12 Of The Best Date Night Restaurants In Dubai

Get cute and cosy at some of the city’s most romantic restaurants mamas!

Whether you’ve been away from the hubby for the summer and a date night is long overdue or you just need a night out on the town and an escape from the school run, potty training or sibling squabbles (don’t we all), we’ve picked out some of our very favourite places for a romantic soiree in Dubai with your other half. And remember to check out our eating out section on the site for more inspo!

101 The Palm

Sometimes it’s more about the journey than the destination – well at 101 it’s definitely about both. Located at the One & Only The Palm Jumeirah, start your evening with drinks at the gorgeous Jetty Bar at its sister property across the water before being whisked across to your table by boat transfer while the lights of Dubai Marina sparkle in the background– and pretend for a while that this is how you always travel (just make sure to pre-book if this is your preferred mode of transport – otherwise a long drive on the palm awaits). The menu here is Spanish influenced –the tapas is super tasty and a signature sharing Paella dish perfect for date night. Oh and we can’t not mention the thyme martinis…

101 The Palm, One & Only The Palm Jumeirah, West Crescent, The Palm, Dubai, (+971) (0)4 440 1030, thepalm.oneandonlyresorts.com/cuisine/101.aspx

Bu Qtair

Make a romantic pilgrimage to this outdoor beachfront Keralan fish shack (yup, there’s no need to dress up for date night here) where you and your other half can cosy up together on plastic stools on the sand and enjoy the freshest fish (the chilli prawns are to-die-for) from paper plates. It’s first come first served so get there early or prepare to wait. It’s not licensed but if you fancy a tipple after dinner the Jumeirah Beach Hotel is a short walk away – and what could be more romantic than a stroll along the beach by moonlight?

Bu Qtair, 4D Street, Al Sufouh, Dubai, (+971) (0)55 705 2130

Catch

One of Sassy Mama Dani’s fave date night spots, you’re always guaranteed a fun night out at Catch – it’s vibrant, its lively and the food is great – plus the buzz will pick you up if you’re feeling tired (and which mama isn’t!?). As the name suggests, this place is mainly about (delicious) seafood but you don’t have to be a fish lover to book as the menu also offers some seriously scrummy options for carnivores and veggies alike. And then there’s the sharing dessert plate… omg… 5 mini versions of sweet that you can fight over… or not, it is date night after all.

Catch, Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, PO 97555 Dubai, (+971) (0)4 357 1755, www.fairmont.com/dubai/dining/catch-dubai

La Petite Maison

Beautiful restaurant, beautiful food, beautiful food (read what Sassy contributor Louise had to say here). What the French don’t know about love and food just isn’t worth knowing so a date night at La Petite Maison is a guaranteed winner. The fabulous sharing concept (perfect for anyone who suffers from food envy) includes simple but elegant dishes such as scrambled duck eggs, vension tartare and onion tart as well as superb steak and Mediterranean seafood options – plus deliciously decadent deserts. And we love the colourful paintings on the white walls, the crisp linen and the signature tomato, lemon and olive oil on each table. Perfect date night spot? Mais oui mamans!

La Petite Maison, Gate Village 08, DIFC, PO Box 506711, Dubai, www.lpmdubai.ae

La Serre

Did you know that breakfast dates are the latest thing? (They’re also perfect for the sleep-deprived – nodding off in your soup is never a good thing.) Do it mamas, bend the rules and get romantic over brekkie at the weekend! Ask someone to watch the kids while you and the hubster head to this uber chic French spot at the equally cool Vida Hotel Downtown Dubai for a feast of pastries and eggs with a glass or two of bubbly. Or if the evening thing is more up your boulevard then we love La Serre after sunset too – check out Sassy Mama Sofia’s review for a taster.

La Serre, Vida Downtown Hotel, Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, UAE, (+971) (0)4 428 6969, www.laserre.ae

Medzo

You wouldn’t expect to find an incredible Italian restaurant inside a pyramid but this little gem, tucked away at The Pyramids at Wafi, is exactly that. We love the chandeliers, the floaty white curtains, the candlelight – but most of all we love the food. Overseen by an Italian ‘nonna’, Chef Livia, who is all about authenticity – we’re talking homemade pasta and ingredients sent from Italy, the problem is in the choosing as it’s all so good. And there’s a pork license if real Italian prosciutto tickles your fancy – and the most divine outdoor terrace for when the weather cools. A little slice of Italy in Dubai – bellisimo!

