The calendar just flipped to 2026. If there’s one resolution worth making, it’s to explore the new restaurants opening in Dubai. After a record-breaking opening in 2025, we are excited to see how 2026 unfolds. We have rounded up some of the new restaurants opening in Dubai, featuring world-class chefs and culinary concepts and experiences you’ll want to explore.
If you are looking to try something new, here are some restaurants opening soon in Dubai or that have recently opened.
16 Exciting New Restaurants Opening in Dubai 2026
1. Nobu One Za’abeel
On our list of new restaurants opening in Dubai, the first is Nobu One Za’abeel, set to open in January. It is perched on the iconic sky bridge on One Za’abeel and is the third Dubai location. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s legendary Japanese-Peruvian fusion will pair with live performances and skyline views. Get ready to try black cod miso and yellowtail jalapeño.
- Where: One&Only One Za’abeel, The Link (24th Floor)
2. ZEA
Another one of the exciting new restaurants opening in Dubai is ZEA, opening shortly in January. Chef Donovan Clive Christian’s refined lounge-restaurant celebrates the ancient Mediterranean grain symbolizing abundance. Charred seafood, handcrafted pasta, and herb-infused cocktails in sculptural spaces with mood-shifting interiors. It is going to be perfect for a midweek escape without leaving the city.
- Where: Emirates Financial Towers, DIFC
3. L’Avenue
Set is to open in February at one of the prime locations of Dubai, L’Avenue. Soon you will be able to enjoy French hospitality in Dubai, perfect for breakfast before shopping, lunch, steak frites, or a lingering dinner. You can expect refined interiors, a globally inspired menu, and views of the Dubai Fountain. So, save this one of the new restaurants opening in Dubai for your special dinner.
- Where: Fashion Avenue, The Dubai Mall – 2F
4. Window
If you are a fan of a handroll bar and an open-kitchen setup, the team behind Kokoro is opening its second concept, Window. Set to open shortly in January 2026, this intimate, chef-driven venue will focus on live-fire cooking, seasonality, and minimal intervention. You can expect flame-grilled meats, smoke-infused plates, and more.
- Where: Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
5. Ay-Vy
Ay-Vy will merge pan-Asian cuisine with club culture with the opening in February. It is a place where you will get Japanese technique, Southeast Asian spice, and Cantonese precision with DJ sets and a cocktail program. The menu includes hand-pulled noodles, wok-fired vegetables, dim sum remagined, and more.
- Where: DIFC
6. AVLU
AVLU, the Abu Dhabi favourite now landing on Palm Jumeirah, takes its name from the Turkish word for courtyard. The menu celebrates Aegean simplicity: whole grilled octopus with charred lemon, salt-baked seabass, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, and heirloom vegetable preparations. Whitewashed walls, terracotta accents, and open-air seating create the atmosphere of a Mediterranean village gathering. Wine selection leans toward natural and Greek producers. So, if you are looking to try a Turkish-Greek Mediterranean vibe this year, then you should bookmark new restaurants opening in Dubai.
- Where: Palm Jumeirah
7. Barrafina
Barrafina, a London Michelin-nominated restaurant, is now one of the new restaurants opening in Dubai. They will open their first Middle East location on Alserkal Avenue. There are no reservations, no tables: guests perch on leather bar stools mere inches from Spanish chefs. The menu holds unwavering—pan con tomate, Jamón Ibérico, house-cured seafood, crispy croquetas, etc.
- Where: Alserkal Avenue
8. Yu & Mi
Within Mandarin Oriental Downtown, this dual-concept venue channels 1960s Hong Kong across two distinct experiences. Yù arrives as a jewel-box cocktail bar—intimate, low-lit, with curated vinyl and live DJ sets creating a film-noir atmosphere. Upstairs, Mì unfolds as a hidden fine-dining room where floor-to-ceiling windows frame Dubai’s skyline as a theatrical backdrop. The menu marries Cantonese technique with contemporary plating. Like hand-pulled noodles, wok-fired preparations, and dim sum are elevated. On our list of new restaurants opening in Dubai, this restaurant has recently opened.
