Dubai’s Best Smart Casual Restaurants with a Magnificent View

This seafood restaurant with a bar and lounge is situated on the ground floor of the Address Downtown Dubai hotel, offering a view of the city’s main water attraction. It is officially one of Dubai’s most beautiful restaurants, boasting an exceptional view of the Burj Khalifa and the nighttime dancing fountain show. It also has the best terrace for capturing sunset-colored selfies in downtown Dubai. Another ideal Instagram spot is the famous round bar counter, which is specially illuminated in the evenings. Urla is a perfect location for celebrating important occasions or simply partying the night away.

One of Dubai’s most intriguing smart casual restaurants is dedicated to contemporary Portuguese cuisine. It is located on the 6th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah hotel and boasts the district’s best views of both the Persian Gulf and downtown. If you come in the evening, book a table by the city-facing windows. The excellent panoramic views are complemented by innovative cuisine from one of Portugal’s most renowned chefs José Avillez with a focus on the regional specialties of Algarve region, as well as by an excellent menu of Portuguese wines.

A popular city bistro serving Balkan cuisine is located on the second floor of the Meyan Mall shopping center. This is one of Dubai’s best and most successful casual dining establishments, featuring a spacious terrace with a panoramic view of the city, including the iconic Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab towers. Both locals and expats love this place for breakfast and lunch as it offers comforting, home-like food that is anything but boring, in a friendly, Instagrammable space filled with light.

This Dubai branch of the international chain of Chinese restaurants features an elegant but not stuffy atmosphere, impeccable Cantonese cuisine, and exhilarating views. It is located on the 73rd floor of the Address Beach Resort hotel in the beach zone of the JBR district, so the restaurant’s terrace overlooks the Persian Gulf, Bluewaters Island with the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel, the Palm, and the Dubai Marina. During the cool season, from November to April, it is best to book a table outside, regardless of the time of day. The terrace is under a roof, providing excellent protection from sun both in the morning and in the afternoon.

This is a beach club and restaurant that offers everyday home-style Spanish food, decorated in a Balearic style and named in honor of the notorious private island off the east coast of Ibiza. The terrace of this villa restaurant, along with the adjacent beach, provides one of the most comforting yet distinctly Dubai views of the blue waters, the eastern part of The Palm Jumeirah, and the Burj Al Arab tower. It is the best option for a relaxed family weekend or a dinner in the atmosphere of a carefree Spanish vacation.

One of the world’s best Japanese restaurants offers a picturesque view of the city with the Burj Khalifa in the background. It is located in the DIFC district and occupies two floors in one of the Gate Village buildings. The first level is home to the restaurant, which hosts generous and crowded brunches on Saturdays, while the second level features a lounge bar that comes alive in the evenings. With low sills, wood, stone, metal, and an energetic cosmopolitan atmosphere from morning till night, first-class contemporary Japanese cuisine is the cherry on top.

This is a classic Italian cuisine restaurant decorated in the 1960-1970s style with gold, mirrors, marble, and abundant plants. In the evenings, the ambiance transforms with warm lighting and white tablecloths. The large terrace offers a view of one of Dubai’s most popular beaches, Palm West Beach, along with the skyline of the Dubai Marina. The location is unparalleled as the establishment is situated within The Club, the most beautiful and luxurious beach resort on The Palm Jumeirah. The dress code is smart casual.