SushiSamba is a global name — London, Las Vegas, Doha — built on Nikkei cuisine, the delicious cross-pollination that happened when Japanese immigrants settled in Peru and Brazil. The Dubai outpost sits 51 floors up in the Palm Tower, inside The St. Regis Dubai, and it plays the room for everything it's worth: a glowing sculptural tree at the centre, a wraparound terrace, and floor-to-ceiling glass looking straight down the Palm fronds.
I visited on a Thursday evening in May 2026, booked a table by the glass for sunset, and worked through maki, robata skewers and a couple of the Brazilian-leaning dishes. Here's what's worth ordering, what it costs, and whether the view is carrying the kitchen or the other way round.
What is SushiSamba Dubai like?
The format is grazing, not courses. You order across three kitchens — sushi and sashimi, the robata charcoal grill, and the South American section of ceviche, tiradito and moqueca — and share it all. It's designed for a table of four who want variety and a night out, rather than a quiet two-top.
The room is genuinely spectacular. At sunset the whole Palm lights up beneath you and the dining room glows around the signature tree. It's loud and lively by 9pm, tipping into lounge-and-DJ territory later, so if you want to actually taste the food, book the earlier seating.
What should you order at SushiSamba Dubai?
The maki are the reliable high point. The El Topo — crispy tuna, jalapeño and a fresh-cream drizzle — is the roll SushiSamba is known for worldwide, and Dubai's version holds up. The wagyu gyoza are excellent, and from the robata the miso-glazed black cod and the anticucho-style skewers are the picks. On the South American side, the seabass ceviche and a tiradito keep things bright between the richer plates.
Must Order
- El Topo maki around AED 130
Crispy tuna, jalapeño, fresh cream — the signature roll, and the one to start with. - Wagyu gyoza around AED 120
Rich, juicy dumplings with a crisp base — the table favourite. - Robata skewers (anticucho) around AED 60–95
Charcoal-grilled over the robata; order two or three across chicken, wagyu and seafood. - Seabass ceviche around AED 110
The Peruvian side, sharp and citrusy — the palate-reset between heavier dishes.
How much does SushiSamba Dubai cost?
This is not a cheap night. Individual maki land around AED 90–140, robata skewers AED 60–95 each, and the larger South American plates such as moqueca push AED 300-plus. Realistically, a shared dinner with a handful of plates and one cocktail each comes to around AED 350–500 per person; add wagyu and a second round of drinks and you're past AED 600. The weekend brunch is a set price and the better value if you want the full spread.
Booking tip: when you reserve, specifically ask for a table ‘by the window’ on the lower dining tier and aim for the 6:30–7pm seating — you catch the sunset, the kitchen is at its sharpest, and you beat the after-9pm volume when SushiSamba shifts into lounge mode.
Strengths
- One of Dubai's best dining views
- Maki and robata are genuinely good
- Strong, inventive cocktail list
- Great for groups and occasions
- Weekend brunch is good value
Things to know
- Bill escalates quickly
- Loud after 9pm — not a quiet date
- Portions are share-sized, not large
- Window tables need booking ahead
Is SushiSamba Dubai worth it?
Yes, with expectations set. You're paying a premium for the address and the panorama, but unlike some view-first venues the kitchen actually delivers — the maki, gyoza and robata would hold their own at street level. Go for a birthday, an anniversary or to impress a visitor, book the sunset seating, and treat the cocktails as part of the experience rather than an afterthought.
If you want to compare, our best Japanese restaurants in Dubai guide sets it against the city's other big Japanese names, while the best omakase counters are the pick if it's pure sushi you're after. For more rooftop-height dining, browse the Palm Jumeirah dining guide.
Final Verdict
SushiSamba Dubai delivers the rare combination of a showstopping view and a kitchen that earns its place. The Nikkei menu is best shared, the maki and robata are the strengths, and the setting makes it an occasion. Expensive, and loud late — but for a special dinner on the Palm, it's a confident recommendation.
/ 10
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SushiSamba Dubai cost?
Expect around AED 350–500 per person for dinner with a few sharing plates and one cocktail. A full spread with wagyu, several maki and drinks pushes past AED 600 per person. The weekend brunch is a set price.
Where is SushiSamba in Dubai?
SushiSamba is on Level 51 of The St. Regis Dubai in the Palm Tower on Palm Jumeirah, with floor-to-ceiling views over the Palm fronds and the Dubai skyline.
What is Nikkei food?
Nikkei is the cuisine born from Japanese immigration to Peru and Brazil — Japanese technique meeting South American ingredients. At SushiSamba that means sushi and robata alongside ceviche, tiradito, anticucho skewers and Brazilian moqueca.
Do you need to book SushiSamba Dubai?
Yes, especially for a window table at sunset. Book one to two weeks ahead for weekend dinner, and request a table by the glass when you reserve. Weekday early seatings are easier.
