Best Restaurants on Bluewaters Island

Bluewaters Island opened in 2018 as Dubai's newest entertainment and residential destination — a man-made island reached by a pedestrian bridge from JBR, with the world's largest observation wheel (Ain Dubai) as its centrepiece. But the dining scene that's taken root here has become one of the most interesting in Dubai: compact, high-quality, and pleasingly eclectic, with concepts from three-Michelin-starred chefs sitting alongside bowling alleys and craft beer bars.

The island's restaurant strip runs along the main Boulevard — a pedestrianised promenade with water on both sides and Ain Dubai rising behind it. In the evenings, when the wheel is lit and the sea breeze rolls in, it's one of the more cinematic settings for a meal in the entire city. The quality-to-setting ratio here is outstanding: this is where you come when you want somewhere genuinely impressive that doesn't feel like a tourist trap.

The Best Restaurants on Bluewaters Island

#1 Pick ⭐ 9.4 / 10

Modern Chinese · Michelin Chef

Demon Duck by Alvin Leung

💰💰💰 AED 250–550 per person 📍 Bluewaters Island Boulevard

Helmed by three-Michelin-starred Hong Kong chef Alvin Leung, Demon Duck is the finest restaurant on Bluewaters Island and one of the most exciting Chinese dining experiences in Dubai. The concept is creative, irreverent modern Chinese — Leung earned his reputation by breaking every rule of the cuisine, and the results here are extraordinary.

The slow-roasted Demon Duck (AED 385 per duck, serves 2–3) is the centrepiece: tableside carving, crispy lacquered skin, and an intensity of flavour that makes most Peking duck in the city feel like a rehearsal. The XO steamed prawns (AED 165) and the wagyu short rib (AED 295) are two of the best dishes on the island. The cocktail list plays to the mischievous personality of the kitchen. Book well ahead — this fills up every night.

Must Order

Demon Duck (AED 385, serves 2-3) · XO steamed prawns (AED 165) · Wagyu short rib (AED 295) · Truffle fried rice (AED 95)

💡 Book minimum 5 days ahead. Order the duck when reserving — it's prepared in advance. Counter seats are available for walk-ins. Reserve a Table

Best Italian ⭐ 9.1 / 10

Italian Seafood · Amalfi Coast

Alici

💰💰💰 AED 200–450 per person 📍 Bluewaters Island Boulevard

Alici is the Italian restaurant that Dubai's Italian food scene has long needed — not pasta-and-pizza crowd-pleasing, but serious southern Italian seafood cooking inspired by the Amalfi Coast. The interior is beautiful: pale stone, cerulean accents, and that particular light that evokes the Italian coastline even in the Dubai heat.

The crudo section is outstanding — sea bass with citrus and capers (AED 115), tuna tartare with olive oil (AED 125) — and the pasta is exceptional. The spaghetti alle vongole (AED 145) is perfectly executed: briny, olive-oil-slicked, with clams that haven't been overcooked by a single second. The tiramisu (AED 65) is the best we've eaten outside Italy. This is the island's best date night restaurant.

Must Order

Sea bass crudo (AED 115) · Spaghetti alle vongole (AED 145) · Branzino al limone (AED 285) · Tiramisu (AED 65)

💡 Request the terrace for the best sea views and Ain Dubai backdrop. Perfect for a special occasion dinner. Reserve a Table

Best Japanese ⭐ 9.0 / 10

Japanese Fine Dining · Wagyu & Sushi

TakaHisa

💰💰💰 AED 300–650 per person 📍 Bluewaters Island

TakaHisa is Bluewaters' premium Japanese fine dining destination, specialising in the two highest expressions of Japanese cuisine: premium sushi and A5 wagyu beef. The ingredient quality is exceptional — bluefin tuna flown in regularly, wagyu imported from Kagoshima prefecture, and a sake list curated with genuine expertise.

The omakase tasting menu (AED 650 per person) is the definitive experience — around 12 courses that take you from delicate sashimi through wagyu expressions you won't find replicated elsewhere in Dubai. The teppanyaki bar is worth booking specifically for the drama of watching wagyu prepared in front of you. Not cheap, but amongst the best Japanese in the city.

Must Order

Omakase tasting menu (AED 650) · A5 wagyu sirloin (AED 380/100g) · Premium tuna sashimi (AED 195) · Wagyu gyoza (AED 85)

💡 Book the counter seats or teppanyaki bar — they're the best in the house. Jacket preferred for the omakase counter. Reserve a Table

Getting to Bluewaters Island

Bluewaters is connected to JBR by a pedestrian bridge — a 5-minute walk from The Beach at JBR. By car, enter via the main Bluewaters road off King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street. Parking (paid) is available in the multi-storey car parks on the island. For metro users, DMCC station is the closest — about 15 minutes' walk through JBR or a short taxi. Evenings are best from 7pm when the island's lights come on and the Ain Dubai wheel is illuminated.