Dubai’s food scene does not slow down. Not in summer. Not ever.

July 2026 has brought a genuinely remarkable wave of new openings to the city — and this month’s list covers everything from London’s most celebrated tapas bar making its international debut to a 61st floor dinner and show experience, a sound healing wellness residence turned restaurant concept, and a New York deli dropping into DIFC like it has always been there.

Whether you live in Barsha Heights, JVC, Business Bay, Downtown Dubai or anywhere else across the city, there is something on this list worth booking a table for this month.

Here are 32 of the best new restaurants in Dubai to try in July 2026.

1. Barrafina — DIFC

London has a handful of restaurants that achieve genuine cult status. Barrafina in Soho is one of them.

The Spanish tapas bar built its reputation on counter dining, an open kitchen, and plates of such precision that the queues outside often stretched around the block. Barrafina is now making its first international debut — and it has chosen Dubai’s DIFC as the location.

The format stays true to the original. Counter seats, live kitchen action, and the same simple yet impeccably executed Spanish small plates that made Barrafina famous. Signature croquetas, grilled prawns, a creamy tortilla and the non-negotiable pan con tomate. Unfussy, vibrant and very good.

Open: Daily noon to 11:30pm
Location: Gate Village, DIFC
Contact: 058 518 7962

2. Billionaire — Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai

Billionaire is back. And it has upgraded.

Dubai’s most iconic dinner and show experience has relaunched at the Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai, this time on the 61st floor. Artistic director Irma di Paola leads the new production called Up in the Sky, blending dance, light and movement in a setting that looks directly over one of the world’s great city skylines.

If you have been to Billionaire before, expect everything you loved about the concept elevated by a location that the original venue simply could not match.

Open: Tuesday to Sunday 9pm to 3am
Location: Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai, Downtown Dubai
Contact: 04 566 1186

3. Cocina Tres — Business Bay

From the team behind Honeycomb Hi-Fi comes Cocina Tres, a coastal Mexican restaurant in the heart of Business Bay that immediately earns its place as one of the most visually striking new openings this month.

Hand-made tiles, geometric columns and a sunlit terrace set the scene. The kitchen leans into traditional technique: handmade Oaxacan tortillas, wood-fire grilled specials and sharing plates built for a table that is genuinely hungry. The Baja fish tacos, smoky fideo seco with prawns and the whole grilled pescado zarandeado are the dishes getting the most attention. The bar is equally worth your time.

Open: Sunday to Thursday 7pm to 1am, Friday to Saturday 7pm to 2am
Location: Pullman Dubai Downtown, Business Bay
Contact: 04 332 8374

4. CRISP by Chef Reif — Dubai Hills

Chef Reif Othman built his reputation in Dubai through REIF Japanese Kushiyaki. His first foray into bakery culture, CRISP, is now open inside the Dubai Hills location — and it is generating the kind of word of mouth that tends to result in lines.

Inspired by a period in Copenhagen, the concept blends Nordic baking with Japanese technique. Shio pan, pandan kaya jam doughnuts, matcha crème caramel castella and vanilla brûlé millefeuille are among the items on the menu. The vanilla milk soft serve croissant cone is the one everyone is talking about. A flaky, crispy pastry filled with creamy soft serve. Dine in, take away or order via Deliveroo.

Open: Daily 8am to 10pm
Location: Inside REIF Japanese Kushiyaki, Dubai Hills

5. Gloria Osteria — DIFC

The Big Mamma Group has made a name across Europe for Italian restaurants that combine beautiful interiors, serious cooking and ingredients sourced from small Italian producers. Gloria Osteria at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC is the group’s first Middle East opening.

The kitchen works with 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh mozzarella from Caseificio Artigiana and extra virgin olive oil pressed in small Italian mills. The interiors are deliberately photogenic. The cooking is classically Italian and properly executed. This is one of the month’s most significant openings.

Open: Daily noon to 2am
Location: The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC
Contact: 052 576 7412

6. Hudson and Rye — DIFC

New York deli culture has finally arrived in DIFC and it has done so without any attempt to soften the concept for a different audience.

Hudson and Rye at DIFC Square is built around genuine deli staples: house-made pastrami Reubens, tuna melts, cheeseburgers, pickles, potato pancakes and New York-style cheesecake. Breakfast runs daily with biscuit sandwiches loaded with egg, cheese and protein. This is the kind of neighbourhood spot that DIFC has needed for a while.

