The restaurants ranked 1-50 at the Middle East and North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants 2026.
No.50 Matbakhi
Kuwait City
Occupying a buzzy location in Kuwait's largest and most dazzling mall, The Avenues, Matbakhi isn't just a stopping-off point for bag-laden shoppers – it's a premium dining destination in its own right. Open since spring 2024, Sawsan Da'ana, a Kuwaiti-Palestinian chef and restaurateur, has amassed a devoted following for its contemporary takes on Palestinian and Levantine classics, from traditional breakfast dishes to charcoal grills, mezze and meat-filled pastries.
No.49 Farmers
Marrakech
Since it descended on a renovated Art Deco gallery in the city's vibrant Guéliz neighbourhood in September 2024, Farmers has quickly become one of Marrakech's most desirable fine-dining locations, winning acclaim for sophisticated dishes made with the finest seasonal ingredients. Chef Driss Aloui prides himself on serving food that captures the freshness and character of its agricultural origin. Farmers also partners with Sanctuary Slimane, a permaculture farm on the city's outskirts, to fill its kitchens with responsibly grown ingredients free from pesticides.
No.48 Lyra
Manama
A member of the Amriya Group, famous for Masso, The Orangery and Circa, the restaurant is helmed by chef Ilias Tasioulas. Blending traditional recipes and authentic ingredients with modern finesse, Lyra's menu is a scintillating selection of charcoal grills, fresh salads, citrussy seafood dishes and perfectly plated pastas – and of course, this being a Greek-inspired restaurant, there's a solid selection of spreads to dip into: take your pick from spicy feta, tzatziki, smoky aubergine and the house take on taramasalata.
No.47 LPM Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Having celebrated its eighth anniversary in October 2025, LPM Abu Dhabi is truly engrained in the city's culinary tapestry. Not an easy feat in the capital's often fickle dining scene, the restaurant has found success by staying true to its roots while evolving to meet the demands of its guests. Dishes celebrate traditional Mediterranean ingredients including artichokes, lemons, olives, courgettes, tomatoes, peppers and girolles, the freshest seafood and generous cuts of meat to share, sourced with serious attention to detail.
No.46 Le Golfe
La Marsa
Le Golfe opened in 1955 and was originally named Le Cabanon. Since then, the restaurant has become a mainstay of La Marsa for 70 years, thanks to its sun-soaked Mediterranean plates served to the backdrop of a stunning panorama of sea and golden sands. Dishes showcase a mostly Italian flair, with a focus on plates of boat-fresh seafood. Kick-off with a bowl of classic fritto misto before moving onto grilled octopus and the signature bottarga spaghetti.
No.45 Myazu
Riyadh
Myazu marries traditional techniques with contemporary culinary creativity to bring dishes full of texture, aroma and vibrant flavours to the table. It's also the flagship restaurant of well-travelled Scottish chef Ian Pengelley, who has cleverly curated the menu, which consists of Japanese fan favourites that appeal to the local market, but also seeks to push the envelope of gastronomic craftsmanship using the finest ingredients. Think: scallop foie gras dumplings or black Angus beef with Korean BBQ sauce.
No.44 Idam
Doha
Perched on the fifth floor of Doha's iconic Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), Idam is a meeting of minds between two titans of their respective fields: legendary chef Alain Ducasse and visionary designer Philippe Starck. The menu centres around contemporary European cuisine, with a few regional twists added for good measure. Ducasse's French tendencies are on full display with dishes including bluefin tuna crudo with elderflower, avocado and borage and seared wagyu beef with confit shallot and cured lardo.
No.43 Girl and the Goose
Dubai
A new entry to the list Girl and the Goose, chef Gabriela Chamorro draws on her globe-trotting adventures to reimagine traditional recipes from Nicaragua and its neighbouring countries, reimagining street eats, meaty staples and seafood with contemporary twists and refined techniques. Menu highlights include Salvadoran pupusas (corn masa cakes stuffed with cheese and chorizo), miso seabass ceviche and clay pot slow-cooked short ribs in a toasted cornmeal sauce.
