Mezze might just be the perfect way to eat. A table covered in small plates, all for sharing, arriving gradually throughout the evening β each dish different, each one building a picture of a culinary culture that goes back thousands of years. In Dubai, mezze is everywhere: from casual Lebanese joints in Karama to grand feasts at Em Sherif, from beach terrace spreads on the Palm to intimate late-night tables in DIFC. This is your complete guide.
What Is Mezze?
The word mezze (also spelled meze) comes from the Turkish word for "taste" or "snack." It refers to a collection of small dishes served as appetisers, starters, or as a full meal in themselves, across the Levant, Turkey, Greece, and North Africa. In Dubai, when people say mezze, they almost always mean Lebanese and Turkish small plates β hummus, mutabbal, kibbeh, tabbouleh, falafel, vine leaves, and the rest of the glorious supporting cast.
Mezze culture is fundamentally social: you order many dishes, you share everything, you eat slowly, and you linger. It's the opposite of the Western starter-main-dessert format, and once you've done a proper mezze feast, it's very hard to go back.
Cold Mezze: What to Order
Hummus
Smooth chickpea dip with tahini, lemon, garlic. Order with warm flatbread as your anchor dish.
Mutabbal
Smoky roasted aubergine dip with tahini. Better than it sounds β the smokiness makes it extraordinary.
Tabbouleh
Parsley, bulgur wheat, tomato, lemon and olive oil. Fresh, acidic, essential for balance on any mezze table.
Fattoush
Crispy pita, herbs, tomatoes, cucumber, and sumac dressing. The textural contrast is why you always order it.
Kibbeh Nayyeh
Raw spiced lamb tartare with bulgur and onion β a Lebanese delicacy not for the faint-hearted. Exceptional when fresh.
Warak Dawali
Stuffed vine leaves with spiced rice, lemon, and olive oil. Cold and acidic β a palate-cleanser between richer dishes.
Hot Mezze: The Essential Dishes
Must-order hot mezze across Dubai's Lebanese restaurants
How to Do a Proper Mezze Feast
Step-by-Step: Ordering Mezze Like a Local
Order bread immediately
Fresh flatbread or pita is essential for eating mezze. At good Lebanese restaurants, ask for it before you've even ordered anything else β it should arrive warm from the oven.
Cold mezze first
Start with 3β4 cold mezze dishes β hummus, mutabbal, tabbouleh, and one more. These arrive quickly and set the tone while you decide on hot dishes.
Add hot mezze gradually
Order 2β3 hot mezze dishes after the cold ones arrive. Falafel, fried kibbeh, and arayes are the essentials. Stagger your orders β don't order everything at once.
Leave room for the grill
Most Lebanese restaurants follow mezze with mixed grills β lamb chops, kafta, shish tawook. This is the main event; don't let the mezze fill you up completely.
Budget AED 60β80 pp for mezze alone
A generous cold + hot mezze spread for two people will typically cost AED 150β200 in total. Budget separately for mains and dessert.
Best Restaurants for Mezze in Dubai
Em Sherif β The Gold Standard
There is no better mezze experience in Dubai than Em Sherif on a Friday evening with a table of six. The warm, lived-in ambiance β cushioned banquettes, soft lighting, Lebanese hospitality β makes you feel like a welcome guest at an opulent family feast. The cold mezze platter is a work of art. The hot dishes are generous and perfectly timed. The mixed grill is the finale you've been building towards. Come hungry, come with friends, leave happy.
"The standard by which all Lebanese mezze in Dubai is judged. If you do one proper mezze feast in this city, make it Em Sherif."
BeBabel
Intimate and romantic. The cold mezze board β smoky aubergine, silky hummus, octopus in garlic β is exceptional. Best for a date-night mezze feast.
Al Safadi
The family-friendly, buzzing Lebanese classic. Generous portions, fast service, and all the mezze classics done well. Great for groups of all sizes.
Ibn AlBahr
Mezze on the beach. Families and groups on the terrace, excellent Lebanese sharing plates, and a seafood-forward menu that elevates the standard spread.
Ayamna
Grand Lebanese dining at Atlantis. The mezze selection is lavish, the setting is spectacular, and the shrimp kunafa is the dish you'll dream about. Pricey, worth it.
Ordering tip: At Lebanese restaurants, always ask if the mezze is "made to order" or pre-prepared. Fresh falafel (made when you order) is infinitely better than pre-made β the difference is night and day. The better restaurants will tell you they make everything fresh, and they mean it.
Mezze for Every Budget in Dubai
| Budget | Where to Go | What You Get | Cost pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Al Hallab, Zaroob, Saj Express | Classic dips, falafel, pita, fresh juice | AED 40β80 |
| Mid-range | Al Safadi, Bab El Bahr | Full cold + hot mezze spread, grills, dessert | AED 100β200 |
| Premium | BeBabel, Ibn AlBahr | Elevated mezze, seafood, creative dishes | AED 200β320 |
| Fine Dining | Em Sherif, Ayamna | The full Lebanese feast experience β exceptional quality, grand settings | AED 350β500+ |
Mezze Brunch in Dubai
The mezze-meets-brunch format is one of Dubai's great dining inventions. The best mezze brunches combine the sharing tradition of Lebanese food with Dubai's love of a generous, social Friday meal:
- Em Sherif Weekend Brunch β Lavish mezze spread with all the classics, AED 395 pp. The most generous Lebanese brunch in Dubai.
- Ayamna Brunch at Atlantis β Grand Lebanese brunch stations, multiple mezze sections, AED 450 pp.
- BeBabel Mezze Brunch β Intimate setting, creative mezze menu, from AED 295 pp.
- Al Safadi Brunch β Family-friendly, casual, excellent value at around AED 165 pp.
See also: our full guide to Arabic and Lebanese brunch in Dubai β