One of the most exciting and FREE attractions visitors to Dubai come to see is the nightly Dubai Fountain Show, held at the foot of Burj Khalifa, in the Burj Lake, Downtown Dubai.
Whilst you can watch the show for free from many vantage points around the lake, the best way to enjoy the Dubai Fountains without the stress of battling the crowds is while you are having dinner.
There are many restaurants on both the outside of Dubai Mall and in the Downtown Dubai area that you can sit back and relax whilst watching the showing every 30 minutes throughout the evening.
The fountains are on nightly from 6:00 PM and also at 1:00 PM & 1:30 PM Saturday to Thursday, 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM Fridays over winter
We know the choices can often be overwhelming for dining in Downtown, and wait times to be seated can vary significantly if you visit at peak times. Pre-booking this element of your Dubai trip may be required to avoid any disappointment.
So ready to grab your front-row seat? Here’s what you need to know about the best restaurants with Dubai Fountain views.
Top 10 Dubai Mall Restaurants to see the Dubai Fountains
Naturally, the Dubai Mall is one of the best places to view the Dubai Fountains. Here are a few of the best restaurants the Dubai Mall has to offer.
NOTE: There are many dining outlets attached to Dubai Mall, but they are all DRY – meaning alcohol cannot be served. There are licensed restaurant options though in adjacent hotels including the Palace Downtown and the Souk Al Bahar shopping complex, accessible from Dubai Mall over a small bridge
Social House – Lower Ground Floor
Social House is among the best places to check out if you’re interested in Dubai Mall restaurants near fountains. It has a friendly, casual vibe and an international menu featuring cuisines from around the world making it a real crowd-pleaser. There’s also a coffee bar and the option of a private VIP room. This restaurant is a great choice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in a convenient and central location.
It can get very busy at weekends especially due to its prime position, we recommend getting in for an early dinner just before the first evening show starts.
Open daily 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Carluccios – Lower Ground Floor
If you’re more in the mood for Italian cuisine, then Carluccios is an obvious choice. It was founded by the legendary Italian chef Antonio Carluccio, and much of its menu is inspired by his dishes. And of course, it provides an excellent view of the Dubai Fountain – albeit outdoor tables are limited.
You can watch the fountain show while eating some real, authentic Italian pizza. They even offer an all-day breakfast. Kids can be kept entertained with colouring packs and a separate menu with smaller bites. This is one of our favourite family options for seeing the Dubai Fountains with seated dining.
Open daily 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM (11:30 PM weekends)
Wafi Gourmet – Lower Ground Floor
Are you a fan of Lebanese cuisine? Then you can’t go wrong with Wafi Gourmet. This restaurant has an excellent selection of traditional Lebanese dishes such as kebabs, shawarma, and mezze. Afterward, you can enjoy some sweet Arabic desserts while enjoying a view of the Dubai Fountain. It’s simply one of the best restaurants in Dubai Mall near the fountain offering both inside and al fresco dining.
Open daily 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Zouzou – Lower Ground Floor
Delivering Turkish-Lebanese fusion easy bites at a reasonable price, there’s also a small selection of outdoor dining spots available here with a corner view out to the fountains. Not as great a view as some of the others with limited street frontage but still a favourite spot for a mixed grill and some shared bites.
Open daily 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Walnut Grove – Ground Floor
Situated at the Waterfall end of Dubai Mall, Walnut Grove has both indoor and outdoor dining options, giving guests the opportunity to dine al fresco with panoramic views back over Burj Lake. Offering delectable desert-style bites and brunch through to complete meals, you’re spoilt at this boutique restaurant to one of the best views in Dubai, catering to all the family with a specialized kids menu to complement the main restaurant offering.
Open daily 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
OFK – First Floor
The Open Flame Kitchen, or OFK, is an upscale international restaurant that’s located on Level 1 of the Dubai Mall. While this stylish restaurant provides food from all around the world, it leans somewhat towards Asian-inspired cuisine. Because of this, you can expect plenty of great dishes like miso, chicken, maki rolls, eggplant katsu, and much more. It’s one of the best fountain view restaurants Dubai has to offer for meat lovers.
