Best Italian Restaurants in Dubai

Being an all-time favorite in most parts of the world, Italian cuisine is renowned for its simplicity and noted for regional diversity and greater health benefits. One of the most exciting things about living in a city like Dubai is access to some of the finest restaurants serving tantalizing cuisines from all over the world. So, if you are in Dubai and looking for authentic Italian cuisine to pamper your taste buds, check out our list of the best Italian Restaurants in Dubai that serves the food for your soul.

Roberto’s, Dubai International Financial Center

The restaurant earns top marks for its looks and its full cast of Italian chefs that led the brand to win awards making it one of the best Italian restaurants in town. Once famed as the manager of BiCE, the vigorous Italian Roberto Rella and his talented team has come together to create a homegrown concept where fine Italian dining meets contemporary design. With a sleek and sophisticated décor, the restaurant presents a cosmopolitan experience for Dubai’s discerning crowds. The swanky new Italian restaurant in DIFC blends Roman passion for food, Riccione hospitality, and Milanese style to the Dubai’s culinary scene. With a seating of almost 200 diners, the restaurant vaunts two separate terraces, a smoking and non-smoking dining room and a large bar area. The interiors are designed in shades of muted grey and lavender with minimalistic furniture and the floor-to-ceiling windows lighting the restaurant with the bright lights of Dubai really adds to the outlook of the place.

Taking one of city’s favorite Italian restaurants to the status of gastronomic institution, Roberto’s team seeks to offer a distinct culinary experience by providing modern and authentic Italian cuisines including many signature dishes.
You can start with Frutti di Mare platter comprising shrimp, oysters, crab and lobster tails, or the Burratina cheese served with fresh basil and tomatoes, or the Beef Carpaccio with parmesan shavings. For mains, their perfectly spiced and tender Poletto Chicken dish is famous with Mezze Maniche, a pasta dish with tender chicken and lobster with fresh and crunchy peppers. And lastly for desserts, you can try the pièce de résistance; a red heart-shaped base supporting a chocolate bomb filled with lemon yoghurt truffle. Also worth trying is the Fondente dessert served with a molten chocolate cake sprinkled with white sugar on one side, raspberry compote in the center and a scoop of raspberry sorbet.

With the fairly priced, rich and decadent food presented in a much more appealing manner, the elegant and sophisticated restaurant is recommended for a romantic dinner or a stylish brunch.

Segreto, Souk Madinat Jumeirah

“Segreto” means “secret”, and is a perfect name for the restaurant as it is hidden along the wandering maze of Souk Madinat Jumeirah. The ethos of the restaurant lies in two words, “Romantic Sophistication” and their efficient staff surely knows how to reinforce it. The stylish and vibrant eatery has an elegant décor that blends Italian and Arabesque architecture.

The restaurant offers an outdoor dining experience on a beautiful terrace that overlooks the mesmerizing sceneries of waterfront, Burj-ul-Arab and exotic Madinat buildings. With dim lighting, candlelit stairway and dark wooden furniture, this cozy place sets a scene for a perfect romantic meal or a casual gossip session with friends. The restaurant has two sections; you can dine al fresco for the views of the Madinat’s waterways, or you can hide away in a quiet corner for an intimate romantic dinner.

The menu offers a unique and diverse variety of foods in addition to traditional Italian and Sardinian cuisine with rich contemporary modern dishes. Chef Mauro Pio has created a menu that contains several options for every foodie whether you’re a meat-lover, vegetarian or carb-freak. For starters, you can have Burrata and Tomato salad plus other side dishes like Garlic and Chilli Brocclina or Beef Cheeks with mashed potatoes. Some other highlights of the menu include the flawless Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, Mazara Red Prawn salad and signature King Crab. For mains, you can enjoy their Black Sea Bream wrapped and cooked in the oven, then presented in a bag on your table along with the delicious Lobster Pasta and Veal Milanese cooked with grilled lamb and stuffed artichokes. To satisfy your sweet tooth, you can have Hazelnut Parfait and Caramel foam that are definitely worth trying.

Armani / Ristorante, Downtown Dubai

Located in Downtown Dubai, Armani/ Ristorante bring out the true essence of Italy with all its natural ingredients, impeccable flavors and contemporary presentation. Native Italian Chef, Alessandro Salyatico with a bubbly charm and charisma, spends dinner service interacting with guests with hospitable warmth that blends perfectly with restaurant’s refined sophistication. The restaurant boasts an exquisite elegance and contemporary aura that is certainly a symbol of Armani brand’s sensibility. Ristorante reigns supreme among other Italian restaurants in Dubai and has formed a definitive reputation by offering authentic Italian cuisine to its customers. The interior is decorated using a neutral color palette, murky lighting and different cushions placed here and there, which makes the place welcoming and cozy. The restaurant offers the most memorable customer service with a well-knowledgeable staff that recommends you appetizing dishes with all the little details.

