Your to-dine list just got a lot longer. On Tuesday, June 21, the Michelin Guide Dubai recognised two 2 Michelin Star restaurants and nine 1 Michelin Star restaurants during its inaugural reveal for the city.

“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.”

Ranging from masterful Japanese food, to contemporary Indian to Italian fine-dining, these Michelin-starred restaurants are diverse in flavour, ownership and price point.

Here’s the list of Michelin Dubai restaurant additions, with previews of the inspector notes for each restaurant:

TWO MICHELIN STARS

 Il Ristorante – Nike Romito

“Experienced Italian chef Giacomo Amicucci cooks assured, sophisticated modern Italian dishes, which are far more complex than they at first appear and come with balance, purity and clarity. Many of the top-quality ingredients are flown in from Italy; fish dishes are a highlight, as is the pasta. For the full experience, plump for the ‘Degustazione’ menu.”

STAY by Yannick Alléno

“This elegant, high-ceilinged restaurant is exclusively set at the end of the Palm in a Colonial-style property, which is breathtakingly opulent in design, with magical tropical gardens and a private dock. Precise, sophisticated dishes are perfectly judged and packed with flavour; beautifully conceived and skillfully crafted with an intelligent and intriguing array of textures, flavours and temperatures. The langoustine tart is a highlight.”

ONE MICHELIN STAR

11 Woodfire

“On-trend industrial styling, intimate lighting and a laid-back feel are the hallmarks of this striking modern villa conversion in the residential suburb of Jumeirah – along with the huge open kitchen and grill which gives the restaurant its name.
The impressive variety of global ingredients are of excellent quality, with vegetables, seafood and meats grilled to perfection over oak, hickory or hay, each of which impart their own distinctive flavour.”

Al Muntaha

“Al Muntaha sits atop of what many consider to be the most beautiful hotel in the world: the architectural masterpiece that is the Burj al Arab. It is fitting, therefore, that the both the restaurant and the food it serves should be sophisticated and refined.
The experienced chef’s menu has a French base and Mediterranean influences; top quality ingredients are cooked with precision to create modern dishes with bold flavours and playful textures. Expect luxury ingredients like truffles and caviar, excellent sauces and desserts which are as beautiful as they are delicious.”

Armani Ristorante

“An elegant, opulent restaurant set in the Armani Hotel on the lower floors of the Burj Khalifa. Precise, modern Italian cooking features first-class ingredients in beautifully presented, rich dishes full of colour, flavour and textural contrasts. Expect choices such as agnolotti del plin, filetto di scorfano or agnello al mirto – and make sure to order a dessert! For the full Armani experience, go for one of the tasting menus.”

Hakkasan

“Located within the Atlantis Hotel, the Dubai outpost of this ever-growing global brand delivers all you need for a fun night out. It’s moodily lit and atmospheric, with smooth service, a party soundtrack, and lattice screens which add an element of privacy. The menu of reimagined Chinese dishes includes all the Hakkasan classics, as well as a few dishes exclusive to Dubai, such as the lychee lobster with yuzu pearl.”

Hōseki

“This little ‘gem’ of a restaurant, set on the fourth floor of the Bulgari Hotel, is elegance personified, with understated, clean-lined décor and stunning views over the Dubai skyline. Nine counter seats make for a comfortable, ultra-intimate meal, where sixth-generation sushi master, Masahiro Sugiyama, and his team show off their considerable knife skills.”

Ossiano

“From the moment you descend the marble spiral staircase into this unique restaurant, you will be transfixed: it is located in the basement of the Atlantis Hotel, and its floor to ceiling windows look out into its aquarium. It could be difficult for the food to compete with such a backdrop; however, the experienced kitchen does a fantastic job. Fish and seafood form the base of the ‘Metanoia’ menus, which gain inspiration from chef Gregoire Berger’s childhood memories, and come with fine textural contrasts and impressive clarity of flavour.”

Tasca by José Avillez

“The eponymous chef is passionate about the culinary traditions of his native Portugal and his kitchen team understand the importance of fresh, great quality produce. The resulting dishes offer Portuguese flavours with a modern edge and are vibrant, innovative and bursting with flavour.”

Torno Subito

“A bright, funky throwback to the Italian Riviera of the 1960s, set within the striking W Hotel on the Palm; look out for the back-lit picture of internationally renowned chef, Massimo Bottura. Choose between the five-course tasting menu and an appealing à la carte: both offer understated, modern Italian dishes which are sophisticated, refined and bursting with colour and rich flavours.”

Trèsind Studio

“An immersive dining experience awaits in this elegant, 20-seater Indian restaurant set on the rooftop of an exclusive mall, where diners can watch chef Himanshu Saini and his team working calmly in the open kitchen. The surprise multi-course tasting menu is a masterpiece of originality and precision, offering perfectly composed dishes with elegance and some using herbs and flowers grown on the rooftop terrace.”