Rooftop Dining GuideUpdated
The Best Rooftop Restaurants in Dubai
We rated 14 spots. 1 earned an S.
The short answer
Dubai does rooftops better than almost anywhere, but most of them sell the view first and the food second. The trick is knowing which high-floor rooms actually cook, and which of the famous terraces give you the real Burj Khalifa view you came for.
By the Cravd Editorial Team14 spots6 min read
- 1
- Michelin star on the list (Al Muntaha)
- 6
- rooftops with a real Burj Khalifa view
This guide rates the rooftops S to C from real diner sentiment and verified recognition. The headline fact: the best plate up high is Carna on the SLS 74th floor, while the best unobstructed Burj Khalifa view belongs to a bar where the food comes second. We say which is which.
What you get for your money
Splurge
The tier weighs the cooking, then the view. An S is a genuine citywide standout plate at height, which here is Carna on the SLS 74th floor. A C is a go-for-the-view rooftop where the food follows. Al Muntaha holds the only Michelin star, from a high-floor tower room at the Burj Al Arab. There is no D, because the food across these picks is good, the question is the plate and the view.
The picks, ranked
- S · Legendary
Carna by Dario Cecchini
SLS Dubai, 74th floor
The best plate at height, a contemporary steakhouse from Tuscan butcher Dario Cecchini on the SLS 74th floor, with a Bistecca alla Fiorentina and floor-to-ceiling views that take in the Burj Khalifa. The one spot where the cooking matches the altitude.
The best steak with a Burj viewSplurge - A · Excellent
Al Muntaha
Burj Al Arab, 27th floor
The only Michelin star on this list, chef-driven French dining on the 27th floor of the Burj Al Arab, with Gulf and Palm views. It is a high-floor tower room, and the view looks over the sea, so the Burj Khalifa stays out of the frame.
Michelin-starred heightSplurge - A · Excellent
Fi'lia
SLS Dubai, 70th floor
A female-led Italian room on the SLS 70th floor, listed in the MICHELIN Guide, with an outdoor terrace and a Burj Khalifa view. One of the best food-and-view combinations up high.
Value cooking with a Burj viewSplurge - A · Excellent
At.mosphere
Burj Khalifa, 122nd floor
Modern European near the top of the Burj Khalifa, one of the highest restaurants in the world, listed in the MICHELIN Guide. You are inside the tower, so the view is the city spread out below, with the Burj itself out of the frame. The altitude is the occasion.
The near-the-top occasionSplurge - A · Excellent
High Society by Jean Imbert
The Lana, Business Bay
A rooftop of small plates, caviar and oysters with the largest champagne list in the UAE, and a 180-degree skyline that takes in the Burj Khalifa. It won Best Rooftop Bar at the 2024 Time Out Dubai awards, the strongest rooftop credential here.
An award-winning rooftop nightSplurge
The rest of the field
B-tier: CE LA VI
The Burj Khalifa money-shot
Address Sky View, Downtown · Splurge
Why it’s B: CE LA VI
The Burj Khalifa money-shot, a contemporary Asian restaurant, sky bar and pool deck on the 54th floor, listed in the MICHELIN Guide. The food is competent, and the framed view of the tower is the reason to book.
B-tier: SUSHISAMBA
A 360-degree party
Palm Tower, 51st floor · Splurge
Why it’s B: SUSHISAMBA
Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian cooking with 360-degree Palm, skyline and sea views and a carnival-energy room. A fun, scene-led night with a genuinely good plate behind it.
B-tier: Clap Dubai
Japanese on a DIFC terrace
Gate Village 11, DIFC · Splurge
Why it’s B: Clap Dubai
Contemporary Japanese on a 9th-floor DIFC rooftop terrace, listed in the MICHELIN Guide, with city views. A polished, lower-altitude rooftop that leads on the food.
B-tier: Above Eleven
Nikkei with a skyline
Marriott Palm West Beach · Mid-price
Why it’s B: Above Eleven
Nikkei cooking, ceviche and robatayaki with a Pisco bar, on a rooftop with Palm West Beach and Marina skyline views. A solid food-and-view rooftop at a friendlier price.
B-tier: Akira Back
Chef-led Japanese
W Dubai The Palm · Splurge
Why it’s B: Akira Back
Contemporary Japanese from chef Akira Back, listed in the MICHELIN Guide, with Marina and Gulf views from a high terrace. Strong on the plate, lower on the altitude.
C-tier: Treehouse
The best Burj Khalifa view
Taj Dubai, Business Bay · Mid-price
Why it’s C: Treehouse
Arguably the best unobstructed Burj Khalifa view from any licensed rooftop, over two decks, with Mediterranean-Asian plates and cocktails. You go for the view, with the food along for the ride.
C-tier: Luna
A DIFC rooftop scene
Four Seasons, DIFC · Splurge
Why it’s C: Luna
A pan-Asian rooftop at the Four Seasons DIFC with the Burj Khalifa as the focal point, cabanas and a late scene. Evening minimum spends apply, and the view leads the night.
