A journey intothe heart ofEmirati cuisine

Age-old family recipes, served in rooms that recreate the UAE of the 1960s. Five branches across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, since 2011.

Reserve a table →See the menu
MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Selection 2026Al Seef · Dubai
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  • 15+YearsFamily-run since 2011
  • 5BranchesDubai · Abu Dhabi · Al Ain
  • 2HousesRestaurant & Cafe · Seafood Market
  • MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Selection 2026MICHELIN GuideSelected 2026 · Al Seef
  • Machboos مجبوس
  • Seafood trays
  • Jesheed جشيد
  • Luqaimat لقيمات
  • Karak tea شاي كرك
  • Emirati breakfast

Our story

Named for the lantern

Al Fanar means "the lantern": a light that guides you home, and a welcome that is always lit.

Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe opened in 2011 with one idea: to bring back the flavours, and the feeling, of the UAE in the 1960s. What began as a family-run eatery is now a destination for locals and visitors looking for an authentic taste of Emirati heritage.

Our chefs keep to the old recipes and cook with fresh ingredients, so every dish carries the story of the place it comes from, and the spirit of the table it is shared around.

The dining courtyard at Yas Mall, with a great tree, carved plaster arches, lanterns and wooden tables
The tree courtyardYas Mall
A woven lamp above a wooden shelf of old copper kettles and watering cans
Lamps and copper potsAl Barsha
Floor seating with embroidered cushions around a low table of shared Emirati dishes
Floor seating, the old wayEmbroidered cushions

The 1960s, recreated

Step back into the UAE of the 1960s

Before the towers, life gathered around the Creek, the souq and the family majlis. Every Al Fanar recreates those years, from the wind towers and carved wooden doors to the old photographs on our walls and the recipes families cooked at home.

  • Interiors inspired by the old houses of Dubai and Abu Dhabi
  • Photographs of the old UAE on our walls
  • Recipes passed down through Emirati families
Dubai Creek today, seen from the Al Fanar Al Seef terraceDhows moored on Dubai Creek in 1948Dubai Creek · 1948Al Seef · Today

Drag to compare: dhows on Dubai Creek in 1948, and the same Creek from our Al Seef terrace today.

The UAE that inspires us

Drag to explore →

Shoppers and traders in the covered souq, Dubai, 1948
Dubai Souq · 1948سوق دبي ١٩٤٨
Wind-tower houses in Al Bastakiya, Dubai, 1948
Al Bastakiya, Dubai · 1948البستكية - دبي ١٩٤٨
A shop with a sign reading Pearls Available Here, Dubai, 1962
Dubai · 1962دبي ١٩٦٢
Dhows unloading by donkey on the shore of Dubai Creek, 1948
Dubai Creek · 1948خور دبي ١٩٤٨
Camels resting at Shindagha, with a watchtower behind, Dubai, 1948
Shindagha, Dubai · 1948الشندغة - دبي ١٩٤٨
Camels wading across Al Maqta by the watchtower, on the way to Abu Dhabi, 1950
Crossing Al Maqta to Abu Dhabi · 1950عبور المقطع إلى أبو ظبي ١٩٥٠
A dhow on the beach at the Abu Dhabi corniche, 1948
Corniche, Abu Dhabi · 1948كورنيش - أبو ظبي ١٩٤٨
A camp beneath a ghaf tree near Jebel Hafeet, 1948
Camp at Jebel Hafeet · 1948معسكر في جبل حفيت ١٩٤٨
A man walking across the sand in front of a wind-tower house, 1948
Crossing the sands · 1948عبور الرمال ١٩٤٨
Three men preparing a meal and coffee on the sand
A meal in the desertفي الصحراء
Seafood tray on the Al Seef terrace, with Dubai Creek and the city skyline behind
MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Selection 2026

Recognised by the MICHELIN Guide

Selected in the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2026

Our Al Seef branch, on the banks of Dubai Creek, is part of the MICHELIN Guide's 2026 restaurant selection. The inspectors noted its rustic interior, the warmth of our team, and a terrace with

"views of boats and old Dubai across the water"

The MICHELIN Guide
Cuisine
Emirati
Price
$
Good for
Outdoor dining
  • Featured in: The Best Breakfast Spots in Dubai
  • Dubai's Best Middle Eastern Restaurants
Book Al Seef →Read the MICHELIN Guide listing ↗

From our kitchen

The dishes guests come back for

Traditional Emirati cooking, made for sharing. Menus vary slightly by branch.

A server holding a seafood tray of grilled fish, prawns and fried fish over spiced rice

Seafood trays

Fish, prawns and calamari over spiced rice, served on a tray for the whole table. The signature of our Seafood Market branches.

Machboos: spiced rice with slow-cooked meat

Machboos مجبوس

The national dish: rice cooked with loomi, spices and your choice of meat, chicken or fish.