The restaurant offers an exclusive menu of contemporary Italian delights which includes many tempting dishes like Risotto Porcini, one of their classic dishes made with a creamy truffled delight of risotto, angus beef, special flavors, and parmesan cheese fondue. Tagliatelle with Prawns is cooked using in-house pasta that is served with rich tomato and seafood sauce having a creamy texture. For fans of fish, Halibut is a must-try that is perfectly cooked using ingredients like potatoes, black olives and artichokes. This super-meaty flatfish is baked in herbs having a classic Italian combo. For a memorable dessert, you should try La Sfera; a sugared sphere delicately filled with crème brûlée and cassis sorbet.

Armani / Ristorante is an experience to be savored and is highly recommended for a special occasion with your loved ones.

Bussola, Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi

The award-winning restaurant has a 3 in 1 concept that offers a signature dining experience, and an appropriate venue to celebrate any special occasion. The place has a casual ambiance in upper deck pizzeria place with a Bussola lounge by Peroni, where guests can sip their favorite drinks while watching the sunset. The restaurant also offers a unique dining experience in the lower portion of the restaurant decorated with a chic modern style furniture. The beachside haven is a favorite among food enthusiasts which make the place buzzing with people day and night.

With a large seating area, the outside terrace provides a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, and the inside arrangement is also elegant and well organized. Hailing from Southern Italy, Bussola’s Head Chef Marco keeps the menu exciting by adding his own specially designed recipes from Italian cuisine along with other traditional dishes. The restaurant offers a variety of pizzas of your choice from the traditional Margherita, Capricciosa or Calabrese, to the Bussola Signature pizza followed by a variety of traditional Antipasti. The restaurant also has a unique concept of diners relishing to dine on wood-fired pizzas.

For starters, the Beef Carpaccio is recommended having a rich buttery taste served with crispy and spicy rocket leaves with generous shavings of Parmesan. Also, try the Eggplant Parmigiana served with garlic confit, tomatoes and a few basil leaves. For mains, you can try Parma Ham perfectly cooked using sliced parma ham, carasau bread, and little chunks of grana Padano with just the right amount of fruit mustard. And the Sea Bass Fillet cooked with zucchini, spinach and sweet-smelling salt served with special in-house fennel sauce.

For dessert, their White Chocolate Mousse is a delicious treat served with raspberries and strawberries, and also worth trying is Sicilian Cannoli, filled with ricotta and orange in candied form. The location is perfect for dinner with a relaxed and family friendly atmosphere where you can taste the wonderful flavors of Italy surrounded by the pristine waters of Gulf and beautiful views of the Palm.

BiCE Ristorante, Hilton Jumeirah Beach Road

Situated on Hilton Jumeirah beach road, BiCE Ristorante is a well-known brand in the city that offers authentic Northern Italian cuisine. Providing a perfect metropolitan dining experience, BiCE brings out the genuine taste of Italy to Dubai and is the first restaurant to introduce truffles here. The interior of the restaurant is elegant and decorated in a unique contemporary style with white linens, beautiful greenery, gold chandeliers, dark-wood floors, and black furniture. The restaurant owns a dark, charming décor, and an outdoor terrace that exhibits ravishing views of Persian Gulf. The polite and professional staff is always on stand-by and ready to serve you. This is definitely a good choice for a romantic date but also a perfect venue for formal or informal meetings.

The menu offers a huge variety of foods including several antipasti dishes, pizzas, pastas, and fish dishes. You should try their signature Burrata dish; freshly made with grilled zucchini and Rocket Salad with thinly sliced beef. Stuffed full of fresh white meat, the Crab Cake is perfect for starter that is crispy on the outside complemented by bell pepper sauce and avocado tartare. For the main course, you can opt for Waygu Tenderloin cooked perfectly medium rare and served with seared foie grass, potato timbale and Barolo sauce. Their Pan Fried Turbot Steak with sautéed carnaroli rice, crispy garlic, tomato salsa and baby broccoli is also a surprisingly tasty accompaniment. Grilled Milk-Fed Veal Rack made from simple ingredients like sautéed mushrooms, and chive mashed potato is an ultimate combination of home-cooked comfort.

For dessert, you will love the Crème Brulee, which is not too sweet or heavy at all and the Chocolate Fondant has a rich, molten chocolate center served with ice cream. The food here does not compromise on taste, but it’s a bit pricey, and the meal portions are not large enough to be shared. For an unforgettable upmarket experience, you are definitely going to love this high-end Italian Ristorante.

Vivaldi, Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Tower

This fine dining restaurant by Alfredo Russo offers an exquisite ambiance to its guests where you can enjoy a hearty meal and appreciate the beautiful views of Old Dubai with sky-high buildings.

The interior is spacious and comfortably decorated in light pastel colors giving a pleasant feel with big glass windows and bright lighting, and the outdoor of the restaurant facing a watercourse is also incredibly alluring. Their open kitchen lets you watch the chefs prepare your favorite Italian meals in a funky and zesty manner. Vivaldi owns a subtle, sophisticated and classy aura with an utterly impressively romantic set-up that delivers a perfect place for a intimate dinner. Also, the place is very suitable for family meals and business dinners as they have special offers on their business set menu. Overall pricing is a bit high but with great food, perfect customer service and mesmerizing views, you will not regret your money spent.

