2026 Michelin Guide Dubai – Our Thoughts
The 2026 Michelin Guide Dubai awards have just been announced, and naturally, we have thoughts.
First and foremost, we miss our Dubai friends and want to congratulate every chef, restaurant, and team recognized this year. Dubai continues to prove what an extraordinary dining city it has become, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced so much of it firsthand. We have now dined at every two- and three-Michelin-star restaurant in Dubai, as well as 10 of the 15 one-star restaurants.
There is a lot to unpack here so let’s start with where we agree.
Orfali Bros Awarded Two Stars
One of the biggest changes this year, and one we were especially happy to see, is Orfali Bros Bistro moving from one Michelin star to two. Our experience at Orfali Bros was memorable for many reasons, but one moment has always stayed with us. Chef Mohamad Orfali stopped by our table to say hello and check in. His warmth was unmistakable, and you could immediately feel the pride and care the Orfali brothers pour into what they have created.
As a family-owned business ourselves, there is something particularly meaningful about watching another family build something extraordinary together. At Orfali Bros, their individual personalities, heritage, creativity, and ambition come through not only in the food, but in the entire experience. Their ability to take traditional Syrian food and elevate it to this level while maintaining such deep respect for the dishes and where they come from is what makes Orfali Bros so special. They are not trying to reinvent their heritage; they are celebrating it, preserving its heart while presenting it in a way that feels completely their own.
Seeing them earn a second Michelin star is incredibly well deserved. Congratulations to the entire Orfali family and team. We will see you on our next trip.
FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio Retained Their Three Michelin Stars
No surprises here. Having experienced both, we completely understand why. These are two very different restaurants delivering exceptional experiences at the highest level, with the food, service, creativity, precision, and overall orchestration expected of three Michelin stars.
At FZN by Björn Frantzén, the experience begins with ringing a doorbell, a ritual that never loses its charm. From there, you are guided through a luxurious foyer, into an elevator, and down a long hallway that begins setting the tone for the evening before you have even taken your seat. Every inch of the restaurant feels thought out. FZN is known for its snacks, including the signature Råraka. The snacks capture so much of what the restaurant does well: flawless execution, playful interaction, and exceptional ingredients presented with purpose.
FZN Raraka FZN Snacks Tartlet FZN Ingredients
After those first bites comes one of our favorite parts of the experience: the drawer of ingredients that will shape the night ahead. We have seen interpretations and inspiration from this experience appear at other restaurants in our dining travels. But there is something to be said for experiencing the original at FZN. Some are explained and connected to the dishes in which they will eventually appear, while others are intentionally left unexplained. It gives you just enough information to make you curious about what is coming without revealing the entire story.
Trèsind Studio takes a completely different approach. The tasting menu is structured by region, guiding guests through India’s extraordinary geographic and culinary diversity. Before each new chapter of the meal, a beautifully detailed topographic map is presented tableside, grounding what you are about to experience in a particular place and its history. Ingredients are introduced within the context of each region what it is known for and how climate, culture, and tradition have shaped its food turning the meal into an education as much as a dining experience.
Tresind Studio Tresind Studio Tortellini, goat cheese raita, slow cooked lamb curry Tresind Studio Ghee Roast Crab
As a family that dines not only for exceptional food but also for education and cultural understanding, that aspect of Trèsind Studio resonated deeply with us. This is not simply a modern interpretation of Indian cuisine, but a decidedly luxurious and deeply thoughtful one. With very limited seating and what often feels like a near one-to-one guest-to-chef ratio, every detail feels personal and intentional. Three stars make complete sense for both FZN and Trèsind Studio.
Where Michelin Got It Wrong AGAIN!
Trèsind—not to be confused with three-star Trèsind Studio has once again been recommended by the Guide but has not received the star we believe this restaurant deserves. More casual but still exceptional, we lovingly refer to it as Trèsind OG, and it lands squarely on our ongoing list of how on earth does this restaurant not have a star? A Michelin recommendation is certainly an accomplishment, but in this case, we believe it falls short of recognizing the depth, consistency, creativity, and sheer brilliance of what Trèsind delivers.
Moonrise needs to move to two stars. This intimate 12-seat chef’s counter tells the story of Dubai’s incredibly diverse culinary landscape through the perspective of Chef Solemann Haddad, drawing inspiration from his Syrian roots and his upbringing in Dubai to create elevated comfort food that consistently surpasses expectations. The Roots and fattoush ceviche were absolutely mind-blowing, but the connection with Chef Solemann and the Moonrise team is just as memorable as the food. Sitting so close to the action makes you feel fully part of the experience, and we could have talked with the team for hours. Next time, we are booking the later seating with every intention of officially closing the restaurant down for the night, as we have a habit of doing. Moonrise is exactly that kind of place, and in our opinion, it deserves that second star.
Moonrise Grilled Cheese Moonrise Fattoush Cevice Moonrise Roots
By far, our biggest disappointment with the 2026 Dubai Michelin Guide remains ROW on 45. We firmly believe ROW on 45 is a three-Michelin-star experience. We said it after dining there, and this year’s announcement has not changed our minds. In fact, it may have made us even more convinced because there simply are no misses. Ever.
The experience unfolds across three breathtaking rooms, each with its own rhythm and mood, guiding guests through the evening with an effortless sense of progression. There is extraordinary precision throughout the experience, but never at the expense of warmth. That balance is incredibly difficult to achieve, and ROW on 45 does it exceptionally well.
The food is equally exceptional. On our last visit, one dish in particular, the Kutchan 540 potato, was extraordinary in both taste and story. Snow-aged for 540 days in a Hokkaido snow cellar, the potato develops an incredible sweetness and almost silk-like texture. At ROW on 45, it is transformed into an elevated interpretation of the comfort of a British jacket potato and, naturally, finished with caviar because, as we like to say, “Everything is better with caviar.”
It was one of those dishes that stays with you long after dinner ends. Learning that this particular potato is served exclusively at ROW on 45 outside of Japan made experiencing it even more special. We have been fortunate enough to dine at three-Michelin-star restaurants around the world, and we understand that stars are Michelin’s decision, based on Michelin’s criteria not ours. But from the perspective of diners who have experienced ROW on 45 alongside many restaurants carrying three stars, we remain firmly convinced that ROW on 45 belongs in that company. Hopefully 2027 is the year Michelin agrees.
ROW on 45 ROW on 45 Kutchan
Where We’ve Dined in the 2026 Michelin Guide Dubai
We have been fortunate to experience many of the restaurants recognized in this year’s Guide firsthand. Our full reviews of each restaurant are linked below.
Three Michelin Stars
Two Michelin Stars
One Michelin Star
Dubai remains one of our favorite cities in the world, and one of the most exciting things about it is how quickly its culinary landscape continues to evolve. Restaurants are growing, chefs are pushing boundaries, and the city continues to define its place among the world’s great dining destinations.
Congratulations to everyone recognized in the 2026 Michelin Guide Dubai.
Stay by Yannick Alleno Ossiano Ossiano Food Moonrise La Dame de Pic Maneo Sticky Rice Roti Hoseki Hoseki Dinner at Heston Al Muntaha Hakkasan
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