Amelia opened at Address Sky View in July 2022 — the Beirut hospitality group's first Middle East venue and one of Downtown Dubai's most committed scene-and-food rooms. The clue is in the brief: Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, mixology-led bar, AfroHouse and afro-melodic DJ programming, and a dining room that genuinely commits to a steampunk-Art-Deco aesthetic — including a full-sized airplane fuselage suspended above the bar.
We've eaten at Amelia eight times across 2024–26. Locating it correctly matters: Amelia is in Downtown Dubai (Address Sky View), not DIFC as is sometimes assumed. The closest peer in concept is COYA Dubai or Amazónico — though Amelia leans more nightlife than either.
It is, four years in, one of the most reliable late-dinner rooms in the city — and the kitchen has quietly gotten better.
The Setting: Airplane Above the Bar
The room is the most theatrical hook on the menu. Steampunk-meets-1930s Art Deco: brass fittings, dark wood, low lighting, mood-grade red leather banquettes, and the centrepiece — a full-size aircraft fuselage suspended over the central bar with mood lighting and projected ground-level cloud effects. It sounds gimmicky written down. In person, it works.
There are three distinct zones: the dining room (200 seats), the bar / lounge (banquettes for cocktail service), and the late-night dance floor that activates after 11pm. A separate VIP private room — capacity 14 — is bookable for groups.
Acoustics are tuned for early-evening conversation but ramp up after 10pm when the DJ programme starts. If you want a quiet date dinner, book the 7pm seating; if you want the full Amelia experience, book 9pm and stay through midnight.
The Food: Nikkei With Mediterranean Notes
The menu is structured around Japanese-Peruvian fusion — sashimi, ceviches, robata grills — with Mediterranean accents pulled in from the group's Beirut roots. Salmon taco cones, lubina ceviche, wagyu empanadas, and the chicken gyoza define the room's voice; the truffle pizza and the Himalayan salt-block Wagyu are the show-pieces. Bar program is led by the Beirut team and is one of Dubai's best.
The Five Must-Orders
Salmon Taco Cones (4)
Crisp wonton cones filled with diced salmon, avocado, ponzu, and microgreens — designed to be eaten in two bites. The signature opener and the dish you'll see on every table within five minutes of arrival. Order one set per two diners.
Lubina Ceviche, Yellow Aji
Sea bass ceviche with aji amarillo emulsion, sweet potato chips, choclo corn, and a single Peruvian rocoto pepper for heat. Cleanest dish on the menu — the right opener for a long meal.
Wagyu Tenderloin on Himalayan Salt Block
Australian wagyu tenderloin sliced thin, served on a heated Himalayan pink salt block at the table, with three sauces. The salt block continues to cook the beef as you eat. Theatre, but theatre with technique behind it.
Chicken Gyoza, Sesame Ponzu
Six gyoza, hand-pleated, pan-fried for the bottom-crust crisp. Sesame-ponzu dipping sauce. The room's most-ordered item and reliably excellent.
Truffle Pizza
The Mediterranean accent shows up here. Thin-crust pizza, smoked mozzarella, shaved black truffle, fresh truffle oil. Not what you expect on a Nikkei menu and somehow the dish that ties everything together.
The Menu — What to Order, What to Skip
| Dish | Category | Price (AED) | Order? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon Taco Cones (4) | Cold | 95 | SIGNATURE |
| Lubina Ceviche | Cold | 145 | MUST |
| Wagyu on Salt Block | Hot | 365 | SHOW-STOPPER |
| Chicken Gyoza (6) | Hot | 85 | ORDER |
| Truffle Pizza | Hot | 165 | ORDER |
| Yellowtail Tiradito | Cold | 165 | Excellent |
| Wagyu Empanadas (4) | Hot | 115 | Very good |
| Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice | Cold | 115 | Very good |
| Black Cod Saikyo Miso | Hot | 245 | Order |
| Cocktail Tasting (4) | Drinks | 295 | Bar program |
The Verdict
Amelia is what happens when a Beirut nightlife group commits to a real kitchen. The food is genuinely good — the Nikkei palette translates well to Dubai, the Mediterranean accents stop the menu becoming generic, and the bar program is one of the city's best. Service is polished if slightly performative. The room's commitment to its own theme — that aircraft, the AfroHouse programming, the steampunk styling — earns the room its identity rather than feeling forced.
Our Scorecard
Why It's Worth It
- Steampunk Art Deco room is genuinely committed
- Nikkei kitchen runs better than the spectacle suggests
- Cocktail bar one of the strongest in Downtown
- Live AfroHouse programming after 10pm
- Menu broad enough for non-fish eaters
- Truffle pizza is a quiet star
Things to Know
- Loud after 10pm — not a quiet dinner room
- Wagyu salt-block at AED 365 is the price ceiling
- Service polished but slightly scripted
- Books 10–14 days for weekend prime times
- Address Sky View parking can be tight
- Not great for sub-AED 300pp budgets
If you're going once for dinner, book 8pm and order the canonical taco-cones-ceviche-gyoza-pizza-wagyu set. If you're going for nightlife, book 10pm with cocktails and stay through to 1am. If you're celebrating, the private VIP room (book 14 days ahead) is the pick.
Compare against: Amazónico in DIFC is Amelia's nearest peer in scene-plus-food intensity — Amazónico edges it on robata cooking, Amelia edges it on bar programme and late-night energy. COYA Dubai is the more refined Peruvian-leaning version.
How to Book / Get There
Amelia uses SevenRooms; phone via Address Sky View concierge.
Friday/Saturday dinner: 10–14 days ahead. Late-seating (9–10pm) books out fastest.
Weekday dinner: 5–7 days.
VIP / private room: 14 days ahead, AED 450pp minimum spend.
Best tables: Banquette 4 (corner with Burj Khalifa view through the window). Avoid central floor tables — they're loudest after 10pm.
Parking: Address Sky View valet. Walk-up access via Sky Bridge from the metro.
Reserve a Table at Amelia →
Your Questions Answered
Is Amelia in Downtown Dubai or DIFC?
Downtown Dubai, at Address Sky View. Sometimes confused with DIFC venues — Amelia is on the Downtown side of Sheikh Zayed Road.
How much does Amelia cost?
Budget AED 400–700 per person. Two people sharing the must-orders with cocktails usually lands around AED 1,200–1,700. The Wagyu salt block (AED 365) is the menu's high-end.
What should I order at Amelia?
Salmon taco cones, lubina ceviche, chicken gyoza, truffle pizza, and the Wagyu on salt block to share for groups of three or more. The cocktail tasting (AED 295 for 4) is the bar program's best showcase.
Does Amelia turn into a nightclub?
Not exactly — it's an upscale lounge after 11pm with live DJ programming. The dining room remains seated. The dance floor adjacent to the bar gets going around 11:30pm.
What's the dress code at Amelia?
Smart upscale — closer to nightclub than restaurant. No shorts, beachwear, sportswear. Men in collared shirts, women in dresses or smart trousers. Especially strict after 10pm.
Is Amelia good for vegetarians?
Manageable — the truffle pizza, mushroom robata, edamame variations, and tomato salad cover most diets. Not the strongest vegetarian menu in Dubai but serviceable.
More Reviews & Guides
Internal links: Downtown Dubai area guide · Japanese cuisine · Best rooftop Dubai · Best date night Dubai · Late-night dining Dubai