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Best Of Dubai · Food · Lebanese Restaurant Guide

Best Lebanese restaurants in Dubai: mezze, grills and Beirut-style dining

Em Sherif Cafe Dubai

Best Of compares Dubai’s Lebanese restaurants across mezze quality, bread, grills, freshness, hospitality, consistency, value and how well the meal suits its occasion. The strongest choice depends on whether you want a dependable family feast, polished Downtown dining, lively café energy, waterfront seafood or sweets to take home.

BEST OF EditorialVenues last checked 22 Oct 2026

  • Reviewed by Best Of Editors
  • No paid ranking positions
  • Lebanese dining style clearly labelled
Shortlist

Choose from 8 Lebanese restaurants in one glance

Compare atmosphere, occasion and signature strengths before checking the current menu and branch.

  1. 01Al Safadi Restaurant · Best overall Lebanese restaurant9.8
  2. 02Em Sherif Café · Best polished Lebanese dining9.7
  3. 03Al Beiruti · Best lively Lebanese café9.6
  4. 04Al Hallab Restaurant and Sweets · Best for Lebanese food and sweets9.5
  5. 05WAFI Gourmet · Best Lebanese gourmet market restaurant9.3
  6. 06Ibn AlBahr · Best Lebanese seafood restaurant9.2
  7. 07Babel Dubai · Best modern luxury Lebanese dining9.0
  8. 08BeBabel · Best beachside Lebanese restaurant8.9
Editor’s choice

Al Safadi is Dubai’s strongest dependable all-round Lebanese restaurant

It combines classic flavours, generous portions, lively family dining and the consistency needed for repeat visits.

Why it ranks first:
The mezze, bread, shawarma and grills deliver reliably without requiring a special occasion.
Best for:
Families, groups, visitors and anyone wanting a broad introduction to Lebanese food.
What to order:
Hummus, fattoush, one hot mezze, fresh bread and a focused grill order.
How BEST OF ranks

Weighted methodology for Lebanese restaurants in Dubai

The score prioritises mezze freshness, bread and grills while also recognising consistency, hospitality, atmosphere and value.

  • Mezze quality and freshness25%
  • Bread, grills and hot dishes20%
  • Consistency15%
  • Hospitality and pacing15%
  • Atmosphere and occasion fit15%
  • Value and portion balance10%
  • Bread test. Fresh bread should arrive hot and regularly, supporting the mezze rather than feeling like an afterthought.
  • Mezze test. Cold and hot mezze should taste fresh, balanced and distinct from one another.
  • Grill test. Chicken, meat and seafood should arrive juicy, well seasoned and properly timed after the mezze.
BEST OF take

Choose between the everyday favourite and the polished occasion

Pick Al Safadi for the strongest dependable all-round Lebanese meal, Em Sherif Café for a more polished Downtown experience, or Al Beiruti for lively café energy. Al Hallab is strongest when sweets matter as much as grills, while Ibn AlBahr suits a seafood-led meal by the water.

Best Of note: The best Lebanese meal usually comes from balance: cold mezze, one hot mezze, fresh bread, a focused grill order and enough room for dessert.

Check before you book

Three details that change the table

Portion sizes, branch atmosphere and seating can vary significantly.

  • How many dishes should you order?Mezze · Grill · DessertPlan the table around group size rather than ordering every favourite.
  • Which branch suits the occasion?Family · View · Quick mealLarge Lebanese brands can feel very different by location.
  • What should arrive fresh?Bread · Falafel · GrillsAsk for hot dishes in stages so they do not sit on the table.
Best by occasion

Not every Lebanese meal needs the same room

  • Family feast · Al Safadi
  • Polished dinner · Em Sherif Café
  • Seafood lunch · Ibn AlBahr
  • Lively casual meal · Al Beiruti
Order the Table

Build balance, not quantity

  • Cold mezze. Hummus, moutabbal and tabbouleh
  • One hot mezze. Falafel, rakakat or kibbeh
  • Focused grill. Choose chicken, meat or fish
  • Shared dessert. Kunafa, baklava or ashta
What Can Disappoint

Too much food can make a good table feel unfocused

Lebanese menus reward contrast and pacing more than ordering every favourite.

