Best healthy food in Dubai; restaurants & dishes

by Danni B
picture of healthy food and meals in dubai

Are you ready to embark on a flavourful adventure where healthy food doesn’t need to be boring? Known for its dazzling skyline, there’s also great healthy food in Dubai.

It can be hard to find genuine healthy restaurants in Dubai since a restaurant will label itself healthy on food apps just for having a side salad on the menu! But not to worry, this list is made up of actual health food restaurants.

In Dubai, we often fit into two categories. The super healthy, beach-going and in-the-gym crowd or the foodie, party crowd at Brunch on a Saturday. Dubai has so much to offer for either side!

So regardless if you’re in crowd one or the second crowd, and said hello the the ‘Dubai stone.’ This list will keep you on track or at least make up for the weekend.

As a self-certified Dubai Foodie, I probably eat out more than I cook. Oops! I’ll give you the hidden gems that make Dubai a healthy haven and I’ve tested every single one on the list.

There are vegan & gluten-free options too.

Beyond the glitz and glamour, focusing on the delicious and nutritious. Put down your shawarma menu and let’s go!

The best healthy restaurants in Dubai

I’ve also included the dishes I personally recommend and really enjoyed myself.

1 . Circle Cafe – Various locations across Dubai including Business Bay, Mirdif & Jumeirah Islands

This is one of my regular places to eat and I really enjoy their whole menu. Full of healthy wholesome food that tastes really good. They have various locations across Dubai and they do all you can eat breakfast with a tea or coffee for only 69 AED on Saturdays and Sundays between 8 am and 4 pm (excluding Kite Beach location). As if it doesn’t get any better!

They also do their food to go and are available for delivery via Deliveroo & Talabat. The staff are super friendly and I’ve always had a positive experience every time I’ve visited which has been many many times!

Style: Relaxed health focused cafe
Timing: 8 am till 10 pm
Locations: Various locations across Dubai including Business Bay, Mirdif & Jumeirah Islands

Recommended dish: Super Bowl
Price range: 22 AED to 87 AED

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (Jumeriah Islands)

Website

🥗 Order from Circle Cafe for delivery🥗

2. Maxzi The Good Food Shop – Al Barsha

So I discovered this place by accident one day and I’m so glad that I did. The manager is super friendly and I found the staff helpful overall. Not everything on the menu is healthy but they really focus on fresh high quality ingredients. They make a really good coffee too.

They have great breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Including chocolate fed wagyu steaks if you really want to treat yourself. Once you’ve finished, there’s also fridges lining the cafe. So you can do some grocery shopping after you’ve finished your meal or take a nice salad home to enjoy later.

Style: International cuisines with high quality ingredients
Dish: Half roasted rotisserie chicken with two sides
Price range: 12 AED to 249 AED (*Most meals are around 50 AED)

Website
Tel: +971 52 995 1277

🍗 Order from Maxzi for delivery🍗

3. HEAT Healthy Eats and Treats – Umm Suqeim, Al Barsha & DIFC

Macro balanced meals for the gym addicts

Every time I go to this restaurant, there are at least two people sat eating in gym gear. It’s a real favourite with the healthy crowd of Dubai. They offer lots of low carb options including cauliflower rice, pizza bases made from vegetables and low carb noodles!

This restaurant sure is a popular choice for healthy restaurants in Dubai and one of the go to places for healthy food. They also have quite a few vegan options and is a good mid range restaurant in terms of price. They’re also available for delivery and do meal plans if you want daily food delivered to your home.

Style: Casual eatery ideal for gym goers
Recommended dish: Teriyaki Salad
Price range: 19 AED to 79 AED

Website
Tel: 800 328

🥦 Order from HEAT for delivery🥦

4. Bounty Beets – Dubai Marina North

Bounty Beets is a vibrant haven in the heart of Dubai Marina for health-conscious foodies. This 100% gluten-free and organic gem serves up a diverse menu inspired by global cuisines, putting a colorful twist on your favorite classics.

There’s nice outdoor seating to relax in surrounded by greenery. The interiors are super girly and very instagram-able. As if it couldn’t get any better, you can also take your pets here to sit in the outdoor area. So it really ticks a lot of boxes.

Not all dishes are healthy, such as their tasty french toast. The staff are also lovely and it’s just a nice atmosphere to relax in while enjoying tasty healthy food.

Style: Girly gluten free cafe
Recommended dish: Elle Woods
Price range: 41 AED to 170 AED

Website
Tel: +971 4 511 7373

5. Freshii – DIFC, Business Bay, Media City, Motor City & Karama

Simple goodness from Freshii

*A few branches are currently temporarily closed, Business Bay & Motor City are still open.

The best thing about Freshii is they have a wide choice of options and prepare everything very quickly. Freshii is like the Subway of salads where you completely customise your own salad. It’s also super quick since all the toppings are laid out. You can go in, pick what you want, pay and you’re done. Making it an ideal quick lunch spot when at work.

If you’re not sure what you want, there’s plenty of different menu options for you to choose from. Aside from the bowls, they also do wraps, soup and smoothies. I love their vegetable bowls. They’re happy to customise things to make them vegan such as replacing the dairy yoghurt in their smoothies with coconut milk.

If you’re wanting to take the stress out of preparing healthy food at home, they also offer meal plans. There are various options for either losing weight, eating clean or bulk up.