Open: Monday to Thursday 8am to 8pm, Friday to Sunday 8am to 9pm
Location: DIFC Square, DIFC

7. Iris Harbour — Dubai Harbour

The original Iris bar is a Dubai institution. The new Dubai Harbour location brings that same DNA to a waterfront setting above Bar Du Port, with an outdoor terrace that looks directly over the marina.

Mixed drinks, shareable plates and a soundtrack that transitions from sunset sessions into late-night deep house. The established Iris formats are all here: the Iris Brunch, Iris Sunsets and the weekly ladies night. New location, same energy.

Open: Wednesday 4pm to 2am, Thursday to Friday 4pm to 3am, Saturday 1pm to 3am, Sunday 4pm to 2am
Location: Dubai Harbour Bay, Dubai Harbour
Contact: 04 334 3736

8. Kew’s Tallow Fried Chicken — JVC

From the team behind Sticky Rice, one of Dubai’s most popular Thai spots, comes Kew’s — a fried chicken concept built around one unapologetic principle: exceptionally crunchy chicken cooked in beef tallow.

Open in Jumeirah Village Circle, the menu is tight and focused. A chicken sandwich in soft Hokkaido milk bread. Crispy tallow fries. Three coating options: sticky tamarind, Thai BBQ, or the Kong Kang. Sour mango slaw, Hainanese rice and coconut-based shakes complete the picture. The same no-nonsense, flavour-first approach that made Sticky Rice a hit.

Open: Daily 1pm to 11pm
Location: Jumeirah Village Circle
Contact: 04 580 8350

9. L’Avenue — Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai

Paris’s L’Avenue from the Costes group arrived in Dubai Mall on Fashion Avenue — and the location makes complete sense for a brand synonymous with fashion, luxury and the particular kind of stylish glamour that tends to attract a celebrity crowd.

The Dubai outpost occupies a perch with views of the Dubai Fountains. The menu takes global inspiration with dishes like yellowtail ceviche and a signature crackers cheesecake. The interiors maintain the refined Costes aesthetic. If you are already in Downtown Dubai for the afternoon, this is where lunch should happen.

Open: Daily 10am to midnight
Location: Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai

10. Lady Bird — One Central

Lady Bird at 25 Jump Street is a mixed drinks-led neighbourhood bar with genuine character. Inspired by the lucky ladybird, the space is designed to feel cosy and inviting rather than grand.

The drinks menu organises its offering around seven signature archetypes moving from light and floral through to deep and honeyed, alongside reimagined classics and seasonal drinks. Bar bites include tuna carpaccio, lobster roll and ladybird sliders. Open until 1am on weeknights and 3am on weekends.

Open: Monday to Thursday noon to 1am, Friday to Sunday noon to 3am
Location: 25 Jump Street, One Central
Contact: 052 274 6515

11. Lavang — Downtown Dubai

The modern Indian restaurant from father-daughter duo Ashok and Diviya Kalra has landed in Downtown Dubai, bringing a menu that reworks classic Indian flavours through a contemporary lens.

Saag Burrata, Jalebi Chaat, Jackfruit Biryani, Achari Fish Tikka Tacos and the signature Rasmalai Tiramisu are among the dishes generating the most conversation. Open daily until 1am, Lavang immediately fills a gap in Downtown’s dining landscape for ambitious modern Indian cooking.

Open: Daily 1pm to 1am
Location: Claren Tower, Downtown Dubai
Contact: 04 323 3977

12. Le Piaf — Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road

Paris Society has brought Le Piaf to Dubai — the iconic Parisian piano bar concept making its debut outside Europe at Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

The evening begins as a glamorous French dinner: escargots, chicken and caviar, sole meunière, roasted lobster and live piano performances that gradually escalate into full-room sing-alongs. As the night develops, a DJ takes over and the atmosphere shifts into something closer to a late-night party. Elegant start, lively finish. Distinctly Parisian throughout.

Open: Wednesday to Saturday 8pm to 2am
Location: Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road

13. Le Trottoir de Paloma — 25 Jump Street, One Central

Looking for a new all-day spot in One Central? Le Trottoir de Paloma brings genuine French bistro energy to 25 Jump Street.