  • Too many cold mezze. Choose different textures and flavours rather than several similar dips.
  • Hot dishes arrive together. Ask for falafel, bread and grills in stages so they stay fresh.
  • The wrong branch. Check whether the location suits a family meal, view, quick lunch or special occasion.
The ranking

The 8 best Lebanese restaurants in Dubai

Rankings combine mezze, bread, grills, freshness, hospitality, consistency, atmosphere and value.

  1. 01

    Al Safadi Restaurant

    9.8BEST OF score
    Best overall Lebanese restaurant

    A long-standing Dubai favourite known for reliable mezze, fresh bread, shawarma and mixed grills. The atmosphere is busy and informal, making it one of the easiest recommendations for families, visitors and repeat diners.

    Classic familyMultiple branches including Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Rigga

    Best for:
    Groups, families and dependable meals
    Standout:
    Consistency across mezze and grills

    BEST OF tip: Order cold mezze first, then add hot bread, one hot mezze and a focused grill platter rather than filling the table immediately.

    View profileOfficial websiteOpen in Maps
  2. 02

    Em Sherif Café

    9.7BEST OF score
    Best polished Lebanese diningEm Sherif Cafe Dubai

    A stylish Downtown restaurant built around Mireille Hayek’s Lebanese recipes, polished service and a more refined atmosphere. It works especially well for visitors who want authentic flavours in a special-occasion setting.

    PolishedThe Heritage Hotel, Downtown Dubai

    Best for:
    Visitors, dates and celebrations
    Standout:
    Refined mezze and Downtown setting

    BEST OF tip: Book the meal around the mezze and leave room for one or two signature mains rather than treating the menu like a large family grill restaurant.

    View profileOfficial websiteOpen in Maps
  3. 03

    Al Beiruti

    9.6BEST OF score
    Best lively Lebanese caféAl Beiruti Cafe DIFC

    A modern Lebanese restau-café with strong breakfast dishes, hummus, manakish, shawarma and grills. The energetic atmosphere and broad menu make it especially good for friends and casual late meals.

    Lively caféSheikh Zayed Road and other Dubai branches

    Best for:
    Friends, breakfast and late meals
    Standout:
    Chicken shawarma and lively atmosphere

    BEST OF tip: Use the café menu properly: start with hummus or manakish, then choose one signature shawarma or grill instead of ordering too broadly.

    View profileOfficial websiteOpen in Maps
  4. 04

    Al Hallab Restaurant and Sweets

    9.5BEST OF score
    Best for Lebanese food and sweets

    A classic Lebanese restaurant with a strong combination of mezze, grills and an extensive sweets counter. It is particularly useful for family meals and visitors who want both savoury dishes and takeaway Arabic desserts.

    Classic and sweetsAl Garhoud, Dubai Mall and Downtown

    Best for:
    Families, business lunches and dessert lovers
    Standout:
    Grills plus Lebanese confectionery

    BEST OF tip: Keep the savoury meal slightly lighter and finish at the sweets counter with a mixed selection to take home.

    Open in Maps
  5. 05

    WAFI Gourmet

    9.3BEST OF score
    Best Lebanese gourmet market restaurantWafi Gourmet | Dubai Mall

    A Lebanese restaurant and food hall with fresh bread, mezze, grills, raw dishes, sweets and pantry products. It is one of the strongest choices for diners who also want to buy Lebanese ingredients or desserts to take home.

    Gourmet marketWafi Mall, Dubai Mall and Sunset Mall

    Best for:
    Variety, takeaway and adventurous ordering
    Standout:
    Fresh bread, raw dishes and food hall

    BEST OF tip: Try one less familiar dish such as kibbeh nayeh alongside classic mezze, then browse the sweets and pantry products afterwards.

    View profileOfficial websiteOpen in Maps
  6. 06

    Ibn AlBahr

    9.2BEST OF score
    Best Lebanese seafood restaurantIbn AlBahr Seafood Restaurant

    A beachfront Lebanese seafood restaurant where the fish display and sea view shape the meal. It is strongest when diners want grilled fish, seafood mezze and a long lunch rather than a standard mixed-grill dinner.

    SeafoodClub Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah

    Best for:
    Long lunches and seafood groups
    Standout:
    Fresh fish and waterfront setting

    BEST OF tip: Choose the fish first, then build the mezze around it so the table does not become too heavy before the main course.

