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Dubai’s first-ever Michelin star winners revealed

Dubai’s first-ever Michelin star winners revealed

A total of 11 Dubai restaurants have been awarded Michelin stars

  • Bulgari Dubai hotel scoops three stars across two restaurants
  • None of Dubai’s individual restaurants received a three-Michelin-star rating
  • Two restaurants received two Michelin stars
  • Nine restaurants received one Michelin star
  • 14 restaurants received Bib Gourmands
  • 44 restaurants were ‘recognised’ with a Distinction
  • Only one restaurant won a green star for sustainability

The 2022 Michelin Dubai guide – the first-ever edition in the UAE – has been unveiled in a nail-biting ceremony held at Dubai Opera House today on 21 June 2022.

Michelin’s team of anonymous inspectors have awarded two restaurants with two Michelin stars and nine restaurants with one Michelin star, while 14 restaurants received a Bib Gourmand.

Here is the list of Michelin Dubai 2022 winners:

Two Michelin Star Winners

  • Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, Bulgari Dubai
    Romito’s menu features modern Italian fare with high-quality ingredients flown in from Italy. Highlights include fish and pasta dishes. His flagship Reale restaurant in Castel di Sangro, Italy has already earned three Michelin stars.
  • Stay by Yannick Alléno, One&Only The Palm
    Versions of dishes from Yannick’s highly acclaimed three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen, such as the langoustine and caviar tartlet with a warm lemon butter sauce, can also be sampled in Dubai at Stay by Yanick Alléno. Expect French cooking at its finest.

One Michelin Star Winners

  • 11 Woodfire, Jumeirah
    Chef-owner Akmal Anuar grills meat, fish and vegetables to perfection over oak, hickory or hay.

11 Woodfire

  • Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab
    Perched atop Dubai’s most famous hotel, Al Muntaha is led by Saverio Sbaragli who previously worked at Paris’ three-Michelin-starred Arpège under Alain Passard.
  • Armani/Ristorante, Armani Hotel Dubai
    Housed within the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa is a must-visit. Why not eat well while you’re there? Ristorante specialises in elegant Italian pasta and risotto, and premium grilled meat and fish, followed by La Sfera, a delicate signature dessert comprising sugar-glass sphere impossibly filled with delicious layers of biscuit, cake, cream and mousse – fillings change with the season.
  • Hakkasan, Atlantis, The Palm
    First opened in London in 2001, the Dubai outpost of Hakkasan offers reimagined Chinese dishes that are exclusive to Dubai, including lychee lobster with yuzu pearl.
  • Höseki, Bulgari Dubai
    Helmed by sixth-generation sushi master Masahiro Sugiyama, this nine-seat omakase restaurant is hidden away on the fourth floor of Bulgari Dubai. Ingredients are imported daily from Tokyo.
  • Ossiano, Atlantis, The Palm Located next to the hotel’s vast aquarium, Ossiano’s ‘Metanoia’ menus gain inspiration from chef Gregoire Berger’s delicious childhood memories in France.
  • Tasca by José Avillez, Mandarin Oriental Jumeira Dubai
    The first international outpost of José Avillez, Portugual’s most famous chef, Tasca by José Avillez is the place to sample some of his award-winning creations, including avocado tempura.
  • Torno Subito, W The Palm
    Owned by internationally acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura, Torno Subito offers Italian comfort food with pasta like Massimo’s mama used to make.
  • Trèsind Studio, Nakheel Tower, Palm Jumeirah
    Inventive chef Himanshu Saini and his team have a new location for Trèsind Studio with a rooftop terrace facilitating garden-to-table dishes, adding to his ever-expanding repertoire of modern Indian cuisine.

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Bib Gourmand Winners
Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurants offer a value-for-money gourmet experience for an average price of AED250 (US$68) for a three-course meal. Here’s where to get yours.

  • Al Khayma: Part-restaurant, part-museum, this eatery focuses on simple rustic Emirati cooking, slow-cooked meats, Arabian spices and fresh bread cooked in the courtyard.
  • Bait Maryam: Named after chef patronne Salam Dakkak’s mother Maryam, Bait Maryam serves up Levantine home cooking.
  • Brasserie Boulud: A chic brasserie offering classic French dishes, from escargots and canard rôti to tarte tatin and île flottante, possibly the lightest, fluffiest egg white ‘floating isle’ in Dubai.
  • Fi’Lia: Helmed by the effervescent 25-year-old chef Sara Aqel and her predominantly female-ran kitchen, Fi’Lia celebrates culinary knowledge passed down through generations of Italian women.
  • Folly: British chef Nick Alvis offers an ingredient-driven menu that focuses on precise, modern dishes cooked from a kitchen counter where diners can watch the chefs in action.
  • Goldfish: Another win for chef Akmal Anuar, this funky sushi and yakitori concept serves sharing plates and a very popular grilled Wagyu burger.
  • Ibn Albahr: With beach views from the terrace, and fresh fish in the chiller counter, Inb Albahr on Palm Jumeirah offers a seaside feast.
  • Indya by Vineet: Indian street food meets sophisticated sharing plates, with colourful dishes that include ample vegan and vegetarian options.
  • Kinoya: Japanese nibbles include sushi, sashimi, robata and tempura but serious foodies come here for the ramen. Five artfully curated, slow-cooked ramen dishes underpin the menu. Try them all.
  • Ninive: Inspired by a bedouin tent with low tables and cosy sofas, Ninive presents dishes from all over the Middle East and North Africa.
  • Orfali Bros: Owned and run by three Syrian brothers, Orfali Bros serves crowd-pleasing burgers, clever updates on traditional Middle Eastern dinners and Instagram-worthy desserts.
  • REIF Japanese Kushiyaki: Helmed by Singaporean chef-owner Reif Othman, REIF Japanese Kushiyaki focuses on robata-cooked, street food-style snacks alongside well-priced sushi, ramen and creative desserts. TERO – The Experience by Reif Othman – is coming soon.
  • Shabestan: The oldest Persian restaurant in Dubai, Shabestan has been around since 1984 serving traditional Persian dishes, marinated meats, freshly baked breads and mezze.
  • Teible: This cool, minimalist bakery and restaurant showcases seasonal, local and occasionally fermented ingredients in great value dishes.

Additional Awards

  • Michelin Green Star Winner: Lowe was the only restaurant to receive a Michelin Green Star for sustainable gastronomy.
  • Young Chef Award: Solemann Haddad, Moonrise
    Born and bred in Dubai with a French mother and Syrian father, Solemann’s fascination with food and Japanese cuisine began at a very early age. Read our candid interview with the rising star here.

Solemann Haddad

  • Sommelier Award: Danijela Tesic, Ossiano, Atlantis, The Palm
    Tesic’s choices showcase an interesting range of wines from the classic regions with a thought-provoking mix of varietals.
  • Welcome and Service Award: Christine Tusingire, Lowe, Al Barari
    Known to her colleagues as Tina, she shows genuine interest in her diners by taking the time to engage with them and remaining calm and organized in the heat of service.

Commenting on the awards, Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, said: “This very first Dubai selection of restaurants marks a historical moment for the Michelin Guide and the Middle East.”

Poullennec credited Dubai’s 200 resident nationalities for creating an “epicurean kaleidoscope” and said the listed restaurant teams all had one thing in common – that they are “brimming with passion and enthusiasm”.

“Today, Dubai is an inspiring gastronomic destination,” Poullennec concluded, “and we have no doubts that gourmets from all over the world will be seduced by its very unique energy.”

The Michelin Guide app listing all winners is available free of charge on iOS and Android. For more information, visit guide.michelin.com/en 

 

 

 

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