No.42 3 Fils Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
A much anticipated sequel to the original 3 Fils dining concept in Dubai, the Abu Dhabi edition focuses on bold, umami-rich Asian dishes with Japanese influences, prepared in an open kitchen and served in sleek surrounds. Expect a casual yet buzzy atmosphere, presided over by chefs in baseball caps and friendly, knowledgeable servers in T-shirts and trainers. The whole vibe is hip and creative, but unfussy and approachable: this is high-end food for everyone.
No.41 Boca
Dubai
Founded in 2014 and headed by restaurateur and sustainability thought-leader Omar Shihab, Boca is a homegrown, Dubai International Financial Centre-based restaurant serving modern Spanish-inspired cuisine. Head chef Patricia Roig and sommelier Shiv Menon have recently levelled up the authenticity of the menu. Highlights include kokotxas de bacalao (cod jowls with velouté, green peas and parsley oil), and seafood black paella (prawns, cuttlefish, squid ink, green beans and alioli.
No.40 Chez Wam
Dubai
With a French slang name that translates into English as 'at mine', Chez Wam nails its colours to the mast from the get-go. Channelling the atmosphere of a hip house party, it's a space for friends, family, good times and conviviality, all underscored by a menu of contemporary cuisine that knows how to have fun. Must-try a la carte options include wagyu boeuf tartare, followed by Hokkaido scallops and truffle gorgonzola gnocchi.
No.39 Buco
Beirut
Buco's brilliance lies in its simplicity: a portmanteau of 'burgers' and 'cocktails' with an ethos of comfort food, done right. A modern gastro bar designed to elevate the humble burger with premium ingredients and creative toppings, it was launched in December 2023 by Noma alumnus Tarek Alameddine, in partnership with his two sisters and friends Sami Khoueiry and Azzat Traboulsi.
No.38 Niri
Abu Dhabi
Part yakitori restaurant, part sushi counter and part highball bar, the slick space in Abu Dhabi's Mamsha Al Saadiyat district seeks to remove boundaries, titles and formality. Offering contemporary Japanese food, Niri's yakitori and sashimi specialities are best enjoyed at the counter. The restaurant offers diners the opportunity to sample dishes featuring high quality fish and meat without breaking the bank. The menu's highlights include corn tempura, tako yakitori, chef's moriawase (a selection of nigiri and sashimi), nihon soba, shio bream and lamb chops.
No.37 Sachi Cairo
Cairo
Named after his children, Ayman Baky opened the original Sachi – which translates as 'child of joy' – in 2014 as a reservation-only restaurant, a concept unheard of in Cairo at the time. With a menu rooted in family dinners, comfort food is the star, given thoughtful delivery and served in a space curated for gatherings of friends, family and loved ones. The menu draws inspiration from across the Mediterranean as well as Japan, with dishes including salmon tataki and beef arancini.
No.36 Row on 45
Dubai
The dining experience at Row in 25 accommodates only 22 people at a time and is divided into three acts and enjoyed across three different spaces in the restaurant. Act I: The Finest Welcome sees guests invited to enjoy snacks and an aperitif; Act II: The Pinnacle is the main event in full view of the open kitchen; and Act III: The Grand Finale allows diners to wind down with an aperitif in the chef's library. If you can, book the intimate four-seater chef's table.
No.35 Mimi Kakushi
Dubai
Taking its name from a popular hairstyle in 1920s Japan, Mimi Kakushi is a sleek, stylish space serving contemporary Japanese cuisine. Sushi dominates the menu, but there are plenty of other options too. Think kobe beef and wagyu, donabe rice pots and tempting small dishes like bone marrow, beef tartare and fried buns. Don't skip dessert: dishes such as the Hokkaido cheesecake served with yuzu pineapple granita and the chocolate mi-cuit with coconut ice cream continue the East-meets-West theme.
