Looking to make your Christmas Eve unforgettable in Dubai?
Dubai has a range dining experiences for Christmas Eve and venues for a range of budgets too! Whether you want an affordable traditional roast, a luxury buffet or a fine dining meal. This list has an option for every one!
As a long time resident and regular vistor, I always get to hear where is saving the best food and dine at many different restaurants myself. So I’ll give you the inside scoop of where to go!
Be aware, if you haven’t booked a Christmas Eve dinner before, most venues require a deposit to be paid to hold your reservation with a no refund policy if cancelled last minute.
Insider tip – As a long time resident, the Middle Eastern palette tends to prefer their meat and seafood well done, so if you prefer the more European style than it’s best to always request it to be cooked less!
*Prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change, so please check directly with the venue
Best places for Christmas Eve Lunch or Dinner
1) Le Petitie Maison
One of my personal favourite restaurants in Dubai and voted as one of the top 50 restaurants in the MENA region, this French fine dining restaurant is perfect for a Christmas Eve dinner. The duck I’ve had here was simply incredible and one of the best dishes I’ve had in Dubai!
The restaurant is also decorated in a winter snowy theme that adds to the festive magic during December.
The Christmas eve menu changes every year, featuring different European dishes. If you’re looking for a more traditional turkey or chicken option, then this won’t be the place for you but if you enjoy a very well cooked meal that’s different. You’ll enjoy it here!
Information
Location: Gate Village, DIFC
Style: European 3 course sharing menu
Timing: 6 pm till 11 pm
Price: 610 AED per person
Reservations: [email protected]
2) Kitchen 6
Kitchen6 at JW Marriott Marquis is a popular option for Christmas Eve and Kitchen6 is one of the best Dubai buffet restaurants. It’s also a great family-friendly option!
Explore the six live cooking stations, with chefs whipping up a feast of flavours before your eyes in addition to their wide selections of foods from the buffet.
You’ll also get a full-on festive celebration with your meal with a visit from Santa, a festive choir and a festive photo booth. There’s also a dedicated kids’ corner, to help keep them entertained while you enjoy your meal.
Information
Location: JW Marriott Marquis, Business Bay
Style: International buffet
Timing: 6:30 pm till 11 pm
Price: 275 – 425 AED *Depending on drinks package
3) Ossiano
This Michelin starred restaurant is very high on the list of the top 50 restaurants in the Middle East region and is a must visit experience for those who have the money to spend.
Spending Christmas Eve at Ossiano at Atlantis is a unique experience where you’ll feel like you’re underwater surrounded by aquariums with real fish swimming by. Their festive menu is a multi-course of exquisite seafood crafted by world-class chef.
If you’re a gourmet food lover looking for a truly luxury experience this Christmas eve, this is for you.
Information
Location: Atlantis, Palm Jumeriah
Style: Fine dining seafood set menu
Timing: 6 pm till 11 pm
Price: 1500 AED per person
4) The Bay
Enjoy your Christmas eve sitting by the glorious Jumeriah beachfront and enjoy indulgent dining at The Mandarin Oriental.
For their Christmas eve menu, you’ll be served a 3 course feast with a mix of international and traditional dishes. The brasserie features mostly Italian dishes, so you can expect an Italian twist to your traditional Christmas fare.
Choose to dine indoors or outdoors, it certainly makes a different Christmas enjoying a traditional meal with the sea in the background and the sun shining! Make sure to also spend some time admiring the designer Christmas tree, which the hotel partners with different designers every year to create a truly unique display.
Information
Location: Mandarin Oriental, Jumeirah
Style: Mediterranean 3 course menu
Timing: 6:30 pm till 11:30 pm
Price: 320 per person
Reservations: [email protected]
5) Giardino
This hotel is just stunning and the surroundings alone get you in the special occasion mood whenever you enter, so of course I had to include this on the list.
Giardino hosts it’s ‘Into The Jungle’ brunch every weekend, however they host a special festive Christmas Eve and Christmas Day brunch. They’re one of the few venues doing a brunch on both days.
In terms of food, you’ll find your traditional turkey along with a mix of global flavours.
This family-friendly affair features a DJ, Santa Claus and kids activities. You’ll also get complimentary pool access included with the brunch price. So you can choose to relax or splash into the pool afterwards!
Information
Location: Palazzo Versace Hotel, Al Jaddaf
Style: Lively mixed buffet
Timing: 1 pm till 5 pm
Price: 400 – 860 AED *Depending on drinks package
Reservations: [email protected]
6) McGettigan’s Factory
If you’re looking for an affordable option and love a traditional roast, McGettigan’s is the best option for you.
McGettigan’s is an Irish pub chain known for its friendly atmosphere, hearty food, and live entertainment. With locations in Dubai, McGettigan’s offers a mix of traditional Irish food, modern pub dishes, and a wide range of drinks.
