The Top 5 Italian Restaurants in Dubai
When you think of Italian food, the first dish that comes into your mind is probably a type of pizza or pasta. However, Italian cuisine actually has a lot more to offer than what mainstream stereotypes may lead you to believe.
In fact, Italian cuisine is so diverse that people from all over the world want to have a taste of it every once in a while.
So even if you’re in Dubai, you can still satisfy your Italian food cravings. That’s why we’re here with a list of the best Italian restaurants in Dubai!
Are you ready to dig in? Let’s discuss cost first.
How much does it cost to dine in an Italian restaurant in Dubai?
Dining in an Italian restaurant would cost you a little more compared to if you’d just dined in a regular restaurant in Dubai. However, that’s only to be expected since you’re also paying for the authentic ingredients which are likely imported from Italy itself.
We’ve researched the average cost of menu items that you would likely find in an Italian restaurant:
The Top Italian Restaurants in Dubai
There are many factors we’ve considered in evaluating the best Italian restaurants in Dubai. After all, Italian cuisine is not just food–it’s an experience.
That’s why we’ve put special emphasis on judging the authenticity of the food served, as well as the overall ambiance of the restaurant.
The following served as our criteria while choosing the top Italian restaurants in Dubai:
1. Il Borro Tuscan Bistro Dubai
| AUTHENTICITY | ★★★★★ |
| VARIETY | ★★★★☆ |
| PRICES | ★★★★☆ |
| AMBIANCE AND FACILITIES | ★★★★★ |
| DINING EXPERIENCE | ★★★★★ |
Il Borro Tuscan Bistro brings you authentic Italian cuisine through its modern interpretations of Tuscan classics.
If you’re looking forward to discovering and enjoying more of Tuscany’s delicacies in particular, then Il Borro is definitely the place for you.
Some of our Tuscan favourites include Pappa al pomodoro, Pici all’aglione, and Polletto del valdarno.
That adds up to around AED288 for a three course meal! But if you have the money for it, you should definitely go for it–we promise that you won’t regret it.
We were also amazed when we found out that Il Borro Dubai is a global dining destination for its wine. They even received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2018.
Due to its popularity, trying to reserve a table in Il Borro can be pretty challenging. We even received reports that during peak seasons, it can take a few weeks before you can successfully book.
Although, it’s not really hard to guess why once you’re already seated inside.
The ambiance of Il Borro Dubai exudes elegance and warmth, making the place an ideal place for romantic dinners.
You can also rest assured that most of the ingredients used in your dishes come from their organic farms. It’s delicious and healthy at the same time, so we know you love it.
Pros
- Great venue for romantic and private dinners
- Offers world-class Tuscany wine
- Most ingredients used come from organic sources
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Difficult to book due to its popularity
- Limited vegetarian and vegan options
Customer Reviews
Good variety of choice from the menu
“Authentic fine Italian taste, italian waiters good atmosphere. One of the best Italian restaurants in Dubai with a good variety of choice from the menu. The branded ice in the Vendemmia drink was so cool! Recommend.” – Antonello Supino
Gives you the real feeling of Tuscany
“This restaurant gives you the real feeling of Tuscany with its authentic Italian dishes. The ambience, the quality of food makes it perfect for a casual romantic dinner. I always visit with my husband for dinner. However, prices are at the high end.. have to keep a budget for this ;)” – Rania Kaddouh
2 GIA
| AUTHENTICITY | ★★★★★ |
| VARIETY | ★★★★★ |
| PRICES | ★★★★☆ |
| AMBIANCE AND FACILITIES | ★★★★★ |
| DINING EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ |
GIA is an all-day-dining Italian restaurant in Dubai that treats you not only to good food, but to a front-row view of the Dubai Fountain.
There are many things we loved about this place! For starters, its menu is quite amazing, in our opinion.
We’ve personally enjoyed their Risotto Pomodoro e Gamberi, Salmone Al Pepe Rosa, and La Dolce Vita. We highly recommend trying out at least one of these dishes– you won’t regret it!
Their selection of cold beverages is also something you don’t want to miss out on either. You should try their Mojito Alla Fragola, or if you’re looking for something non-alcoholic, we suggest ordering their Frappe Al Cioccolato.
