complexion-friendly lighting, sweeping
views of the Burj Khalifa and wonderful
Chinese fare are all woven together like a
fine tapestry at this elegant restaurant. The
menu is loaded with interesting items such
as wasabi-coated king prawns or foie gras
terrine with hawthorn jelly and sugar-cured
dates. Service can be a tad overbearing,
however. Reservations essential.na3na3 MiDDle eaSTern $$
Map p216 (%04-438 8888; address Dubai Mall,
emaar blvd; lunch/dinner Dh120/140; h6.30am-
1am; c) If you’re new to Middle Eastern
food, the bountiful and beautifully dis-
played buffet in this bright and airy restau-
rant would be a good place to start a culi-
nary investigation. You may be tempted to
make an entire meal from the mezze alone,
but that would mean missing the hot dishes
and freshly baked breads emerging nonstop
from the open kitchen. The curious name
means ‘mint’ in Arabic and is pronounced
‘na-na’. Reservations recommended.faZaris inTernaTional $$$
Map p216 (address Downtown Dubai, emaar blvd;
mains Dh75-160, Fri brunches without/with alco-
hol Dh290/390; h6.30-11am, noon-3.30pm &
6.30-11pm) Named for an 8th-century Per-
sian philosopher, this all-day restaurant
lets you hopscotch from Japan (sushi) to
India (chicken tikka) to Italy (penne arrabi-
ata) without leaving your table. The white
chocolate sabayon (Italian-style custard
dessert) paired with marinated berries and
pepper-strawberry ice cream is the perfect
finale.KarMa Kafe aS ian $$$
Map p216 (%04-423 0909; Souq al-bahar, Sheikh
Zayed rd; mains Dh75-150; h4pm-2am Sat-Wed,
to 3am Thu & Fri) This gorgeous space is an-
other Midas-touch venture by the people
behind Buddha Bar. As with the mothership,
a large Buddha oversees the dining room,
which in this case is intimate and drenched
in sensuous crimson. The food caters for
adventurous palates: salmon marinated in
cherries, and sashimi tacos are typically ex-
perimental flavour combinations that work
surprisingly well. The terrace has stunning
fountain views. Reservations essential.MarraKech MoroCCan $$
Map p216 (%04-405 2703; Shangri-la hotel,
Sheikh Zayed rd; mains Dh60-100; h7pm-midnight Mon-Sat) Keyhole doorways, North
African wall tiles and flickering candle
lanterns casting moody shadows: Marra-
kech hits all the classic Moroccan design
buttons yet manages to feel light, elegant
and contemporary. The kitchen embraces
a similar approach by dishing up modern
spins on such signature dishes as pastilla
(pigeon pie), couscous royale and tagine
without sacrificing the cuisine’s traditional
earthiness. The best tables are in view of
the soulful musician or, for privacy, in an
arched alcove. Reservations recommended.eMporio arMani caffé inTernaTional $$
Map p216 (ground fl, Dubai Mall, Financial Cen-
tre rd; mains Dh55-160) This outpost of the
Armani empire offers the best example of
Dubai’s mall food revolution, and is fitting-
ly surrounded by designer stores. The cof-
fee is superb, the food is stylishly presented
and the Italian flavours are so good that we
wish it had a liquor licence so we could top
off the meal with a limoncello.More inTernaTional $
Map p216 (ground fl, Dubai Mall, Financial Centre
rd; mains Dh30-70; h8am-11pm; Wc) This
jazzy, industrial-flavoured space in Dubai
Mall draws a congenial mix of locals, ex-
pats and tourists. The menu hops around
the world – from Thai curries and Italian
pastas to Spanish paella and fat burgers.
The execution is OK, but if it sounds too
experimental, skip it. Breakfast is served
all day. The restaurant has mushroomed to
eight branches over the last couple of years.5 Financial District
iVy b riTiSh $$$
Map p216 (%04-319 8767; http://www.theivy.ae;
Jumeirah emirates Towers hotel, Sheikh Zayed
rd; mains Dh95-120, business lunch Dh150) The
former US-style bar that was here has done
a 360-degree flip and the venue is now home
to a branch of one of London’s best-loved
restaurants. Dark oak panelling, soft green
leather upholstery and stunning chandeliers
set the retro-chic scene for a dining experi-
ence that includes classic British dishes like
shepherd’s pie and nostalgic sweet treats
such as sticky toffee pudding. The business
lunch is a great deal and, overall, the Ivy is
not as pricey as its celeb-clientele packaging
may suggest. Reservations essential.s
heikh Zayed
r
oa
d &
a
ro
und
(^) e
a
T
in
G