Dubai's best foodie experiences in December

OKKU on Palm Jumeirah has launched ‘Musou by OKKU’, an all-new teppanyaki space offering authentic Japanese delicacies with the award-winning restaurant's special touch. Available Sunday to Thursday, with seatings at 7pm and 9:30pm, Musou is located behind a secret door and offers a nine-course menu with dishes including wagyu tartare on crispy rice and Chilean seabass with yuzu-honey-miso.

The weather is perfect for alfresco evenings and the Mercury Rooftop at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach is just the place. The venue has been transformed with celestial new elements including liquid gold and dark blue décor, enhanced with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. With uninterrupted panoramas of Burj Khalifa and the Arabian Gulf, live performances and a selection of starters and sharing mains – arrive at sunset and stay as the night sky fills with stars.

Japanese dining destination Kokoro is partnering with Matcha Padel Club for a unique one-night-only omakase experience on 17 December. This exclusive event will takeover Matcha's padel court and transform it into a culinary haven with three sushi bars featuring expert chefs who will craft dishes live before your eyes under the guidance of kokoro founders and operators Tamer El Khayat and Faisal Yabroudi.
With limited seats available, this intimate evening promises to deliver Kokoro’s signature Japanese flavours in a special open-air setting - perfectly blending food, community and ambiance.The evening will feature two seatings, the first at 7pm and the second at 9.15pm and will cost AED650 per person.

Awarded ‘opening of the year’ by Michelin, The Guild has announced a new menu celebrating global flavours and local ingredients. Including starters ‘from the rockpool’, creative salads, woodfired mains, handcrafted pasta plus so much more, all served up in the restaurant’s beautiful space, it's a must-try for all foodies.

Award-winning French restaurant Couqley is celebrating the festive season with a limited-edition winter specials menu from 23 November until 7 January. Not only can you enjoy classics such as short ribs bourguignon, truffle pappardelle and wagyu entrecôte but also the delicious melted Mont D’Or fondue – perfect for sharing. Opt for either Couqley’s cosy JLT location or elegant Downtown Dubai setting.

Shai Salon in Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach invites guests to celebrate the festive season with a luxurious afternoon tea featuring seasonal flavours and special touches. For AED300 per person, enjoy delights like Christmas spiced cake, Atlantic lobster on toast, duck foie gras terrine and the “Dulcey” yule log. Available from 5 December to 8 January, from 3pm to 7pm.

This December, the ultra-cool Bungalo34 is hosting evenings combining cinema classics with dining under the stars. Starting on 4 December and continuing every two weeks on a Wednesday, guests can enjoy an enchanting evening by the sea while watching films including The Big Blue and Midnight in Paris and dining on delicious Mediterranean fare. Tickets are priced at AED450, fully redeemable on F&B.

Lebanese street food concept Allo Beirut is launching ‘Heritage Bites’, an exciting new series dedicated to celebrating local chefs. The initiative kicks off with Emirati chef Faisal Naser, who has developed a menu featuring three beloved recipes from Emirati cuisine – including the fragrant chicken machboos and shrimp hamsa sautéed to perfection with Emirati spices. The 'Allo Beirut x Chef Faisal' menu is available for dine-in and takeaway across all locations in Dubai.

Spend Sundays enjoying an all-new family-friendly brunch at Lakeview at Park Hyatt Dubai. Featuring an arrangement of delectable options, including the classic Sunday roast, there will be family films shown on large screens, introducing the little ones to movie classics while parents indulge in a relaxing afternoon out. From AED165 per person.

Jara by Martín Berasategui, the first Basque restaurant in the region, is set to host a historic four-hands dinner with Leña Dubai on 18 December. Bringing together two culinary legends, Martín Berasategui and Dani García, the set menu costs from AED1,500 per person and will showcase signature dishes and innovative creations such as mille-feuille of smoked eel, foie gras, spring onions and green apple, a mouthwatering seafood dish co-created by the chefs, and Kiwami beef tomahawk, foyot sauce and truffled onion au gratin.

Dining hotspot Chez Wam at St. Regis Gardens, Palm Jumeirah, has launched the exciting ‘Chez What’ brunch. Taking place every Sunday, the brunch features a sharing-style menu with inventive dishes that are the signature of chef Hadrien Villedieu. With a DJ spinning a mix of ‘80s and ‘90s classics along with R&B hits, the brunch will run from 1pm to 5pm, with packages starting at AED325 per person.