Member of The Guild of Food Writers
Member of The Guild of Food Writers

Where can I lunch over Ramadan in Dubai?…oh and breakfast too please

Sashimi galore - Market & PlattersNOTE; This post is for 2013 – you can find the 2014 round-up here. It’s that time of year again with Ramadan knocking on our door and despite living in a Muslim society, Dubai is a pretty tolerant one, so we’re lucky many stand-alone restaurants and cafés do obtain a special licence to operate in daylight. We’ve rounded up the independent eateries open to dine in for lunch and in some cases breakfast too over the holy month…and there’s some newbies open this year. As always, expect hotels and members clubs to have at least one restaurant open, if not more.

Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, sacrifice and empathy – more on the meaning of Ramadan here from the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. So all I ask is that we be mindful of our Muslim fasting friends and of course a little more patient with the waiting staff. Worth pointing out, don’t expect booze from dawn to sunset.

Bateel (two locations open weekdays 7.30am – 6pm and weekends 9am – 6pm) – Dubai Media City, Tower B, Business Central Towers. T; +971 4 4494010. DIFC. T; + 971 4 3700404.

More (two locations) – Gold & Diamond Park. T; +971 4 3234350. Open daily 8am – 6pm. DIFC T; +971 4 3700469. Open daily 8am – 7pm.

Oregano (two locations) – Dubai Media City. T;  +971 4 4343010. Open daily until midnight. Limitless, Downtown Jebel Ali. T; +971 4 8848885. Open daily until 4pm.

Wagamama (two locations open daily 12noon – 11.30pm) – Al Fattan towers at JBR. T; +971 4 3995900. Crowne Plaza on Sheikh Zayed. T; +971 4 3056060.

1762 (two locations open daily 8am – 6pm) – DIFC and JAFZA, The Galleries. T; 800 1762.

Doner Kebab at Jumeirah Lake Towers, Cluster W. T; +971 4 4549522. Open daily 9am – 1am.

Fraiche at Jumeirah Lake Towers, Cluster Y, Swiss Tower. T; +971 50 8805467. Open daily 8am – 10pm.

Jazz@PizzaExpress at Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Cluster A (next to the new Movenpick hotel). T; +971 4 4416342. Open daily 12noon – midnight.

Nofara Cafe at Jumeirah Lake Towers, Cluster Y, Swiss Tower. T; +971 4 4322023. Open daily 8am – midnight.

Richy’s at Jumeirah Lake Towers, Cluster F, HDS Tower. T; 800 742497. Open daily 10am – 10pm.

Scafa at Jumeirah Lake Towers, Cluster I, Unit 6, Promenade level. T; +971 4 3794044. Open daily 12noon – 8pm.

Tantuni at Jumeirah Lake Towers, Cluster D, Lake Terrace Tower, Lake level. T; +971 4 4542329. Open daily 11.30am – 10.30pm.

Circle Cafe at Dubai Media City, CNN Building. T; +971 4 3915170. Open daily 10am – 11pm.

The Noodle House at Dubai Media City, Gloria Hotel. T; +971  4 3818065. Open 12noon – 11.30pm.

Pascal Tepper at Dubai Media City (next to Radisson). T; +971 4 4542408. Open daily 8am – 9pm.

Sumo Sushi Bento at Dubai Media City, Building 10 (BBC World). T; + 971 4 3914141. Open Saturday – Thursday 11am – 10pm and Friday 1 – 10pm.

Sushi Counter at Dubai Media City, CNBC Building. T; +971 4 3751096. Open daily 11am – midnight.

The Kebab Shop at Dubai Media City, Zee Tower. T; +971 4 4538108. Open daily 12noon – midnight.

Urban Bistro at Dubai Media City, CNN Building. T; +971 4 362 4330. Open Sunday – Thursday 9am – 9pm and Friday/ Saturday 9am – 4pm.

Vapiano at Dubai Media City, Ground Level, Thuraya Tower. T; +971 4 4370786. Open daily 11am – 11pm. No website.

Riva Beach on Palm Jumeirah, Shoreline Building 8. T; +971 4 4309466. Open daily 7am – midnight.

