The 5 Best Restaurants in the Dubai Mall with Fountain View
The Dubai Mall is home to plenty of delicious restaurants and cool attractions. To indulge in both of these at the same time, you can check out a great restaurant with a view of the Dubai Fountain to make the most of your trip.
From an amazing view from up high to a nice romantic evening, here are some of our favorite restaurants in the Dubai Mall with a fountain view
How Much Does it Cost to Eat at Dubai Mall Restaurant near the Fountain?
The cost of dining at one of these restaurants varies based on the cuisine type and the dish. Fine dining establishments will often cost much more, especially with the nice view.
For this list though, here’s a table showing how much you can expect to spend on a dish at one of these restaurants:
Choosing the Best Restaurants in Dubai Mall with a Fountain View
While there’s a number of options you can go for, we’ve narrowed down our list of restaurants with a fountain view based on these factors:
1. Open Flame Kitchen (OFK)
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| FOOD | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| WAITING TIME | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
The Open Flame Kitchen, or OFK, is a popular destination in the Dubai Mall for their robata and parrilla grills. It’s definitely a great place for foodies looking for a smoky and flavour-filled evening.
The interior and decor of the restaurant is rather sophisticated, bringing to mind a fine dining establishment. This is all to support the open kitchen, of course, where the main sushi bar can be found in easy view of the diners.
With grilled meat as such a large part of the restaurant’s appeal, it’s only natural to start with some– the Wagyu cheese steak sliders are a good example of this. The sliders come in pairs, with pepperjack cheese and brioche as fillings.
We think the tenderloin steaks are the menu stand-out– whether the wagyu or the black angus. Both are served with the accompaniment of the restaurant’s own rosemary portobello mushroom cream to further flavor the juicy meat.
Portion sizes are very good so you shouldn’t be ending the night hungry for more. Just remember to save some room for dessert though, as their chocolate cheesecake is just amazing.
Given its popularity though, you might encounter long lines to the restaurant especially if the show’s about to start. This also translates to some waiting time for your order to be served.
Overall, fans of grilled meat and those willing to try a little heat to offset the dancing fountains will definitely want to try and visit OFK to catch the fountain show– the experience can’t be beat.
Pros
- Portion sizes are quite huge
- Excellent modern ambiance inside the restaurant
Cons
- Long wait times for some orders
- Complicated waiting list
Customer Reviews
One of my favorite restaurants in The Dubai Mall
“One of my favorite restaurants in The Dubai Mall. High quality and clean restaurant. The food is tasty and the service is perfect.” – Ahmed Alshamsi
Liked everything about this restaurant
“Liked everything about this restaurant from the delicious food, good service,attentive staff to the good prices compared to the quality of food.” – Noora S
2. Tribes
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| FOOD | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| WAITING TIME | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
Taking inspiration from the diverse tribes of Africa, Tribes seeks to provide a very diverse menu and dining experience in the Dubai Mall. They also have a great view of the nearby fountain for some added flair.
Visitors can immediately watch the dancing waters from the balcony overlooking the Dubai Fountain Show. We like how Tribes aren’t too strict in this regard, letting us stand up from the table should a show suddenly start up.
In terms of food, we noticed a lot of burgers which we think are great as a starter or a light main course. For us, the North African chicken burger made with Moroccan spices and cream cheese pesto was a big standout.
Tribes is also known for its oxtail dish– braised and served with root vegetables and mashed potatoes, the meat is known to be tender and melts in the mouth. The accompanying mashed potatoes are also quite smooth and flavorful.
Lastly, the dessert menu at Tribes isn’t to be scoffed at either. The malva pudding, made with dates and served with vanilla ice cream, is a very fresh, sweet way to end off a hearty meal.
Music can be loud inside the restaurant though, which can sometimes swallow the sounds of the show outside. We really recommend going to the balcony area if you want to check it out.
It’s also quite full on the weekends so we recommend visitors to plan their visit accordingly.
Overall, Tribes is definitely a great choice for checking out the tastes of Africa while still enjoying the Fountain show from above. We highly recommend it.
Pros
- Excellent fountain view from the balcony
- Very diverse variety of food
Cons
- Music volume within the restaurant is a bit loud
- Very full on weekends
Customer Reviews
I love this place, it’s very atmospheric
“I love this place, it’s very atmospheric, and the food is so flavorful 10/10. And their special complimentary bread with nuts inside is AMAZING” – Marianna
View was spectacular, and the waiters were very friendly
“View was spectacular, and the waiters were very friendly. Every half an hour or every hour there is live singing and dancing” – Umeda Muradova
3. Wafi Gourmet
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| FOOD | ★★★★☆ (5/5) |
| AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| WAITING TIME | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
As one of the region’s leading Lebanese restaurants, Wafi Gourmet is a popular destination for authentic Lebanese cuisine. Of course, it also comes with the added bonus of being close to the Dubai Fountain show.
With an unbroken history of service dating back all the way to 2001, Wafi Gourmet’s decor and menu that calls to mind a gourmet market, backed up further by the presence of their on-site souq, where customers can peruse the ingredients used themselves.
Every meal within the restaurant starts with its complementary pita bread– served fresh from the open stone oven in a basket, and topped up should the need for more arise, to satisfy the appetite.
