From animal experiences to dining in the dark, these are the most unique dining experiences across the Emirates.
The UAE’s dining scene is never short on spectacle. Across the country, restaurants go far beyond the plate, offering sky-high settings, animal encounters, immersive storytelling and themed interiors that turn dinner into an experience. Whether you want to eat beside an aquarium, climb aboard a train carriage, dine in total darkness or sip coffee surrounded by cats, these unique restaurants in the UAE promise meals with a memorable twist.
1484 by Puro: The highest restaurant in the UAE
For dining with a view, 1484 by Puro is hard to beat. Perched atop Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, the restaurant takes its name from its altitude, sitting 1,484 metres above sea level. The setting makes it the highest restaurant in the UAE, with sweeping views across the Hajar Mountains. The menu is relaxed and accessible, with soups, salads, sandwiches and hearty dishes designed for mountain days. Open daily from 8am to 9pm, it is ideal for breakfast, lunch or a post-adventure meal with serious scenery.
Where: 1484 by Puro, Jebel Jais, Wadi Shehah, Ras Al Khaimah
When: Open daily from 8am to 9pm
Contact: https://puro.ae
Ain Dubai: The world’s tallest observation wheel
Ain Dubai takes dinner with a view to record-breaking heights. Set on Bluewaters Island, the world’s tallest observation wheel rises 250 metres above the city, offering sweeping views of JBR, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and the Arabian Gulf. Dining experiences are centred around private VIP cabins, where groups can enjoy lounge access, a dedicated entrance and food and drink options while the wheel completes its 38-minute rotation. Whether booked for celebrations, date nights or corporate gatherings, the experience turns a meal into a sky-high occasion.
Where: Ain Dubai, Bluewaters Island, Dubai
When: Open daily from 12pm to 8pm
Contact: www.aindubai.com
At.mosphere: Dine inside the world’s tallest building
Few restaurants in the world can rival the location of At.mosphere. Set on level 122 of Burj Khalifa, 442 metres above the ground, the restaurant offers fine dining inside the world’s tallest building. The Downtown Dubai destination serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, all paired with sweeping views across the city. Menus lean into refined ingredients and elegant presentation, with dishes such as foie gras torchon, wild turbot and gâteaux aux pommes. For special occasions, it remains one of Dubai’s most dramatic dining rooms.
Where: At.mosphere, 122nd Floor, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai
When: Open daily from 8am to midnight
Contact: www.atmosphereburjkhalifa.com
Blume: Dine in a Christian Dior train carriage
Blume in Dubai Mall brings a sense of theatre to the table with its train carriage-inspired dining room. The restaurant’s Christian Dior-themed carriage channels the glamour of the Orient Express, complete with plush seating, branded cushions and decorative Dior details. Beyond the design, the menu spans a wide range of cuisines, moving from the Middle East to Asia and beyond. Diners can choose from caviar, sushi, pasta, pizza, grills, salads, raw dishes and desserts. It is a playful, fashion-forward experience for those who like their meal with a little drama.
Where: Blume, Fashion Avenue, Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai
When: Open daily from 10am to 2am
Contact: https://blumedubai.com
Boomah: Eat with owls
Boomah in Abu Dhabi is the UAE’s first owl café, making it one of the country’s most unusual places to visit. The venue is home to nine owls, and guests can learn more about the birds before holding them under the supervision of a trained handler. The menu keeps things casual, with mocktails, fresh juices, tea, milkshakes and speciality coffee. Tickets cost AED 70 for adults and AED 50 for children. Open daily from 2pm to 1am, Boomah offers an animal encounter with a café-style setting.
Where: Boomah, Al Seef Village Walk, Al Muntazah, Abu Dhabi
When: Open daily from 2pm to 10pm
Contact: @boomah.ae
BRIX Journey: Feast on a dessert tasting menu
If you believe that there is always room for dessert, then BRIX deserves a spot on your list. Created by the team behind 3Fils, the Jumeirah Fishing Harbour venue is known for offering the UAE’s only dessert tasting menus. The concept turns sweet treats into a full dining experience, with inventive flavour combinations and carefully composed plates. The wider menu includes familiar favourites such as milk cake, tiramisu, carrot cake and cheesecake, as well as more daring creations. Intimate, creative and designed for those with a sweet tooth, BRIX proves dessert can take centre stage.
Where: BRIX Journey, Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, Al Urouba Street, Dubai
When: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 2pm to 11:30pm
Contact: https://brixdessert.com
Cave: Have a meal inside a cave
Cave in Abu Dhabi offers a dining experience that feels transportive from the moment you step inside. Designed to resemble an intimate grotto, the venue features stone textures, illuminated alcoves and moody interiors that make it a strong choice for an atmospheric meal. The menu brings European-inspired flavours to the table, with tapas-style dishes and options for vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diners. Highlights include fried calamari, patatas bravas, short rib fries, the signature Cave Burger, chicken cutlets and roasted hazelnut cheesecake. It is cosy, characterful and highly photogenic.
