Pasta La Vista, Baby! Italian Restaurants You Need To Try Right Now
From DIFC’s sky-high glamour to homestyle trattoria charm, these Italian hotspots prove Dubai is just as good at pasta as it is at skyscrapers.
When it comes to Italian food, this city doesn’t just copy Rome, it creates a slice of authentic Italy in the heart of a sprawling metropolis. Whether you’re hankering for a wood-fired pizza, a caviar-topped indulgence, or nonna-style pasta with a side of skyline views, Dubai’s Italian restaurants deliver the goods, in classic style.
Here are 10 of our Insider Magazine favourites:
1. Fi’lia Dubai – Business Bay
Female-led, Bib Gourmand-winning, and all about recipes passed down from nonna to mamma to figlia. Chef Célia Stoecklin and her powerhouse team bring Italian-Mediterranean tradition with a fresh, modern spin. Expect wholesome pasta, hearty mains, and the warmth of home cooking with a Michelin-approved glow.
SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences, Business Bay, +971 4 607 0737, filiarestaurant.com.
2. Oppidan – Jumeirah 3
Set in a cosy villa on Al Wasl Road, Oppidan is Dubai’s answer to “casual but chic” Italian. Founder Rashed Al Tayer (of Terra fame) has created a space where handmade pasta is rolled before your eyes and dishes feel like home-cooked delights. Perfect for a night that’s stylish without being stuffy.
Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 3, +971 4 223 0980, oppidanrestaurant.com.
3. Il Gattopardo – DIFC
On the 51st floor of ICD Brookfield Place, Il Gattopardo takes Italian dining to dizzying new heights – quite literally. Straight from London’s Mayfair, this is La Dolce Vita with a Dubai twist. Aperitivo hour, DJ sets, skyline views, and Chef Massimo Pasquarelli’s modern classics make this one for the movers and shakers of our fair city.
ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC, +971 4 593 1555, ilgattopardodubai.com.
4. Carna by Dario Cecchini – Business Bay
Helmed by the world’s most famous butcher, Dario Cecchini, Carna is a homage to meat and sustainability. Located on the 74th floor of the stylish SLS Hotel, this contemporary steakhouse celebrates every cut, turning butchery into poetry. Expect chandeliers, cocktails and Tuscan vibes.
SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences, Business Bay, +971 4 607 0737, carnadubai.com.
5. Arrogante Dubai – Downtown
Arrogante may be cheeky in name, but it’s serious about pizza, cocktails, and a terrace with the Burj Khalifa as the backdrop. Equal parts intimate and glamorous, this is where Italian charm flirts with Dubai nightlife energy. A new contender with a big personality.
Downtown Dubai, +971 4 589 8888, arrogantedubai.com.
6. Bellini Café – Jumeirah 2
The Cipriani dynasty strikes again. Bellini Café, inside Mr. C Residences, brings Old-World warmth and understated luxury to Dubai’s canal-side dining. Ideal for a slow breakfast, intimate dinner, or just sipping prosecco and pretending you’re in Venice.
Mr. C Residences, Jumeirah 2, +971 4 873 8888, bellinicafe.com.
7. Chic Nonna – DIFC
Expect vaulted wine cellars, handmade pasta, wood-fired creations, and a terrace buzzing with DIFC energy. Chic Nonna is like your Italian grandmother moved into a glamorous penthouse. Tradition meets modern flair, all wrapped up in family-style hospitality.
DIFC, Dubai, +971 4 606 0707, chicnonnadubai.com.
8. Beluga Restaurant & Lounge – Jumeirah 1
Dubai’s only dedicated caviar restaurant, Beluga fuses Italian luxury with indulgence. Think fine dining, opulent interiors, and menus that sparkle with creativity. If you like your Italian with a side of sophistication, this one’s for you.
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Jumeirah 1, +971 4 340 8882, belugadubai.com.
9. Bistrot Novanta – Trade Centre
Trendy yet down-to-earth, Bistrot Novanta at Fairmont SZR is a buzzing social hub with a killer view of the Museum of the Future. The menu hits the sweet spot between casual and classy, with authentic recipes, top-quality ingredients, and a terrace perfect for post-dinner schmoozing.
Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 4 311 8316, bistrotnovanta.com.
10. TIMO – Al Jaddaf
At Al Jaddaf Rotana, TIMO keeps things warm, welcoming, and family-friendly. With hearty homemade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and a terrace by the pool, it’s the perfect spot for laidback Italian dining with a lively Mediterranean feel. Bonus: there’s a kids’ area too.
Al Jaddaf Rotana Suite Hotel, Al Jaddaf, +971 4 596 2222, rotana.com.
From sky-high glamour in DIFC to family-friendly trattorias by the pool, Dubai is proving that Italy’s culinary soul is alive and well here in the desert.