    View profileOpen in Maps
  7. 07

    Babel Dubai

    9.0BEST OF score
    Best modern luxury Lebanese diningBabel Dubai

    A progressive Lebanese restaurant in Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue, combining polished presentation, creative takes on familiar flavours and views towards the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain.

    Progressive LebaneseFashion Avenue, Dubai Mall

    Best for:
    Modern celebrations and visitors
    Standout:
    Creative Lebanese dishes and fountain views

    BEST OF tip: Choose a few modern signatures alongside familiar mezze so the table balances creativity with classic Lebanese flavours.

    View profileOfficial websiteOpen in Maps
  8. 08

    BeBabel

    8.9BEST OF score
    Best beachside Lebanese restaurant

    A modern Lebanese bistro at Club Vista Mare, pairing progressive mezze and coastal flavours with an open-air beachfront setting and Palm Jumeirah views.

    Beachside LebaneseClub Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah

    Best for:
    Waterfront lunches and relaxed dinners
    Standout:
    Progressive mezze and beach views

    BEST OF tip: Reserve a sea-facing table in cooler weather and build the meal around lighter mezze, seafood and one larger shared dish.

    View profileOfficial websiteOpen in Maps
Frequently asked questions

Dubai Lebanese restaurant questions answered

What is the best overall Lebanese restaurant in Dubai?

Al Safadi is the strongest dependable all-round choice for classic mezze, bread, shawarma and grills.

Which Lebanese restaurant is best for a polished dinner?

Em Sherif Café is a strong choice for refined Lebanese food in a more polished Downtown setting.

Which Lebanese restaurant is best for families?

Al Safadi and Al Hallab both work well for families because of their broad menus, generous portions and familiar dishes.

Where should I go for Lebanese seafood?

Ibn AlBahr is one of the strongest Lebanese seafood choices, especially for a long waterfront lunch.

Which restaurant is best for Lebanese sweets?

Al Hallab combines a full Lebanese menu with a particularly strong sweets counter.

How many mezze should two people order?

Two cold mezze and one hot mezze is usually enough before one shared main or grill.

What should a larger group order?

Choose several contrasting mezze, two or three hot dishes, fresh bread and a focused mix of chicken, meat or fish.

Should grills arrive with the mezze?

It is usually better to ask for grills after the mezze so the meat arrives hot and does not sit on the table.

Which restaurant is best for takeaway sweets and pantry items?

WAFI Gourmet and Al Hallab are both useful when you want sweets or Lebanese products to take home.

Which Lebanese restaurant is best for a modern luxury dinner?

Babel Dubai combines progressive Lebanese cooking with a polished Dubai Mall setting and landmark views.

Which Lebanese restaurant is best for a beachside meal?

BeBabel is a strong choice for modern Lebanese dishes and waterfront dining at Club Vista Mare.

Final recommendation

Choose the occasion first, then build a balanced Lebanese table

Choose Al Safadi for the strongest dependable all-round meal, Em Sherif Café for polished Lebanese dining, Al Hallab when sweets matter, Ibn AlBahr for seafood, Babel Dubai for modern luxury or BeBabel for a beachside meal. Order in stages so bread, falafel and grills arrive fresh.

Menus, prices, branch locations, opening hours and reservation policies change. Confirm current details directly with the restaurant before travelling.

Coming back
  • Al Nafoorah · listed as 'opening soon'
Editorial standards

Inside the Best Of Review Process

Every Best Of guide follows a clear editorial process, helping readers compare Lebanese restaurants using category-specific standards rather than popularity alone.

  • Research First. Every guide begins with broad research to identify the strongest businesses, venues and experiences before the final shortlist is created.
  • Quality Checked. Every recommendation is assessed against standards tailored to its category, helping ensure each featured option meets the level expected of a Best Of pick.
  • Fairly Compared. We compare the factors that matter most for each category, making it easier to understand why one option suits a particular reader better than another.
  • Reviewed Regularly. Guides are refreshed as menus, branches, opening days and reservation policies change, helping keep recommendations useful and relevant.

Every featured Lebanese restaurant must meet the quality standards for freshness, mezze, bread, grills, consistency and overall experience before it is recommended to readers.