Food & Drink at Time Out Market Dubai

Welcome to a gorgeous horseshoe shaped bar that provides epic views of the Dubai Fountain and the Burj Khalifa. The bar is steps away from the open-air terrace for those perfect Winter days and nights. Want to feel like a VIP with some extra attention and service? Book the ‘Editor’s Table’ behind the Fountain Bar for a one-of-a-kind curated experience from the mixology team. Expert tip; order the “Royal Nectar” (Coconut Rum, Moroccan Mint Tea, Passionfruit, Lime, Coconut Cream, Tiki Bitters) – the branded coconut cocktail is as refreshing and tasty as it is photogenic.

At Time Out, Portuguese food is close to our hearts – not least because the very first Time Out Market in the world launched in Lisbon in 2014. So get thee ready for the best Portuguese food you’ll find in Dubai, courtesy of the culinary purists at the helm of Lana Lusa. From croquettes to bacalhau, seared prawns to a classic prego sandwich, this is classic, traditional cooking that’s perfect for sharing. If you can bear to.

For classic Lebanese street food, say marhaba to Liban. Expect a masterful collection of mezze, ranging from freshly blended hummus to crispy lamb kibbeh, alongside some of the region’s most popular grilled kebabs and freshly chopped salads. Punchy garlic, fragrant parsley, creamy tahini and tangy pomegranate are all key players on a menu that eschews fuss and maximises flavour.

It’s never easy fusing different cuisines, but chef Kelvin Cheung shows us how it’s done with a stellar selection of reimagined Asian-American dishes. Born in Canada, raised in Chicago, and having lived in New Delhi, Little Jun’s third-culture cuisine is a true reflection of the chef’s multicultural upbringing. Try the wildly moreish bang bang cauliflower (definitely not just for veggies), and don’t miss the chef’s burnt garlic butter lobster roll. Finish off with a huge slice of ‘Kelvin cake’ and thank us later.

A truly authentic Chinese restaurant found in Dubai’s Business Bay area, Long Teng stays true to the dishes and cooking techniques of its homeland. Holder of multiple Time Out awards and accolades, the restaurant’s elegant seafood specials and beautifully crafted, photo-worthy dim sum are just two of the attributes that place this among the most respected Chinese eateries in the city.

Smell that? Meet the city’s superior smokehouse. Mattar is a cult favourite – and its Time Out Market establishment marks the very first permanent dine-in location for a brand that is as well known for its aroma as its succulent slices of 18-hour smoked brisket. Helmed by pitmaster (and all-round personality) Hattem Mattar, the team serves up stupefyingly tasty, generously portioned artisan smoked meats, from rich, fall-apart pastrami to spicy beef chorizo, available plated or between buns. It’s mighty, it’s messy, it’s absolutely magnificent.

A fine dining restaurant with a colourful seaside location in Dubai’s Jumeirah district, Masti brings the weird, the wonderful and the woah-that’s-good factor to Indian fusion cooking. And that’s all thanks to the inspired creativity of chef Prashant Chipkar, whose dishes are familiar, but dialled to 11 – from stracciatella-infused butter chicken to waffle-style dosa. There’s an abundance of personality in every single bite, with plates borrowing inspiration and ingredients from cuisines as varied as South Africa, Italy and Peru. Yalla, take your taste buds on tour.

There are not many more enjoyable simple pleasures as freshly baked bread served with a huge slab of cheese. Except when it’s French baguettes and French cheese, of course. And that’s exactly what you’ll find here. One of the Jumeirah neighbourhood’s first truly artisanal food destinations, at Time Out Market Odeon’s stripped-back, straightforward menu focuses on well-sourced ingredients to complete cold seafood plates, cloud-like pastries and majestic cheese boards that we can really get behind.

If you can’t bear the mob of tourists at Italy’s coastal spots, Onda by Alici brings the flavours of Amalfi right to you. From the team behind the city’s famed Il Borro, Alici has become its own fish-centric fine-dining staple on Dubai’s Bluewaters island. Dig into vibrant crudo and homemade pasta dishes, or sample mussels, prawns and calamari, all using boat-fresh produce. Can you say bon appetito?

The Palace Bar has an expansive list of Mocktails and fresh juices available with beautiful, natural light and views of The Palace Hotel. This bar is an ideal brunch time destination where guests can cool down on a hot day with the “A Cucumber with a Passion” (Cucumber, Passionfruit, Mango, Lemon, Mint, Ginger Ale) – one of many locally inspired ‘spirit free’ Mocktails.

When was the last time you had a burger layered with house-made pickles and carefully crafted sauce? Too long ago, that’s when. Meet Pickl, home to self-described ‘simple, not basic’ burgers, fried chicken sandwiches and sides. But we disagree – because everything Pickl does packs serious swagger alongside all that flavour, from the towering Double Stack to the fiery Nashville. Little wonder it’s become Dubai’s best-known home-grown burger brand in just a few short years. They don’t call it Comeback Sauce for nothing…

Pitfire may describe its pizzas as ‘not quite Neapolitan, not quite New York’, but all you really need to know is that these slices are simply not to be missed. Lovingly devised by founders Michele and Bill Johnson, beautifully blistered crusts surround thin, crispy pies topped with an eclectic arsenal of produce, from chopped dates and gorgonzola to roast chicken and pineapple. Its artisan doughmaking process takes 72 hours. You’ll be thinking about that last bite even longer.

In the battle for Dubai’s best ramen, chef Reif Othman comfortably quashes the competition. One sip of this rich, savoury, umami-packed broth and it’s a tough call whether to demolish it or bathe in it. (Bring your trunks just in case.) An acclaimed name on the city’s restaurant scene, Othman’s Japanese Kushiyaki serves up a variety of Japanese dishes, from uramaki to sando, each burnished with his own distinct twist. A force – and feast – to be reckoned with.

This expert ice creamery from Zubin Doshi is all about the drama. And we’re talking specifically about its gold-dusted, activated charcoal scoops. But it’s also big on fun – hello cotton candy burrito – and, naturally, taste. Just a stone’s throw from Dubai’s beautiful Jumeirah Beach, Scoopi makes all of its ice cream using liquid nitrogen to deliver a smooth, buttery scoop like no other. Keep an eye out for special flavours with a distinctly local flex.