Home to both the world’s highest hotel and the tallest skyscraper, Dubai offers no shortage of lofty addresses

From the highest skyscraper in the world to the tallest fully dedicated hotel, Dubai has earned its reputation for erecting seriously ambitious architecture. Located in the United Arab Emirates, the city is home to 88 high-rises that stand above 180 meters, and new cloud-piercing towers seem to join the glittering skyline every week.

And inside these mile-high marvels? A plethora of restaurants and bars that combine carefully crafted menus with unparalleled views. To make the most this lofty metropolis, we’ve explored a few of the highest restaurants and bars. From the iconic Burj Khalifa to open-air rooftops around town, these sophisticated dining rooms live up to their soaring reputations.

Click the arrows in the gallery below to read more about each restaurant


Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai

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Photo: Courtesy of Shangri-La Hotel Dubai

During the day, the 42nd-floor sundeck atop the Shangri-La Hotel Dubai is only accessible to the hotel’s club guests. But come nightfall, travelers are welcome to book a private dinner and enjoy the uninterrupted views of the imposing Burj Khalifa. The exclusive experience includes a bespoke five-course chef’s menu, complete with instrumental music and bubbly.

Shangri-La Hotel Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai, United Arab Emirates


At.mosphere

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Photo: Courtesy of At.mosphere

Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, so it’s only fitting that it’s home to the world’s highest restaurant. On the 122nd floor, At.mosphere awaits. It takes just 45 seconds to reach the 442-meter-high restaurant, thanks to a hyper-fast elevator that shoots skyward at 10 meters per second.

Serving 186kg of caviar a year, the restaurant’s contemporary European cuisine echoes the lofty surrounds. On the menu, find favourites such as the Obsiblue prawn tartare with bergamot and risotto with porcini mushrooms and chestnut.

At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates


The Vault

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Photo: Courtesy of The Vault

On the 73rd floor of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai—the world’s tallest fully dedicated hotel—you’ll find one of the city’s highest restaurants and bars: The Vault. This two-story establishment is decked out in black-and-gold decor, leather furniture, and intimate seating with dramatic city and desert views. When it comes to dinner, the menu offers a variety of European cuisine with a few signatures—try the cured citrus salmon with AmStur caviar and vodka sour cream, or keep it light with the Fine de Claire oysters.

The Vault, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Business Bay, Dubai, United Arab Emirates


Al Muntaha

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Photo courtesy of Al Muntaha

Meaning “The Ultimate” in Arabic, Al Muntaha at the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel is among Dubai’s highest restaurants at 200 meters high. The experience starts with an ear-popping elevator ride, where glass shafts zip into the sky at 6 meters per second. Once arrived on the 27th floor, panoramic windows offer 180-degree views of the Arabian Gulf. Meanwhile, the modern French menu elevates the experience with highlights such as Kobe beef tenderloin and freshly cut wagyu beef tartare.

Al Muntaha, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Jumeirah Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates


Bar44

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Photo courtesy of Bar 44

A stalwart address inside Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in the Dubai Marina, Bar44 emits an old-school New York feel with wood paneling and plush leather sofas. As for the views? Catch glimpses of the Marina and the Palm Jumeirah from the 44th floor-perch. 

An approachable international menu—think cheese platters alongside 20-piece sushi sets—caters to most cravings, while rare 40- to 100-year-old Louis XIII cognacs from House of Rémy Martin will please discerning drinkers. If cocktails are more your thing, don’t miss the Moscow mule—it’s one of the best in the city.

Bar44, Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Al Sofouh Rd, Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates


The Observatory

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Photo courtesy of The Observatory

Few restaurants and bars are universally loved as The Observatory, on the 52nd floor of the Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites. The popularity might have something to do with the relatively affordable drinks, rare in a city with excruciating alcohol taxes. A daily happy hour tends to draw a crowd from 5 to 8pm—just in time for sunset. A go-to for both after-works drinks and sit-down dinners, an impressive menu includes Burgundy snails, caviar, and hand-cut wagyu steak tartare.

The Observatory, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St, Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates


Mercury Lounge

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Photo courtesy of Mercury Lounge

A luxurious rooftop terrace with a Mediterranean vibe and 180-degree panoramas, Mercury Lounge stretches across the top floor of the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. The outdoor outpost recently underwent a makeover, incorporating discrete corners for couples and a glamourous lounge that channels the French Riviera. A new menu followed, focusing on Mediterranean favorites, such as an antipasto spread, burrata with heirloom tomato, and octopus carpaccio. For the ultimate private dining experience, ask about the secluded VIP “majilis” seating areas.

Mercury Lounge, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, 2 Jumeirah Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates