Take a seat and prepare to be wowed.
Dubai’s private dining scene is having a moment. In a city known for its excess, the most memorable meals are increasingly those served behind closed doors: no à la carte menus, no walk-ins, just a seat at the chef’s table. From the precision of omakase at the Michelin-starred Hōseki to the theatrical flair of FZN, the city’s newly minted three-star temple to Japanese cuisine with Nordic influences, these curated encounters are redefining what it means to dine out. And it’s not just international names leading the charge. Homegrown hero Reif Othman continues to captivate with The Experience, his 12-seater culinary playground in Dubai Hills. Read on for our picks of the best private dining experiences in Dubai.
FZN
Atlantis, The Palm has welcomed chef Björn Frantzén’s new restaurant. Recently awarded three MICHELIN stars, FZN offers a 27-seat fine dining experience. This space includes 13 seats around the open kitchen and a view of the chefs at work. The restaurant showcases a modern European tasting menu with Japanese as well as Nordic influences. Highlight dishes include Chawanmushi with smoked beef broth, Duck BBQ with yuzu, and Kampot Pepper with foie gras. Plus, the soundtrack features 300 songs curated by Björn himself and ranges from Guns N’ Roses to The Smiths.
GO: Visit www.sevenrooms.com for reservations and more information.
Hōseki
You know you’re in for an exclusive dining experience at Hōseki, as only nine people can dine at once. Here, sushi master Masahiro Sugiyama creates an intimate dining experience unlike anything else in Dubai. We recommend opting for the Omakase menu, as the food selection is left to the chef. It’s no wonder this sleek restaurant at Bulgari Resort Dubai was recently awarded with one MICHELIN Star.
GO: Visit www.bulgarihotels.com for reservations and more information.
KEN by Kamatsuda
This restaurant at The Dubai EDITION boasts a unique selection of ingredients, many of which are exclusive to this establishment in Dubai. The team uses rare Awa Wagyu Beef, famous for its rich taste, sweet marbling, and melt-in-your-mouth texture. The meat is served as nigiri sushi or steak. The menu also features Saga Red Uni, which is freshly imported from Japan. An omakase experience, priced at AED 5,000 per person, is also available.
GO: Visit https://kenbykamatsuda.ae for reservations and more information.
Kokoro
Dubai, it’s time to roll with it. The city has welcomed its first-hand roll sushi bar, Kokoro. Located in Alserkal Avenue, the seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and the restaurant does not accept reservations. The design is simple yet sleek, from the wooden door with a discreet logo to the floor-to-ceiling windows. If you want the full experience, we recommend grabbing a countertop seat and watching the chefs at work in the kitchen. Kokoro’s menu boasts fresh fish, and the options include Bluefin Tuna with pickled cucumber, Ikura, Janpachi, Madai, Salmon with white ponzu, Scallop with orange, Seaweed Salad, Shima Aji, and Uni.
GO: Follow @kokoro.dxb on Instagram for more information.
Moonrise
In recent months, there has been much fanfare surrounding Moonrise and its young chef Solemann Haddad. Located on the rooftop of Eden House on Sheikh Zayed Road, Moonrise features seasonally changing tasting menus that span Japanese and Middle Eastern flavours, ingredients and cooking techniques. Exclusivity is the name of this game, as two seatings are available each night. The experience comprises a multi-course menu decided by the chef, with dishes prepared directly at the counter in front of guests.
GO: Visit www.moon-rise.xyz for reservations and more information.
Row on 45
Row on 45, the newly crowned two-Michelin-starred restaurant from British Chef Jason Atherton, offers an exceptional experience crafted for just 22 discerning guests per seating. The 17-course haute cuisine menu features Amaebi (sweet shrimp served with Amela tomato jelly), Frøya Scallops and a delightful duck dish. Presented in three acts, this memorable meal begins in the Champagne Lounge and ends in the Chef’s Library of this penthouse-inspired restaurant. AED 1,145 per person.
GO: Visit www.rowon45dubai.com for reservations and more information.
Smoked Room
Created by Chef Dani García, Smoked Room pays homage to the fire style of cooking. The FACT award-winning Smoked Room is the sister restaurant to Leña and draws inspiration from its original restaurant in Madrid. The venue has only 14 seats and offers an exclusive and personalised fire omakase dining experience. The dishes from Chef Jesus Lobato Suarez have included Charcoal-grilled Pigeon, Kombu-Jiime Otoro Sashimi, Smoked Eel Nitro Tomato and Smoked Risotto.
GO: Follow @smokedroom.dubai on Instagram for more information.
The Experience by Reif Othman
Dubai old-timers will remember The Experience by Reif Othman (TERO) from its days on the upper level of The H Hotel. The FACT award-winning TERO can now be found at the licensed branch of Reif Japanese Kushiyaki in Dubai Hills Business Park. Here, cosy décor accommodates chef Reif’s tasting menu for up to twelve diners. The venue can be booked as a private dining room for a group gathering or individual covers, and its current focus is on superb sushi, which is pressed and placed directly into the palm of your hand.
GO: Follow @terobyreif on Instagram for more information.
The Heritage Room
The Heritage Room is a secret space inside the MICHELIN-starred 11 Woodfire. Here, Head Chef Brando Moros draws inspiration from his Colombian heritage and culture to create a special six-course menu for just six guests per sitting. The space will also be open to chefs who want to explore their own cultural heritage through the medium of food. The debonaire dining room feels like a cross between a chef’s table and a kitchen with seats for only six people, and dishes include beef, fish and a flame-grilled fig topped with gold.
GO: Follow @11woodfire on Instagram for more information.
Trèsind Studio
Trèsind Studio is one of Dubai’s most critically acclaimed restaurants: it has been awarded three MICHELIN Stars, is currently ranked at number two in the MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, and was named Restaurant of the Year at the FACT Dining Awards Dubai in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024. Chef Himanshu Saini is behind the modern, fine-dining Indian menu. The tasting menu includes a generous sixteen courses, which is just as fancy for vegetarians as it is for meat-eaters. What Trèsind excels at is innovation and its unexpected take on ingredients, which you don’t usually find on an Indian menu – ghee roast crab with burnt cinnamon or charred lobster tail, anyone? Dig into dishes that are a thing of beauty that will make you rethink Indian cuisine.
GO: Visit https://tresindstudio.com for reservations and more information.
