Michelin-Star Restaurants Of 2023 In Dubai Offer An Unforgettable Culinary Experience
Every seasoned gastronome will undoubtedly have an inkling of a Michelin-starred restaurant. Earning a Michelin star doesn’t just rest on the excellence of technique. They say it’s an amalgam of five universal criteria—best quality ingredients, the marriage of flavours, the mastery of techniques, and the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine—and the key factor lies in consistency both across the entire menu and over time. Once reserved for top-tier restaurants in France and London, the Michelin star standard is now a widespread phenomenon. In 2023, Dubai is having its moment in the culinary landscape, promising a slew of fine dining experiences given the honour. DP puts together 2023’s Michelin-starred restaurants in Dubai for your next visit.
#1. Dinner By Heston Blumenthal Reinvents Britain’s Gastronomic Past
World-renowned Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal consistently wows patrons with exceptional dishes at ‘Dubai’s Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.’ Patrons enjoy contemporary British food from a varied menu that spans the farmers’ table to the royal courts of England. Blumenthal’s modern twist on mediaeval British dishes is an experience worth adding to the list. Blumenthal’s iconic dish is the meat fruit displayed as a mandarin, which is an artistically disguised chicken liver parfait.
Much like the menu, the design by Bates Smart is all set to entice you right from the time you enter. At the new iconic landmark of Dubai, Atlantis The Royal, guests walk through a dimly lit dining room. Once inside, the decor reveals the chef’s love for Tudor Britain, displayed throughout in rose motifs, rosewood tables, and leather details, but the most outlandish of them is the giant mechanical pineapple clock.
2023 Accolades
- Dubai Michelin Guide 2023 One Michelin Star – Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Also read: Tokyo’s Best Restaurants Include A Coveted Single-Table Establishment And More
#2 Tresind Studio Creates Modern Indian Cuisine Bursting With Creativity
This modern restaurant stays true to the winning formula of elevating Indian food to a global palate. Helmed by chef Himanshu Saini, who curated a daring multi-course tasting menu that pays tribute to India’s diverse food culture by including flavours from the four major regions: the Thar Desert, the Deccan Plateau, the Coastal Plains and Islands, the Northern Plains, and the Himalayan Mountains. Plates like cacao ghevar, cauliflower crémeux, roasted barley ice cream or tortellini, gorgonzola dolce, and pandhra rassa champion Indian flavours with Western touches. Featuring modern Indian cuisine in playful presentations, Tresind Studio is undoubtedly the Middle East’s most innovative Indian and Asian restaurant.
The restaurant has just six tables strategically placed to give guests a front seat to the theatre that culminates behind the transparent walls of the kitchen, where the chefs take centre stage. The space also boasts a compact wine cellar that looks like an approachable home bar for wine enthusiasts who would like a peek into the wine collection, making it a warm experience for guests.
2023 Accolades
- Dubai Michelin Guide 2023 Two Michelin Star
#3 Hoseki Extends One-Of-A-Kind Omakase Experience
Hoseki has become a true outlier in the UAE food scene. Guests are offered a traditional omakase, one of many culinary cultures in Japan, where a guest leaves the selection of food up to the chef. Nine counter seats that overlook Dubai’s skyline, make for an ultra-intimate meal. The sixth-generation sushi master, Masahiro Sugiyama, and his team prepare the most authentic sushi with the freshest ingredients imported from Japan. Noting their guests’ tastes, the team creates a two-hour omakase experience unique to each diner. The talented Chef Sugiyama serves his interpretation of delectable and renowned dishes with the finest curations of appetisers and premium sushi selections, followed by miso soup and a Japanese omelette, taking the dessert version of egg custard.
Also read: New York’s Only Indian Restaurant To Get A Michelin Star in 2022 – Step Into Semma
Located on the fourth floor of the Bulgari Hotel, the ambience evokes elegance with understated, clean-lined décor that is layered with Japanese minimalism and Zen traditions. They welcome guests at Tokonoma, a dedicated space to receive guests in traditional Japanese house design featuring the iconic Bonsai plant and power stones. For groups, there is a private dining room that seats up to twelve with views of the glittering skyline.
