
6 of the best restaurants in Dubai this week: July 7 to 10
Images: Supplied
KIRA's new Bar Bites menu is all about light, seasonal plates made to share – perfect for a mid-summer catch-up or a laid-back dinner. Designed around the crossroads of Mediterranean and Japanese flavours, the offering moves from crisp Padron peppers and tahina-miso aubergine to spicy tuna rolls, rock shrimp tempura, and wagyu skewers off the robata grill. Pair it all with a house cocktail (like the nutty Parmigiano Sour or the saké-forward Saké-Lini) and settle in for a refreshingly casual, quietly refined moment at the bar.
Location: KIRA, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab Hotel
Times: Sunday to Wednesday 12pm – 1am, Thursday to Sunday 12pm – 2am
Contact: (0)4 379 7977. @ kira restaurant
Reservations: kira -restaurant.com Hanaaya, Jumeirah Mina Al Salam
Image: Supplied
Tortuga is back – and for the summer only. The cult Mexican spot has returned as a seasonal pop-up at Jumeirah Mina A'Salam, taking over a corner of Hanaaya with all the hits: sizzling fajitas, chimichangas, street corn, and of course, tacos. It runs daily from lunchtime through to late evening, but Tuesdays are the big one. Expect favourites like carne asada with cheese crust and taquera salsa, or the crispy Baja-style fish with chile arbol emulsion. It's loud, laid-back, and full of flavour – just how it should be.
Location: Hanaaya, Jumeirah Mina A'Salam
Times: Daily, 12:30pm to 10pm
Cost: Taco Tuesdays priced at Dhs150 (unlimited tacos) or Dhs250 (with 3 drinks)
Contact: 800 323 232 jumeirah.com J ou Jou Brasserie
Images: Supplied
Available Monday to Friday, La Pause is a three-course midday menu guided by Chef Gioia's refined Italian sensibility. Starters include dishes like ricciola hamachi with espelette vinaigrette or a crisp artichoke salad, followed by mains such as fregola alla norma, oxtail ravioli, or Provençale sea bream with mussel jus. To finish, there's a standout chocolate and olive oil slice cake by Chef Nicolas Lambert – indulgent, buttery, and just the right amount of sweet.
Location: Jou Jou Brasserie, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
Times: Monday to Friday, 12:30pm to 5:30pm
Cost: Dhs165 per person, Add Dhs120 for two beverages
Contact: (0)4 270 7950 @joujoudubai Jamavar
Images: Supplied
Jamavar has launched Spice & Spirits – a new four-course tasting menu where every dish is matched with a cocktail that does more than just sit pretty on the side. It's all about contrast and balance: smoky prawns with apricot palomas, rich butter chicken offset by a kaffir-lime-spiked daiquiri, and dessert paired with an espresso martini laced with saffron. Available from June 19, guests can choose between vegetarian or non-veg options – both deeply rooted in Indian culinary heritage but reimagined through flavour-pushing drinks. The setting? Intimate, warm, and already MICHELIN-starred less than a year since opening.
Location: Jamavar, Address Residences Opera District, Downtown Dubai
Times: Daily from 12pm to 12am (from 12:30pm on weekends)
Cost: Dhs395 per person
Contact: 04 553 7852. jamavarrestaurants.com. @jamavardubai Magadan
Seafood lovers, this one's calling your name. Magadan's Aphrodisiac Time is a daily ritual built around fresh oysters and free-flowing house wine. Here, it's unlimited oysters and house wine – simple as that. It's relaxed, easy, and ideal for a sunset session on Palm West Beach that feels a little indulgent, in all the right ways.
Location: Magadan, Radisson Beach Resort, Palm West Beach
Times: Daily
Cost: Dhs225 per person
Contact: (0)52 101 1075. @magadandubai North Audley Cantine
Images: Supplied
The French bistro everyone in Dubai keeps returning to just launched a fresh all-day breakfast menu. North Audley Cantine (NAC) in Al Safa is now serving breakfast from 9am to noon, Monday to Thursday – perfect for whether you're starting early or craving some comfort food later. Expect light, fresh, and flavourful dishes like shakshuka poached eggs, Turkish eggs, and scrambled eggs with Monterey jack and jalapeño mayo in a brioche bun. Can't pick just one? The NAC Breakfast Plate has a little bit of everything. If you're after something green, try their signature kale and cabbage salad with parmigiano, pine nuts, golden raisins, and honey za'atar dressing. Sharing plates also make a comeback with favourites like honey sweet potato, popcorn chicken with spicy mayo, crushed burrata, and chicken sliders with sriracha mayo. For dessert, choose from crushed milk chocolate cookies with frosties soft serve, speculoos French toast with raspberries and clotted cream, ricotta pancakes with dulce de leche and banana, or a daily pastries basket – perfect alongside your coffee.
