10 Great Bluewaters Restaurants To Try in Dubai

SHI RESTAUARANT

BLUEWATERS ISLAND

Best for: gourmet Chinese  

If you want a high-end Chinese restaurant in Bluewaters, Shi belongs at the top of your list. The views are incredible, with JBR and the Dubai skyline in full splendour through their floor to ceiling windows, or soak it all up from their terrace in the cooler months. We love their dim sum (starting from AED55) and the shredded duck with chilli garlic sauce (AED145) is delicious. It’s a vast menu and covers everything from seafood to meat, sushi and caviar. Fancy making an occasion of it? Try their sake carafe to add an extra kick to your meal! 

Open: daily | 1PM - 1AM

Bookings: 04 393 9990

THE SPANIEL

BLUEWATERS ISLAND

Best for: Sunday roast 

New on the Dubai dining scene, this British brasserie has made a big impression. It serves everything you’d expect from a British gastro-pub, and their Sunday roast? Hailed as one of the best in the city. Look out for a week full of evening activations: everything from oyster and pearl Tuesdays to Wellington Wednesdays and steak frites Fridays. Their beef wellington is a must-try (although it doesn’t come cheap at AED450) - it’s a memorable dish and worth it, in our opinion! For a more wallet-friendly price (AED130), you can’t go wrong with chicken Kiev and shepherd's pie.

There’s a great buzz on the weekends and evenings, and the decor is comforting (think leather chairs and a fireplace) - we recommend booking a table upstairs for the best experience!

Open: Monday - Friday 12PM - 12AM | Saturday - Sunday 9.30AM - 12AM

Bookings: 04 554 3728

ALICI 

BLUEWATERS ISLAND

Best for: seafood

Alici’s two terraces are the star of the show, with expansive views of the Dubai Marina skyline. Named after the Italian word for anchovies, Alici serves delicious Italian seafood with everything from pizzas and pastas to elegantly presented grills. It’s one of the best restaurants for seafood in Dubai - we recommend the lobster pasta, which is served table-side and is good for 2 people (AED385), and we love the oysters (AED35 a piece). 

The portions aren’t huge, which in our opinion is a good thing - it leaves room for the must-try tiramisu! The stylish decor of blues and whites transport you to the Amalfi coast, and with good food and great views, it makes Alici well worth a visit. 

Open: Saturday & Sunday 12PM - 11PM | Monday - Friday 12PM - 4PM & 5PM - 11PM

Bookings: 04 275 2577

CLAY 

THE WHARF | BLUEWATERS ISLAND 

Best for: high-end Japanese

For a Japanese experience with a twist, head to Clay on Bluewaters Island. Offering a culinary Nikkei experience with a fabulous mix of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine, Clay is sure to impress any guests with its stunning views and uniquely presented dishes. The menu is varied, with a wide selection of nibbles (we love the gyoza), Nikkei grill options and mains. Can’t decide? Go for the Clay Omakase - the chef’s selection of 8 or 12 dishes for AED466 or AED566 - great for celebrating a special occasion. Boasting an Ain Dubai view, the terrace is the perfect spot to enjoy dinner or drinks in the cooler months. 

Their Saturday brunch is a popular affair and a great way to try their menu - there’s 5 courses on offer - and a Pisco sour hour kicks off from 4PM - 9PM (you can enjoy a cocktail for only AED35, a bargain for a Bluewaters location!). 

Open: daily | 12PM - 12AM

Bookings: 04 422 5600

BREWDOG

BLUEWATERS ISLAND 

Best for: meeting friends 

Expanding from their UK base - and Scottish roots - BrewDog opened its first bar in Dubai on Bluewaters in May 2025 under the impressive Ain Dubai and plans to open eight more over the next five years - ambitious. It’s a craft beer paradise, boasting 20 taps from BrewDog Distilling Co and has a great outdoor space with two terraces, one with Ain Dubai views, and the other overlooking the sea. The food menu has everything you’d hope for, with wings, burgers and grazing plates - we love the Korean loaded fries (AED65). There’s an element of fun to it all: there’s a ‘hoppy meal’ on the menu and you can even win a free dessert for your table by challenging your server to a game of rock paper scissors - if you win, dessert is on the house! Get your game face on with bowling and darts - BrewDog’s the perfect spot to catch up with friends. 