The menu doesn’t offer too many options but has a delicious selection of your favorite dishes from hot and cold starters to pastas to pizzas to main course meals. You can taste some of the most scrumptious soups, risottos, meat plates, and sea-food platters here. Chef Alfredo Russo, having a polite and welcoming nature, is well-known for his passion for Italian Culinary Arts and traditions, which well-reflects in Vivaldi.

For starters, Smoked Scamorza is a must-try that utilizes supple mozzarella cheese uniquely presented on a wooden board with six bowls of different stuff served with toasted bread. The cheese is hard but stringy and well-smoked. Their Summer Caprese Salad served with Treccia Mozzarella, and Roasted Tomato Soup is also recommended.

For mains, the Lobster with Basil Pesto sauce is cooked to perfection, and a strong but pleasant bite is brought with the addition of chilli in the pesto, and the Penne Pomodorino is served with a special smoked cherry tomatoes sauce and mozzarella cream. The Black Angus Sirloin is also something to try, cooked with cherry tomatoes, aged balsamic and topped with Parmesan cheese. For desserts, Chocolate Fondant served with chocolate ice cream and Coffee Granite with special fior de latte cream are a true value for money.

Medzo, Wafi Mall, Dubai

Situated in the Pyramids of Wafi, the restaurant has a relaxing and contemporary aura making it a good place for informal meetings, lunches or dinners.

The décor is so fancy yet flaunts its simplicity with huge chandleries, white curtains, and candle-lights, which makes it one of the few best places when considering Italian restaurants. With its romantic lighting, airy interior, shimmery drapery and an open air terrace, the restaurant looks like a little slice of Italy in Dubai. Chef Livia, an Italian Nonna, is all about authenticity and supervises the restaurant offering best of Italian cuisine. The place is all about fresh pasta made in-house and many special ingredients imported from Italy. Their menu contains the most innovative and diverse foodstuffs that make it hard for you to choose because everything here is finger licking delicious, and the main reason behind this restaurant’s multiple award winnings.

For starters, Asparagus soup with mushrooms is superb, and their Ricotta Tortellinis pasta with fresh peas, parmesan cheese and special herb sauce is not to be missed. The Penne pasta with lasagna is served with a special pink sauce owning a very unique taste. A variety of dishes is available for pork lovers with an extensive selection of hams. For the main course, a Nonna Livia’s specialty, the Prime Beef Tenderloin with roasted aubergine and fresh rosemary is worth trying as it’s one of their best dishes. Amarticiana Spaghetti Giuseppe Cocco is served with a traditional Italian sauce made of dried pork, onions, chili and tomatoes. For fish lovers, Pan Roasted Cod Fillet is a good option that is served with tomatoes, peas puree and special herb braised potatoes. As for desserts, you can enjoy their Nonna Livia’s White Chocolate Tiramisu or Vanilla Panna Cotta.

The food served in Medzo is not only authentic but also exceeds many of other Italian restaurants in Dubai in affordability. This place has all the Italian charms and excellent cocktails with a comfortable atmosphere that sets the tone for your intimate dinner evenings with great wine!

Da Vinci’s, Millennium Airport Hotel

The hidden Italian gem inside the Millennium Airport Hotel has been established for 27 years and has still preserved the same good standards regarding quality of service, food and atmosphere. The restaurant offers casual dining in a homey setting, and the ambiance is rather rustic with liberal use of wood including the flooring, exposed wooden beams, a spacious open floor and low-lit chandeliers with soft lighting. Like the way they set up the table with candles, it gives the restaurant a romantic vibe and the restaurant also offers comfortable seating area along with private dining space. The chefs in tall, white hats near the entrance, cooking pizza on brick ovens also adds to the spectacular scene of the place.

As far as food is concerned, there are half a dozen tempting soups from traditional minestrone to onion and others starters like calamari that are big enough to share. Some of the highlights from the menu include light and refreshing Buffalo Mozzarella in which soft and milky cheese blends well with slices of vine tomatoes with extra virgin olive oil. And Tagliata Di Manzo brings the wonderful flavor of balsamic reduction blending with grilled tenderloin served with rocket salad and baby sautéed potatoes. Also recommended are the Bresaola Della Valtellina; a salad with cured valtellina beef with mushrooms, rucola, and parmesan, and the Roman Spaghetti All’amatriciana. You can try the chocolate fudge cake and vanilla ice cream but if you fancy something different, the almond cream cake, and the chocolate biscuit loaf are worth trying.

Apart from good food and setting, you will also be able to enjoy Chef Manolo’s performance. Its adjacency to the airport makes it a handy refueling station for departing passengers. With excellent service and delicious food, Da Vinci’s Trattoria is highly recommended as it lives up to its tagline “the friendliest Italian in town”.