2023 Accolades
- One Michelin star by The Michelin Guide Dubai for 2 consecutive years since 2022
#4 Avatara Becomes Dubai’s First All-Vegetarian Degustation Fine Dining
Defined as a reincarnation of soulful Indian food, Avatara’s all-vegetarian menu pushes the boundaries of vegetarian gastronomy. The team helmed by chef Rahul Rana has set out on a culinary revolution with its set menu of 16 exquisite vegetarian dishes fusing leafy greens and other vegetables that surpass the lingering fame of staples like paneer and mushroom. There’s a story behind every creation, which the team takes time to explain. ‘Alphahara’, a meal course designed to align chakras or energy points in the body, makes use of humble seasonal ingredients that are clean, natural, and energy-rich.
It isn’t always easy to present a traditional dish as something more contemporary and artistic, but Avatara can do so with grace. An example of this is the dish named ‘thecha’ nestled inside a crispy dehydrated okra or the traditional alu wadi, taking the form of savoury tacos starring the lushness of taro leaves and roots. The oft-neglected bottle gourd is given the limelight in a lauki bharta paired with crispy papadum waffles and tangy pickled pumpkin at Avatara. Every bite is a celebration of nature’s bounty here. The interior design uses neutral tones that give a minimalist, elegant aesthetic all on its own. The experience promises diners one of the best vegetarian fine-dining experiences in Dubai.
2023 Accolades
- Dubai Michelin Guide 2023 One Michelin Star
Also read: New In Delhi: Restaurants Inspired By Japanese Izakaya Bars, Tuscan Dining And More
#5 Hakkasan Is A Modern Approach To Authentic Chinese
The prestigious Hakkasan brand continues to hold its place of pride at its Dubai outpost. Chef Andy Toh and his team give one of the ancient cuisines of the world, Chinese a modern flair by fusing traditional techniques. They present a menu of modern and ancient Cantonese flavours, along with an elevated selection of spirits such as LOUIS XIII Cognac and award-winning cocktails. The signature dishes, the golden abalone pockets with caviar, classic grilled Chilean seabass with honey, and a decadent grilled Japanese A5 striploin with local honey and xo sauce, are sure to convert one into a Chinese food enthusiast.
Hakkasan Dubai is located at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in a sophisticated and glamorous setting. The 152-seater area features wooden latticework, handcrafted furniture, marble-made Chinese forms and the mystical art of Feng Shui standing as the trademark design for this restaurant chain.
2023 Accolades
- Dubai Michelin Guide 2023 One Michelin Star
#6 Moonrise Offers a Blend of Japanese & Middle Eastern Flavours
In the world of fine dining, Omakase is regarded as the most sought-after culinary experience. The key lies in the word that signifies: “I leave it up to you”. Entrusted to the talented Chef Solemann Haddad, Moonrise curates a culinary journey inspired by the rich tapestry of culture clashes the chef experienced growing up in Dubai in the 90s. The menu is an interesting spin on Omakase that showcases a beautiful fusion of Middle Eastern flavours and Japanese precision.
The team leaves no stone unturned when it comes to sourcing diverse ingredients from around the world including Japanese hamachi, Hokkaido scallops, and labneh from Syria to name a few of their ingredients. What remains constant is the chef’s portrayal of a culinary story through his 11-course meal which he brands as ‘Dubai Cuisine’. The Syrian sumac and hamachi sashimi served in a tangy sauce made of sumac & preserved lemon skins is a must-have for sushi lovers. The menu is paired with a curated wine list that spotlights Middle Eastern wines and also boosts their cocktail options, including a range of premium HAIYATEA blends.
2023 Accolades
- Dubai Michelin Guide 2023 One Michelin Star
Irrefutably, the rise of celebrity chef-led fine dining in Dubai is a result of the city’s cosmopolitanism and an ever-growing number of expats. Having said that Dubai’s 2023 Michelin-star list is one to earmark for your next trip to this magnificent city.
