▲ Part of: Top 20 Restaurants on Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah and Business Bay are both about views - they just point in opposite directions. The Palm looks out to sea: beach terraces, overwater decks, resort restaurants where the horizon is all sky and water. Business Bay looks up and across: a canal lined with high-rises, rooftop steakhouses on the 25th and 68th floors, and a sleek, design-led crowd that works in the towers it dines in.
Both do glamour, but of very different kinds. Here is how to choose between the Palm and Business Bay, with the four tables I would book in each.
Choose Palm Jumeirah if…
- You want resort glamour and a beach-and-sunset backdrop
- It is a milestone occasion worth the splurge
- You would rather arrive by boat or buggy than walk a strip
- You are staying at one of the Palm's resorts
Choose Business Bay if…
- You want skyline-and-canal views from a high floor
- You like sleek, design-led rooms and a stylish crowd
- It is a celebration that calls for a dramatic setting
- You are staying or working near Downtown
The case for Palm Jumeirah
For sea views, beach terraces and a proper sense of resort escape, the Palm is unmatched. These four lead it.
#1 BOA Steakhouse
BOA pairs serious steaks with a glamorous Palm terrace.
Why it makes the list. Design-led steakhouse glamour with a terrace built for people-watching - serious cuts, theatrical cocktails and the most dressed-up room on the Palm's restaurant strip.
What to order: A dry-aged cut from the grill (market price) with truffle fries (around AED 60). Book a Table →
#2 Ossiano
Ossiano dines you beside a floor-to-ceiling aquarium at Atlantis.
Why it makes the list. Dinner against a floor-to-ceiling aquarium wall and one of the region's most ambitious seafood tasting menus - the Palm's definitive bucket-list table.
What to order: The signature seafood tasting menu (around AED 950); the wine pairing is the full experience. Book a Table →
#3 101 Dining Lounge
101 sits over the water - and you can arrive by boat.
Why it makes the list. An overwater Mediterranean-and-seafood spot with skyline views back across the water - and the rare Dubai luxury of arriving by boat. Sunset here is the move.
What to order: The seafood platter (around AED 350 to share) and the grilled catch of the day; book for golden hour. Book a Table →
#4 Ariana's Persian Kitchen
Ariana's brings refined Persian cooking to Atlantis The Royal.
Why it makes the list. Refined, generous Persian cooking in a jewel-box room at Atlantis The Royal - saffron, slow-cooked stews and rice done properly. A distinctive change from another steak night.
What to order: The zereshk polo with chicken (around AED 130) and the fesenjan; the saffron rice is the star. Book a Table →
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The case for Business Bay
For skyline drama, canal-side terraces and a stylish urban crowd, Business Bay holds its own. These four span it.
#1 Carna by Dario Cecchini
Carna serves whole-animal cookery on the 25th floor of SLS.
Why it makes the list. Tuscan butcher Dario Cecchini's high-rise steakhouse on the 25th floor of SLS - whole-animal cookery and a floor-to-ceiling skyline.
What to order: The beef tartare (around AED 110) and a sharing cut from the grill (market price); a window table at dusk. Book a Table →
#2 Roka
Roka grills canal-side in Business Bay.
Why it makes the list. The robata-grill sibling to Zuma, transplanted to a canal-side Business Bay terrace - smoky skewers, sushi and a brunch that draws a stylish weekend crowd.
What to order: The black cod (around AED 240) and a spread of robata skewers (from around AED 55); sit canal-side. Book a Table →
#3 The Maine
The Maine channels old-world New York and Paris.
Why it makes the list. A dim, handsome oyster bar and brasserie channelling old-world New York and Paris - oysters, a cult lobster roll and a late, loungey energy.
What to order: Half a dozen oysters (around AED 18 each) and the lobster roll (around AED 120). Book a Table →
#4 Prime68
Prime68 puts dry-aged steak 68 floors up.
Why it makes the list. A steakhouse on the 68th floor of one of the world's tallest hotels - dry-aged cuts and a wall of glass over the whole city. Views first, steak a close second.
What to order: A dry-aged ribeye (market price) and a window table after dark. Book a Table →
How We Picked These Tables
We chose four tables in each district that capture its appeal - the Palm's beachfront resort dining and Business Bay's high-rise, design-led scene - weighting food, setting and value for the night out. Every restaurant was visited and paid for by us in 2025-26.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palm Jumeirah or Business Bay better for dinner?
Palm Jumeirah is better for beachfront and overwater settings and resort-style occasions. Business Bay is better for skyline and canal views, sleek high-rise restaurants and a central, urban night out. Choose the Palm for the sea, Business Bay for the skyline.
How far apart are Palm Jumeirah and Business Bay?
Around 25-30 minutes by taxi. Business Bay is central and quick to reach near Downtown; the Palm adds the resort approach, so leave extra time door to door.
Which is more expensive?
Both have serious splurge options - Ossiano on the Palm, Carna and Prime68 in Business Bay - but Business Bay also offers mid-range spots like Kinoya and Roka's lunch, giving it slightly more range.
Where is better for a celebration with a view?
For a sea-and-sunset celebration, book 101 or Ossiano on the Palm. For a skyline celebration, Prime68 on the 68th floor or Carna at SLS in Business Bay deliver the drama.
Keep Exploring
More from this cluster: Palm vs DIFC · Palm vs Marina · Palm vs JLT · Palm vs JBR
Guides: Palm Jumeirah guide · Business Bay guide · Steakhouses in Dubai
Full reviews: Ossiano review · Ariana's Persian Kitchen review · Kinoya review · Asia Asia review