Baoli started in Cannes in 2001. The original became one of those South of France restaurants where dinner turns into a party without anyone announcing the transition. The music gets louder, the lights shift, and suddenly you are on your feet between the tables. Two decades later, the same concept landed on J1 Beach in Dubai as Baoli Dubai when the venue opened in October 2024, bringing every bit of that energy with it.
The Dubai version is bigger and more beach-forward than Cannes. You get a 350-square-metre pool, a private white-sand beach, pool suites with direct water access, and a sundeck with cabanas. Moreover, an infinity pool overlooking the Gulf and a restaurant serving coastal French-Mediterranean food with serious East Asian technique underneath. Executive Chef Omar Basiony runs the kitchen. The menu reads French on the surface, but the execution draws heavily from Japanese robata grilling, udon preparations and sushi craft.
The restaurant made the 2025 MICHELIN Guide Dubai, which puts it in rare company for a beach club venue. Most beach clubs in Dubai are reviewed for their vibes. This one is reviewed for its food.
What You Will Pay
Baoli Dubai runs a clean, tiered system. Everything is fully redeemable for food and drinks at the pool, beach and restaurant. Ladies get complimentary access Monday through Thursday.
See our full guide to the best beach clubs in Dubai for prices and access across the city.
Pool
| Option | Mon – Thu | Fri – Sun | Redeemable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pool Sunbed (front row by pool) | AED 500 | AED 600 | Fully on F&B |
| Pool Gazebo (up to 4 guests) | AED 3,000 | AED 5,000 | Fully on F&B |
| Pool Suite (up to 6 guests, direct pool entry) | AED 6,000 | AED 10,000 | Fully on F&B |
Additional guests in Pool Suites are charged AED 500 per person, also redeemable. Looking for pool access without the beach club scene? Try our best pool day passes in Dubai.
Beach
| Option | Mon – Thu | Fri – Sun | Redeemable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Sunbed (front row to sea) | AED 250 | AED 300 | Fully on F&B |
| Beach Gazebo (up to 2 guests) | Confirm with the venue | Confirm with venue | Fully on F&B |
Additional guests in Beach Gazebos are charged AED 200, redeemable.
A few things worth knowing:
- Ladies get complimentary pool and beach access Monday to Thursday. One of the best free-entry deals on J1 Beach.
- UAE residents get 10% off pool, beach and restaurant dining.
- All spending credits are redeemable at both the pool/beach and the restaurant. If you start poolside and move to dinner, your credit carries across.
- The pool is 350 sqm with an infinity edge facing the Arabian Gulf. It is not temperature-controlled, so summer months are warm water.
- Dress code is beach chic during the day. Smart and stylish for evening dining and events. They will turn you away at the door if you are too casual at night.
WOW Emirates Pro Tip: The ladies’ complimentary access deal (Mon-Thu) is genuinely free. No minimum spend, no catch. If you are a group of women looking for a midweek pool day on J1 Beach, this is the obvious choice. Pair it with the 10% UAE resident discount on food, and you have one of the best-value beach club days in the city.
The Food That Got the MICHELIN Guide’s Attention
Chef Omar Basiony built a menu that blends coastal French-Mediterranean cooking with Japanese and Southeast Asian techniques. The bread costs AED 70. The lobster linguine to share is nearly AED 2,000. This is not a budget meal, and it does not pretend to be. But the execution is what separates Baoli Dubai from the other J1 Beach restaurants. For beachfront dining without the sunbed commitment, see our best beachfront restaurants in Dubai.
The dishes people talk about:
- Creamy Lobster Udon (AED 440) – the signature. Thick udon noodles in a lobster bisque with sea urchin butter, chunks of pan-roasted lobster, and Hokkaido uni. Served in a clay pot tableside. BBC Good Food ME, Khaleej Times, and Time Out all flagged this as the standout dish.
- Otoro Cigar – fatty tuna and caviar rolled tight with nikiri sauce. One of the signature starters that does not exist at most beach club restaurants.