No.34 Zuma
Dubai
Where Japanese cuisine typically shows restraint, Zuma offers excess. The restaurant essentially takes the technique and study associated with Japanese food and adds a serious dose of glitz. The results speak for themselves: the ingredients are of unimpeachable quality across the board, the huge team of chefs are some of the most skilled practitioners of Japanese and Asian cookery around, and the space is about as glamorous as they come.
No.33 Gaia
Dubai
The ice counter is the centrepiece of Gaia, Launched by well-known Dubai-based chef Izu Ani in 2018. Here, seafood is piled high, market-style, and diners can select what they'd like and decide how they'd like it to be cooked. With a buzzing atmosphere no matter what day of the week, the restaurant oozes a relaxed Mediterranean mood. Take a seat outside and feel yourself transported to a Greek island.
No.32 Zooba (Zamalek)
Cairo
At Zooba, expect all the hallmark Egyptian dishes served in homes across the country and by the vendors that line the roads and markets of the capital. Zooba's take on the country's national dish, koshari, brings the blend of rice and short pasta simmered with brown lentils in a spiced tomato sauce, topped with dukkah and fried onions, to new dimensions. Its pockets of taameya, Egypt's falafel variation made with fava beans, topped with heaps of fresh and zingy salad and drizzled in tahini sauce, are a must-order.
No.31 +61
Marrakech
Cassandra Karinsky and Sebastian de Gzell bring a dash of Sydney-style, casual dining to the Red City's fashionable Guéliz neighbourhood. Staples include a tempting steak sandwich with balsamic onion, eggplant relish, chilli butter, red cabbage and melted cheddar, and pickled sardines with mussels and aioli lemon crumbs, alongside a solid and accessibly priced wine line. For an on-theme dessert, opt for the Lamington, +61's take on the classic Australian cake.
No.30 Dara Dining by Sara Aqel
Amman
Set in a lovingly restored villa in the heart of Amman, Dara Dining by Sara Aqel offers its guests Mediterranean flavours and wines from regional producers with community-driven values. The light-filled space comprises both a wine shop and a restaurant surrounded by a lush garden. Dara, which means 'home' in Arabic, was born from the vision of its co-founders, Lana Alamat, Maher Mouasher and chef Sara Aqel.
No.29 Three Bros
Dubai
Founded by Mohamad, Wassim and Omar Orfali, the Syrian brothers behind Orfali Bros, this little restaurant is big on character – in fact, it has so much personality that it's hard to define. Japan to Spain, Syria to France, its creative menu careers from cuisine to cuisine at breakneck speed, but don't mistake its eclectic attitude for a lack of substance: every dish offered at this one-of-a-kind eatery is made with pride, passion and intent.
No.28 Alee
Amman
At Alee, expect modern Middle Eastern flavours with playful textures that engage diners with every bite. Each dish tells a different story from chef Ali Ghzawi's life. Standout items include a mezze plate of orzo with laban and spinach; a trio of seekh skewers including chicken, veal and cheese; athan shayeb (Levantine dumplings); and his signature dish: cauliflower steak with liquorice purée and capers, which led to Ghzawi being crowned the winner of Top Chef Arabia in 2019.
No.27 LPM Dubai
Dubai
LPM is a grande dame of the Dubai culinary scene, having first opened its doors more than a decade ago. The fact it is still hard to reserve a table is testament to its consistency – you're guaranteed quality ingredients, tried-and-tested recipes and staff that make you feel like a regular from the very first visit. Top menu picks include a much copied but never bettered green lentil salad, salt baked sea bass with artichokes and tomatoes, or any of its beloved plates of pasta.
No.26 Shams El Balad
Amman
Shams El Balad started as a small flower shop focused on design and sustainability. Over the course of a few years, it evolved into something quite unique: a family-run cultural space, concept store and charming restaurant serving food that is creative, seasonal and homey. Special attention must be paid to the bread, which is made from locally sourced heirloom wheat. Desserts are also outstanding: the date and rose manqousheh is not to be missed.