Business lunch, afternoon coffee, after-work drinks, late dinner — the venue is designed to handle all of them. The menu covers shareable plates including tuna ceviche, red gamberoni tiradito, crab rolls and roasted farm chicken, alongside MB6 wagyu ribeye and sole meunière. The warm chocolate fondant and tropical pavlova are the desserts to order.

Open: Daily noon to 2am
Location: 25 Jump Street, One Central
Contact: 052 133 3017

14. Lion in the Sun — Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai

Described by the team as a salotto in the sky, Lion in the Sun sits on the top floor of the Mandarin Oriental Downtown — a design-led space blending heritage charm with contemporary style.

Chef Batuhan Piatti Zeynioglu, formerly of Billionaire and Piatti, leads the kitchen with open-fire cooking, premium ingredients and a Mediterranean direction. The setting is elevated. The cooking is serious. The views are the kind that justify the address.

Open: Daily noon to 2am
Location: Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai, Downtown Dubai
Contact: 04 565 5811

15. Nobu One Za’abeel — The Link

One of Dubai’s most enduring Japanese dining institutions has opened its second location at The Link inside One and Only One Za’abeel.

The new Nobu comes with a massive dining room, private dining spaces, an elegant lounge and a bar with floor to ceiling windows looking out over the Dubai skyline. The design adds a futuristic dimension to the familiar Nobu aesthetic. Most notably, this location introduces a live entertainment programme — a first for Nobu in Dubai.

Open: Sunday to Wednesday 6pm to 1am, Thursday to Saturday 6pm to 3am
Location: The Link, One and Only One Za’abeel
Contact: 04 666 1617

16. Noia by The Pool — Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai

Eleven floors up at the Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Noia by The Pool is a rooftop Greek restaurant with Aegean-inspired plates and city views that do serious justice to the setting.

Oysters, mezze, chicken souvlaki, zucchini balls and a selection of regional wines. Open from 8am to sunset daily, this is the kind of spot that works equally well for a long weekend brunch or a post-swim early dinner on one of Dubai’s better summer rooftops.

Open: Daily 8am to sunset
Location: Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Sheikh Zayed Road
Contact: 04 777 8895

17. ONA — Jumeirah 1

ONA is the Australian specialty coffee house founded by World Barista Champion Sasa Šestić, and its first international location has opened in Jumeirah 1.

This is not a standard café. The experience begins with a conversation about how you want your coffee to taste — chocolatey, fruity, filter, milk-based — and builds from there. The terracotta-toned space has a terrace designed for lingering, an all-day food menu and the kind of coffee credentials that justify the attention. Jumeirah just got a proper coffee destination.

Open: Daily 8am to 10pm
Location: Jumeirah 1

18. Orilla — Jumeirah Village Triangle

Jumeirah Village Triangle has a new Mediterranean restaurant worth knowing about. Orilla, from chef Saradhi Dakara, brings the Mediterranean lifestyle approach to JVT: shareable plates, golden-hour drinks and a kitchen that blends fresh seafood with Asian-inspired touches reflecting the chef’s culinary roots.

Open daily until 2am, Orilla works equally well for a casual dinner or a late-night sharing plates session.

Open: Daily noon to 2am
Location: Jumeirah Village Triangle
Contact: 04 575 2986

19. Orme Osteria — Dubai Creek Harbour

Palace Hotel at Dubai Creek Harbour has added a waterside Italian restaurant that leans fully into relaxed, long-lunch Mediterranean living.

The menu sticks to Italian classics done properly. Burrata and arancini to start. Handmade rigatoni with porcini and truffle. Branzino and ossobuco as mains. Tiramisù and panna cotta to finish. The setting on the marina makes this an easy choice for both day visits and sunset dinners.

Open: Daily 7am to 11pm
Location: Palace Hotel, Dubai Creek Harbour
Contact: 04 455 8870

20. OTHER — Dar Al Wasl, Al Wasl

From the team behind Origami, Moon Slice and DROP comes OTHER — a design-led space in Dar Al Wasl that moves from a relaxed daytime café into a polished dinner destination as the evening develops.

The menu rewards curiosity. A hotdog and caviar sandwich. Spicy beef tenderloin. An OTHER wagyu beef burger that earns its place on the menu. Pastries, speciality coffee and mocktails by day. Seasonal plates and sharing dishes by night. The attention to detail in both the food and the space is immediately evident.

