2 Best Restaurants in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Al Hadheera sits alone in the dunes, just removed from the Bab al Shams resort, and for many, this is the quintessential Arabian dining experience. Find your seating under the stars in stone majlis booths, covered with Persian carpets and camel-hair cushions. Entertainment (e.g., tanoura dancers and oud players) will punctuate your meal, which is taken from a sumptuous spread over many cooking stations, and includes a good cross section of classic dishes from across the greater Arabian region. Alcohol served. Expect a fixed-price for dinner and a show.

Although pleasant year-round, Bateaux Dubai comes into its own in summer. July and August can be sweltering in the city, but all looks rosy from the chilled inside of this glass-encased barge. It's a five-star way to view the city in comfort. Menus are fixed, classic, and gourmet (if a little traditional), and washed down with your chosen drinks package and glittering views of the Dubai creek at night. The boat drifts slowly past historic districts, dhow shipyards, creekside resorts and towers of the business district. If you can manage to time it with one of Dubai's many festivals, you may also be lucky enough to pick up a fireworks display. Alcohol served.