No.25 Kazoku
Cairo
Located in the upscale neighbourhood of New Cairo, east of the Nile, Kazuko offers delicately prepared contemporary Japanese cuisine to its increasingly discerning clientele. The menu, designed by acclaimed chef Reif Othman and executive chef Mostafa Gabr, boasts a serious selection of sushi and sashimi. Mains include slow-cooked glazed short ribs, beef udon noodles and five-spiced chicken. To accommodate the local customs, diners are also offered imaginative mocktails designed by beverage director Walid Merhi.
No.24 Sesamo
Marrakech
Globally renowned chef Massimiliano Alajmo brings the culinary delights of Italy to beguiling Marrakech with his restaurant, Sesamo. Here, both local ingredients and imported Italian delicacies are spun into gold by chef Riccardo Barni, who takes inspiration from Venetian cuisine. Found in the chic Royal Mansour Marrakech hotel, guests can opt to enjoy the luxurious dining room, or enjoy the elegant patio, where diners can take in the sunset.
No.23 TakaHisa
Dubai
Probably the closest you'll get to a true Japanese experience without leaving the UAE, TakaHisa is led by wagyu master chef Hisao Ueda and sushi master Takashi Namekata. Offering both an a la carte menu and an omakase option, the best experience is had at the counter. Enjoy a front row seat to the culinary theatre watching the highly skilled chefs at work. The namesake chefs' cooking methods blend age-old, specialised techniques with modern innovation, creating a showcase of Japanese food and flavours.
No.22 FZN
Dubai
Swedish chef, restaurateur and culinary icon Björn Frantzén is currently the only person on the planet with three separate restaurants each holding three Michelin stars – and FZN is one of them. Located at the luxurious Atlantis, The Palm resort, it's a modern European restaurant with more than a hint of Japanese flair, known for its high-end dishes, a legendary nine-course tasting menu and soul-stealing views of Dubai's shimmering skyline.
No.21 Le Petit Cornichon
Marrakech
Le Petit Cornichon masterfully blends the effervescent charm of a bistro with the artistry of high gastronomy thanks to the vision of chef-owner Erwann Lance. Meticulous about freshness and flavour, he crafts menus around the finest local, seasonal ingredients, ensuring each dish is creative and rooted in tradition and innovation. An extensive cellar features more than 300 wines, from boutique French vineyards to Morocco's finest bottles. Champagne lovers will appreciate Lance's passion for bubbles, evident in an impressive selection.
No.20 Reif Kushiyaki Cairo
Cairo
Cairo's Reif Kushiyaki is the first franchise of the Dubai-born, Japanese-inspired outlet for skewered grills – 'kushi' being the Japanese word for skewers. The brainchild of Reif Othman, the restaurant is an ode to robatayaki, a century-old fireside cooking technique popularised by fishermen in the north of Japan. But in the Egyptian capital, it's a family affair: everyone is welcome. The kitchen is led by Talal El Meligy, who joined Reif Kushiyaki after six years at Kazoku in Cairo.
No.19 La Grande Table Marocaine
Marrakech
Since the restaurant's opening in 2008, the team spend part of each year scouring the country in search of historic courtly cuisine and traditional home cooking to update a menu that showcases both the country's culinary heritage and its future. Combining the finesse of French cooking with visionary daring, traditional dishes become more extraordinary at La Grande Table Marocaine. Every Friday at lunch, the country's most representative dishes are celebrated, including the iconic couscous served in Royal Mansour style.
No.18 Cantina
Kuwait City
Approachable yet refined, Cantina is the latest project from one of Kuwait's most distinguished culinary talents: chef Basmah Marouf, who earned her stripes as executive chef at Madison & Heig. Meticulously crafted using quality ingredients, Cantina's Italian offerings may be comforting, but they're anything but cliché. Fresh pasta dishes such as pappardelle bolognese and pici cacio e pepe are stylish yet satisfying, while other soul-soothers include the likes of steak frites, chicken milanese and a luxurious Cantina burger.
