Dubai is a dazzling emirate on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, renowned for its ultramodern skyline, luxury shopping, and world-record-breaking landmarks. From the iconic Burj Khalifa piercing the clouds to pristine beaches along the Arabian Gulf, Dubai seamlessly blends Bedouin heritage with 21st-century ambition. It is one of the world's most visited cities, attracting tens of millions of tourists each year with its unrivalled mix of culture, adventure, and opulence.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Dubai through its food.
Old Dubai Food Walking Tour
Explore the authentic flavours of Old Dubai through Bur Dubai and Deira, sampling 8-10 dishes at family-run restaurants and street food stalls frequented by Dubai's diverse immigrant community. Cross Dubai Creek by abra and visit the spice souk.
Includes: Pakistani karahi at a Satwa institution · Emirati breakfast at Al Fahidi · Biryani tasting in Bur Dubai · Spice souk frankincense demonstration · Creek crossing by traditional abra
Deira Night Food Market Tour
An evening exploration of Deira's vibrant night food scene, sampling shawarma, Lebanese flatbreads, fresh juices, and Gulf seafood at outdoor stalls and hole-in-the-wall eateries.
Includes: Shawarma from a master shawarma maker · Fresh pomegranate juice · Lebanese bakery manakish · Fish from Waterfront Market
Emirati Heritage Breakfast at SMCCU
A cultural breakfast hosted by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding in Al Fahidi where local Emirati women prepare and explain traditional breakfast dishes including balaleet, chebab, and harees while discussing Emirati heritage.
Includes: Balaleet (sweet vermicelli and egg) · Chebab (Emirati pancakes with date syrup) · Arabic coffee and dates · Cultural discussion about Emirati customs
Waterfront Market and Seafood Tour
A morning visit to the Waterfront Market Deira, Dubai's largest fish and produce market, where a local chef guide explains Gulf seafood varieties and how to select the best fish. Concludes with a seafood lunch cooked from market purchases.
Includes: Fish auction viewing · Hamour, kingfish, and hammour identification · Chef-guided seafood preparation · Gulf-style fish lunch
Michelin Dubai Restaurant Crawl
An exclusive culinary experience visiting three Michelin-selected Dubai restaurants — aperitif at a DIFC wine bar, progressive small plates at a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and desserts at a celebrated pâtisserie.
Includes: Michelin Bib Gourmand tasting menu · DIFC cocktail bar · Award-winning dessert selection
Arabic Coffee and Spice Heritage Tour
A specialist tour exploring the Coffee Museum in Al Fahidi, the Spice Souk, and an Arabian perfume atelier. Learn to identify spices, make Arabic qahwa, and blend traditional Gulf incense (bakhoor).
Includes: Coffee Museum qahwa tasting · Frankincense and saffron identification · Bakhoor (Gulf incense) blending · Spice souk navigation tips
Tour formats
Different ways to experience Dubai's food scene.
Street food tours
Evening food crawls through Deira and Satwa visiting shawarma shops, juice bars, and late-night bakeries
Market tours
Morning market tours at Waterfront Market Deira starting from 6 AM when the fish auction is most active
Restaurant tours
Curated restaurant dinners at heritage Emirati and modern Gulf cuisine establishments
Specialty tours
Coffee, spice, perfume, and date tasting experiences connecting food to Emirati cultural heritage
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Dubai home with you.
Emirati Home Cooking Class
Learn to prepare three Emirati dishes in a traditional home setting hosted by an Emirati family in Al Fahidi. Covers machboos (rice with lamb), luqaimat (sweet dumplings), and harees (wheat porridge).
Lebanese and Levantine Cooking Class
A hands-on class covering Lebanese mezze preparation — hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, and kibbeh — followed by a shared meal with the chef.
Arabic Bread and Flatbread Workshop
Learn to make manakish (za'atar flatbread), khameer (Emirati sweet bread), and rgag (traditional paper-thin Emirati bread) in an authentic bakery setting.
DIY self-guided food tour
Create your own food tour exploring Old Dubai's authentic eating districts over a half day
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1
Stop 1 (7:30 AM): Waterfront Market Deira — watch the fish vendors and buy fresh fruit for breakfast
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2
Stop 2 (8:30 AM): Al Reef Lebanese Bakery, Deira — manakish za'atar with labne (fresh labneh cheese)
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3
Stop 3 (10:00 AM): Coffee Museum, Al Fahidi — free museum with Arabic coffee tasting
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4
Stop 4 (11:00 AM): Operation: Falafel, Bur Dubai — best falafel wraps in old Dubai
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5
Stop 5 (12:30 PM): Ravi Restaurant, Satwa — legendary Pakistani curries since 1978
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6
Stop 6 (3:00 PM): Bikanervala, Karama — Indian sweets and chaats
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7
Stop 7 (5:00 PM): Juice bar in Deira — fresh pomegranate or sugarcane juice
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8
Stop 8 (8:00 PM): Al Hallab, Dubai Mall — Lebanese mezze dinner and kunafa dessert
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Old Dubai (Bur Dubai and Deira) has the most authentic and affordable food in the city — far better value than tourist areas
The Friday brunch tradition (noon-4 PM) at hotel restaurants is a Dubai institution worth experiencing once — budget $60-150 per person
Emirati food is rarely available publicly — book an SMCCU breakfast or Al Fanar restaurant for a genuine taste
Deira's Waterfront Market is best visited at 6-8 AM when the freshest seafood arrives and the fish auction is most active
Bring cash to traditional souks and market stalls — card machines are rare at authentic street food spots
Global Village (October-April) is the best place to sample food from 90+ countries in one evening for minimal cost