Medzo, Pyramids @ Wafi, Oud Metha District, Sheikh Rashid Road, Dubai, (+971) (0)4 324 4100, www.pyramidsrestaurantsatwafi.com

Okku

If you’re a fan of Japanese and you want a special night out then Okku is the answer. A beautiful space complete with dimly lit corners for pre-dinner cocktails, natural stone, contemporary dark wood and an electric blue wall of pulsating jelly fish, the sushi is amazing but there’s so much more to the menu here – from melt-in-the-mouth beef to contemporary versions of classic tempura and seriously cool veggie options (the O’ Style Avocado Volcano is a must.) Slick, cool and perfect for date night escapism from the real world. Check out Ed Kaya’s full review if you need a little more convincing…

Okku, The H Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, (+971) (0) 4 501 8777, www.h-hotel.com 

Pacha Ibiza Dubai

Pacha Dubai comprises three floors of decadence including a restaurant/club where you can catch a show while dining. Now a night here might not sound like the ideal romantic venture but hold onto your high heels mamas this gem of a ‘restaurant’ is the place to take your other half for a really hot night combining the perfect dosage of glamour, ambience, talented live performances, a hint of risque and a whole menu of flavour-filled Asian-fusion cuisine. Perfect if you want to let your hair down and forget about nappies and homework for a while (as confirmed by Sassy contributor Lucy in her review) – plus if the conversation is lacking then there’s always something to watch on stage instead!

Pacha, Al Sufouh 1, Dubai, (+971) (0)4 567 0000, www.pacha.ae

Pierchic

Make early reservations (this place is popular) and go all out on a seriously special (and heavy on the wallet) night out over water in a stilted dining room. Make sure to ask for a table on the terrace and soak up the sound of the sea and the stunning view of the Burj Al Arab and Dubai skyline. And what to eat when you’re sat out at sea? Well seafood of course – heavenly oysters, scallops and crab just for starters plus lobster, sashimi (and a few meat or veggie options if you’re not a fishy person). But make sure to save room for one of the best apple pies in Dubai, completely yummy and served with honeycomb ice cream that we dream of.

Pierchic, Madinat Jumeirah, Al Qasr, Dubai, (+971) (0)4 366 5866, www.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/dubai/madinat-jumeirah/restaurants–bars/pierchic

Prime 68

A boutique steakhouse that soars (both literally and metaphorically) above any other in the city, this is THE place to come if you need a hearty red and a steak cooked to perfection. Oh and some seriously sassy views. Located on the 68^th floor of the world’s tallest hotel you’re in a prime position to see Dubai stretch out beneath you – and starting your date night with a drink at The Vault split over the 71st and 72nd floors also gives you a breathtaking view of the Burj Khalifa. Heavenly. Want to know more? Check out what Frankie had to say.

Prime 68, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Business Bay, Dubai, (+971) (0)4 414 3000, www.jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com/dining/prime68

Rare

Ok so it’s a bit of a schlep but book an Uber, take the chance to be driven (anyone else feel like a taxi driver on a daily basis?) and relax for the half hour journey to Desert Palm. Once there we guarantee your date night will be awesome – particularly if you’re into steak, steak and more steak and you like it served on a terrace, overlooking lush green polo fields with the Dubai skyline sparkling in the distance or in by candlelight in the sultry dining room. Celebrating an anniversary or special occasion? Let them know beforehand and you might be in for a surprise…

Rare, Per Aquum Desert Palm, PO 119171 Dubai, (+971) (0)4 323 8888, desertpalm.peraquum.com/dining/Rare

The Scene

Whether you’re a British mama or not, this British pub-inspired resto, headed up by celebrity chef Simon Rimmer, is absolutely perfect for a not-too-dressed-up date night (you know, the kind where you can keep your jeans on and jazz up your makeup a bit). In the words of our Sassy contributor Frankie (whose full review of The Scene will defo get you calling for a reservation), ‘forget the fancy-shmancy over-the-top pretentiousness of a lot of Dubai restaurants – this feels like you’re stepping in to someone’s quirky home’. We’re all over getting cosy and romantic in big armchairs, patchwork booths and under mismatched lampshades – and we are definitely all over a menu of pub classics served with a twist and with a stunning view over Dubai Marina to boot.

The Scene, Level 4 at Pier 7, Dubai (+971) (0)4 422 328, www.thescenedubai.com