No.17 3 Fils Dubai
Dubai
3 Fils was the first-ever venue to be bestowed the title of The Best Restaurant in Middle East & North Africa, in 2022. Its winning combination of Asian fusion dishes, an unflashy and unlicensed venue and super-casual dining style have transformed it into one of the most sought-after places to eat in all the MENA region. The restaurant also features its own dessert bar, called Brix. Here, Spanish pastry chef Carmen Rueda Hernandez – an alumnus of Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck – lets her creative juices flow.
No.16 Marmellata Bakery
Abu Dhabi
A pizzeria that isn't New York or Napoli-inspired, Marmellata Bakery is 100 per cent Abu Dhabi in its DNA. The menu is focused on locally grown ingredients, including UAE-grown mushrooms from Below Farm, figs from Qattf in Liwa and locally produced burrata. Currently operating with a team of 25 dedicated employees that embody a style of hospitality that is both generous and authentic, Marmellata has become a place that feels like home to citizens, residents and visitors to Abu Dhabi.
No.15 Kokoro
Dubai
The passion project of American chefs Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee, the original Kokoro was born in Houston, Texas, with an intriguing aim: to turn sushi on its head. The concept was brought to Dubai's arts district by the team behind Fiya, Pinza and Bake My Day in 2024, and locals have been falling in love with its playful yet expertly crafted cuisine ever since. Not surprising, really, for a restaurant whose name translates into English as 'heart'.
No.14 11 Woodfire
Dubai
Fire is the theme of this concept, where diners are likely to find dishes infused with the scents of hickory or pine. Ingredients are of the highest quality, with equal footing given to meat, seafood and vegetables on the menu. The restaurant is unlicensed, but the team has really focused on its zero-proof menu. Highlights include the tea trolley and botanical-inspired drinks, all of which perfectly complement the food.
No.13 Em Sherif
Beirut
Self-taught chef and restaurateur Mireille Hayek established Em Sherif after discovering a love of cooking for her family. As the quintessential Lebanese dining experience, Em Sherif offers guests a taste of traditional home cooking in a truly opulent setting designed to make you feel like you could be eating food served at the chef's own kitchen table. Glittering chandeliers, lavish textiles in rich shades of pink and deep blue and live Arabic music perfectly complement the endemic produce from across the country.
No.12 Marble
Riyadh
Marble began life as a makeshift wooden stall on Prince Turki Road in 2018. Owners Abdulrahman Alsowailem and Meshal Alakeel built enough of a loyal following that they opened their own restaurant two years later – and have been serving solid dishes ever since. Simple ingredients are treated with love, meaning Marble has maintained the quality of its steak, whether served roadside or in a more upscale restaurant.
No.11 Table 3
Casablanca
Chef Fayçal Bettioui trained at New York's Per Se before embarking on a glittering decade-long career in the US and Germany with his former restaurant, Zur Krone. Table 3 opened in June 2024, marking his triumphant return to his hometown and establishing a new mission: to apply French methods and Japanese simplicity to distinctly Moroccan ingredients. Table 3's aesthetic is dimly lit and dapper – and with an open kitchen at the centre of these intimate surrounds, guests are invited to take in the cinema of Bettioui's culinary prowess.
No.10 Moonrise
Dubai
Moonrise is the brainchild of Dubai-raised chef Solemann Haddad. The 29-year-old chef is almost entirely self-taught, having dropped out of university to build his culinary dream. Born to a French mother and Syrian father, he is part of a new 'third culture' generation for whom the uber-multi-cultural city of Dubai is not just a workplace or luxury playground, but home. Haddad's menu is both an exploration of and love letter to his city's food scene, mixing the Middle Eastern, European and Japanese influences that punctuate Dubai's culinary culture.
No.9 Manāo
Dubai
After studying culinary arts in the UK, Indian-born, Dubai-raised chef Abhiraj Khatwani ventured to Thailand to hone his craft in working kitchens. Manāo is the result: a love letter to Thailand's heritage with its eyes firmly on the future, it puts a contemporary spin on time-tested recipes, techniques and ingredients. The result is a dining experience that's neither haute cuisine nor a casual affair, but more of a personal journey. A riot of textures, tastes and techniques, each carefully crafted mouthful fuses tradition with vibrant modernity.