Open: Daily 10am to 1am. Unlicensed.
Location: Dar Al Wasl, Al Wasl
Contact: 04 261 0113

21. Pancita — Al Safa

Emirati baker Najla Busit started Pancita in her home kitchen. It has grown into one of Dubai’s most genuinely beloved bakeries — and the new Al Safa location brings the concept to a neighbourhood space designed for people who want to stay a while.

Flaky Argentinian medialunas with an Emirati twist, freshly baked empanadas, excellent coffee and a cosy interior that does not rush you out the door. Whether you are working through the morning or just stopping by for something sweet, this is a neighbourhood spot worth building into your rotation.

Open: Daily 8am to 9pm
Location: Al Ferdous Building, Al Safa
Contact: 056 447 3663

22. Pepperoni Comedy Club — One Central

One Central’s newest addition combines two things that should have been put together in Dubai a long time ago: serious comfort food and live comedy.

Pepperoni Comedy Club at 25 Jump Street is part American-Italian diner, part entertainment venue. Pastas, pizzas, big-portioned comfort food and a bar for pre-show warm-ups. The entertainment programme includes stand-up sets, themed comedy nights and a rotating roster of local and international acts. Indoor and outdoor seating, an open kitchen and retro-90s energy throughout.

Open: Sunday to Thursday noon to midnight, Friday to Saturday noon to 2am. Licensed.
Location: 25 Jump Street, Dubai One Central
Contact: 04 572 7040

23. Scratch — Jumeirah 1

Scratch at Wasl Vita is making a clear statement about what a burger restaurant should look like when it takes its craft seriously.

Hand-formed Australian grass-fed beef patties. Freshly baked buns. House-made sauces, pickles and potato chips. All made from scratch, as the name promises. The menu goes well beyond the standard cheeseburger with creations topped with gouda and caviar cream, slow-cooked short rib jam, bone marrow gravy and charred pickled onions. If you track down good burgers in Dubai, this one deserves your attention.

Open: Daily 4pm to midnight
Location: Wasl Vita, Al Wasl Road

24. Shinobi — Al Wasl Road

Dubai’s handroll scene has a new entry worth taking seriously. Shinobi on Al Wasl Road brings made-to-order handrolls with crisp nori, warm rice and quality seafood to a space shaped by New York energy and Tokyo craftsmanship.

Handrolls are the headline, but the menu extends to nigiri, sashimi, tacos, salads, hot dishes and desserts alongside house-made sodas, kombuchas, teas and coffee. From the team behind Kraken and Mamati, this one has the pedigree to back up the concept.

Open: Daily noon to 11pm. Unlicensed.
Location: Al Wasl Road, Dubai

25. Sienna — DIFC

Paris Society’s second Dubai opening this month — after Le Piaf — brings the famous Parisian Italian restaurant Sienna to Gate Village 7 in DIFC.

Elegant interiors, a menu of Italian classics including lobster linguine, beef carpaccio, signature rigatoni and tiramisù. Business lunch by day, DJs and cocktails by evening. The original Paris outpost has a celebrity following. The Dubai version already has reservations filling up.

Open: Tuesday to Thursday 7pm to 1am, Friday to Saturday 7pm to 2am, Sunday 7pm to 1am
Location: Gate Village 7, DIFC

26. Sobremesa — Downtown Dubai

Sobremesa takes its name from the Spanish and Latin American tradition of lingering at the table after a meal — and the Souk Al Bahar location in Downtown Dubai is built entirely around that philosophy.

Truffled quesadilla, duck carnitas, a rotating selection of Mexican mixed drinks and a setting that does not rush anyone anywhere. This is the kind of restaurant that works best when you have nowhere to be afterwards.

Open: Daily noon to 2am
Location: Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai
Contact: 052 516 1295

27. Suteki — Dubai Harbour

Dubai Harbour continues to grow as a dining destination with the arrival of Suteki at Harbour House — a wagyu-led Japanese restaurant with a waterfront position and interiors that take a gallery approach to the dining room.

The menu centres on premium wagyu alongside Japanese beverages and mixed drinks using proper Japanese ingredients. Low lighting, warm wood, art pieces and red and orange tones set a mood that works well for dinner. The views across Dubai Harbour complete the picture.

