With its incredibly luxurious hotels, stunning sandy beaches and buzzy nightlife, there are a lot of things to love about Dubai. However, over the years, one of the things it’s become most renowned for is its rich and diverse food scene. It is impossible to pinpoint one prominent type of cuisine that Dubai is best known for because there are restaurants cooking food from all over the world to an exceptionally high standard. From wonderful Italian food to top class Japanese restaurants, there really is something for everyone in Dubai, and that includes those looking for classic British dishes too.
There’s just something about British food that is particularly comforting, wherever in the world you have it. Whether you are tucking into a hearty roast dinner, gobbling down a fish and chips or starting your day with a full English, it transports you to a cosy place in your mind. For this reason, there are now restaurants serving British food in cities across the globe including in Dubai. In fact, Dubai has a whole host of amazing British restaurants which, once you’re inside, you’d be forgiven for thinking aren’t in Dubai at all. These include gastropubs, restaurants from famous British chefs, and even restaurants inspired by trips over the UK by Dubai chefs.
So regardless of whether you’re in holiday in Dubai and missing British food, or are living in Dubai and have been wanting to stuff your face with some hearty nosh, there’s plenty to choose from. Below we’ve put together a guide to the best British restaurants in Dubai so that next time you’re looking for a spot to visit, your decision is a little less tough. We’ve tried to include a range of different types of restaurant covering all areas of the city and all price points.
Marina Social
What: With a British chef as highly regarded as Jason Atherton behind it, it’s not a surprise that the cooking at Marina Social is of a very high calibre. Classic British dishes come beautifully presented with menu highlights including beef Wellington for two with Café de Paris butter, dauphinoise potatoes and a red wine sauce. There’s also the option to indulge in a hearty roast dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, while Thursday night is steak night.
Where: InterContinental Dubai Marina, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz al Saud Street
The Eloquent Elephant
What: This British-inspired gastropub really does feel like a slice London. With its wooden bar and small beer garden area, you’d only know you were in Dubai by looking up and seeing the towering skyscrapers outside. The Eloquent Elephant’s menu covers plenty of ground, featuring everything from bangers and mash to a bacon butty. You can even go for a full English breakfast for brunch, lunch or dinner if you’re in the mood for a bit of a fry-up.
Where: Taj Dubai, Burj Khalifa Street
Geales
What: A sister restaurant to the London original, Geales is located in Dubai Marina and serves a seafood-focused menu. Brutish chef Alex Mobsby oversees the kitchen which produces favourites such as fish pie, and rare roast beef with horseradish. However, the main event at Geales is its epic fish and chips offering, which allows you to not only choose what fish you want, but also select the type of batter. Now who can say no to somewhere which takes fish and chips that seriously?
Where: Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, Al Mamsha Street
Reform Social & Grill
What: Another spot with a London counterpart, Reform Social & Grill is unmistakeably British in its décor, with its banquette seating and dark wood tables providing a very pub-like vibe. In terms of the food menu, you can expect dishes hailing from all parts of the UK, such as black pudding and haggis fritters, Scotch eggs, pie and chips, and sticky toffee pudding. Prices are kept very reasonable given the standard of food.
Where: The Lakes, Emirates Hills Forat
Bread Street Kitchen & Bar
What: The first of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants in Dubai and another with a sibling over in the UK, Bread Street Kitchen is a spacious spot, constantly busy with people. Everything about this place screams Britain, from the queen motif at the entrance to the contemporary British food menu. Enjoy dishes ranging from craft beer battered fish and chips, to beef Wellington with truffle mash, spiced carrots and marrowbone sauce.
Where: Atlantis The Palm, Crescent Road
Great British Restaurant
What: If ever there was a restaurant to which the phrase “it does what it says on the tin” applied to, it’s the Great British Restaurant in Dukes, Palm Jumeirah. Serving a variety of different British dishes with the odd twist in a brasserie-like dining room bursting with character, the Great British Restaurant is open all day long. Head there in the morning for a buffet breakfast or come in the evening for traditional roast dinner.
