Take a bite out of the city’s hottest new openings
Looking to dine out in Dubai this month? From hidden wine bars to waterfront cafes and sizzling international imports, these are the best new restaurants to try this month.
Shiogensui
Family run Shiogensui lands in Dubai from Osaka, where it’s grown from a family-owned business into an institution with over 30 branches. Found in JLT’s Cluster Y, the newly opened restaurant is all about authentic Japanese flavours, and in a cosy, minimalist setting, serves up some of the most fragrant and flavourful ramen you’ll find in the city. The shio ramen is the signature dish, while those looking to dial up the heat can go for their spicy miso ramen. It’s already proved incredibly popular, so prepare to queue in peak times – there’s no reservations.
What: Shiogensui
Where: Cluster Y, JLT
Visit: @shiogensui_dxb
Le Piaf
A firm favourite on the social scenes in Paris, Megève, and Val-d’Isère, Le Piaf is a sizzling piano bar concept, now bringing date night vibes and note-perfect tunes to Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Le Piaf Dubai features all the quintessential touches the live music venue is known and loved for in France: endless red velvet shades, gilded mirrors and crystal chandeliers. It’s a glamorous backdrop to evenings that will unfold to the sound of live piano sets. The pianist is there from the very beginning, setting a tone that is warm and unhurried. As the night continues, sets that range from French classics to English rock and American pop will get Le Piaf singing and dancing on their feet, before a DJ takes over and Le Piaf becomes an intimate club with high-octane sets dictating the tempo until the early hours.
What: Le Piaf Dubai
Where: Jumeirah Emirates Towers
Visit: @lepiaf_restaurant_dubai
Ona
ONA, one of Australia’s leading speciality coffee houses, has landed in Dubai for the first time. Set within a warm, terracotta-toned building in Jumeirah, it’s an oasis for caffeine lovers that pairs the brand’s artisanal approach to coffee with a crowd-pleasing menu that there’s never a bad time to enjoy. The coffee bar sits at the heart of ONA Dubai – an open, immersive space where guests sit, taste and move through different coffees at their own pace, with baristas working as part of the space and the experience. At ONA, coffee is chosen by flavour, not by format. The first question is not “latte or cappuccino” – it is whether you feel like an espresso, a milk-based coffee, or a filter. From there, the focus moves to flavour: something chocolatey, or something more fruit-forward.
What: ONA
Where: Jumeirah 1
Visit: @ona.dubai
The Barrel
If you’re around Dubai Creek Harbour, swing by The Barrel at Vida Creek Beach. a cosy new neighbourhood spot with hearty comfort food, plenty of beers and wines, it’s got a relaxed, casual vibe perfect for after-work happy hours, DJ nights on Saturdays and family Sunday roasts. Best of all for pet parents, your four-legged friends are welcome on the outdoor terrace.
What: The Barrel
Where: Vida Creek Beach
Visit: @thebarreldubai
Cherry House
Created and masterminded by Emirati entrepreneur Mohamed Matar Al-Kus El-Falasi, who is also the founder of the ever-popular Saddle and Feels cafes, Cherry House combines a coffee roaster, artisan bakery and high-end hospitality experience all under one roof. Cherry House gets its name from the fruit from which coffee is made, and the warm and inviting space is adorned in a bold cherry hue. Here, coffee lovers will be able to immerse in the art of coffee from its origin, from roasting all the way to the various forms in which it’s now sipped. Every detail from the roasting machine to the first-of-its-kind belting system in the UAE has been deliberately considered to create a world-class homegrown coffee house.
What: Cherry House
Where: Al Safa 1
Visit: @cherryhouse
Ramen Hisa
From the team behind TakaHisa comes Ramen Hisa, a speciality ramen restaurant opening in Downtown on May 7. Ideally situated for a pre-theatre meal next to Dubai Opera, Ramen Hisa is all about putting quality and depth into one of Japan’s best-loved comfort foods. Elevating the experience, high-quality ingredients are selected from across Japan, while all noodles are made in-house, and dashi and soups use carefully selected ingredients to pack flavour into every mouthful..
What: Ramen Hisa
Where: Plaza Unit #6, Dubai Opera
Visit: @ramenhisa
Siena
Born in Paris in 2023, Siena brings Tuscan charm laced with French glamour to DIFC. The hottest new ticket in town, at Siena guests are invited to experience the heart of Italy through refined dishes like linguine all’astice, Siena rigatoni, and the classic Tiramisu. Designed as a perfectly chic backdrop for leisurely lunches, business meetings, date night dinners or after-hours cocktails, it’s an elegant ode to the Italian palazzo.
What: Siena Dubai
Where: Gate Village Building 7, DIFC
Visit: @sienarestaurant.dubai
VNTG
A cosy new wine bar is the latest culinary offering at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. A relaxed, enoteca-inspired social space, VNTG offers an alternative to the traditional wine bar experience in Dubai. The experience brings together a thoughtfully curated, ever-evolving wine selection with over 350 labels to explore, including more than 55 wines available by the glass. It’s paired with a menu of thoughtful sharing dishes masterminded by chef Tom Allen.
What: VNTG
Where: JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Visit: @vntg.dubai
Jodhpur Bar & Kitchen
New to the Hyatt Place Dubai Jumeirah is Jodhpur Bar & Kitchen, an understatedly grand restaurant rooted in heritage and craftsmanship that celebrates Rajasthan’s rich cultural and culinary traditions. Inspired by the palaces and forts of Jodhpur, fondly referred to as the ‘Blue City,’ it is a modern celebration of centuries-old royal hospitality. Meals unfold against the backdrop of rich blue hues, arched forms and bold paintings handpicked for the space, while guests can delight in a menu that offers a refined take on Marwari cuisine, with a focus on regional specialities.
What: Jodhpur Bar & Kitchen
Where: Hyatt Place Dubai Jumeirah
Visit: @jodhpurdxb
TANSŌ
A self-described ‘chef-led dining gallery,’ TANSŌ transforms a Jumeirah villa into the city’s newest Japanese dining experience. Inside a high-contrast dining room of bold colour, raw textures and art, guests can discover a dining experience rooted in discipline and precision. The unlicensed eatery promises a premium-casual format, with the option to go a la carte to sample dishes like hamachi apple and A5 Wagyu striploin ishiyaki, or explore seasonal options from Daichi Volume 01, six dishes that celebrate local ingredients.
What: TANSŌ
Where: Jumeirah 1
Visit: @tansodubai
Sutēki
The dining options at Dubai Harbour just keep getting better. Joining new arrivals, including Son of a Fish, Iris Harbour and Cafe du Port on the Bar du Port side of Dubai Harbour this week is Sutēki. Opening on May 6, Sutēki is where Dubai energy meets Tokyo soul. It’s designed like a gallery, runs like a supper club, and serves Wagyu only, inviting guests to enjoy buttery cuts of meat in an immersive, sultry space.
What: Sutēki
Where: Dubai Harbour
Visit: @sutekidubai
