Ramadan is quickly approaching, bringing with it an onslaught of delicious and luxurious iftars to choose from. If you feel overwhelmed by all the choices, don’t worry: Vogue Arabia did the homework for you and compiled a list of the best restaurants to break your fast at this year.
Hailing from New York, three-course iftar based on their culinary preferences. Dubbed “Iftar avec Le Chef,” the menu offers French, Italian, and traditional cuisine.
AED 245 per person
Celebrated Australian-Lebanese chef Greg Malouf will be presenting a modern take on traditional Arabic food at this newly launched restaurant. Zahira’s menu includes a selection of mouthwatering mezzes such as hazelnut falafel, homemade ma’hanie sausages with harissa potato salad and date fatayer. Main courses will change weekly, ranging from slow-cooked spiced lamb with nut rice to salmon tarator with tahini and walnuts. After you’ve satiated your hunger, you’ll be treated to fruits, a selection of halawa and baklava, and Chef Malouf’s famous knife and fork ice cream, complemented with the soothing sounds of oud.
AED 190 per person
Seasonal Tastes, The Westin, Al Habtoor City
This restaurant will be transformed to mimic an authentic bazaar or marketplace by way of Moroccan lanterns, antique Arabic coffee pots, and mini majlises set up in the private dining spaces. The menu offers traditional Arabic food, including a vast selection of hot and cold mezzes, as well as fresh salads and seafood from live cooking stations, along with delectable desserts. Don’t forget to head over to the fresh juice station for refreshing date smoothies and juice.
AED 185 per person
Crescendo, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
Choose from an array of Middle Eastern and international specialities at the open buffet. Guests can enjoy live music from the restaurant’s kanoun player in the elegant indoor dining room, or opt to catch picturesque views of the sunset on the outdoor terrace, with its jaw-dropping views of the Palm.
AED 185 per person
The Versace’s iftars will be hosted by the hotel’s Giardino restaurant. Though it specializes in Italian cuisine, delicious Arabic dishes on the menu include authentic culinary creations from Syria, Morocco, and the UAE, such as chicken tagine with apricot and slow-cooked lamb with Arabic rice and nuts.
AED 220 per person
Authentic Emirati, Egyptian, Syrian, and Lebanese dishes, as well as European and Asian specialties from the hotel’s Shiba restaurant are all on offer at The Meydan Hotel’s air-conditioned Ramadan tent. Entertainment includes live music courtesy of oud and tabla players.
AED 190 per person
The grandeur of the One&Only Royal Mirage is undeniable, making for a spectacular setting to break your fast. Specializing in Moroccan cuisine, the luxurious Tagine restaurant has a menu that is sure to satiate your hunger. Offerings include preserved chicken tagine with lemon confit and sherry-fish fillet charmoula, served amid the soothing sounds of traditional oud and tabla.
AED 220 per person
Located on the 71st floor of the JW Marriott Marquis hotel, this restaurant offers breathtaking, panoramic views of the city skyline. The menu is packed with Mediterranean ingredients hailing from Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, and Egypt. Dishes include roasted lamb shoulder, black cod served in vine leaves, and grilled boneless branzino accompanied by rice. Those who haven’t completely satisfied their hunger can opt for the delicious strawberry cheesecake qatayef with sumac strawberry, honey syrup, and pistachio.
AED 250 per person
Those who want a change of setting can head to this pop-up iftar at Inked in Al Serkal. The menu offers an evening of cuisine from the Berber people of North Africa. Served for sharing, dishes include courgette zaalouk salad with roasted almonds and pomegranate dressing, slow-cooked beef with green peas, fava beans and artichokes, a barleysotto (risotto made with barley) served with glazed vegetables, and preserved lemon tajine.
AED 300 per person
Visit Sikka Café if you’re searching for traditional cuisine. Specializing in authentic Emirati food fused with Persian and Iranian cuisine, the menu offers Falafel served with tahina sauce, home-made tikka, slow-cooked lamb with rice, and kebabs in spiced saffron yoghurt. Don’t forget to try the café’s signature karak tea after your meal.
AED 99 per person
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