Open daily 12:00 PM to 11:40 PM
Tribes – Second Floor
Here is another fun restaurant you can find on Level 2 of the Dubai Mall – a real favourite with families. Tribes have a menu full of dishes from all over Africa. This is a very diverse continent, so there are plenty of different foods to try. The music and decor are also decidedly African, making this an incredibly unique dining experience. It’s among the most fascinating and fun restaurants with fountain views, both inside and outside seating options – perfect for a winter’s evening.
Open daily 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Opso – Second Floor
Offering diners contemporary Medietraian cuisine, Opso is the perfect venue for a fun night out with family and friends. An absolute prime position for some of the best views of both the fountain and Burj Khalifa, you access Opso from the Fashion Avenue end of the mall. It is known for its fun mocktails, shisha, and a good party atmosphere without being overly expensive given the location.
Open daily 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Huqqa – Third Floor
Found at the Fashion Avenue end of Dubai Mall, Huqqa has one of the best views of the Dubai Fountain show. Delicious Turkish cuisine on the terrace is the star of the show at Huqqa. Think juicy steaks to spicy kebabs, finished off with shisha – one of the best shisha restaurants in Dubai.
Open daily 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM (1:00 AM weekends)
Tulum – Forth Floor
One of the highest views from Dubai Mall with a prime spot at Fashion Avenue overlooking the Dubai Fountains is contemporary Mexican restaurant, Tulum. Indoor and outdoor seating places you between the Burj Khalifa and the Fountains so you can catch the light show on the Burj too. Live entertainment is thrown into the mix in this venue to impress.
Open daily 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM (weekends 1:00)
Want a cheaper eat? Along with the fabulous restaurants living the lower ground floor waterfront promenade, there’s a KFC & Pizza Hut option with some dine in tables!
Top 5 Souk Al Bahar Restaurants with views of the Dubai Fountains
Souk Al Bahar, which sits opposite the Dubai Mall – connected by a pedestrian bridge – also has several excellent Dubai Fountain view restaurants. These are some of the best;
BiCE Mare – 3rd Floor
Bice Mare is a delightfully contemporary restaurant with a menu full of delicious Italian seafood dishes. This restaurant has won multiple awards, including the OpenTable Diner’s Choice Award and the Italian Specialty Chef Award. In addition to that, they have a terrace that provides incredible views of both the Dubai Fountain and the Burj Khalifa. It’s one of the greatest Dubai fountain restaurants for Italian seafood lovers.\
Open daily 12:30 PM to 1:00 AM
Serafina – 2nd Floor
Serafina is another charming restaurant in Souk Al Bahar that offers an array of authentic Italian dishes. This restaurant also provides a unique atmosphere with Italian music playing in an intimate setting. And of course, Serafina has crystal clear views of the Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa. If you’re looking for restaurants near Burj Khalifa, then this one could be for you.
Open daily 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM (1:00 AM weekends)
Karma Kafe – 3rd Floor
Along with offering spectacular views of both the Dubai Fountains and Burj Khalifa, Karma Kafe is among the best restaurants in Souk Al Bahar. It’s won multiple awards for its Pan Asian-inspired menu and relaxed lounge atmosphere. From here, you can enjoy watching the Dubai Fountain while feasting on meals such as sushi rolls, miso black cod, or Florida Bay rock shrimp tempura.
Karma Kafe also offers a bar and lounge, with Orient-inspire electric beats it’s a great place to carry on your evening until late at night. Don’t miss out on their special Thursday & Friday night Brunch – Blushing Dragon.
Open daily 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM + Friday Brunch from 1:00 PM
Abd el Wahab – 3rd Floor
Named after the famous street in Beirut, you’ll get a taste of authentic Lebanese cuisine alongside your Dubai fountain views at Abd al Wahab in Souk al Bahar. Famous for their Middle Eastern cuisine and shisha.
