After months of speculation and many an inspector visit, the prestigious Michelin Guide has finally published its long-awaited Dubai restaurant ratings, with a total of 11 eateries granted one or more coveted stars.
As revealed in an exclusive launch ceremony, of the 11 newly starred restaurants, just two restaurants were deemed to be deserving of two Michelin stars. The first, Il Ristorante-Niko Romito which is found within the opulent Bulgari Resort Hotel, caught the discerning Michelin inspector’s eye with its “assured [and] sophisticated modern Italian dishes.”
The second two-star recipient in the 2022 Dubai Michelin Guide is STAY by Yannick Alléno, which is located inside the One&Only The Palm resort. Earning praise for his ‘less is more’ approach to fine dining, Alléno’s signature menu is rooted in classic French cooking with a firm emphasis on only working with the finest ingredients. The guide highlighted STAY’s langoustine tart as a standout dish.
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“This very first Dubai selection of restaurants marks a historical moment for the MICHELIN Guide and the Middle East,” says Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides. “What makes Dubai’s culinary landscape so distinctive is its reflection of the more than 200 nationalities that call the city home, delivering an epicurean kaleidoscope.”
“One thing all the restaurants in this fast-paced dynamic and elegant city have in common is they are brimming with passion and enthusiasm. Today, Dubai is settled as an inspiring gastronomic destination and we have no doubts that gourmets from all over the world will be seduced by its very unique energy.”
The guide also awarded a single Michelin Green Star – an award recently conceived to celebrate those restaurants that prioritize sustainability. The one and only Dubai recipient was Lowe, a contemporary eatery that focuses on flame-cooked food and nose-to-tail gastronomy.
[See also: Inside Raffles The Palm Dubai: Restrained Opulence]
The Michelin Guide Dubai was unveiled at an exclusive award ceremony / ©Getty
Lowe’s Waste Not dinners are noted as a particular highlight, with guests treated to an eight- to ten-course menu made solely from otherwise wasted ingredients. While the presence of eco-conscious fine dining in Dubai seems minimal for now, there’s hope that the movement will continue to mount here as it has in other culinary capitals.
A further 14 restaurants, including Fi’Lia, Folly and Al Khayma, were given Bib Gourmand plaques – a separate accolade that acknowledges those dining destinations serving first-rate cuisine at more accessible price points. The presence of such a high number of Bib Gourmands showcases the diversity of Dubai’s food scene; this isn’t a city purely centered around out-and-out luxury.
The revealing of the 2022 Michelin Guide Dubai follows last week’s first Florida guide, which saw 15 restaurants awarded stars, including the now two-Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Miami.
Two Michelin star restaurants in Dubai
Il Ristorante-Niko Romito**
STAY by Yannick Alléno**
One Michelin star restaurants in Dubai
11 Woodfire*
Al Muntaha*
Armani Ristorante*
Hakkasan*
Höseki*
Ossiano*
Tasca by José Avillez*
Torno Subito*
Trèsind Studio*
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