For Christmas Eve, choose from either a tender roast ribeye or hearty roast chicken, accompanied by buttery cauliflower and traditional trimmings. Unlike other McGettigan’s, McGettigan’s Factory allows under 21s. So yes you can take the kids.
Information
Location: Hilton Dubai Palm Beach, Palm West Beach, Palm Jumeirah
Style: Classic Christmas roast
Timing: 5 pm till 11 pm
Price: 129 AED
7) Andiamo
Celebrate Christmas Eve with Italian flair at Andiamo in Grand Hyatt Dubai.
Andiamo is known for its authentic dishes served in a rustic yet stylish atmosphere, where you can enjoy a range of classic Italian cuisine, the restaurant manages to both suit casual dining and those wanting a special occasion.
For Christmas Eve they offer a five-course menu showcasing authentic Italian flavours perfect for a festive feast. The restaurant is family-friendly and friends to gather and enjoy, enhanced by the hotel’s grand seasonal decorations, including their large, dazzling Christmas display in the lobby which is a must see!
Information
Location: Grand Hyatt
Style: Traditional 5 course Italian
Timing: 6 pm till 11:30 pm
Price: 250 to 350 AED *Depending on drinks package
8) Kris Kin with a View
One of our favourites from our Thanksgiving in Dubai restaurants, this venue is also a great option for Christmas. It’s the perfect balance of luxury and price. For those who still want a luxury festive experience but without blowing the bank!
Enjoy a memorable Christmas Eve dinner at Kris with a View inside the Park Regis Kris Kin hotel. The festive buffet includes holiday classics like glazed ham, roast turkey, and chestnuts. Plus a mix of International dishes too! You can also watch the chefs prepare dishes with their live cooking stations.
Situated on the 19th floor, the restaurant also has an amazing Dubai view, with panoramic windows of both Dubai’s old and new skyline.
Last year this restaurant had special offers on the site Cobone, so make sure to check this before booking!
🎄 Check for Christmas offers 🎄
Information
Location: Park Regis Kris Kin, Bur Dubai
Style: International buffet with traditional items
Timing: 7 pm till 11 pm
Price: 149 to 299 AED *Depending on drinks package
9) Zala
This one is a bit of a drive out but it’s definitely worth it!
Zala at Bab Al Shams Resort is an outdoor upscale Arabic restaurant, where you dine surrounded by the dunes of Al Qudra desert. For Christmas, they turn this usually very traditional Arabic setting into a winter wonderland beneath the twinkling night sky. Truly combining Dubai’s desert with Christmas.
You’ll get to enjoy a sumptuous traditional yet contemporary Christmas Eve dinner, with beautifully roasted turkey dishes, salmon wellington and decadent desserts such a bitter chocolate log flavoured with yuzu (similar to mandarin).
The festive ambiance is really brought to life their elegant décor, live entertainment, and seasonal music.
Information
Location: Bab Al Shams Resort, Al Qudra Road
Style: Traditional Christmas buffet with a contemporary twist
Timing: 7 pm till 12 am
Price: 349 to 549 AED *Depending on drinks package
10) Couqley
One of the longest running festive menus, Couqley does a traditional 3 course turkey meal from 10th October until 7th January!
Couqley in Dubai is a charming French bistro offering classic French cuisine, cozy ambiance, and warm hospitality. Known for its dishes like steak frites and an extensive wine list, it provides a Parisian dining experience right in the heart of Dubai.
This option is for those either with a larger family or wanting to go as a group, as you’ll need to pre-order the entire turkey with all the trimmings for 8 to 10 people. You can also add on extras such as caramel walnut tarte to finish for dessert.
Information
Location: Mövenpick Hotel, Cluster A, JLT & Pullman Dubai Downtown, Business Bay
Style: Traditional French 3 course meal
Timing: 12 pm till 1 am
Price: 1399 AED for 8 – 10 people
11) Clap
If you’re wanting something different than a traditional Christmas meal and are a lover of sushi or Asian cuisine, then this is the perfect spot for you.
Clap Dubai is a vibrant Japanese restaurant known for its creative dishes and chic rooftop views. It offers a blend of modern flavors and traditional Japanese cuisine. It’s also another restaurant with incredible views, with Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai glittering in the background.
For the festive season, Clap offers a festive menu with several different set menus to choose from. Each set include appetisers, sushi, a main course and dessert. You can also add a drinks package to your meal.
Information
Location: Trade Centre, DIFC
Style: Contemporary asian set menu
Timing:
Price: 350 to 888 AED depending on the menu you select
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Don’t go just yet! Find out about other holidays and festivities in Dubai:
- What Christmas in Dubai is like: Plus the best places to go for some festive cheer
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- The best Dubai New Year’s parties and dinners across the city
- What is Ramadan in Dubai like and should I avoid visiting during Ramadan?
- 11 family friends activities for Halloween in Dubai to enjoy for the spooky season
- Is there a Halloween Drone show in Dubai? Where to watch drones in Dubai
- Dubai Thanksgiving: Whether you want to eat out or eat it, we’ve got to covered!
