawa cheesecake, and kunafa cheese.
6. Sultan Baba Iskender
Like Indian and Lebanese food, Turkish cuisine is also a must-try dish in Dubai Festival City mall. So don’t forget to grab a bite at Sultan Baba Iskender.
Try their best-selling Iskende kebab – a delectable blend of tender lamb slices and beef doner served with grilled pita bread.
Other famous dishes you must try are the Sultan Baba family platter and the one-metre long adana kebab.
7. Joe’s Crab Shack
Craving seafood? Joe’s Crab Shack offers mouth-watering combinations of lobsters, shrimps, crabs, and other types of fish. Their seasonal boiled crawfish is a must-try dish. Other food to order include the Beantown back and Ragin Cajun.
8. Hard Rock Café
If you’re a patron of the Hard Rock Café, Dubai Festival City mall houses the only one of its kind in the city. Here, you can drink your favourite beverage while eating tasty bar bites.
The café has been serving Dubai residents and visitors for more than two decades already, offering a variety of dishes, including shakes, burgers, and other American staples. They also have a healthy menu for weight watchers and health-conscious eaters.
Their famous appetiser – one night in Bangkok spicy shrimp – is a must-try. The shrimps are crispy, fresh, and coated with a creamy, spicy sauce and paired with a bed of chips and coleslaw.
If you’re a burger addict, try their 24-karat gold leaf steak burger. This 500-gram Angus steak burger includes edible 24-karat layers of gold leaves, making it more mouth-watering, enticing, and literally sparkling.
9. Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse is another favourite destination for delectable steaks, made-from-scratch sides, fresh-baked rolls, and fall-off-the-bone veal ribs.
In addition to their legendary menu and service, they are also famous for being a dining establishment with line dancers and a jukebox.
10. The Cheesecake Factory
Indulge yourself in a plethora of desserts at The Cheesecake Factory. They are known for offering hearty portions of salads, pasta, beverages, nachos, and plenty of American-style cheesecakes.
Reserve a seat on the restaurant’s balcony so you can relish your food while enjoying the scenic views of the waterfront.
11. YO! Sushi
YO! Sushi is the place to go if you’re craving Japanese cuisine. Get to experience a wide selection of Japanese-inspired dishes here, such as sashimi, sushi, and hot curries.
12. Rainforest Café
If you love being surrounded by animals and plants, a visit to the Rainforest Café is a smart idea. This is a jungle-themed restaurant that recreates the sights and sounds of the Amazon rainforest.
They offer international dishes that everyone will surely love. These include hearty steaks, burgers, salads, and desserts.
Try their best-selling offers, such as their Amazon fajitas, lava nachos, taco salad, guacamole burgers, chicken tenders, big islanders, and rainforest burgers.
A food trip in Dubai is incomplete without a visit to Dubai Festival City mall.
Whatever you are craving, you will surely find an excellent dining establishment in the mall at the Dubai Festival City neighbourhood. Most restaurants at Dubai Festival City mall are also situated on the Festival Bay wing, so you can indulge in delectable dishes while enjoying majestic waterfront views.
In addition to your food trip, consider including some of the mall’s unique experiences in your itinerary. These include IMAGINE, Fabyland, Dream Aero flight simulator, and dhow rides on the creek.
