DSS Summer Restaurant Week presents pocket-friendly menu options from August 12 to 28

Dubai: Get ready for more unmissable experiences from the 25th Anniversary edition of the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) with the Summer Restaurant Week from August 12 to 28 . Enjoy special-price menus with friends and family at 50 of the city’s best casual premium restaurants for a limited time. 

Each restaurant offers breakfast for AED69, two-course lunch for AED95, a three-course dinner for AED150, and kids’ menus from AED25, plus a bottle of water included with lunch and dinner. This is the second time that Summer Restaurant Week takes place, with OpenTable serving as this year’s official booking partner. 

BEST FOR MICHELIN HEROES

Restaurants featured in the first Dubai Michelin Guide, launched in June, are participating in Summer Restaurant Week. Listed in the Bib Gourmand category, noted for their value, are two restaurants overseen by chefs who are used to Michelin accolades – French eatery Brasserie Boulud at the Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk is from the mind of Daniel Boulud, known for his two-Michelin-starred restaurant, Daniel, in New York, while Indya by Vineet at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa is by Vineet Bhatia, the first Indian Michelin chef, thanks to his London-based restaurant, Rasoi.

Not to be outdone, Fi’ila, the Italian-Mediterranean with stunning views from the 70^th floor of the SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences in Business Bay; Goldfish, the Japanese sushi restaurant at the Galleria Mall; and Reif Japanese Kushiyaki at Dar Wasl Mall, also earned Bib Gourmand entries. And there’s Lowe in the KOA Canvas building, serving the wider Al Barari area, praised for its sustainability efforts, which earned it a spot in Michelin’s Green Star category. 

BEST FOR MIDDLE EASTERN

For those looking to try more regional fare, Summer Restaurant Week is a great opportunity. Al Nafoorah at Jumeirah Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, known for its Lebanese dishes, is taking part, as is Bushra by Buddha Bar in Grosvenor House, offering more Middle Eastern cuisine. Sikka Café, at  City Walk, has Pan-Arab dishes with Indian and Iranian influences.

BEST FOR EUROPEAN

For great French food, Bistro des Arts, overlooking the waters of Dubai Marina, has lots of dishes, and there’s also Publique in the Souk Madinat Jumeirah, with its Alpine lodge theme. And for Italian cuisine, head to Isola Ristorante Dubai at the Jumeirah Islands Clubhouse, Vero in the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah at The Walk, or Solo at Raffles Dubai.

Casting their nets a little wider, Mondoux at the Beach JBR, Skafos in Canopy by Hilton Dubai Al Seef, next to Dubai Creek, as well as Maison Mathis in Arabian Ranches, offer everything from wood-fired pizzas to a variety of European flavours. El Sur at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina is perfect for Spanish enthusiasts. And for a more International twist, you can check out The Hillhouse Brasserie at the Dubai Hills Golf Club.

BEST FOR ASIAN

Summer Restaurant Week has plenty of Far Eastern flavours too. LAO at the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah offers a diverse pan-Asian menu, or for Thai food, The Mango Tree at the Hilton Dubai The Walk, Thai Kitchen at Park Hyatt Dubai, and Pai Thai at Jumeirah Al Qasr, will each satisfy your cravings. 

Lah-Lah at Zabeel House by Jumeirah in The Greens offers Pan-Asian cuisine, and you can experience the best of pan-Asian street food, including soulful dishes when visiting  The Noodle House at Souk Madinat Jumeirah. Likewise, Sui Mui at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyhai puts its spin on Chinese, Japanese and wider Asian fare, while Taiko at the Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk has contemporary Asian fusion.

BEST FOR SPICE

The heat is on, with fiery food as part of Summer Restaurant Week. Farzi Café at Mall of the Emirates is a modern Indian café, while Varq at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, will delight with its contemporary Indian fare.

There’s a fine-dining spin on Mexican at Maya in Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, and La Tablita in the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights is known for its classic dishes. Hotel Cartagena at the JW Marriott Marquis, Business Bay, brings Latin American flavours to Dubai, as does Mama Zonia at Pier 7 in Dubai Marina, with its Amazon-themed setting, and Copala Mexican Restaurant at DIFC that brings “a real taste of Mexico” to diners.

BEST FOR PUB GRUB

You can’t go wrong with tasty gastropub fare, perfect for family dining, or handy for setting up a night out. The Dhow and Anchor at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel; The Duck Hook at the Dubai Hills Golf Club, Dubai Hills Estate; the Roaring Rabbit at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai; and The Nine at the Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk, are all offering their take on classic British pub food. Geales at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Marina has burgers and steaks too, as well as a fresh fish counter. You can also head to Warehouse at Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, known for delicious seafood, steaks and great views. 

For an American twist, try the Weslodge Saloon at City Walk or see what the Belgian Beer Café at the Souk Madinat Jumeirah has to offer, the Grand Millennium Dubai in Al Barsha, and the Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City. The Wavehouse at The Atlantis, Dubai, is getting involved too, with its bowling alley, arcade games and wave machine available for diners.

BEST FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Summer Restaurant Week also offers something out of the ordinary. For example, 21 Grams in Mayan Mall is Dubai’s only Balkan bistro, or how about visiting the AMG Kaffeehaus in City Walk, enjoying surrounds inspired by Mercedes cars? Grab a movie-themed snack at the Theatre Café at Vox Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates, before catching a summer blockbuster, or try North 28, near Ski Dubai at the same location, with its international menu and views of the slopes.

There are sprawling buffets at Palm Kitchen in the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, while Social Company at Zabeel House by Jumeirah in The Greens and at Bounty Beets at Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre

are known for their healthy options, with organic, gluten-free and vegan dishes. Summer Restaurant Week really does have something for everyone.

Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), the 25th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises runs until September 4 2022. Visit www.mydss.ae for the full calendar of events and @CelebrateDubai and @StyledbyDubai on social media channels.

Dubai Summer Surprises is supported by key sponsor RAKBANK MasterCard and strategic partners which include: Al Futtaim Group (Dubai Festival City Mall & Festival Plaza), Al Seef, Al Zarooni Group (Mercato Shopping Mall), AW Rostamani Group, Bluewaters, Citywalk, Dubai International Financial Centre, Emirates Airline, Enoc, Etisalat, La Mer, Majid Al Futtaim (Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira), Nakheel Malls (Ibn Battuta Mall, The Pointe, Nakheel Mall, Dragon Mart 2), The Beach and The Outlet Village.