Location: H Residence, Al Safa
Times: Monday to Thursday, 9am to 12pm
Contact: (0)43791774 @nacdubai
Reservations: nacdubai.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


What's On
2 hours ago
- What's On
4 of the best dishes to try in Abu Dhabi this week: July 28 to 31
In a city this packed with restaurants, picking where to go is one thing – figuring out what to order is another. Menus evolve, chefs get inventive, and there's always a new dish or signature classic worth trying. So we've narrowed it down. From pasta to pastry, here are four of the best dishes to try in Abu Dhabi this week. Mika A modern Mediterranean–Middle Eastern spot on Yas Marina, Mika is all about seasonal cooking with thoughtful sourcing and an eye for detail. The menu moves between raw dishes, small plates and larger mains, with one standout being the mackerel tartare – spiked with green peppercorns, jalapeño and cucumber. It's light, layered, with a hint of heat. The vibe is relaxed, with marina views, a sleek bar, and one of the best cocktail lists in the area. Location: Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Times: Sunday to Thursday: 12pm to 12am | Friday to Saturday: 12pm to 1am Cost: Dhs75 Contact: (0)56 433 1422 | @ Hakkasan Hakkasan Abu Dhabi holds a Michelin Star, a testament to Chef Lee's expertise honed since 2003 at the original Hakkasan in London. The menu reflects Modern Cantonese roots with a focus on exceptional ingredients and a personalised approach to dining. One standout is the Charcoal Grilled Black Cod – silky, rich, and served alongside eight-treasure rice with an elegant touch of black truffle. Location: Emirates Palace, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi Times: Daily from 6:30pm to 11:30pm Cost: Dhs298 Contact: (0)2 690 7739 | @hakkasanabudhabi LPM Located in Galleria Al Maryah Island, LPM offers a prime waterfront setting with views of the city skyline at sunset. The space is all about Mediterranean vibes – bougainvillea, olive trees, bright art – with a relaxed, vibrant atmosphere. The menu reflects the French Riviera, focusing on simple, carefully prepared dishes that let quality ingredients shine. One to try this week: the Rigatoni À La Truffe Noire – homemade rigatoni with black truffle, rich and perfectly balanced. It's a solid pick if you love truffle and want something classic with a refined touch. Location: Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi Times: Sunday to Thursday 12pm–11pm; Friday and Saturday 12pm–12am Cost: Dhs300 Contact: (0)2 665 9990 | @lpmabudhabi Pincode Pincode pays tribute to India's rich culinary history, blending diverse regional flavours into one well thought-out menu. The Chicken Chettinad is a standout – slow-cooked with whole spices like cloves, star anise, and black pepper, filling the kitchen with intense aromas. Served in a traditional steel dabba, it brings authentic home-style cooking straight to your plate. Location: The Galleria Mall, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi Times: Weekdays from 10am to 11pm; Weekends from 10am to 12am Cost: Dhs78 Contact: (0)2 234 0111 | @ > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in


What's On
3 hours ago
- What's On
Where to eat in Abu Dhabi this week
Abu Dhabi is in its soft glow era, with restaurants serving up charm, heat and everything in between. The capital isn't short of options, this week you can try flaming Argentinian grills, Mediterranean feasts by the water and a new nightlife hotspot that's already making noise on Yas Island. From Monday night lobster to tiramisu made tableside, here's where to book a table this week. Bla Bla Bar – Yas Marina The drinks are cold, the lights are low and the weekends go long. Bla Bla Bar has landed in Yas Marina and it's not here to whisper. The Dubai-born venue brings its signature high-energy atmosphere to the capital, with themed nights, live entertainment and a crowd that came to party. The waterfront setting doesn't hurt either. This is where the after-work crowd turns into the no-work-tomorrow crowd. It's loud, it's proud, and it's perfectly chaotic in the best way. Between the themed nights, the DJ sets and the marina views, it's impossible to pretend you're leaving early. Location: Bla Bla Bar Yas Marina Times: 6pm to 1am (weekdays), 6pm to 3am (weekends) Contact: 050 797 0742 Em Sherif Sea Café – Rosewood Abu Dhabi This sleek Lebanese seafood spot on Al Maryah Island turns mezze into a moment. The view is pure serenity and the menu is bright, fresh and packed with personality. Social without being chaotic. You don't come here to be seen. You come here to eat like coastal royalty. Em Sherif Sea Café is the kind of place where the shrimp is sautéed like a secret, the sea bream is almost too pretty to touch and even the roasted cauliflower demands a photo. The waterfront setting is calm but chic, and the plates are made for sharing, even if you don't really want to. Location: Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island