No.8 Jun's
Dubai
While the word 'fusion' can strike fear in the hearts of many a gourmet, chef Kelvin Cheung's melding of North American, Indian and East Asian flavours somehow seems to work. The menu almost feels like a smorgasbord of the chef's life so far, but it all blends into a cohesive package. Diners can find dishes such as tempura za'atar chaat and red-hot chicken karaage and waffles alongside a sesame prawn cheese toast – inspired by the humble toasties of his childhood – served with his mother's Singapore-style coconut curry.
No.7 Sufret Maryam
Dubai
The sister restaurant of Bait Maryam, Sufret Maryam translates as 'Maryam's dining table' – and it's a name befitting of what this forward-thinking yet heritage-led restaurant stands for. Here, local ingredients and time-tested flavours are elevated using innovative culinary techniques, all in a space that exudes warmth, conviviality and traditional Levantine hospitality. From mezze to mains, each of Sufret Maryam's offerings has a story to tell – and a modern twist to pique your palate.
No.6 Kuuru
Jeddah
Part of the well-established Leylaty Group, Kuuru has rapidly established itself on the Saudi culinary scene. A prime proponent of Nikkei cuisine, born of Japanese migrants in Peru, it is apt that Kuuru finds itself in a city that celebrates its cultural diversity, stemming from the immigrants that found their way to Jeddah and made it their home. There is a live cooking station in the middle of the space, providing an added experience for diners who like to see the well-synchronised symphony chefs create while preparing their dishes.
No.5 Beihouse
Beirut
An opulent showcase of Lebanese design, arts, crafts and food, Beihouse is a grand complex spanning three converted villas and one glittering courtyard. Raised in Aitat, chef Tarek Alameddine trained at Les Roches and the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts in Jordan before spending six and a half years as sous chef at Noma in Copenhagen. Expect to encounter a delectable blend of time-honoured and modern dishes that fuse traditional Levantine and Mediterranean ingredients with international twists and techniques.
No.4 Orfali Bros
Dubai
The Orfali brothers from Aleppo, Syria, have created a genuinely unique dining experience in multi-cultural Dubai, guiding their unpretentious bistro to the top of the Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants ranking for three consecutive years in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Opened in 2021, the impact of Orfali Bros Bistro during its relatively short lifetime to date cannot be underestimated. The brothers mix traditional Syrian staples with pan-regional favourites, European culinary tropes with Asian ingredients to create a menu that defies categorisation.
No.3 Trèsind Studio
Dubai
Learning his trade at lauded New Delhi dining institution Indian Accent before moving to Dubai, chef Himanshu Saini has become the standard-bearer of modern Indian gastronomy in the UAE. Taking inspiration from the popular Indian phrase 'atithi devo bhava', directly translated as 'the guest is god', astute hospitality lies at the core of Trèsind Studio's operation. Titled 'Rising India', its latest tasting menu pays homage to the nation's 5,000-year history and the plurality of produce that has long stocked its larder.
No.2 Kinoya
Dubai
It all started with chef Neha Misra's love of traditional Japanese ramen. The love evolved into a supper club, then in April 2021, she opened her first restaurant in Dubai, followed in 2023 by a branch in the upscale food hall in London's Harrods department store. The interiors hark to a casual Japanese restaurant, from the main seating area and the private dining rooms to the ramen counter where lucky guests can get a view of Misra cooking.
No.1 Khufu's
Giza
Within the perimeter of the Giza Pyramid Complex and with an immediate and unobstructed view of the last remaining ancient wonders of the world, Khufu's offers its guests a millennial take on a cuisine that stretches back millennia. The lunch and dinner menus contemplate iconic Egyptian dishes with updated techniques and flavours, such as the mu'ammar rice with smoked beef. After being named One To Watch at The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, Khufu's has now been named The Best Restaurant in the Middle East & North Africa 2026.
Discover more about the venues on the list of the Middle East and Africa's 50 Best Restaurants 2026, as well as all the special award winners.