Where: Cave, Al Qana, Rabdan, Abu Dhabi
When: Open daily from 10am to 11pm
Contact: @caveabudhabi
Fresh Basil: Have dinner in the dark
Dinner In The Dark at Fresh Basil, Bab Al Qasr, strips dining back to the senses. Guests enter a pitch-black room for a 90-minute experience where sight is removed, and flavour, aroma and texture take over. The mystery three-course meal encourages diners to guess what they are eating, while servers wearing night vision goggles guide the evening. Conversation flows as guests try to decode each dish. At the end of the meal, the lights are raised, and the menu is revealed, making it one of Abu Dhabi’s most memorable dining concepts.
Where: Fresh Basil Dining In The Dark, Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residences, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi
When: Open Monday to Saturday from 7pm to 9pm
Contact: www.millenniumhotels.com
Emirates Park Zoo: Have breakfast with the animals
Emirates Park Zoo & Resort turns mealtimes into memorable wildlife encounters. Located in Al Bahyah, Abu Dhabi, the family-friendly attraction offers VIP dining experiences that bring guests closer to its animal residents, including giraffes, sea lions and elephants. The signature Breakfast with Giraffes experience lasts around two hours and includes a pre-selected breakfast menu, giraffe interaction, photo opportunities, a herbivore feeding session and access to guides, making it as educational as it is entertaining. Other experiences include dining with elephants and big cats, placing animal encounters at the heart of the visit. Experiences are subject to availability and animal wellbeing.
Where: Emirates Park Zoo, 12th Street, Al Bahyah, Abu Dhabi
When: Open daily from 9am to 9pm
Contact: https://emiratesparkzooandresort.com
Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi: Dine inside a museum
Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi brings Parisian brasserie dining into one of the UAE’s most striking cultural settings. Located at Louvre Abu Dhabi, the experience begins before you reach the table, as guests pass beneath Jean Nouvel’s spectacular “rain of light” dome, where sunlight filters through the geometric canopy and dances across the museum’s waterfront walkways. Inside, the restaurant channels the spirit of its Champs-Élysées original, with refined French classics served in an elegant, museum-side setting. Menu highlights include onion soup, escargots, beef tartare, Dover sole, steak frites and indulgent desserts such as crème brûlée and mille-feuille, making it a memorable way to combine art, architecture and dining.
Where: Fouquet’s, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
When: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm to 11pm
Contact: https://www.fouquetsabudhabi.com/en
Habib Beirut: Eat inside a waterfall
Habib Beirut in Khorfakkan offers one of Sharjah’s most unusual dining settings, placing guests inside the man-made Khorfakkan Waterfall with views over the coastline. The cave-like interiors, cascading water and dramatic mountain backdrop make the restaurant feel more like an attraction than a conventional meal. The menu leans into classic Lebanese comfort, covering hot and cold mezze, salads, fatteh, manakish, shawarma, sandwiches and mixed grills. Highlights include hummus, moutabal, cheese rolls, fried kibbeh, grilled halloumi, chicken kebab, taouk and lamb cutlets. experience.
Where: Habib Beirut, Khorfakkan Waterfalls, Al Mudeife, Khor Fakkan
When: Open daily from 9am to midnight
Contact: @habibbeirutuae
Krasota: Enjoy an immersive meal
FACT award-winning KRASOTA Dubai turns dinner into a cinematic performance. Located at Address Downtown, the immersive dining destination combines fine dining, storytelling and 360-degree visual theatre. Its Imaginary Russia 2.0 experience draws on Russian history, folklore, mythology and futuristic fantasy, with each chapter paired with a dish by acclaimed chef Vladimir Mukhin. The menu includes creations such as Golden Apple with ikura, smoked black cod with green pea porridge, and a Satellite Dessert with yuzu sorbet, prosecco jelly and lime meringue. It is a multi-sensory experience built for curious diners.
Where: KRASOTA, Address Downtown, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai
When: Open daily from 1pm to 1am
Contact: https://krasota.art
Lady Nara: Have dinner aboard a traditional dhow
Lady Nara brings Dubai’s dhow cruise tradition into a more refined era. The custom-built wooden vessel departs from Festival City Waterfront for a two-hour journey along Business Bay Creek, with views of the city skyline from its upper deck and air-conditioned lower lounge. The flagship dinner menu blends Mediterranean flavours with an Emirati touch, moving from artichoke tart, cured beef carpaccio and Mediterranean fattoush to UAE red snapper, black cod banadurah harra, braised beef short ribs and saffron rice. A pistachio dacquoise with kadaifi crisps and raspberry sorbet provides a sweet finale.
Where: Lady Nara, Waterfront Walk, Al Kheeran, Dubai Festival City
When: Sailing from Wednesday to Sunday from 5:30pm to 11pm
Contact: www.nara.ae/lady-nara-dubai
Meowtropolis Cat Café: Enjoy coffee with cats
Meowtropolis Cat Café is purr-fect for cat lovers. One of Dubai’s quirkiest cafés, the venue is home to adopted cats that roam freely through the space. Guests can enjoy time with the animals while tucking into cakes, coffee, tea and milkshakes. The concept also has a heartwarming purpose, as visitors can register interest in adopting one of the cats if they form a special connection. Entry starts at AED 59.
