Exciting news, food lovers! The beloved Taste of Dubai festival is making its triumphant return to the city. Scheduled to take place from Friday, February 14, to Sunday, February 16, 2025, this festival is a culinary celebration that you won’t want to miss. Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, it is anticipated that around 25,000 attendees will gather to indulge in a weekend filled with celebrity-led workshops, complimentary food samples, and captivating live entertainment. Will you be among them? Here’s everything you need to know about Taste of Dubai 2025.
Taste of Dubai: The Restaurants
This year, a selection of 16 exceptional restaurants has been carefully curated to showcase the diverse and exquisite cuisines that Dubai has to offer. Each restaurant will present a specially designed menu featuring three to five ‘taster’ sized dishes, allowing you to sample a variety of flavors throughout the event. Why not team up with your dining partner to share and try everything? We call it culinary teamwork!
Additionally, every restaurant will offer at least one vegetarian option alongside a kid-friendly dish, ensuring that there is something to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. The first 12 restaurants announced for this year include:
- Leña
- Osteria Funkcoolio
- Demon Duck
- Goldfish Sushi & Yakitori
- Rhodes W1
- Moti Mahal
- Maya by Richard Sandoval
- Harummanis
- Indya by Vineet
- City Social
- Miss Lily’s
Taste of Dubai: The Chefs
Get ready to meet the culinary stars behind some of the most memorable dishes in Dubai while picking up valuable tips and tricks to try at home. The festival organizers have begun to reveal the line-up of renowned celebrity chefs who will grace the event. You can catch them at the Taste Cook School, Chefs Hub, and Fire Pit, where you’ll have the opportunity to cook alongside them in exclusive workshops. Virgin Radio’s own Priti Malik will be hosting the events, ensuring a delightful experience for all participants. Best of all, these workshops are included with your event ticket, though early sign-up is essential as spaces fill quickly. The first chefs confirmed for this year include:
- Marco Pierre White
- Annabel Karmel
- Dani Garcia
- José Pizarro
- Eric Lanlard and Cameron Lamb
- Jenny Morris
- Hattem Mattar
- Fred Casagrande
- Akmal Anuar
- Tarek Ibrahim
Taste of Dubai: Experiences Not to Miss
Dibba Bay Oyster Shuck Off
One of the highlights of the festival, the Dibba Bay Oyster Shuck Off, is returning with a bang! Prepare for an array of exciting shucking competitions, masterclasses, chef demonstrations, and delicious oyster pairings. You’ll learn all about oysters from the Guinness World Record holder and fastest shucker, Patrick McMurray. Watch as seasoned chefs compete, and even try your hand at shucking in thrilling competitions for a chance to win exciting prizes!
Special Shopping
Before you leave—though it may be difficult—make sure to explore the market area. Here, you will find a variety of artisan vendors and homegrown brands showcasing their unique treats and wares, perfect for sparking creativity in your own kitchen. If you have little chefs at home, they can participate in special ‘Little Chefs’ cooking workshops led by children’s author Annabel Karmel, ensuring that they have fun and learn at the same time. Throughout the festival, numerous activities will be available, and all restaurants will serve a family-friendly dish that kids can enjoy. Plus, children under 12 can enter for free!
Taste of Dubai: Tickets
To make the most of your experience, it’s advisable to purchase your tickets in advance online to take advantage of early bird discounts. The prices for advanced tickets are as follows: Dhs 55 for general admission, which includes single-day entry and access to cooking workshops. For a more indulgent experience, the Taster Package is available for Dhs 160, which includes single-day entry plus two food and two drink vouchers along with access to workshops. If you’re looking for a VIP experience, the VIP Package is priced at Dhs 290, featuring fast-track entry, three food and four drink vouchers, access to the Taste VIP Lounge, and exclusive workshops. New for 2025, there are also ‘Friday Team’ packages starting at Dhs 110 per person. Don’t miss the dedicated Sunday VIP Brunch Package for Dhs 350, which includes five food vouchers and five drink vouchers, plus access to all the exciting activities!
From Dhs 55. Noon onwards, Fri Feb 14-Sun Feb 16. Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City. For more details, visit tasteofdubaifestival.com. Tickets available at platinumlist.net.
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