Sophie’s Gastro Café on Palm Jumeirah, Riva Complex, Shoreline Building 8. T; +971 4 4515982. Open daily 8am – 9pm.

Bidi Bondi on Palm Jumeirah, Clubhouse Al Manhal, Shoreline (between buildings 3 & 4). T; +971 4 4270515. Open daily 12noon – midnight.

West 14th on Palm Jumeirah, Oceana Beach Club. T; +971 4 4477601. Open daily 12noon – 3pm.

Salmontini at Mall of the Emirates overlooking the ski slope. T; +971 4 3410222. Open daily 12noon – 1am.

Toscana at Madinat Jumeirah on the waterway. T; +971 4 3666730. Open daily 12noon to midnight.

ET Sushi at Jumeirah Emirates Towers Boulevard (office tower). T; +971 4 3198088. Open daily 12noon – midnight.

Park Central deli at Park Place on Sheikh Zayed (near Fairmont). T; +971 4 3589777. Open 24 hours.

Sino Chai at Dubai Healthcare City, Building 27, Block A. +971 4 4355650. Open daily except Monday 11.30am – 4pm.

Hard Rock Cafe at Dubai Festival City, Festival Centre (next to Marks & Spencer). T; +971 4 2328900. Open daily 12noon – 1am.

At DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) there’s aplenty open:

  • Al Mandaloun – T; +971 4 3637474. Open daily 8am – 10pm.
  • Gaucho – T; +971 4 4227898. Open Sunday – Thursday 9am – 11pm and weekends 11.30am – 11.30pm.
  • La Petite Maison – T; +971 4 4390505. Open daily 12 – 3pm.
  • Royal China – T; +971 4 3545543. Open daily 11.30am – 11.30pm.
  • Sushi Art – T; 800220. Open daily 11am – 11pm.
  • The Noodle House – T; +971 4 3637093. Open daily 11am – midnight.
  • Wheeler’s of St. James’s

    T; +971 4 3860899. Open daily 10am – 2am.

  • Zuma – T; +971 4 4255660. Open Saturday – Thursday 12.30 – 3pm.

And finally, at Wafi – Pyramids complex, the following restaurants are open daily 12noon – 1am (T; +971 4 3244100) – Asha’s, Carter’s, Medzo and Thai Chi.

You can find Geordie Armani’s list here. I think there’s enough to lunch somewhere different every day, but if we’ve missed any drop me a comment and we’ll add them in.

If you’re staying put this summer enjoy the many Ramadan happenings around town. Personally am a huge fan of the more relaxed and later Suhoor – click here for my musings. And here are two of my favourite tried and tasted Middle Eastern tent experiences this year – plus last year’s round-up. Otherwise bon voyage. For a change, I am escaping to munch my way through Vietnam, back to Dubai for a stint, and then home to Cyprus. Have a wonderful summer and Ramadan Kareem!

A bientôt.

FooDiva. x

P.S – for different reflections on Ramadan do check out fellow food bloggers’ My Custard Pie, The HedonistaCoffee, Cakes & Running and Ishita Unblogged.

 

  • Posted under
    Breakfast, Cafes, Dubai, Foodie Happenings, Lunch, Ramadan, Restaurants

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25 Responses to “Where can I lunch over Ramadan in Dubai?…oh and breakfast too please”

  1. Sally - My Custard Pie July 9, 2013 at 10:04 am

    An extensive round up – bravo. Enjoy your travels.

    • FooDiva July 9, 2013 at 12:31 pm

      Thanks Sally. A mammoth task but worth it. So many more places open this year – a sign of Dubai’s progression perhaps. Feels strange to be leaving over Ramadan this year, but I seriously need the break. Enjoy Blighty. x

  2. Kelly July 9, 2013 at 10:37 am

    This is a big list!!!
    We will miss your posts. Enjoy your travels and come back with new ideas and experiences. Looking forward to reading about Vietnam.

    • FooDiva July 9, 2013 at 12:32 pm

      Thanks Kelly, I will miss writing. I still need to write up Morocco – drafting it today…!

