Zuma
Contemporary Japanese restaurant at Gate Village, DIFC. No.34 Middle East's 50 Best Restaurants 2026, robata grill, and DJ bar upstairs.
- Location: Podium Level, Gate Village Building 3, Dubai International Financial Centre, DIFC, Dubai
- Hours: Sunday to Wednesday 12:30 to 15:30 h and 19:00 to 00:00 h. Thursday and Friday 12:30 to 15:30 h and 19:00 to 01:00 h. Saturday brunch 12:30 to 15:30 h, dinner 19:00 to 01:00 h.
- Dress Code: Smart Casual.
- Parking: Valet parking available.
- Pet Friendly: Information not confirmed.
- Children Welcome: Yes.
Zuma opened in Dubai's DIFC in 2008, as one of the first international outposts of the London flagship founded by Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney in 2002. The Dubai venue ranks No. 34 in Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants 2026, No. 19 in 2025, and reached No. 38 on the World's 50 Best Bars. The restaurant spans two floors connected by a sweeping staircase, with the main dining room on the lower level housing three simultaneous kitchens: a main preparation section, a sushi counter, and a robata grill. The interior was designed by Tokyo-based Noriyoshi Muramatsu around the six elements of fire, earth, water, air, wood, and iron, with hand-carved granite counters, industrial steel walls, bamboo sculptures, and earthy brass tones throughout. A terrace provides outdoor seating for post-dinner drinks. Zuma has been confirmed as the official restaurant partner of the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse from the 30th edition in March 2026 onwards.
The restaurant operates with a dual energy: composed and focused during lunch and the earlier dinner hours, shifting into a livelier, more social register as the night progresses. The upper floor bar runs live DJ sets and is described consistently across reviews as a high-energy extension of the dining experience. The Saturday brunch is one of the most sought-after weekend formats in Dubai, featuring Bollinger champagne service and described by regulars as the city's best brunch offering. The crowd is international, well-travelled, and draws from both the DIFC professional circuit and Dubai's broader social scene. Reservations are essential for the Saturday brunch, with availability typically exhausted weeks in advance.
The menu covers the full Zuma izakaya format across sharing plates, sushi, sashimi, and robata. Signature dishes include black cod marinated in sweet miso and baked in a hoba leaf, spicy beef tenderloin in sesame sauce, rock shrimp tempura, king crab salad, lamb cutlets with spicy miso glaze from the robata, and an assorted sushi, sashimi, and nigiri platter. A business lunch format runs Monday to Saturday. The sake program is one of the most developed in Dubai, with the bar holding independent recognition in the World's 50 Best Bars for its sake and cocktail expertise. The wine list covers international labels with strong Burgundy and Champagne representation.
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