C-tier: Zeta Seventy Seven
A high JBR sundowner
Address Beach Resort, JBR, 77th floor · Splurge
Why it’s C: Zeta Seventy Seven
Seafood and Asian plates on the 77th floor with an infinity pool and sea, Ain Dubai and JBR skyline views. A high, scene-led rooftop with table minimums.
C-tier: Attiko
A supper-club sunset
W Dubai Mina Seyahi, 31st floor · Mid-price
Why it’s C: Attiko
A pan-Asian supper club on the 31st floor with Marina and sea sunset views and a DJ-led room. A night out where the scene leads and the food keeps pace.
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The best plate and the best view are rarely the same rooftop table.
Where they are
The S-tier picks are in SLS Dubai. SLS Dubai has the most spots, 2 of the 14.
SLS Dubai
2 spots
Business Bay
2 spots
DIFC
2 spots
Elsewhere in Dubai
8 spots
- AAl MuntahaBurj Al ArabDirections
- AAt.mosphereBurj KhalifaDirections
- BCE LA VIDowntownDirections
- BSUSHISAMBAPalm TowerDirections
- BAbove ElevenMarriott Palm West BeachDirections
- BAkira BackW Dubai The PalmDirections
- CZeta Seventy SevenJBRDirections
- CAttikoW Dubai Mina SeyahiDirections
The honest shape of Dubai rooftops
Dubai's rooftops are built for the view, and most sell it first. The honest dividing line is which high-floor rooms genuinely cook. A handful do: Carna is the best plate at altitude, Al MuntahaA holds the only Michelin star on this list, and Fi'liaA pairs a MICHELIN Guide listing with a Burj Khalifa terrace.
The useful thing to know is that the best plate and the best view are rarely the same table. So pick for the night: the kitchens above for the food, and the view rooms below for the photograph.
The real Burj Khalifa view
The keyword people want the Burj Khalifa in the frame, so here is the honest list that delivers it: CE LA VIB for the classic money-shot, TreehouseC for arguably the best unobstructed view, High Society for the award-winning rooftop night, and Fi'liaA and Carna for the view with a serious plate.
A note on the famous ones that do not give you the Burj: Al MuntahaA looks over the Gulf, At.mosphereA puts you inside the tower looking at the city, and SUSHISAMBAB, Zeta Seventy SevenC and AttikoC face the Marina and sea.
Rooftops that cook, and rooftops for the scene
For the food, Carna, Al MuntahaA, Fi'liaA, Clap and Akira BackB are the rooms that lead on the plate. For the scene and the sunset, SUSHISAMBAB, Above ElevenB, LunaC, Zeta Seventy SevenC and AttikoC bring the energy.
Several of these impose evening minimum spends, and rooftops are seasonal, so the cool months are the time to book. For sea-view and sit-down spots beyond the rooftops, our restaurants with a view guide covers the rest.
The plate, and the view
SCarna by Dario Cecchini
CTreehouse
The draw
The cooking at altitude
The Burj Khalifa view
Floor
SLS 74th
Taj rooftop decks
Price
Splurge
Mid
The verdict
For the plate
For the photograph
Carna is the best plate at altitude; Treehouse has arguably the best unobstructed Burj Khalifa view.
Frequently asked
What is the best rooftop restaurant in Dubai?
For the cooking, Carna by Dario Cecchini on the SLS 74th floor is the standout, a steakhouse with a Burj Khalifa view. Al Muntaha holds the only Michelin star on the list, and Fi'lia pairs a MICHELIN Guide listing with a Burj terrace. All are rated in this guide.
Which Dubai rooftop has the best Burj Khalifa view?
Treehouse at the Taj has arguably the best unobstructed view, CE LA VI at Address Sky View is the classic money-shot, and High Society at The Lana won Best Rooftop Bar at the 2024 Time Out awards. Fi'lia and Carna give you the view with a serious plate.
Do Dubai rooftops have a Michelin star?
Al Muntaha at the Burj Al Arab holds one Michelin star, though it is 27th-floor tower fine dining with a Gulf view. Fi'lia and several others are listed in the MICHELIN Guide at the Selected level.
When is the best time for a rooftop in Dubai?
The cool season, roughly October to April, is rooftop season in Dubai, since summer heat closes many open terraces. Book ahead in the December peak, and check for evening minimum spends.
How are these rankings made?
These tiers synthesize real diner sentiment and verified recognition, including the MICHELIN Guide and the Time Out Dubai awards, weighed against value and view.
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Every S-tier spot from our guides, sent to you right away. Then every Thursday, one pick and the new guides from that week.
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On this list
- S-tier: Carna by Dario CecchiniSLS Dubai, 74th floor
- A-tier: Al MuntahaBurj Al Arab, 27th floor
- A-tier: Fi'liaSLS Dubai, 70th floor
- A-tier: At.mosphereBurj Khalifa, 122nd floor
- and 10 more