Open: daily | 12PM - 12AM

Bookings: 052 956 5688

DEMON DUCK 

BANYAN TREE DUBAI | BLUEWATERS DUBAI

Best for: date night 

Celebrity chef Alvin Leung brings Pan-Asian cuisine to Bluewaters - care of a home in the beautiful Banyan Tree hotel. It serves duck in every single way you can think of - the name Demon Duck is very fitting! - from duck gyozas (AED125) & duck wraps (AED85) to their signature duck soup (AED120). Looking for something special? Go for their degustation menu, which celebrates Demon Duck’s signature dishes and includes a sharing tower, dim sum, a main and dessert. It’s not cheap, at AED590 for food only or AED790 for wine pairing, but it’s worth it for a memorable experience. The interior is quirky, with duck-themed prints and there’s an outdoor terrace where you can hear the ocean lapping in the background. They do a lively Saturday brunch from 1PM - 4PM, letting you can try a range of their dishes - including the incredible slow-roasted, 14-day aged duck (you can also find it on the degustation menu - or it’ll set you back AED690 for whole duck or AED400 for half duck from the a la carte menu). This is the perfect date night spot, or one to take visitors if you’re looking to impress. 

Open: daily | 6PM - 12AM

Bookings: 04 556 6466

DIN TAI FUNG

THE WHARF | BLUEWATERS

Best for: a laid-back meal

If you’re looking for top notch Asian food in Bluewaters, Din Tai Fung is a great option. Originating from Taiwan - and now with a number of branches across Dubai - it’s extremely popular, and rightfully so. Be prepared to wait an average of 20-30 minutes for a table (we recommend heading there for an early lunch to beat the queues!). It’s worth the wait though - their food is that good. No visit would be complete without trying their Xiao Long bao (we love the chicken), and the dumplings and shumai are some of the best in the city. The pictures on the menu make it easy to order if you’re unfamiliar with the cuisine and the prices are reasonable - dishes start at AED30.

Open: daily | 11AM - 12AM

Bookings: 04 288 7786

RIBAMBELLE 

THE WHARF | BLUEWATERS ISLAND

Best for: families 

Located in the wharf on Bluewaters Island, Ribambelle is a haven for families. The decor is whimsical, based on an oasis in the middle of the desert: think soft greens and neutral colours. Set over two floors, the downstairs has a soft play area which includes a mini car garage, a dress up section and a supermarket. There’s loads of arts and crafts available for kids to try - painting, pottery and even cooking classes! All this fun comes at a cost, with the soft play area costing AED95 on weekdays and AED150 on weekends but that includes their meal in the price. 

Upstairs, the licensed restaurant area has a more adult feel. The food is European cuisine with an Asian twist and this is reflected in the kids menu too - you’ll find the classics (chicken tenders & spaghetti bolognese) as well as beef dumplings and chicken noodle soup for the more adventurous young palette. The main menu is sizable, with everything from pizza, pasta and a range of seafood making an appearance. We love their shrimp popcorn, the lemon risotto and the Wagyu burger. Be aware though, the portions aren’t huge - if you’ve got a bigger appetite, an appetizer and a main might be in order to leave feeling full! 

Open: daily | 9AM - 11PM

Booking: 04 581 5555

THE PODS

BLUEWATERS

Best for: celebrating something special

No list of the best restaurants in Bluewaters would be complete without The Pods. This iconic spot provides an intimate dining experience, with incredible views of JBR and the Dubai skyline (although front row pods come at an extra cost of AED50 for the privilege). If you’re celebrating or looking to spoil someone special, there are different packages to suit the occasion, and there’s a bunch of different menus to choose from - everything from a lunch set menu (three courses for AED155), to a dinner set menu (four courses for AED305) and a special 3-course menu with decor and drinks for AED888 per couple, available Monday- Sunday 1PM - 4PM.

The pods are a unique dining experience, and one of the most memorable in Dubai: you can play your own music through their Bluetooth speakers and they give the illusion of being close to nature - but with the benefit of air conditioning (perfect for the warmer months). The portions are on the smaller side but if you’re looking for something different, The Pods are worth a visit! 

Open: daily | 8AM - 1AM

Booking: 04 453 8994

FRANK 

BLUEWATERS

Best for: meat lovers 

A casual spot in Bluewaters, Frank is perfect for a big meal and some drinks with friends. The portions are generous and the decor is cool - think red neon lights and graffiti covered walls. There’s a weekday happy hour from 12PM - 6PM with drinks starting from AED30 and their food menu is extensive, presented in a funky, comic style. They have everything from pinza (we love the pepperoni!) & wings to shawarma, but we recommend their signature ribs (starting from AED175). This is the place for carnivores - meat features heavily on the menu! Turn up hungry, or be prepared to take a doggy bag away, as they don’t skimp on the size of the mains! 

Open: daily | 1PM - 12AM

Booking: 058 634 8811