Open daily 12:30 PM to 12:30 AM
Time Out Market – 3rd Floor
Still can’t quite decide what sort of cuisine you actually want? Time Out Market may be the place you’re looking for! Covering 43,000 square feet there are 17 concessions in a market hall setting bringing together some of the city’s best chefs and tastiest bites.
From shwarma to dumplings or pit-fire pizza with a side of seafood, this is the best place to come in Downtown Dubai if you need to feed a crowd with mixed tastes, everyone will be happy here! Combine this with live entertainment on the Time Out Stage; Oh, and of course, sitting on the 3rd floor of Souk Al Bahar an unmissable front-row view of the fountains! (and yes, it’s licensed).
Open daily 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM ;10:00 AM – 1:00 AM Friday
Can’t get to Downtown Dubai at night? We know you may only have a short stopover and Dubai and plenty to see and do! If you can’t make the nightly shows, check out the lunchtime schedule – all the Dubai Fountain Timing information you need here!
Burj Khalifa Restaurants with Dubai Fountain Views
The legendary Burj Khalifa has some great aerial Dubai Fountain views as well. Whilst you can observe the fountains from AT The Top -The Burj Khalifa Observation Deck, you don’t quite get the same atmosphere as seeing the show from much lower down.
Here are a couple of the Burj Khalifa restaurants you should check out.
At.Mosphere – 122nd Floor
At.Mosphere is the world’s tallest restaurant located on the 122nd floor of the world’s tallest building. As such, it offers an unparalleled view of the city below it, including the Dubai Fountain. In addition to that, it provides a menu full of delicious seafood dishes and an extensive drink list. There’s simply nothing like it when it comes to restaurants in Dubai overlooking the fountains.
Open daily 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM
There is also the Lounge at At.Mosphere to consider for best sky-high views of the Dubai Fountains.
Armani/Mediterraneo – Lobby Floor
Armani/Mediterraneo is another one of the best Dubai Fountain restaurants in Burj Khalifa. This is a sophisticated Mediterranian restaurant, and its menu contains some of the best dishes Europe has to offer. You can choose what you like from their buffet, or you can have them prepare your meal in front of you. And of course, it provides a beautiful front-row view of the Dubai Fountain.
Open daily 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM, 6:30PM to 10:00 PM
Nearby Downtown Hotels with great Dubai Fountain views
Many of the surrounding hotels in Downtown Dubai also offer great views from either their restaurant terraces or even from within your room! Why not check out these options if you’d like to stay somewhere with a great view of the Dubai Fountains.
Thiptara at Palace Downtown
Thiptara is the best place to watch the Dubai Fountains if you’re looking for something with a quiet, romantic atmosphere. It’s situated right next to Burj Lake, and its menu consists of Bangkok-style seafood. Visiting this restaurant in Palace Downtown is like taking a mini-vacation to Thailand combined with a gorgeous view of the Dubai Fountain – it’s top of our favourite romantic dining spots in Dubai.
Open daily 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Asado at Palace Downtown
Another Palace Downtown offering not to miss if you love Argentinian food, Asado steakhouse. You’re set slightly back from the main show here but it’s still a wonderfully intimate setting, perfect for a romantic treat in Dubai.
If you are dining with kids here, under 5’s are free and under 12’s dine 50% off.
Open daily 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM
The Restaurant at The Address Fountain Views
Pretty much does what it says on the label. Classy 5-star dining at this latest opening of The Address in the Downtown area – there are several The Address Hotels so it can be difficult to distinguish between them. The Address Fountain Views offers dinners an al-Fresco option with prime fountain views for breakfast lunch and dinner with a wide selection for breakfast lunch and dinner, buffet, and al la carte.
Open daily 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Do you have a favourite viewing spot for the Dubai fountains you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
- Pop into our essential planning information page, it includes everything you need to know about getting around Dubai, a handy guide on what to pack, and top tips for first-timers on the do’s and don’ts, laws and customs to be aware of.
- Check out this incredible list of 150+ places you should visit when you’re in Dubai.
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- Discover the best areas to stay in Dubai, or bag a bargain on your accommodation here:
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