Dubai is an unusually modern metropolis. Compared with other global cities, it has a short history and a notably international populace. Around 92% of its residents are expatriates. From everyday fare to nouvelle cuisine, Dubai enjoys an equally diverse dining scene.
The desert city’s restaurant culture has come a long way from the early days when top chefs struggled to source the right produce for their menus. With celebrity haunts and Michelin stars, Dubai is now a fine dining destination. Nowhere is this more apparent than on Palm Jumeriah. The groundbreaking palm-shaped island is a testament to the city’s spirit of innovation and luxury.
Spanning Asian, European and Indian cuisine, this guide brings together the best fine dining establishments Palm Jumeirah has to offer.
Akira Back
Located in the plush surroundings of W Dubai, Akira Back’s eponymous restaurant pairs innovation and adventure. A renowned restaurateur with a world-class portfolio of bustling restaurants, the Korean-American chef blends traditional methods with contemporary ingredients, highlighting his fearless approach – likely owing to his former life as a professional snowboarder.
The menu celebrates seasonal produce and artisanally sourced ingredients, producing clientele-pleasing dishes such as the “Greatest Hits Set Menu” – a compilation of Akira Back’s most celebrated creations. The “Mystery Box” also provides diners with a sense of intrigue; nine delicacies presented tableside by the restaurant’s team of world-class chefs. “The Highest Grade of Japanese Wagyu” is also on offer, whilst the “Westholme Tomahawk” is a love letter to steak preparation; 1,000g of prime Australian wagyu presented with a house blend of salts and sauces.
Akira Back has consistently been named as a recommended venue by the Michelin Guide, receiving the honour in consecutive years from 2022 to 2024, and for good reason. The world-class Western Crescent Palm Jumeirah restaurant stands out with its attentive staff who take the time to explain the dishes and the inspiration behind them.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Set in the iconic surroundings of Atlantis The Royal, this world-class dining experience offers guests a trip back in time – as far back as the 1300s, in fact – to sample some historical takes on British cuisine. A dream for the seasoned gourmand, Blumenthal has crafted a delectable menu which highlights the best medieval Britain had to offer.
A Michelin-starred restaurant, diners can discover British classics such as the Earl Grey Smoked Salmon, combining that fabled British pastime of tea drinking with its somewhat infamous maritime history. The Beluga Caviar is another staple of fine dining aficionados, who may then be inclined to opt for the Chateaubriand of Wagyu for Two as a main course. The Truffled Mash provides a modern take on a British classic, whilst the Bohemian Cake or Apple Tart offer a touch of indulgence to finish.
Having been awarded a Michelin Star in both 2023 and 2024, the restaurant has also been a willing recipient of the Michelin Sommelier Award in 2023, as well as being handed regular accolades by top-end restaurant reviewer, Gault & Millau.
Ossiano
Located in the Atlantis, The Palm, on the outer ring of Palm Jumeirah, this one-Michelin-starred establishment offers a sophisticated culinary journey, set within a calming aquarium. Ossiano offers a fine dining experience like no other; world-class gastronomy while majestic sharks, tranquil stingrays and slightly less elegant octopi calmly glide past your table.
The food is difficult to beat. With a 10-course tasting menu, as well as premium wine pairing, the menu is a joy to behold. As you might expect, seafood is the highlight of the restaurant, which markets itself as a progressive fine-dining restaurant. The lunch menu is a salute to the intrepid palate, highlighted by the octopus carpaccio – squid ink, celery and chives to the uninitiated – as well as the delightful Loch Frye salmon, which serves as a celebration of Scottish cuisine.
There is also the seven-course Ossiano experience menu, which combines classics such as the wagyu beef tartare, foie gras terrine and caramelised black cod to set pulses racing. The wide selection of gourmet caviar is to be admired, while dishes such as the Maine Lobster Thermidor provide diners with a touch of added sophistication. Guests would do well to enquire about the intriguing ‘Catch of the Day’, to minimise any risk of missing out on something truly spectacular.
Ossiano was awarded its inaugural Michelin star in 2024 and has been the recipient of a plethora of added awards since, including the “Art of Hospitality Award” by 50 Best MENA, whilst also being designated a five-star restaurant in the Forbes Travel Guide.
Trèsind Studio
This world-class Indian restaurant, set in the St. Regis Gardens on the trunk of Palm Jumeirah, is run by one of Indian cuisine’s most exciting tastemakers. With the goal of changing how the world experiences Indian food, Chef Himanshu Sain has created this spectacular dining experience, which serves as his magnum opus to the culinary world.
One of the most extravagant menus found in Dubai – featuring a foreword from restaurant critic Liam Collens – you will find a variety of delights from all around the subcontinent. The “Deccan Plateau”, from the region just north of Bengaluru, offers tender coconut kushiyaki, yuzu rasam, Ghee roast crab and burnt cinnamon. The “Thar Desert”, native to the area of the same name in the northwestern Rajasthan region, encompasses a sensory delight like no other; “rice” crafted from white asparagus, pandan kadhi, asparagus & anise broth, pickled pepper, tangerine flowers and khandvi ice cream all furnishing the diner with a meal for the ages. Other delicacies on the menu include kebabs from the Himalayas, and snacks from all around the peninsula, taking you on a culinary adventure like no other.
Trèsind Studio has acquired plenty of accolades along the way. With two Michelin stars, the establishment represents one of the most illustrious restaurants not only on Palm Jumeirah but across the whole of the region. Other awards include a place on the MENA 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list, as well as a whole host of honours from Gault & Millau.
While there are undoubtedly many fine dining restaurants on Palm Jumeirah, as well as Dubai on the whole, these establishments represent the crème de la crème where haute cuisine is concerned. From sumptuous East Asian-inspired dishes at Akira Back to the two-Michelin-starred mastery of Trèsind Studio, Palm Jumeirah offers a fine dining scene that’s as diverse as it is exceptional.