Where: Dukes, Palm Jumeirah
The Rose & Crown
What: If the ultra-traditional name isn’t a big enough clue to the inspiration behind the Rose & Crown, the red London telephone box and pub sign certainly will be. The British references continue inside with a darts board and pool table giving the space a relaxed feel. Highlights of the menu include a steak sandwich, lamb stew, and apple crumble for dessert, but be warned, the portions are all incredibly generous.
Where: Al Habtoor City, Sheikh Zayed Road
The Scene by Simon Rimmer
What: Simon Rimmer is a chef best-known for being one of the hosts of BBC’s Sunday Brunch, but his Dubai restaurant The Scene is well worth a visit for those looking for some proper British food. Located in the fashionable Pier 7 complex, the contemporary restaurant particularly excels at roast dinners, which come accompanied by all the trimmings including bone marrow gravy.
Where: 4th Floor, Pier 7, Marina Mall, Al Yahoom Street
JB’s Gastropub
What: Based inside the Amwaj Rotana Hotel, JB’s Gastropub is all about serving big plates of British favourites at reasonable prices. Featuring leather upholstered stools and large TV screens usually showing the football, it does a fantastic job of recreating the vibe of a British sports bar. That said, the food isn’t to be sniffed at; you can expect dishes here such as pea and ham hock soup, beef brisket and Guinness pie, and a pulled pork baguette.
Where: Amwaj Rotana Hotel, The Walk, Al Sayorah Street
The Croft
What: Priding itself on serving hearty British food with a modern twist, The Croft is a stylish restaurant overlooking the water of Dubai’s Marina. Benefitting from a stunning terrace as well, it’s the perfect spot to come for a meal with friends, family or loved ones. In terms of food, you can tuck into starters like a late breakfast salad which features a sausage, fried egg, chorizo and Wensleydale cheese, and mains including lamb shank.
Where: 5th Level Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street
Rhodes W1
What: If it’s luxury you’re looking for when it comes to your food, the late Gary Rhodes’ Dubai restaurant is a good bet. Rhodes W1 is a fine dining restaurant based in the Grosvenor House Hotel and it reminds us of some of London’s most upmarket restaurants in feel. In terms of the menu, expect everything from grilled lamb cutlets with mint sauce, to a dark chocolate fondant for dessert.
Where: Grosvenor House Hotel, Al Emreef Street, Dubai Marina
The Duck Hook
What: Away from the main hustle and bustle of Dubai, The Duck Hook aims to recreate the vibe of a British country pub with a few added eccentricities. Based at the Dubai Hills Golf Club, the restaurant’s walls are covered with pieces of art (mainly of ducks!), while you’ll also find digital fireplaces crackling away and cosy furniture upholstered in the colours of a mallard. Food-wise, it’s a menu of pub classics at The Duck Hook including steak and ale pie, fish and chips, and lamb shank.
Where: Dubai Hills Golf Club, Al Quoz
Dhow and Anchor
What: Known to regulars simply as D&A, Dhow and Anchor is a modern gastropub found inside the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The bright and airy restaurant offers a menu of favourites such as bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie, while there are also some classic British snacks available too including pork scratchings. You can also come to D&A to watch the sport on its large screens with a pint or two.
Where: Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeira Road, Umm Suqeim 3
Hell’s Kitchen
What: For pure theatre Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, inspired by his TV show of the same name, is hard to beat. Located on the ground floor of the Caesars Palace Hotel, this is more of a dining experience than a restaurant, as you’re made to feel like you’re actually on the TV show, complete with red and blue teams of chefs. The food consists of home comforts taken to the next level, including Ramsay’s signature beef Wellington.
Where: Caesars Palace, Bluewaters Island
Take advantage of Dubai's many incredible skyscrapers and head to one of these incredible rooftop bars after your meal