- Grilled Rack of Lamb (AED 675 for full rack) – spicy kimchi and red miso glaze, finished on the robata. The half rack is available for smaller appetites.
- 12-Hour Short Rib – sous vide overnight, pressed, finished on the robata. Crispy Brussels sprouts on the side.
- Sea Bass Provencale (AED 720) – 700g fillet baked en papillote in rich tomato sauce. This is the French side of the menu coming through.
- Wagyu selection – MB6 entrecôte (AED 390), MB5+ chateaubriand (AED 825), MB10 striploin (AED 785), bone-in rib eye (AED 1,950). Westhome Australian Wagyu exclusively.
- Miso Truffle Mushroom Udon (AED 350) – the vegetarian-friendly alternative to the lobster udon. Wild mushrooms, fresh truffle, miso cream.
Desserts
Sesame chocolate fondant with sesame brittle. Banane millefeuille. The newest addition is an ube and coconut soft-serve sundae with coconut jellies and brown-butter madeleines. Chef Omar’s inspiration for taro boba tea.
Cocktails
Start from AED 75-95. Signature drinks include the Mocha Rumshake (pineapple, raspberry, coffee cream), Mint Condition Margarita (ginger, apple, lime) and Watermelon Paloma. Full wine, champagne and spirits list.
WOW Emirates Pro Tip: If you only order two things at dinner, make them the Creamy Lobster Udon and the Otoro Cigar. They represent the two sides of the menu (Japanese technique, French ingredients) better than anything else. Budget AED 400-600 per person for dinner with drinks, more if you go into the Wagyu section.
Day to Night: How Baoli Dubai Actually Works
Baoli Dubai is not one thing. It shifts throughout the day, and the energy at 11 AM is completely different from the energy at 11 PM. Here is how it flows.
Morning to afternoon (10 AM – 4 PM)
This is the relaxed beach club window. Pool sunbeds, beach lounging, DJs playing chilled sets in the background. The Sundeck next to the pool is the best spot for laid-back lunches. Order the pool/beach menu, sip cocktails, and ease into the day. The crowd is couples, friends, and ladies on the free-access deal.
Golden hour (4 PM – 7 PM)
The pool and beach stay open. The terrace restaurant starts filling up. The music shifts slightly. This is when people start transitioning from swimwear to evening outfits. If you are doing a sunset drink, the Pool Bar or the Sundeck terrace gives you the best light over the Gulf.
Evening (7 PM onward)
The restaurant fills with well-dressed diners. The DJ turns up. Sparklers come out with bottles. By 10 PM on a Thursday or Friday, the restaurant floor becomes a dance floor. Tables get moved. People stand on banquettes. It is a full party with better food than a party has any right to serve.
Baoli Dubai Circle (every Tuesday from 7 PM)
The weekly signature night. Described as “Tuesdays become the new Fridays.” Entry, tables and VIP options have minimum spends, typically starting from AED 500 per person for tables and AED 1,000+ for VIP. This is the most in-demand night of the week.
Reservations and Contact
- Phone: 04 491 5500
- Website: baoli-restaurant.com
- Pool and Beach booking: baoli-restaurant.com/beachclub
- Instagram: @baoli.dubai
We strongly recommend reservations for dinner and the weekend pool/beach. Baoli Circle (Tuesdays) requires a booking. Weekday pool and beach are easier for walk-ins, especially with the ladies’ complimentary access.
FAQs
Yes. Ladies get complimentary pool and beach access Monday to Thursday. No minimum spend required.
Yes. Baoli appeared in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide Dubai, recognized for its French-Mediterranean cuisine with East Asian influences.
The weekly Tuesday night event starts at 7 PM. Signature beats, lively crowd, dinner transitioning into a party. Tables typically start at a minimum spend of AED 500 per person, with VIP options at higher tiers.
Images: Wow-Emirates archives
Also read: Best Beach Clubs in Dubai | J1 Beach Dubai