Times: Lunch and dinner Contact: +971 2 813 5550 Erth Restaurant – Qasr Al Hosn Erth is calm in culinary form. It feels like home, if your home had a world-class chef and someone to explain where your date seeds were grown. Set within the walls of Qasr Al Hosn, this is where Emirati heritage meets mindful dining. The plates are built around local produce and seasonal ingredients, sourced from farms across the UAE. It's all about connection, comfort and slow food with purpose. Location: North Parking, Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi Times: 12pm to 11pm Contact: +971 2 497 5831 or +971 58 600 6922 Talea by Antonio Guida – Emirates Palace At Talea, Italian sophistication shows up in simple dishes that speak loudest. The maccheroncelli alla Genovese is a revelation and the tiramisu is made tableside. Chef Antonio Guida brings Milan's culinary muscle to the capital without overcomplicating the magic. This isn't spaghetti tossed in a rush. There's nothing shouty here, just quietly confident food in one of the most opulent settings in the city. Location: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road Times: Lunch: 12:30pm to 3pm, Dinner: 6:30pm to 11pm Contact: +971 2 690 7999 Maté – Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi It smells like fire, sounds like Buenos Aires and feels like a secret you're glad to be in on. Maté blends Argentinian passion with Levantine flair, serving wood-grilled meat, charred seafood and a vibe that's loud in all the right places. Sit at the counter if you want a front-row seat to the flames. The grill is front and centre, the menu is bold, and the beef is cooked with a kind of religious devotion. Location: Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, Al Saadiyat Island Times: Opens daily at 5pm, dinner starts at 6:30pm Contact: +971 2 407 1373 Café Del Mar Restaurant – Yas Bay Dinner at Café Del Mar Restaurant is all about sea breeze, slow beats and seafood with flair. Café Del Mar is what happens when the beach decides to grow up. It's still got the salty air and sundowners, but now it comes with crisp linens, artful seafood and a playlist that knows when to pause. Lobster Mondays and Paella Tuesdays keep things interesting, while the rest of the menu leans into coastal Mediterranean indulgence. Think sunset cocktails, golden hour selfies and that soft clink of glasses that means you're exactly where you need to be. Location: Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Marina Times: 10am to 11pm (Sunday to Wednesday) and 10am to 2am (Thursday to Saturday) Contact: +971 50 402 2283 > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in


Al Etihad
19 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Abdulla Al Hamed explores avenues of cooperation with global media, entertainment leaders in Osaka
27 July 2025 17:37 OSAKA (WAM)Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the NMO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Media Council, held a series of bilateral meetings in the Japanese city of Osaka with top global media and entertainment industry leaders. These meetings were part of efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships for the development of the film and creative content discussions focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration with international companies in areas such as film production, visual storytelling technologies, and the development of modern media Al Hamed emphasised that the current wave of technological transformation compels media institutions to be proactive in adopting artificial intelligence tools and data added, 'Our vision in the United Arab Emirates is centred on building a flexible and innovative media ecosystem that can anticipate audience needs and produce content that reflects our national ambitions and deep-rooted identity.'He noted that these meetings represent a new step in the UAE's media strategy, which aims to open up to international expertise and form impactful alliances that enhance the country's presence on the global media map. He also highlighted that the meetings served as an opportunity to introduce international partners to the upcoming 'BRIDGE' Summit in Abu Dhabi this December, which seeks to promote global partnerships and expand dialogue around the future of global Al Hamed met with Courtney LeMarco, Chairman of the Political Action Committee for the Entertainment Industry in Washington State, and Founder and CEO of LeMarco Global, a firm specialising in brand management and media content development in collaboration with major global corporations such as Amazon and Disney. He is also the executive producer of the Emmy-nominated documentary series 'Hoarders,' and a visiting lecturer at the University of Washington. He also met with Taiki Sakurai, CEO of Salamander Pictures Co., Ltd., a company known for its innovative approach to filmmaking that combines traditional cinematic techniques with the latest technologies and high-quality visual production.