Haute Spots: Zuma Dubai Draws Rave Reviews & Celebrities

Whether you’d like to go celebrity spotting or merely desire some of the best Japanese food in Dubai, Zuma Dubai is an excellent choice. So many celebrities dine at the restaurant that it actually has a “no self-promoting paparazzi-style photos” policy, offering a reprieve for some of the most famous people in the world the chance to dine in peace. Despite this policy, many stars are happy to allow Zuma Dubai post their photos on social media, or at least report that they were seen dining there.

Photo Credit: Zuma Restaurant

Among those who have been spotted at the restaurant just this year are R&B artist Tyrese Gibson; Prison Break star Amaury Nolasco; footballer Andy Carroll; Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, better known as Sting; and British business magnate Bernie Ecclestone. Many other fabulous celebrities are also fans of the Zuma brand in general, including Kim Kardashian, Jay Z, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Lionel Richie. Celebrity chef Rainer Becker runs Zuma, which also has locations in Abu Dhabi, New York City, London, Hong Kong, and other major cities around the globe.

Zuma Dubai is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre close to the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. The restaurant offers a sophisticated setting and authentic Japanese cuisine, and many of the city’s business bigwigs meet in the restaurant’s lounge for drinks after work.

The restaurant serves up food in traditional Japanese izakaya style, meaning that all the dishes are meant to be shared. The result is an interesting fusion of the casual with the high level of sophistication Zuma is known for. The restaurant features a sushi counter which allows diners to watch chefs sculpt sushi that’s nearly too beautiful to eat and serve it over ice. There’s also a robata grill counter where diners have the opportunity to watch lively chefs prepare their meals and interact with them. The offerings at the robata grill include grilled meat, fish and vegetables.

Photo Credit: Zuma Restaurant

Zuma Dubai’s lounge offers a lively nightlife, complete with a resident DJ and what their website notes as an “eclectic mix of guests.” Inside the lounge, you’ll discover a premium area and also a sake bar. They also employ an excellent mixology staff, which has created treats like the Zuma ice tea, which is fresh green tea sweetened with organic agave syrup before being shaken and then served long on a fruit salad.

Photo Credit: Zuma Restaurant

Zuma Dubai also offers private dining spaces, wine and sake cellars. Most of the time, the venue is packed, so dining reservations are considered a requirement unless you intend to dine at one of the counters.

Photo Credit: Zuma Restaurant