Style: Affordable healthy food on the go
Recommended dish: Buddha’s Satay
Price range: 14 AED to 50 AED

Website
Tel: 800 373 7444

🥕 Order from Freshii for delivery🥕

6. Cycle Bistro – Motor City & Jumeirah

Another option which is also pet friendly is Cycle Bistro. Focused on the Paleo diet, Cycle Bistro is one of only restaurants in Dubai offering Paleo suitable foods. Paleo is focused on our ancestral diet, meaning lean meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, nuts, legumes and seeds.

It’s connected to a bicycle shop, hence the name! Their menus are seasonal and they pride themselves on using high quality ingredients. Their menu is also gluten, dairy and sugar free.

Style: Family friendly paleo casual cafe
Recommended dish: Breakfast Tostados
Price range: 25 AED to 82 AED

Website
Tel: +971 4 425 3000 (Motor City) Tel: +971 4 332 2209 (Jumeirah)

🫛 Order from Cycle Bistro for delivery🫛

7. CALI-POKE – JBR, Palm Jumeirah, JLT, Business Bay, Motor City, Silicon Oasis & Mirdif

The many yummy dishes available from Cali Poke

This is very much a no-frills healthy restaurant when you look at the interiors but the food is really good. It’s a typical Poke bowl concept where you can order your base and then choose all your own toppings. It’s also a great low carb option and they also have vegan options too.

It’s another option that’s easy in a rush, as everything is already set up for you to select from. Lovely, fresh plus high-quality ingredients that make it a great healthy restaurant in Dubai option. They also have other healthy sides, sashimi and smoothies.

Style: Simple healthy on the go dining
Recommended Meal: Build your own small poke bowl
Price Range: 12 AED to 87 AED

Website
Tel: +971 04 331 5912

🍣 Order from CALI-POKE for delivery🍣

8. Brambles Cafe – Barsha Heights

Brambles Cafe is a lovely little cafe located in Barsha Heights close to the Internet City Metro stop. It’s an incredibly popular lunch spot, with both healthy and slightly indulgent options on their menu. They also have a large selection of vegan and gluten free meals, plus smoothies and cold pressed juices which are all made fresh to order.

Their salads are particularly good and well worth trying. They also do healthy breakfasts such as acai bowls, avocado toast and granola bowls.

Style: Affordable vegan friendly girly cafe
Recommended Meal: Shakshuka Tacos
Price Range: 8 AED to 56 AED

Website
Tel: +971 04 331 5912

🍓 Order from Brambles for delivery🍓

9. Rose Leaf Cafe – Al Quoz & Emirates Hills

One of the seasonal dishes on offer at Roseleaf Cafe

Set inside a garden centre, this cafe is unique and a beautiful lunch spot. It is definitely one of my favourite healthy restaurants in Dubai. They have lots of healthy and hearty options available but aren’t exclusively a healthy food place. They’re more a cafe with a nice rustic wholesome kitchen. Just don’t be tempted by the cakes that are also there! 

This is a great chilled weekend hang out and is a popular spot for breakfast or lunch in the day. It’s also popular with families or perfect for a lunch with the ladies in Dubai. They also now have a newer location in Emirates Hills Golf Club.

Style: Wholesome rustic cafe
Recommended meal: Confit Salmon – 60 AED
Price Range: 15 AED to 75 AED

Website
Tel: +971 4 355 5241

🌿 Order from Rose Leaf Cafe for delivery🌿

10. Healthy Dose – JLT

Healthy Dose is a great spot for healthy food for those in the Jumeriah Lake Towers area. Located in Cluster J, their focus is on clean eating, with many options that are low in calories and high in nutrition. They also have gluten free and keto options. Serving an array of salads, wraps, burgers (vegan and non vegan), pastas, main courses and smoothies.

A relaxed style eatery, where you can enjoy your meal indoors or outdoors. You won’t find Dubai fancy interiors here but the food is delicious and a favourite amongst JLT locals. They also offer meal plans for at home.

Style: Affordable keto restaurant
Recommended Dish: Healthy French Toast – 31 AED
Price Range: 7 AED to 77 AED

Tel: +971 4 580 5837

🥦 Order from Healthy Dose for delivery 🥦

11. Lifter Life – Al Barsha

Previously located in Jumierah 3, they’ve moved to Hessa street in Al Barsha. They offer good value for their main healthy meals compared with many other healthy restaurants in Dubai. Which if you’re planning to eat regularly from the same restaurant that 10 AED difference per meal can add up. The food is really tasty while still being healthy!

Another one which is popular with gym-goers. They also do low carb options such as broccoli pizza and I actually prefer their version of this over HEAT one personally. If you’re wanting to achieve a long term goal such as losing weight or bulking up, they do meal plans for home delivery.

Style: Casual eatery ideal for gym goers
Recommended Meal: White fish fajita – 48 AED
Price Range: 13 AED – 64 AED

Website
Tel: +971 4 395 5775


Before you go, check out some of my other helpful Dubai articles:

Need a family friendly restaurant? Here are the best family friendly restaurants in Dubai
Get your caffeine boost with the best cafes in Dubai from a coffee addict
We know how amazing Dubai is, 11 things you can only find in Dubai
Is Dubai dusty and what is the air quality really like?
Can you drink tap water in Dubai and is it safe?


Conclusion

So there are my personal recommendations for healthy food and the best healthy restaurants in Dubai. All of them offer something slightly different, if you’re looking for the perfect place to meet friends then I recommend Bounty Beets or Maxzi. If you’re wanting healthy food only than perfect post workout then Lifter Life or Freshii would be my go to. Let us know if there any good places you think should be on this list! I’ll go check them out and add them if they pass the test. Let me know in the comments.


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