Private Taste of Dubai

There is no better way to discover a new place besides tasting the local flavors that make the area unique and special. On this private oriental culinary experience, you will indulge in some of the more popular Middle Eastern flavors on this journey by foot around Old Dubai.

There is not just one style of food in Dubai, but rather you can get almost any kind of food you desire. The main restaurants in the region take inspiration from Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. With influences from all over the world contributing to Dubai's rich food scene, there isn't a single cuisine on the planet that can't be found in the city. However, the undoubted king of the Dubai culinary landscape is Middle Eastern cuisine. With countries from all over the region, including its own traditional Emirati, the flavors blend together creating a culinary hybrid that has become synonymous with the city.

Begin your discovery in the Old Quarter of Al Bastakiya, where you will visit the region's only Coffee Museum for an interesting insight into regional and global coffee history. A cup of Gahwa, Arabic coffee kickstarts your tour. This traditional end to any Middle Eastern meal is coffee accompanied with dates, usually served without milk and in tiny cups. It can be flavored with a range of spices from saffron to cardamom.

Stop next at a traditional cafe, and sit and relax in the calm space that contrasts with the busy street setting. Try a Lebanese breakfast favorite, a cheese or zaatar manakesh. Originally a simple, doughy flatbread, the manakesh has now evolved into a pizza-like creation, often topped with cheese and spiced minced beef or lamb.

Continue strolling past Al Fahidi Fort into the bustling Souk Al Kabeer where a brisk trade in garments, spices and more is afoot. Stop briefly for delightfully refreshing lemon-mint juice before discovering a creek-side hidden gem.

Dig into a shared platter of Arabic Mezzeh while you watch Abra boats tirelessly cross Dubai Creek. Later take this traditional wooden craft across the creek to Deira. A pleasant stroll brings you to a popular creek-side restaurant for a taste of Shawarma and Falafel, the most ubiquitous of Arab street foods. Shawarma can be prepared with tender strips of chicken or meat flavored with a heady mix of spices, cooked on a rotating spit and then crammed into flatbreads full of crunchy lettuce, hot sauce and yogurt, it's easy to see why this is one of Dubai's most popular dishes. Falafel is another classic that can be found on the menu of pretty much any Middle Eastern restaurant, falafel is a fried ball made from ground chickpeas or fava beans and spices and is the perfect street food.

Your final stop is at a renowned Emirati restaurant where the subtle flavors of the Orient will seduce you and where the delicate fragrances will stay with you long after the meal. No Middle Eastern journey is truly complete without exploring the Emirati cuisine.