Where: Meowtropolis Cat Café, Lake Shore Tower, Cluster Y, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Contact: @meowtropoliscatcafe
Ossiano: Dine underwater
Ossiano at Atlantis, The Palm remains one of the UAE’s most spectacular restaurants. Set beside a floor-to-ceiling aquarium, the dining room places guests close to stingrays, sharks and thousands of marine creatures. The underwater setting may be the initial draw, but the food is equally impressive. A multiple FACT Award winner, Ossiano is known for its refined seafood-led menus, luxury ingredients and ocean-inspired storytelling. Caviar, rare seafood and imaginative technique all play a role. Romantic, dramatic and deeply memorable, it is one of Dubai’s definitive destination dining experiences.
Where: Ossiano, Atlantis The Palm. Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Open Friday to Monday from 6pm to 9pm
Contact: www.atlantis.com
Pierchic: Dine on a pier in the ocean
Pierchic is one of Dubai’s most romantic restaurants, thanks to its setting at the end of a private pier at Jumeirah Al Qasr. Surrounded by the Arabian Gulf, the restaurant offers elevated waterfront dining with views across the water and Burj Al Arab. The menu celebrates Italian flavours, with a focus on seafood, crudo, antipasti and handmade pasta. Chef Beatrice’s menu brings comfort and refinement together, moving from delicate starters to signature pasta dishes and indulgent desserts. For date nights and special occasions, the location still feels hard to top.
Where: Pierchic, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Al Safouh, Dubai
When: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 1pm to 10:30pm
Contact: www.jumeirah.com
Piquant Pick: Have a meal on a replica train
Piquant Pick Home Restaurant in Ajman takes diners on a culinary journey inside a train-themed setting. Guests sit in cabin-style seating and can call for service at the touch of a button, with a porter arriving at the carriage. The menu travels across the Middle East and Asia, covering soups, salads, seafood platters, kebabs, curries and biryanis. The setting is playful without being overly complicated, making it a fun choice for families and groups. Open daily from 12:30pm to 1am, it brings railway nostalgia to the dining table.
Where: Piquant Pick Home Restaurant, Al Rashidiya, Ajman
When: Open daily from 12:30pm to 1am.
Contact: @piquantpick.ae
The Pods: Private dining in a pod
The Pods on Bluewaters Island turn private dining into a futuristic experience. The venue features 22 individual pods, each designed for intimate meals, family celebrations, business lunches or group gatherings. Sizes vary, with spaces seating up to six, eight or 14 guests, and views stretch towards Dubai Marina. The Pan Asian menu includes Chinese and Japanese favourites, from dim sum and sushi to curries and sharing dishes. The beef rendang curry is a standout, balancing softness, spice and sweetness. Open daily from 7am to 1am, The Pods are built for memorable meals.
Where: The Pods, Bluewaters Island, Dubai
When: Open daily from 8am to 1am
Contact: https://thepods.ae
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi: Helipad afternoon tea
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi elevates dining in every sense with its exclusive Sunset Helipad experience. Hosted on the highest active helipad in the Middle East, the event is limited to just 20 guests. Visitors are escorted through private back corridors and elevators before arriving at the rooftop setting, where panoramic views of Abu Dhabi unfold. The experience includes live saxophone or violin music, crafted beverages and elegant canapés. Depending on the occasion, guests can also enjoy dinner or the St. Regis Signature Afternoon Tea in a truly rare setting.
Where: The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Nation Towers, Corniche Street, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi
When: Dates and times available on request
Contact: www.marriott.com
Transit Terminal Food: Eat at a replica airport
Transit Terminal Food in Abu Dhabi is designed for diners with a serious case of wanderlust. The aviation-themed restaurant recreates the feeling of being inside an airport, complete with a departure lounge, check-in counter, aeroplane-style seats and artificial clouds in the windows. The menu reflects the theme with international comfort dishes, including fish and chips, quesadillas and currywurst. Fun, casual and highly themed, it is a good choice for families, aviation enthusiasts and anyone looking for a restaurant with a sense of escapism. The venue is open daily from 11am to midnight.
Where: Transit Terminal Food, Hazaa Bin Zayed The First Street, Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi
When: Open daily from 11am to midnight
Contact: @transitterminalfood
Viking Restaurant: Immersive Norse dining
Viking Restaurant in Ajman brings medieval drama to the dining table. Inspired by Norse culture and fantasy storytelling, the venue features goblets, horns, themed décor, costumed staff and medieval-style music. The menu continues the concept, with dishes created using traditional Viking-inspired cooking techniques and named after warriors. It is an immersive experience that will appeal to fans of Game of Thrones-style dining, theatrical restaurants and group-friendly meals. Open daily from 12pm to midnight, Viking Restaurant stands out as one of Ajman’s most distinctive themed dining destinations.
Where: Viking Restaurant, Liwara 1, Al Bustan, Ajman
When: Open daily from 4pm to midnight
Contact: @viking.ajman