Foodies, listen up! The 11th edition of the Dubai Food Festival is back from Friday, 19 April and will take place until 12 May. Offering an array of mouthwatering delights, it's packed with culinary experiences, special tasting menus, experiential events, masterclasses, four-hand dinners, and more. And if you haven't attended the festival yet, it's the perfect time to do so! Let Connector be your go-to guide for this exciting culinary adventure.
What Can You Expect At Dubai Food Festival
Dubai Food Festival 2024 has it all, from fancy dining to undiscovered treasures, local Emirati flavours to globally acclaimed MICHELIN-starred eateries, and everything in the middle. This massive culinary extravaganza showcases a diverse range of gastronomic events and experiences, celebrating Dubai's rich culinary tapestry. Moreover, the festival will honour chefs, innovators, and influencers who play a key role in shaping and enriching the city's food scene.
Events Taking Place At Dubai Food Festival
Dubai Restaurant Week: During Dubai Restaurant Week taking place from 26 April to 12 May, more than 60 of the city's top restaurants will offer specially curated set menus at great prices. Lunch menus are priced at Dhs 125 for two courses and dinners at Dhs 250 for three courses. You can explore a variety of cuisines, from fine dining to local favourites and hidden gems. Participating restaurants include Cargo, Hillhouse Brasserie, Couqley French Restaurant, Somewhere Galleria, Rhodes W1, Toro Toro, and Carna. You can also dine at MICHELIN and Gault&Millau recognised restaurants like 21Grams, Carnival By Trèsind, Jun’s, Reif Kushiyaki, ROKA, UCHI, Lowe, and BOCA. Head here to secure your spot via OpenTable, the official Booking Partner.
e& Beach Canteen: e& Beach Canteen will run from Friday, 19 April to Sunday, 5 May and you can find a fantastic food event happening on Jumeirah Beach, behind Sunset Mall. It's called e& Beach Canteen, and it offers a wide variety of food experiences, live shows, and activities. This event, a highlight of the Dubai Food Festival, celebrates global cuisines, culinary talent, and the important role of chefs and Small and Medium Enterprises in promoting healthy eating habits. You'll find plenty to eat at the Talabat Food Plaza, Bites by the Beach, and a Beach BBQ area. There's also live entertainment, daily events, and spots like a beach-side Roller Rink and the Goodness Bar by Lipton. Families can enjoy activities in the Kids Fun Zone, try affordable dishes for Dhs 10 and participate in workshops and fitness sessions.
Enjoy Dhs 10 Dish: Throughout the Dubai Food Festival, you can enjoy the highly anticipated Dhs 10 dish at hundreds of restaurants across the city. These dishes, whether they're classics, new creations, or signature specialities, offer great value without compromising on flavour. From upscale fine dining to tasty street food, participating restaurants showcase Dubai's diverse dining scene. You can find the list of restaurants offering these tempting Dhs 10 dishes on Zomato.
Gault&Millau Culinary Innovators Event: Don't miss the exciting Gault&Millau Culinary Innovators event, a rare culinary experience happening from 25 to 27 April at ICD Brookfield Place's 'The Space'. Twelve of Dubai's top chefs, including Grégoire Berger of Ossiano, Himanshu Saini of Trèsind Studio, Jason Atherton of Row on 45, Mohamad & Wassim Orfali of Orfali Bros. Bistro, Saverio Sbaragli of Al Muntaha, Kelvin Cheung of Jun's, Roberto Torre of L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Takashi Namekata & Hisao Ueda of TakaHisa, Ruben Guerrero of 99 Sushi Bar and Restaurant, Tom Allen of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, and visiting international chef Michael van der Kroft of Tres in Rotterdam will showcase their talents. Enjoy live jazz performances on the outdoor terrace for a truly memorable evening. Tickets are limited, so book your spot for this event here.
Enjoy Various Food Experiences: At the Dubai Food Festival, Foodie Experiences will offer an array of culinary delights across the city, featuring Dubai's top chefs. Exclusive to the Dubai Food Festival, these experiences include masterclasses, Chef's Tables, and a new category: Four Hands Dinners, where international chefs collaborate with local ones. Week One (19 to 26 April) spotlights Fine Dining, with highlights like Four Hands Dinners at Asil featuring a fusion of Greek and Arabesque cuisines, gourmet pizzas presented by Bussola Pizzeria and award-winning Chef Davide Civitiello and an exquisite eight-course dinner showcasing Mediterranean and Lebanese flavours by Executive Chef Sonu Koithara and Chef Greg Malouf at Raia Restaurant and Lounge. Other offerings include caviar selections at Alici, tasting menus at Belcanto and Il Borro Tuscan Bistro, a pastry masterclass at Josette, and an experiential dining event at Seva Table.
Week Two (27 April to 4 May) features family-friendly experiences, while week three (6 to 12 May) focuses on experiential dining for family and friends. For full details and information on how to book, you can visit Dubai Food Festival's website.
Try Chef's Menu: From 1 to 12 May, get ready for an amazing culinary adventure with the new Chef’s Menu. Fine dining restaurants participating in this event will delight your taste buds with specially curated menus featuring their top dishes, carefully crafted over a minimum of five courses. What makes this experience special is its interactive aspect, allowing diners to directly engage with culinary experts to learn about their inspiration and techniques. The Chef’s Menu will feature renowned chefs like Chef Ismawan of Adaliman, Chef Rahul Rana of Avatara, Chef Mehmet Gürs of Arrazuna, and many more. It's going to be an exceptional dining experience where culinary mastery, chef creativity, and the sheer joy of food lovers will shine.
Apart from the planned festival events, restaurants all over Dubai will also participate in the culinary celebration by offering their special menus, dishes, unique experiences, and promotions.