For this restaurant however, we suggest allocating a slightly bigger budget. Their menu is authentic and offers a wide variety of cuisine, so you’ll need to pay a little more for it.
We’ve also received some reports that their pizzas are a bit smaller than you’d expect, so keep that in mind, or see for yourself.
Other than that, the service at GIA is very professional and accommodating. You also get to enjoy your food while enjoying a scenic view of the Dubai Fountain.
We also appreciate their special offers on their Iftar menu during Ramadan. It’s all guaranteed to be halal, so you don’t need to worry about anything.
If you’re also looking for catering services for a private event, GIA offers customizable set menus for such events. All you need to do is get in touch with their team and they’ll gladly help you sort things out.
Pros
- Great ambiance and outdoor view
- Offers halal food and vegetarian options
- Friendly customer service
- Authentic Italian food and great variety
Cons
- Smaller than average pizza
- Menu items slightly more expensive than average
Customer Reviews
Everything was fresh
“My friend took me for breakfast here and I tried the scrambled egg with truffles. I could smell the truffle even before it reached the table. Everything was fresh. Smoked salmon and coffee was awesome. Scrambled eggs was light and fluffy. The avocado toast was great too. Loved the ambience and service was great. Will definitely visit again.” – I F T
Authentic Italian cuisine
“Hi everyone. After I came back from Italy, the first time I had authentic Italian Cuisine here and I super liked it. I strongly recommend this place for all Italian food lovers. Also, I liked their gesture in arranging the cake cutting for my birthday. Thanks Dani, Roda and GIA for making my day so special.” – Shree Nidhi Singh
3. Massimo’s Italian Restaurant
| AUTHENTICITY | ★★★★☆ |
| VARIETY | ★★★★★ |
| PRICES | ★★★★★ |
| AMBIANCE AND FACILITIES | ★★★★★ |
| DINING EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ |
As one of the recipients of the “Italian Hospitality Certification”, Massimo’s definitely has what it takes to be one of the best Italian restaurants in Dubai.
One glance at their menu will tell you that you’re definitely in an Italian restaurant. With 21 pasta dishes and 19 pizza varieties to choose from, you’ll never run out of new cuisine to try if you end up loving this place.
But pastas and pizzas aside, perhaps one of the dishes we’d highly recommend is their Filetto Di Manzo Al Pepe Verde.
It’s a bit pricey at AED140, but this dish serves you with a great taste of Italian authenticity outside the realm of pasta and pizza.
If you want something more affordable, then you can try out their Frittura Di Gamberi Calamari for AED70. We really enjoyed its crunchy yet tender texture and distinct Italian flavours.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for all of the items in their menu.
Their Salsa Tartufata and Pappardelle Funghi Porcini lack those Italian flavours we’re looking for. Some dishes also come in small serving portions, which may leave you wanting for more.
Nonetheless, we commend this Massimo’s for serving a great variety of Italian cuisine at very competitive prices. You won’t probably find a more affordable place with the same good quality of food as Massimo’s.
Pros
- Most menu items are affordable
- Long operating hours
- Full catering service for yachts or special events
- Great delivery service
Cons
- Few menu items lack authentic Italian taste
- Small serving portions
Customer Reviews
Fantastic dinner at Massimo’s
“We had a fantastic dinner at Massimo’s – food, atmosphere and service were amazing … and don’t miss out the ice cream!” – Reto Bader
Interesting place with varied cuisine
“It’s rather interesting place with varied cuisine. The view and personal are something special here too. If you just want some tasty food, drinks and silence – you should visit this place! :)” – Alexei Korzhov
4. Bussola
| AUTHENTICITY | ★★★★★ |
| VARIETY | ★★★☆☆ |
| PRICES | ★★★★☆ |
| AMBIANCE AND FACILITIES | ★★★★★ |
| DINING EXPERIENCE | ★★★★★ |
As a “3 restaurants in 1” concept kind of place, Bussola has a lot to offer when it comes to authentic Italian cuisine.
From their Panzanella Toscana and Cacciucco Alla Livornese to their Risotto Ai Funghi and Burrata, they truly offer the variety befitting of one of the best Italian restaurants in Dubai.