Not one to be outdone in the grilling department, Wafi Gourmet also features a whole menu for shawarma and kebabs– the most popular being their grilled chicken, with onion and parsley sumac relish.
Finally, the beverages and desserts at the restaurant make for good accompaniments to its loaded menu– the fresh juices, in particular, serve as particularly good palate and taste cleansers.
The restaurant gets quite crowded during the evening, so to ensure a good seat for the Dubai Fountain show, it’s best if customers call ahead to secure a table. The portion sizes are also on the smaller side.
Overall, Wafi Gourmet is a good place to catch the Fountain show at– whether with a group of friends or family, or even a date. There’s nothing quite like kicking back with some fresh juice and some pita to settle in for a night of spectacle.
Pros
- Great vegetarian selection
- Multiple outdoor seating options for a closer view
Cons
- Food can be quite pricey
- Portion sizes are a bit small
Customer Reviews
Great view of the fountain
“We loved the place, we ordered mainly mazas and all of them were extremely good and authentic. Great view of the fountain.” – Boaz Yona
The gentlemen were nice and sang happy birthday to me
“A very nice restaurant, super good cakes. The gentlemen were nice and sang happy birthday to me. A memorable experience” – Alexandra Alina
4. Carluccio’s
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| FOOD | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| WAITING TIME | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Originating from London in 1999 as Carluccio’s Caffe, this Italian restaurant specializing in all the best classics of the cuisine aims to bring in its original chef’s motto– maximum flavor at minimum fuss, with its menu.
The indoor ambiance of Carluccio’s is quite relaxed, with warm colors and spots of greenery to break up the monotony a bit. The restaurant’s outdoor seating provides ample shade with its rather striking blue tents.
A crowd favorite appetizer to start the meal off with is the tomato bruschetta– featuring tomatoes, ricotta and various herbs and spices on grilled bread. It pairs rather well with their calamari fritti, too.
Of course, it’s not Italian dining without pizza, and Carluccio’s certainly does not fall behind in this aspect. Their pizzas are all flavorful and can be ordered gluten-free, with the creamy burrata pizza being a stand out among the many flavors.
Once the show starts, it’s easy enough to move outdoors in order to get a closer look. We even got a staff to help us move our meals to the outdoor seating area when we wanted.
It’s quite a comfortable restaurant overall which is why we’re not surprised to see some lines. Waiting times can be quite long, especially if the dining hall is particularly jam-packed.
A few diners did complain about their vouchers though. According to them, some of the vouchers they received had already expired, leading to further delays when it comes to payment.
Still, the ease of movement and the close proximity to the show does make this a great place for dinner and a show in our book. Come in and check it out!
Pros
- Excellent vegetarian and vegan options on the menu
- Easy to move outdoors when the show starts
Cons
- Waiting times are quite long
- Vouchers are not always updated
Customer Reviews
I enjoyed everything that we had
“Had a wonderful breakfast here at Carluccio’s Dubai Mall. They have a wide variety of breakfast menu and drinks, and I enjoyed everything that we had.” – Anatacio Acob
The food, ambience and hospitality were to our total satisfaction
“My search for quality Italian food brought me to Carluccios at Dubai Mall. An amazing experience where the food, ambience and hospitality were to our total satisfaction.” – Bandana J.
5. The Bosporus
| RATING | |
| FACILITIES | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| FOOD | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| PROFESSIONALISM | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
| WAITING TIME | ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5) |
| ACCESSIBILITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Bosporus bills itself as a restaurant that aims to bring the traditional taste of Ottoman cuisine to the UAE’s doorstep, which it achieves through its specially curated menu filled with classic and even fusion-style dishes from Turkey.
With a menu chock full of various dishes, it’s best to start with their mixed appetizers platter– already incorporating various tasting samples of its various mezzes, and served with freshly baked bread and dips.
For main courses, then the kebabs should not be passed up on. There’s quite a selection of lamb kebabs, whether spicy or simply char-grilled– those dining in groups should look into the special mixed grill selection to try all of the variations.
One of the restaurant’s best selling points is the complementary kunefe, a sweet cheese pastry, and Turkish tea at the end of every meal. Guests can try the kunefe with Nutella for an even sweeter end.
Fans of lamb may find themselves spoiled for choice with the restaurant’s meat menu, but fans of other meats may find the choices a little limited.
There’s also some long wait times on the weekdays so we think it’s best to come in a bit early before the Fountain shows start. That way, you’ll be able to easily spot the best seats with the best view.
Still, there’s nothing like admiring the impressive water and lights show with a nice cup of Turkish tea and some sweet kunefe. For this experience, we really recommend giving the Bosporus a try.
Pros
- Big portion sizes for their meals
- Complimentary Turkish tea is delicious
Cons
- Limited meat options
- Long wait times to get to the restaurant
Customer Reviews
I could have honestly ordered half the menu
“It was only two of us and we already ordered four people. I could have honestly ordered half the menu.” – Aman Singh
One of the many best Turkish cuisines I’ve tried during my stay in Dubai
“One of the many best Turkish cuisines I’ve tried during my stay in Dubai. The food here was excellent; both taste and presentation were perfect.” – Zahra Syed
FAQs about the Dubai Fountain
We hope you’re able to have a memorable meal and experience. For more great dining establishments in Downtown Dubai, make sure to check our other guides here, like our favorite spots for business lunch in the area.