  3. Rasha July 9, 2013 at 10:38 am

    Chopsticks in Dubai Mall & Russo’s New York Pizzeria in Jumeirah Centre will be operating regular Delivery hours!

    Here are the details:
    Chopsticks Dubai Mall: Call 043253244 or visit http://littleurl.info/szb to place your order!
    Russo’s New York Pizzeria: Call 043856549 or visit http://littleurl.info/ytw to place your order!

    • FooDiva July 9, 2013 at 12:33 pm

      Thanks Rasha. The post is focused on outlets open for dining in, but good to know that these two are open for deliveries.

  4. IshitaUnblogged July 10, 2013 at 11:48 am

    Hadn’t left a comment earlier but this is a very useful listing. And thanks for the pingback:)

    • IshitaUnblogged July 10, 2013 at 11:48 am

      Enjoy Vietnam. I seem to be more excited than you are! And then Cyprus:)

    • FooDiva July 10, 2013 at 3:34 pm

      Thanks Ishita. Enjoy your American dream trip 🙂

      • IshitaUnblogged July 10, 2013 at 9:47 pm

        Noooooo don’t make this sound like this! America has never been our dream – that’s why it took 15 years to make the visa, been though we have so many relatives there. Z-Sisters are drooling, yes!

  5. Moz July 10, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    Went past Urbano in Souk Al Bahar today (first day of fasting) at around 2pm and they were well and truly closed 🙁 Might want to take it off the list.

    That aside, the fact that such an extensive list exists is such a welcome relief, this being my 8th Ramadan I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to find out this information only the day before the month starts, year after year. It’s nice to see more variety than Wagamama 🙂

    • FooDiva July 10, 2013 at 8:43 pm

      Thanks for the heads up. The PR had confirmed it was going to open but I have just called to double check and you are indeed correct 😉 Have deleted it. It’s the second year we have pulled together this round-up and given it’s popularity you can expect it every year. We can only release it a day in advance as the municipality licences the restaurants have to apply for tend to be issued just before. Appreciate your comment and enjoy the variety 🙂

  6. Anya July 11, 2013 at 2:38 pm

    You should probably update this list as Taqado at DIFC is not yet open.

    • FooDiva July 13, 2013 at 4:41 pm

      Thanks Anya – have deleted. They thought they would be open in time but clearly not!

  7. Melissa July 15, 2013 at 10:57 pm

    Hi,
    Love this list! We have been trying out many of these places and have had great success. However, today, I called the Noodle House at the Madinat Jumeriah Souk to make a lunch reservation and they are ONLY open at 7PM. They are NOT doing lunch but they did confirm that Toscana’s is open for lunch.

    Blessings!!!

    • FooDiva July 16, 2013 at 6:06 am

      Thanks for the heads up Melissa. I have deleted it. The round-up is proving even more popular this year so you can expect it every year 🙂

  8. Michelle Bird July 19, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    Phoned The Farm today to make a reservation for a birthday breakfast and was informed that they only open after 7pm!

    • FooDiva July 20, 2013 at 10:28 am

      That’s odd Michelle as they emailed to confirm opening times. What sometimes happens is outlets apply for their municipality licence but it isn’t granted in time. Anyhow I appreciate the heads up and have deleted. Glad you checked before going!

  9. Samah July 22, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    Great List!!
    Options by Sanjeev Kapoor at Movenpick Hotel Deira is also open for lunch from 12pm to 3pm.
    Again open for Iftar from 7pm -9pm and Dinner from 9pm – 12am.
    Tel: 04446466.

    • FooDiva July 22, 2013 at 12:26 pm

      Thanks Samah, glad it’s useful. The round-up is focused on standalone outlets as we know hotels do keep their restaurants open for daytime dining.

      • Melanie July 23, 2013 at 10:12 am

        Monty”s at The Address Montgomerie are open for lunch & have free wifi.

        • FooDiva July 23, 2013 at 10:21 am

          Thanks Mel. We’ve focused on independent outlets not based in hotels/ clubhouses otherwise the list would be never-ending!

  10. JS June 21, 2014 at 1:13 am

    Will you be posting a 2014 version of the Ramadan restaurants list soon?

I’d love to receive your feedback, so feel free to comment any time.

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