La Mer is one of Dubai's most photogenic dining destinations — a sprawling beachfront development in Jumeirah where the Indian Ocean laps at your table and 50+ restaurants compete for your attention. Whether you're after a bucket of crabs at a casual seafood shack, a wood-fired pizza with sand between your toes, or a full beach-club blowout at the newly opened J1 Beach, this stretch of Jumeirah coastline delivers.
In 2024, the southern section was dramatically reimagined as J1 Beach — Dubai's most aspirational new beachfront complex, housing three world-class beach clubs and ten licensed restaurants. It immediately became the address for Dubai's see-and-be-seen dining crowd. But La Mer North still holds its own, with a more casual, family-friendly mix of international street food, gelato, and café culture.
"La Mer is the only place in Dubai where you can watch the sun sink into the Gulf while eating a crab bucket with bare feet. J1 Beach has added a whole new layer of glamour to an already incredible stretch of coastline."
J1 Beach: Dubai's Most Glamorous New Dining Destination
J1 Beach opened in late 2024 and immediately reset expectations for beachfront dining in Dubai. The three anchor clubs — Gigi Rigolatto, Sirene Beach by GAIA, and Bâoli — each bring an international pedigree to the Dubai coastline. Gigi brings Riviera Italian glamour (think the Monaco outpost, translated to the Gulf). Sirene is the Greek Mediterranean sister of the acclaimed GAIA restaurant. Bâoli fuses East Asian technique with French and Mediterranean flavours in a theatrical setting.
Alongside the three clubs, J1 Beach's licensed restaurants span Japanese to Peruvian. Book well in advance — weekends fill up weeks ahead, particularly October through April.
Editor's Pick
Gigi Rigolatto
Channelling the spirit of Saint-Tropez and Monaco, Gigi Rigolatto is the most glamorous restaurant to hit Dubai's coastline in years. The Bellini Bar alone is worth the visit — a parade of peachy variations on the Venetian classic. The menu of classic Italian dishes (burrata flown from Puglia, hand-rolled pasta, grilled branzino in sea salt) is executed at a level that would satisfy the most discerning guest on the Amalfi Coast.
Gigi Burrata (AED 95), Tagliolini al Granchio (AED 185), Branzino in Crosta di Sale (AED 280), Bellini Classico (AED 75)
Aprons & Hammers: The Must-Visit Seafood Institution
Before J1 Beach transformed the southern end, Aprons & Hammers was already the reason to make the journey to La Mer. This seafood restaurant pioneered Dubai's now-beloved crab-smashing culture — you get a bib, a mallet, and a bucket of shellfish, and you go to work. It's messy, communal, and absolutely delicious. The full seafood platter (AED 420) is one of the city's great shareable dishes.
Seafood Icon
Aprons & Hammers
The restaurant that made La Mer famous. Come hungry, come in a group, and come ready to get messy. The crab bucket concept — choose your crab variety, your sauce (Cajun butter is the move), and smash away — remains one of the most fun dining experiences in Dubai. The jumbo prawn skewers and the king crab legs in garlic butter are both exceptional. Service is relaxed and cheerful.
Blue Crab Bucket with Cajun Butter (AED 145), King Crab Legs in Garlic Butter (AED 320), Jumbo Prawn Skewers (AED 95), Big Seafood Platter (AED 420)
Masti: The Fun Indian Spot Everyone's Talking About
Masti at La Mer does for Indian food what The Cheesecake Factory did for American — takes beloved classics and gives them an irreverent, inventive spin. The butter chicken pizza (AED 115) is the dish that divided Dubai's food critics and united its diners. Paneer lasagne, fava bean chaat, and pani puri with vodka shots round out a menu that is silly, fun, and surprisingly tasty.
Best Indian
Masti
Masti (Hindi for "mischief") lives up to its name with a menu that gleefully breaks every rule of traditional Indian cooking. The butter chicken pizza has become one of La Mer's signature dishes — polarising, memorable, and oddly craveable. Come with a group so you can try as many dishes as possible, and don't miss the Indian-spiced cocktails, which are genuinely clever.
Butter Chicken Pizza (AED 115), Paneer Lasagne (AED 95), Fava Bean Chaat (AED 65), Pani Puri Shots (AED 75)
El Greco: Honest Greek Food With a Sea View
When you want something that won't destroy the credit card, El Greco delivers reliable Greek comfort food — grilled halloumi, crispy calamari, lamb gyros, and a cold Mythos beer — at prices that make sense at the beach. The setting, with open-air terrace tables facing the water, is everything you want from a seaside Mediterranean lunch.
La Mer At a Glance: Quick Picks by Budget
Practical Guide to Dining at La Mer
Getting there: La Mer is in Jumeirah, about 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai by car. Paid parking is available on-site, though it fills up fast on weekends. Take a taxi or Careem if you're planning to drink at J1 Beach.
Best time to visit: October through April is peak season — the weather is perfect and the beach clubs are buzzing. Summer visits (May–September) are quieter and some outdoor terraces close, but indoor air-conditioned restaurants remain open and often offer deals. Sunsets here between October and March are genuinely spectacular.
Reservations: J1 Beach clubs require reservations weeks in advance during peak season. La Mer North restaurants are walk-in friendly midweek. On weekends, arrive before 7pm or after 9:30pm to avoid waits at popular spots.
Dress code: La Mer is resort casual — cover up swimwear for restaurants. J1 Beach clubs have a stricter smart-casual policy; flip-flops won't get you past the door at Gigi Rigolatto.
Related Guides
La Mer sits in Jumeirah — explore more of what this neighbourhood has to offer in our Jumeirah area guide. For more beachfront dining, see our JBR & The Beach guide. If you're planning a special occasion, our date night guide features several La Mer options.