- Opening Hours: 6 pm – 11 pm (Sunday – Thursday) & 6 pm – midnight (Friday – Saturday)
- For reservations: +971 4 777 8895
- Where: Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, Wasl Tower
9. Neo Temaki
Neo Temaki lands in Dubai in early 2026, permanently at JW Marriott Marquis in Business Bay. So, if you are someone who gets excited about new concepts, then this new restaurant opening in Dubai is a must-try. The experience centres on a U-shaped counter where chefs execute each roll to order. The menu includes premium nori, pressed seasoned sushi rice, and selections from a rotating cast of sustainable seafood, uni, and foraged ingredients. Recently, the pop-up at Sole DXB must have caught your attention, and now you can enjoy their rolls whenever you want.
- Where: JW Marriott Marquis, Business Bay
10. Scott’s
Scott’s, the legendary Mayfair seafood restaurant born from Mount Street’s hospitality heritage, brings old-school British elegance to Dubai. The restaurant honors a 150+ year trajectory of pristine fish sourcing and traditional preparation. The menu centers entirely on seafood, including oysters (native and rock), langoustines, sole meunière, halibut, and the signature two-person plateau de fruits de mer. The interiors channel Mayfair restraint, with warm wood paneling, leather banquettes, soft amber lighting, and Art Deco fixtures. An oyster and champagne bar occupies the entry, positioned for counter diners. This is one of the new restaurants opening in Dubai with British fine dining.
- Where: Gate Village, DIFC, Dubai
11. Chotto Matte
Established in 2013 by Kurt Zdesar Chotto Matte pivots casual dining into an immersive cultural experience through Japanese-Peruvian fusion. The Dubai location at The Ritz-Carlton DIFC brings the brand’s signature energy. This new restaurants opening in Dubai has vibrant colors, bold artistic installations, theatrical open kitchen, & live DJ sets. The menu marries Japanese precision with Peruvian ingredients, with a cocktail program rooted in Japanese and Latin influences.
- Where: The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC
12. Hikiniku To Come
Get ready for one of the most unique new restaurants opening in Dubai—Hikiniku To Come serves just one thing: charcoal-grilled hamburger steak with perfect rice. Fresh beef gets ground daily in-house, formed into patties, and grilled right in front of you while rice cooks in traditional Japanese hagama pots. Save the date because the open counter lets you watch the entire process, and their “Just ground. Just grilled. Just cooked” focus delivers unmatched simplicity and flavor. It’s casual Japanese perfection you won’t find anywhere else.
- Where: TBA
13. Osaka Nikkei
Among the exciting new restaurants opening in Dubai, Osaka Nikkei brings 24 years of Nikkei mastery from Lima to the city’s skyline. Look forward to tiraditos with a perfect citrus balance, quinoa sushi rolls that blend Japanese precision with Andean grains, and dishes that fuse both cultures seamlessly. Save this spot for its 35th-floor views and rare Peruvian-Japanese fusion—perfect date night or special celebration material. The global pedigree and Downtown location make it a must-book early.
14. Zuma Beachhouse
Zuma Beachhouse joins the wave of new restaurants opening in Dubai, transforming La Mer into your new beach dining destination with 140m of private beachfront. Expect izakaya favorites, creative cocktails, and poolside lounging with resident DJs from lunch through night. Save this spot for sunny weekend escapes—the beach-to-table flow and Zuma quality make it ideal for day-into-night plans. Daytime pool bookings are already filling fast.
- Where: La Mer (Jumeirah beachfront)
15. Gymkhana
When London’s two-Michelin-starred Gymkhana opens as one of the new restaurants opening in Dubai, it brings colonial-club sophistication with modern Indian technique. Look forward to tandoori lamb chops, wild muntjac biryani, and Chettinad duck dosa—North Indian classics elevated to fine dining. Save the date for DIFC power dinners or special occasions; the heritage recipes and Michelin pedigree guarantee it’s worth the wait for a reservation.
- Where: DIFC
16. Salama
Salama stands out among new restaurants opening in Dubai with its chic blend of French refinement and Moroccan seafood flavors. Grilled fresh catch, citrusy crudo, and spice-forward tagines arrive in elegant whitewashed spaces with brass accents. Save this if you are a seafood lover seeking something different—the North African twist on Mediterranean dining makes it perfect for impressing dinner guests or romantic evenings.
- Where: TBA
Images: supplied/Official Websites
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