Open: Wednesday to Sunday 6pm to midnight
Location: Marina Promenade, Dubai Harbour
Contact: 04 332 6730

28. Taquería El Primo — Al Wasl Road

Chef Jonathan Colin grew up in Mexico City, cooked at Zuma and La Petite Maison, and has brought the tacos of his childhood to Dubai with Taquería El Primo on Al Wasl Road.

Al pastor with pineapple, slow-cooked suadero, Baja-style fish and a mushroom birria for the non-meat eaters. The 80s-style space has red and white tiles, a relaxed neighbourhood feel and a rotating selection of house salsas. Ice-cold aguas frescas and a passion fruit twisted vanilla cheesecake round it off. This is a restaurant built on memory and it shows.

Open: Tuesday to Wednesday 5pm to midnight, Thursday to Sunday 3pm to midnight
Location: Bada’a Aswaaq Mall, Al Wasl Road
Contact: 04 388 1855

29. The MAINE Beach House — Palm Jumeirah

Dubai-born institution The MAINE has opened its fourth location, this time bringing a full beachside experience to Club Vista Mare on Palm Jumeirah.

Beachfront dining, cabanas, beach beds and terrace seating right on the sand. The New England coastal dining inspiration translates here into lobster rolls, crispy fish tacos, handmade pastas, market-fresh fish and premium grill dishes — all served with sweeping sea views. Open to families, dogs and even boat arrivals. An all-day venue that genuinely earns that description.

Open: Daily noon to midnight
Location: Club Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah
Contact: 04 457 6719

30. VNTG Grape and Cheese Society — Business Bay

The JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Business Bay has added one of the city’s most interesting wine-focused concepts to its dining portfolio.

VNTG Grape and Cheese Society is a relaxed European-style enoteca with over 350 bottles and strong by-the-glass options. The food menu earns its own attention: mussels with garlic and seaweed butter, a hearty chicken pie with creamed potato and Russian kale, smoked roasted cauliflower with yoghurt and toasted pine nuts. The apple tarte tatin is the dessert to order. This is a venue for people who want to drink well and eat seriously without making it a formal occasion.

Open: Monday to Thursday 4pm to 2am, Friday to Saturday noon to 2am
Location: JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, Business Bay
Contact: 04 414 6414

31. Window — Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz

From the team behind Kokoro comes Window, a live-fire dining concept in Alserkal Avenue that does exactly what its description promises — and nothing more.

Open flames, seasonal ingredients, dishes that let the cooking technique do the talking. Meats caramelising over coals. Vegetables picking up a considered hint of smoke. A menu that changes with what is genuinely good right now. The space is warm, minimal and centred on an open hearth. No theatrics. Just fire and food.

Open: Tuesday to Sunday noon to 11:30pm. Unlicensed.
Location: Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz

32. Yu and Mi — Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai

The Mandarin Oriental Downtown is having a remarkable opening month. Yu and Mi on the 36th floor rounds out the building’s dining portfolio with a modern Chinese restaurant inspired by the energy of 1960s Hong Kong.

A destination mixed drinks bar and a restaurant sit within a single space. The cocktail programme is serious. The Chinese menu is contemporary rather than traditional. Floor to ceiling views over Downtown Dubai make the setting as much a part of the experience as the food and drink.

Open: Sunday to Thursday 6pm to 11pm, Friday to Saturday 6pm to midnight
Location: Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road
Contact: 04 777 8895

Looking for the Right Neighbourhood to Experience All of This?

Dubai’s dining scene is one of the city’s greatest assets — and where you live determines how easily you can access it.

Residents in Barsha Heights are minutes from Media City, Internet City and a growing cluster of restaurants and cafés within the community itself. JVC residents have Kew’s Tallow Fried Chicken right on their doorstep and Goose Island in the community. Business Bay puts you within walking distance of DIFC, Downtown Dubai and the Canal waterfront dining strip.

If you are thinking about renting or buying property in Dubai and want to live somewhere that gives you easy access to the city’s best lifestyle offerings, the team at Pin Homes Real Estate LLC can help you find the right community for the way you want to live.

We are based in Barsha Heights and know every corner of this city.

📞 Call or WhatsApp: +971 58 529 3432
🌐 Explore Dubai properties at pinhomes.ae
📍 Al Ameri Tower, Office 2208, Barsha Heights, Dubai

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Restaurant details, opening times and prices are subject to change. Always confirm directly with the venue before visiting. Pin Homes Real Estate LLC is a RERA-licensed real estate agency in Dubai, UAE.