A blend of homegrown favourites and internationally renowned concepts are set to make DIFC Square a must-visit foodie destination
We already know and love DIFC for being home to some of Dubai’s best restaurants, from Zuma and LPM to Gaia and the newly crowned What’s On Dubai Awards Newcomer of the Year, Barrafina. But a string of new concepts are set to further add to the financial centre’s culinary credentials with the debut of DIFC Square.
Set across the road from DIFC’s Gate Village, on the same side of Al Mustaqbal Street as the Waldorf Astoria, DIFC Square is the newest addition to difc restaurants whatson.ae featuring 600,000 square feet of Grade A office space, which was all pre-leased ahead of its completion in March this year.
But it’s the foodie additions that have got us excited. Within the development, which is arranged as an ensemble of three interconnected glass facade buildings, we’re set to see the arrival of concepts including Duck & Rice, Saddle, Hudson & Rye and Cake & Bubbles.
While some of those names you might know, others you may not. So, let us give you a run down…
Duck & Rice
The Duck and Rice brought something new to London’s popular Soho district when it opened in 2014. Part English pub, part Chinese kitchen, it started with a simple conviction: that a great pub and a serious Chinese kitchen could share one building and make each other better for it. It’s since expanded to Battersea in 2025, with Dubai set to mark its third venue – and first international opening. At the original, you’ll find the pub downstairs, while the more elevated Chinese restaurant is on the first floor. Same menu, very different experiences. Will Dubai be the same? We’ll have to wait and see.
Saddle
One of the UAE’s most beloved cafes, Saddle takes its coffee – and hospitality – seriously. From humble beginnings as a coffee truck in 2017, it’s expanded across the city – and around the world – taking the UAE’s deep-rooted coffee culture and warm hospitality into all-day dining destinations that are inviting, modern and perfect for everything from breakfast meetings to casual evening gatherings.
Hudson & Rye
Perfect for grab-and-go lunches or breakfast meetings, Hudson & Rye is bringing a New York-style deli to Dubai. Expect to fuel up on slow-crafted pastrami, Reubens stacked just right, perfectly griddled tuna melts and house-made pickles, per a LinkedIn post. We won’t have long to wait to check it out – as per their Instagram, they’re set to open this month.
Cake & Bubbles
The perfect pairing for those with a sweet tooth, plan get-togethers with your besties around the soon-to-open Cake & Bubbles Dubai. By the formerly dubbed ‘World’s Best Pastry Chef’, Albert Adrià, Cake & Bubbles offers an array of exceptional desserts and pastries alongside a wide selection of Champagne.
Images: Instagram
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