So you may be wondering then, why does Bussola only get 4 stars for the variety criteria?
Well, mainly it’s because a huge chunk of that variety isn’t available for lunch during weekdays.
You see, their pizzeria, which offers a great variety of cuisine on top of their regular menu, is only open from 6 PM – 11:30 PM during weekdays. So unless you’re coming here during the weekends or for a weekday dinner, then you’re really missing out on a lot.
But if you’re lucky enough to be available during those time frames, then we definitely recommend giving Bussola a try.
Their pizzas are simply superb and have this unrivalled flavor that makes you feel like you’re truly in Italy.
The venue also provides an overlooking view of the seaside. If you’ve ever been curious as to how it feels like to enjoy the flavours of Italy under a sunset ambiance, then look no further away and head straight to Bussola.
Pros
- Menu contains list of allergens
- Great venue for special events
- Superior pizza and seafood menu
- Good customer service
Cons
- Some menu items have small serving portions
- Pizzeria is only open for dinner during weekdays
Customer Reviews
Most authentic pizza ever
“The correct place for the nearly the most authentic pizza ever. Went there with an European friend and the experience with the sunset ambiance couple with the lovely taste of the pizza was amazing. Suggestion: Continue the quality and taste, but urging the restaurant management should work on the pricing indeed as its a bit on the higher side, but the experience is fantastic overall.” – Ashar Khan
Real Italian recipes
“Amazing pizza and even better service ! Real Italian recipes and best customer service. We were so lucky to have Ms Shanthi who took excellent care of us. We will definitely come back for pizza and Shanthi !” – Marcelo Cacciola
5. Eataly – Dubai Mall
| AUTHENTICITY | ★★★☆☆ |
| VARIETY | ★★★★★ |
| PRICES | ★★★★★ |
| AMBIANCE AND FACILITIES | ★★★★★ |
| DINING EXPERIENCE | ★★★★☆ |
After opening its first store in Turin in 2007, Eataly has come a long way. Serving Italian cuisine from its three branches across the metropolis, it has rightfully earned its place as one of the best Italian restaurants in Dubai.
The first thing we loved about this restaurant is the variety of cuisine they offer. Aside from pizzas and pastas, they also have Italian pastries, salads, and sandwiches.
They also offer Italian cooking classes! Not only will you learn how to cook various regional dishes, you’ll also learn to taste the difference between extra virgin olive oil from Sicily vs. Tuscany.
And once you’ve learned how to cook Italian cuisine, you don’t need to worry about having to import the ingredients you need.
Eataly also has an in-store grocery, where you can find ingredients for Italian dishes. Pretty neat, right?
Although one of our complaints about Eataly is the questionable Italian authenticity of some of its dishes.
Add to that the long serving times and anyone would be really upset that they waited for so long for their Crepe with Nutella that tasted more like “Crepe with Chocolate Syrup”.
Despite all that, Eataly’s bestsellers like their Margherita Pizza and Rigatoni Alla Bolognese will definitely give you an authentic taste of Italy. Their prices are also more affordable, and you should really check them out and see for yourself.
Pros
- In-store groceries section available
- Offers cooking classes
- Good menu variety
- More affordable compared to other restaurants
Cons
- Long serving time
- Some menu items lack authentic Italian flavour
Customer Reviews
Fast service, tasty food
“This place is one of our favorites. Fast service, tasty food, big menu, super child friendly, kids menu. A lot of Italian products in groceries section. Coffee is fantastic, deserts.
Always busy, but yet the queue moves fast. The staff is super attentive and professional.
Very recommended!” – Ozodo Shadieva
Very generous with their portions
“Had the most lovely time here! The food was amazing, and they are very generous with their portions so it’s perfect for sharing. Our server Osama provided us with excellent service and he was very pleasant to interact with! The atmosphere is very beautiful and overall it was a great experience.” – Raina Shahzad
FAQs about Italian Restaurants
So how is it? Did you find the Italian restaurant you’d fancy a visit one of these days? We hope that this article has helped you narrow down your choices, and if there are any great places we’ve missed, don’t hesitate to let us know!
On the other hand, if you want to learn how to make delicious dishes by yourself, you may want to check out our article on the best culinary schools in Dubai.