Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe
Emirati Restaurant in Dubai
Looking for real Emirati food, not a buffet version of it? Al Fanar cooks authentic Emirati cuisine from traditional UAE recipes, and has done since 2011.
Emirati cuisine
Emirati dishes laid out to share: rice, stews, salad and luqaimat
- On Dubai Creek, in a park, two malls and Al Ain
- Child-friendly tables and sharing dishes
- Walk-ins welcome, bookings online
At a glance
Al Fanar at a glance
Al Fanar is Arabic for “the lantern”. The restaurant in four lines:
- Cooking since
- 2011
- Branches
- 5
- Where to find them
- Dubai · Abu Dhabi · Al Ain
- Cuisine
- Emirati
Source: alfanarrestaurant.com, October 2026.
Branches
Five branches: choose the one near you
Three in Dubai, one in Abu Dhabi and one in Al Ain, each with its own setting. Pick the one that suits your plans, then call it directly or book online.
-
Al Seef, by Dubai Creek
A heritage waterfront setting on the creek, with an Emirati menu that leans towards seafood. Al Fanar Al Seef is selected in the MICHELIN Guide.
Call +971 4 396 6669 -
Dubai Festival City Mall
On the mall's ground floor with a view of the fountain, in a setting that recreates the charm of old Dubai.
Call +971 4 232 9966 -
Al Barsha Pond Park
Inside the park itself: a park-side branch with seafood on the menu and room for families.
Call +971 4 353 3733 -
Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi
Inside Yas Mall, next to the Ferrari World entrance, with interiors inspired by 1960s Dubai.
Call +971 2 877 2272 -
Al Ain
In the Al Jimi area near Souq Al Zafarana, with interiors inspired by the 1960s.
Call +971 3 766 5200
Booking
How to book a table
A short plan for a first visit.
-
Pick a branch
Choose by distance, or by the setting your guests would like to see.
-
Book or walk in
Book on the restaurant's booking page, or just walk in. Booking is recommended for a weekend or holiday table.
-
Order to share
Emirati dishes go in the middle of the table, so order a few and pass them round.
-
Leave room for dessert
Finish with luqaimat drizzled with date syrup and a cup of karak tea.
Photos
Inside Al Fanar
The restaurant's own photographs: a dining room under lanterns, a long table of Emirati dishes, a wooden cart and shelves of goods at Al Barsha, and a hallway of arches and wooden doors.
-
A dining room with lanterns and a wooden-beam ceiling -
A long table of Emirati dishes, seen from above -
A wooden cart and shelves of goods at the Al Barsha branch -
A hallway with arches and carved wooden doors
- A dining room with lanterns and a wooden-beam ceiling
- A long table of Emirati dishes, seen from above
- A wooden cart and shelves of goods at the Al Barsha branch
- A hallway with arches and carved wooden doors
Why diners come
“Where can we eat real Emirati food?”
Visitors ask it on a first trip to Dubai. Residents ask it when family flies in or guests need taking out. These are the questions behind it, and how Al Fanar answers them.
-
“Not the buffet version”
The recipes are traditional UAE ones, served by a restaurant that started out as a family-run eatery.
-
“The whole family has to fit”
Children are welcome at all five branches, and Emirati dishes come to the table to be shared.
-
“We have guests in town”
Show them old Dubai: the heritage waterfront at Al Seef, the old-Dubai setting at Festival City, or the 1960s-inspired rooms at Yas Mall and Al Ain.
-
“What should we order?”
Start with the restaurant's own picks: machboos, jesheed and the seafood trays.
-
“We are a big group”
The Al Ain branch has set menus and private areas for family gatherings and corporate groups.
-
“We'd rather eat at home tonight”
Takeaway is available, and delivery comes through the delivery apps.
FAQ
Questions before you visit
Can I just walk in?
Yes. Walk-ins are welcome; the restaurant recommends booking for weekends and holidays, which you can do on alfanarrestaurant.com/reservations.
Where do I find a branch's opening hours?
On that branch page at alfanarrestaurant.com. Check the branch page for the one you plan to visit before you set out.
Is there parking?
Al Seef has parking and valet, Dubai Festival City Mall has the mall's own parking, and parking is free at Al Barsha Pond Park and at Al Ain.
Can I see the menu before I go?
Yes. The menu is on alfanarrestaurant.com: choose your branch there to see it.
Reservations
Book your table
Walk-ins are welcome. For a weekend or holiday table, book ahead on the restaurant's own booking page; each branch's number is in the branch list above.
Menus and branch pages are on alfanarrestaurant.com.