Discover all the Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in Dubai

For delectable Balkan-style cuisine, 21 Grams is a homegrown neighbourhood bistro. Nestled within the cosy suburban centre of Dubai – Umm Suqeim – the local hotspot is always bustling with good food, delightful coffee and cheerful banter. Regulars tend to pre-book the private dining room where chef's table events are hosted too. While here, try a few among these dishes: the delicious chicken liver plate, crisp spinach borek, signature phyllo pie and tempting baklava.

This homegrown favourite has long charmed Dubai's foodies and it's no surprise it also made it to the World's 50 Best Restaurants list for MENA. The chic yet casual dining experience, coupled with calming harbourside views and no-reservations policy, makes this one of Dubai's most unassumingly spectacular dining hotspots. Serving modern Asian cuisine with a Japanese influence, you’ll find tantalising dishes such as salmon carpaccio, wagyu beef, sushi and fire-grilled octopus on the menu.

From the award-winning team behind Trèsind comes another gem, helmed by chef Malik Basha. Food at Aamara, located on level two of VOCO Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, will impress you with both its on-point presentation and sheer deliciousness. The space is open and inviting, where traditional decor elements blend seamlessly with modern styling – much like the menu. Tuck into delectable dishes like the butterfly prawn with muhammara, signature finger salad with lettuce cream, za’atar kebabs and charcoal-cooked lamb chops, which feature perfectly paired Indian and Middle Eastern flavours.

From the courtyard setting and lanterns adorning the walls to thatched-palm placemats, it's clear that Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant is more than just a cosy spot for a meal – it's a place to get a feel of Dubai's yesteryears. The menu is wide-ranging, covering everything from local favourites like chebab (Emirati pancakes) to hearty meat-laden dishes and sizzling seafood platters. Following the customs of the land, portions are generous too, making this an ideal spot for an indulgent dinner after a day spent exploring Old Dubai.

Starting as a collection of recipes handed down through generations, Bait Maryam has quickly transformed into a staple choice for unpretentious and authentic Middle Eastern meals. A proud Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, the restaurant is helmed by Salam Dakkar, who is award-winning in her own right, having clinched the MENA region's best female chef title by the World’s 50 Best in 2023. Those who enter are sure to feel a sense of warmth and nostalgia, thanks to the modern but cosy interiors with various vintage bric-a-brac filling the shelves and cupboards. Come ready for a feast and dive into moreish servings of manakish, falafel, lamb chops and Levantine specialities featuring spicy potatoes or fried eggplant.

Award-winning chef Vineet Bhatia's eatery is a spice emporium with a decidedly modern twist. The celebrated culinary genius has taken the recipes of his home and given them an update, plating them up beautifully at Indya by Vineet at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa. It feels like a labour of love for the Mumbai native as the 70-strong dishes showcase a very personal story. Everything feels familiar yet is, at the same time, completely fresh with unusual ingredients and unique preparations.

Foodies rave about this modern Middle Eastern eatery, a family affair for Fatafeet's celebrity chef Mohammad Orfali and his brothers Omar and Wassim. The trio's labour of love, which landed a place on the Michelin and MENA 50 Best Restaurants list, serves an innovative menu blending regional flavours with international influences. Its central location, on one of the pretty plazas in Wasl 51 mall, offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Given two of the three owners focus on sweet treats, it's worth saving room for dessert.