Business Bay went from construction dust to Dubai’s most reliable dinner strip in five years. Two anchor tables — Zuma and LPM — plus where to go before and after.
Why Business Bay Matters in 2026
Five years ago Business Bay was a construction site with a skyline. In 2026 it is the neighbourhood where Dubai’s finance and consulting workforce eats after work, and the canal-side restaurants along Marasi Drive have quietly become the most reliable dinner strip in the city. Two of the UAE’s strongest hotel-adjacent restaurants — Zuma and LPM — anchor the area, and the rest of the cluster exists to feed the towers around them.
This guide is short and deliberate. We cover the two anchor tables in detail, name the next-tier spots that round out a week, and tell you what to skip. For the broader Dubai dining picture, see our 11 best restaurants in Dubai list — Business Bay is the subset you walk to from the office.
How We Chose
Restaurants had to be inside Business Bay proper (between Sheikh Zayed Road and the canal), open in mid-2026, and able to deliver a consistent dinner. We weighted reliability above novelty: a place that is good 9 nights out of 10 beats a place that is unforgettable once. We have eaten at every entry in the past six months. If your venue is missing, the route in is to list it on AE Profile and we will review on the next refresh.
The Two Anchor Tables
1. Zuma Dubai — the city’s most reliable “yes”
Zuma Dubai is the restaurant that taught Dubai what modern Japanese looks like, and 15 years on it is still the table you book when you cannot risk a bad night. The gindara saikyo miso is the dish that built the brand; the wagyu fried rice is the dish regulars actually order. Three courses for two with one drink each: AED 720-880. Book 4-5 days ahead for weekday dinner, 8-10 for weekend. The counter is the best seat if you want to watch the robata grill; the back room is quieter for business.
2. LPM Restaurant & Bar Dubai — the Riviera table that earned its rent
LPM Restaurant & Bar Dubai brought the Niçoise menu of its London and Hong Kong siblings to Business Bay and then quietly improved on it. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes is the move in summer; the rack of lamb for two is the move in winter. Three courses for two with wine: AED 620-780. Book 3-4 days ahead. The terrace is one of the few in Business Bay where you can actually hear yourself talk.
What to Order at Each
| Restaurant | The dish regulars order | The dish to skip | Wine by the glass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zuma | Gindara saikyo miso | Miso soup (over-salted) | AED 58-95 |
| LPM | Burrata, heirloom tomato, basil | Tarte tropézienne (better at the source) | AED 48-85 |
The Next Tier — Where to Go Before or After
The two anchors above are the main event, but a useful Business Bay evening has a before and an after. The before is the cocktail bar at the Address Dubai Marina canal walk, 10 minutes away by taxi — see Address Dubai Marina for the venue. The after, if you want a nightcap that is not a hotel lobby, is the lobby of the hotel housing Zuma itself, which keeps a small bar open until 1am.
If you want a third dinner option that is not a hotel restaurant, head out of Business Bay to neighbouring Downtown Dubai for GAIA Dubai or Siraj Restaurant. Both are 8-10 minutes by car and both are covered in our main Dubai restaurants guide.
How to Choose
Pick Zuma for the deal dinner where you cannot afford a miss. Pick LPM for the long date night with someone who appreciates wine. Skip both on a Thursday at 9pm unless you booked ahead — the wait can be 90 minutes at the bar.
For owners: Business Bay is the most under-reviewed cluster in Dubai on Google right now, which is a real opportunity. We wrote a whole playbook on local SEO in the UAE and another on getting more customer reviews — both apply directly to restaurants in this strip. List your venue on AE Profile and submit your business for inclusion in the next refresh.
What to Order at Each — In Detail
At Zuma, the menu is large enough to get lost in. The four dishes regulars actually order: the gindara saikyo miso (black cod, AED 165), the wagyu fried rice (AED 95), the spicy beef tenderloin with sesame (AED 145), and the yaki soba with prawns (AED 120). Skip the sushi — Zuma is not a sushi restaurant, and the sushi counter exists mainly for guests who insist. The robata grill section is where the kitchen shows its range; order two skewers (chicken tsukune, AED 58; wagyu, AED 95) as a starter and you will understand why this room has been full for 15 years.
At LPM, the menu is smaller and more focused. The four dishes regulars order: the burrata with heirloom tomatoes (AED 125), the rack of lamb for two (AED 380), the sea bass in salt crust (AED 320), and the warm chocolate fondant (AED 65). The wine list is the deepest French list in Business Bay — ask for the Côte de Provence rosé by the glass (AED 68) if it is summer, the Côtes du Rhône red (AED 75) if it is winter. The terrace is the best Business Bay table for a date; the back room is the best for a business dinner.
Mistakes to Avoid
First, booking Zuma for a Thursday at 9pm without a reservation and expecting to wait at the bar — the bar is full by 8:30pm and the wait can be 90 minutes. Second, ordering sushi at Zuma (see above). Third, expecting the LPM terrace to be comfortable in July and August — the canal side gets direct sun until 5pm and the misting fans do not keep up; book the terrace for October-April, book inside for May-September. Fourth, parking in the wrong tower — both restaurants sit in multi-tower complexes and the wrong entrance adds 10 minutes of walking; tell the taxi “Zuma at Opus” or “LPM at DIFC Gate Village” specifically.
A fifth mistake, specific to Business Bay: assuming the canal walk connects everything. It does, in theory, but the pedestrian crossings at the bridges are uneven and the shade is patchy. For dinner, take a taxi between any two points; the fare is AED 15-25 and it saves 15 minutes of sweat.
Neighbourhood Tips
Business Bay is a 10-minute taxi from Downtown Dubai and a 15-minute taxi from Dubai Marina. If you are staying Downtown and want a Business Bay dinner, the taxi fare is AED 18-25 each way and the route is direct along Sheikh Zayed Road. If you are staying at the Address Dubai Marina, the taxi to Business Bay is AED 25-35 and takes 12-18 minutes depending on traffic.
The best pre-dinner drink in Business Bay is the lobby bar at the tower housing Zuma — it opens at 6pm and the bartenders know how to make a proper Negroni. The best post-dinner walk is the canal promenade behind LPM, which is lit until midnight and has benches facing the water. For the wider neighbourhood picture, see our Dubai area guides.
One Last Tip
If you only have one night in Business Bay and you cannot decide between Zuma and LPM, the tie-breaker is the time of year. From October to April, book LPM and ask for the terrace — the canal-side sunset is one of the best free shows in Dubai and the kitchen is at its best in cooler weather. From May to September, book Zuma and ask for the counter facing the robata grill — the room is air-conditioned to a temperature that makes the grill steam theatrically, and the energy of the kitchen carries the night when the terrace would be unbearable. Either way, book 4-5 days ahead, arrive 15 minutes early for a pre-dinner drink at the bar, and order one dish you have never tried before alongside the canon — both kitchens reward a little curiosity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Business Bay walkable from the metro? Business Bay metro station is at the southern edge of the district; most canal-side restaurants are a 15-20 minute walk. Taxis are abundant and a trip from Downtown costs AED 18-25.
What is the dress code? Smart casual at both Zuma and LPM. Men: long trousers, closed shoes. No shorts at dinner.
Is there valet parking? Yes, both anchor restaurants offer valet at AED 50 with validation. Self-parking in the same towers is usually free for 2-3 hours with restaurant stamp.
Which is better for a group of 8? LPM. The round tables in the back room handle 8-10 comfortably; Zuma’s layout is awkward for groups above 6.
Can I bring children? Both welcome children at lunch. At dinner, Zuma does not allow under-12s after 7pm; LPM has no formal restriction but the room is adult-oriented.