A bowl of fragrant Emirati stew being served

Home-style stews

Slow-cooked and fragrant, the way they are made in Emirati kitchens.

Full menu by branch →Catering by Table 5Hot Pot menu (PDF)
A wooden tray of Emirati breakfast dishes, bread and karak, on an outdoor table

Made for sharing, the way every Emirati table is.

Two houses, one family

Restaurant & Cafe, or Seafood Market

Both cook from the same Emirati heritage. The Seafood Market branches put the catch of the coast at the centre of the table.

The Yas Mall dining hall beneath a great tree

Classic Emirati dishes, breakfast and karak in a setting inspired by the old homes of the UAE. Ideal for families, visitors and long lunches.

  • Dubai Festival City
  • Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi
  • Al Ain
Fresh fish on ice at the Al Barsha seafood counter

Emirati seafood cooked with traditional spices and served on generous sharing trays, by the Creek at Al Seef or among the greenery of Al Barsha Pond Park.

  • Al Seef, Dubai Creek · MICHELIN Guide
  • Al Barsha Pond Park

Inside our branches

Five branches, each with its own story

Choose a branch to step inside.

Restaurant & Cafe

Dubai Festival City

Inside Dubai Festival City Mall, near the waterfront promenade

A lantern-lit courtyard beneath a great tree, carved wooden balconies, an Emirati cafe and an old-style dukkan corner shop.

9:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily+971 4 232 9966

Book →DirectionsDetails

Branches

Find your nearest Al Fanar

Five branches across three emirates. Opening hours may change on public holidays and during Ramadan.

  • Dubai Festival City

    Inside Dubai Festival City Mall, near the waterfront promenade
    Restaurant & Cafe
    9:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily+971 4 232 9966 · Mall parking
    BookDirectionsDetails

  • Al Barsha Pond Park

    Park-side dining in Al Barsha Pond Park, Dubai
    Seafood Market
    Mon–Fri 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM · Sat–Sun 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM+971 4 353 3733 · Free parking
    BookDirectionsDetails

  • Al Seef

    Heritage district on Dubai CreekSelected, MICHELIN Guide 2026
    Seafood Market
    1:00 PM – 10:30 PM daily+971 4 396 6669 · Parking and valet
    BookDirectionsDetails

  • Yas Mall

    Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, near Ferrari World
    Restaurant & Cafe
    9:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily+971 2 877 2272 · Mall parking
    BookDirectionsDetails

  • Al Ain

    Al Jimi, near Souq Al Zafarana
    Restaurant & Cafe
    9:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily+971 3 766 5200 · Free parking
    BookDirectionsDetails
A Table 5 buffet of chafing dishes with grilled kebabs, chicken and rice, set up outdoors
Mutton biryani in a chafing dish on a Table 5 buffet

Catering by Table 5 · our sister company

Bring the feast to your occasion

Our catering is run by Table 5, our sister company: curated buffets for weddings, corporate events, majlis hospitality and private celebrations across Dubai and the UAE.

  • Emirati
  • Levantine
  • Persian
  • Indian
  • International
  • Select menuOffice lunches, casual gatherings and everyday eventsAED 150 / person
  • Signature menuFormal occasions and premium gatheringsAED 175 / person
  • Exclusive menuWeddings, VIP hospitality and grand celebrationsAED 215 / person
Request a quote →Explore the menus ↗WhatsApp Table 5

Reserve a table

Save your place at the table

Walk-ins are always welcome. For weekends, holidays and larger groups, we recommend booking ahead.

Coming as a large group? Call the branch about set menus and private areas. For catering at your own venue, see Table 5.

FAQ

Good to know before you visit

What type of food do you serve?

Authentic Emirati cuisine, from traditional UAE recipes. Our Seafood Market branches at Al Seef and Al Barsha Pond Park focus on Emirati seafood.

Where are your branches?

Dubai Festival City, Al Barsha Pond Park and Al Seef in Dubai; Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi; and Al Jimi in Al Ain.

Is Al Fanar in the MICHELIN Guide?

Yes. Al Fanar Al Seef is part of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2026 restaurant selection.

Do I need to book?

Walk-ins are welcome, but we recommend reserving on weekends and public holidays.

Are you family-friendly?

Yes. We have comfortable seating, sharing dishes and plenty of room for children.

Do you offer delivery or takeaway?

Yes. Order Al Fanar on Talabat or Deliveroo. Availability varies by area.

Do you offer catering?

Yes. Catering is run by our sister company Table 5, with buffets for weddings, corporate events and private gatherings across the UAE.

Is there parking?

Parking is available at all our mall branches. Al Barsha Pond Park and Al Ain have free parking, and Al Seef has parking and valet.

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