Dubai Festival City sits on the south bank of Dubai Creek, about 15 minutes from Downtown, and it has long been the kind of destination Dubaiites drive to on purpose rather than discovering by accident. The large-format mall and hotel complex (anchored by the InterContinental Dubai Festival City) has assembled a dining scene that ranges from authentic Emirati cuisine to the Middle East's largest food hall — and the Creek waterfront setting makes almost everything taste better.
The dining landscape here divides into three zones. The Festival Waterfront Centre holds the area's heritage gems, including Al Fanar — considered one of the most authentic Emirati restaurants in Dubai. The Marsa Boulevard opens seasonally (October to April) as a curated waterfront strip where the evening light on the Creek is genuinely spectacular. And the Dubai Festival City Mall contains Market Island — a food hall concept so large it has become a destination in itself.
"The Creek at golden hour, with Al Fanar in the background and the IMAGINE light show beginning — it's one of those Dubai moments that reminds you why you moved here."
The Best Restaurants in Dubai Festival City
#1 Pick — Emirati
Al Fanar Restaurant
Al Fanar is one of the best arguments for why Dubai Festival City is worth the drive. This vintage-styled Emirati restaurant recreates the aesthetic of 1960s Dubai — pearl-fishing boats, traditional barasti walls, and the scent of oud drifting through the space. It's theatrical, but grounded in genuine culinary tradition. The kitchen takes Emirati food seriously, and the dishes are among the most authentic in the city.
The machboos (AED 95) — slow-cooked rice and meat with the signature spicing of Arabic Gulf cuisine — is exceptional. The harees (AED 75), a porridge of wheat and slow-cooked meat that has sustained Emirati families for generations, is properly prepared and deeply satisfying. The lgaimat (AED 45) — fried dough balls soaked in date syrup — are the dessert you need. For visitors wanting to understand what Emirati food really is, Al Fanar is the essential stop.
Machboos (AED 95) · Harees (AED 75) · Biryani Emirati-style (AED 98) · Lgaimat dessert (AED 45) · Karak chai (AED 18)
Best BBQ
Joe's Backyard
Joe's Backyard is one of the city's go-to BBQ destinations, and the Festival City location consistently outperforms the competition in this category. The kitchen smokes low and slow — properly, not the rushed approximation you find in lesser BBQ spots. The brisket here has the bark, the smoke ring, and the pull-apart texture that takes 12+ hours to achieve.
The sticky ribs (AED 165 half rack) are rich with a sweet-heat glaze and fall from the bone cleanly. The Philly cheesesteak (AED 95) has genuine credentials — thin-shaved ribeye, good provolone, a soft roll that holds together. The outdoor terrace with Creek views makes the whole experience feel bigger than the food itself, which is saying something because the food is very good.
Beef brisket (AED 145) · Sticky ribs half rack (AED 165) · Philly cheesesteak (AED 95) · Mac and cheese side (AED 48)
Best Buffet
Anise — InterContinental Dubai
Anise is the main buffet restaurant at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, and it's one of the better hotel buffets in Dubai — generous, well-managed, and with a calming waterfront view over Festival Bay that makes lingering for two hours feel entirely justified. The live cooking stations rotate through Indian, Thai, Levantine, and Japanese specialties, and the quality is consistently above what you'd expect from a buffet format.
The Friday seafood brunch (AED 275 with soft beverages) is the headline event — a vast spread with live oyster shucking, prawn carving stations, and an international dessert section that goes deep. The weekday business lunch (AED 185) is excellent value for the setting. Book window tables facing the Bay whenever possible.
Friday seafood brunch (AED 275) · Live Indian cooking station · Mezze and cold section · International dessert spread
Dubai Festival City: Full Dining Breakdown
Marsa Boulevard: Seasonal Waterfront Dining
Marsa Boulevard is Dubai Festival City's seasonal outdoor dining destination, operating from October to April when the weather permits al fresco dining. The setting — along the Festival Bay waterfront with the Creek beyond — is genuinely beautiful, particularly in the evenings when the IMAGINE light show (the world's largest permanent projection show on a building facade) fires up over the water.
The food at Marsa Boulevard varies by the season's curated selection, but the setting alone is worth the visit. Come for a sunset drink at one of the bar concepts, then settle in for dinner as the sky darkens and the Creek lights come on. It's one of the most underrated evening experiences in Dubai.
