Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, and Dubai’s restaurants are offering several ways to bring family and friends together over a meal. Some celebrations extend beyond the day itself, with seasonal menus running from late October into November.
The choice depends on the occasion: a tasting menu with the courses planned for you, individually priced specials to share, or a restaurant whose setting makes the gathering feel special. These eight venues cover those different approaches, with announced Diwali menus listed first and regular dining options below.
Dubai restaurants with announced Diwali menus
1. Asha’s
Asha’s offers a flexible approach to festive dining, with a Diwali menu ordered dish by dish. Start with okra chaat at Dhs79 or rajma galotti at Dhs85, then move on to dishes such as butter chicken kofta curry at Dhs129. The selection includes vegetarian dishes, seafood, meat and rice preparations, giving groups room to build a meal around different preferences.
There are additional festivities on selected evenings. A complimentary dessert counter runs from 6 to 8 November, while complimentary henna is available on 7 and 8 November, from 7 pm to 11 pm.
Where: Pyramids, WAFI City, Dubai
When: Diwali menu available from 23 October to 10 November
Time: Daily, 12.30 pm to midnight
Price: Diwali dishes are individually priced from Dhs79 to Dhs139.
2. Jamavar
Jamavar’s collaboration with Good Earth gives the restaurant’s Diwali programme a strong design element, with flowers and decorated tables drawing inspiration from the traditional Chahar Bagh garden.
The food follows a tasting-menu format, with separate vegetarian and non-vegetarian selections. Vegetarian choices include paneer or mushroom galouti, while the non-vegetarian menu offers options such as prawns and chicken, followed by butter chicken or lamb. Both menus finish with shahi kala jamun.
The restaurant specifies last-order times for the festive menu, which are earlier than its general closing time.
Where: Address Residences, Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai
When: 29 October to 11 November
Time: Lunch and dinner; Diwali menu last orders at 2.30 pm and 10 pm, respectively
Price: Dhs395 per person for the vegetarian tasting menu; Dhs425 per person for the non-vegetarian tasting menu.
3. Gymkhana Dubai
Gymkhana is celebrating its first Diwali in Dubai with a tasting menu available for one day. The meal brings together established dishes from the restaurant’s repertoire, making it an option for diners who want to sample several favourites through a set selection.
Aloo chaat and chicken butter masala feature on the menu, alongside accompaniments including saffron pilau, dal maharani and khameeri roti. The DIFC dining room, with its wood panelling, leather seating and warm lighting, provides the setting for lunch or an evening gathering.
Where: Gymkhana Dubai, DIFC
When: Sunday, 8 November
Time: Lunch, noon to 2.30 pm; dinner, 6 pm to 1 am
Price: Dhs495 per person for the Diwali tasting menu.
4. Varq at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa
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Varq offers a longer celebration window, useful if your Diwali gatherings are spread across several weekends. Its festive set menu comes with a complimentary welcome drink, while the seasonal programme also features themed mocktails and entertainment.
The restaurant serves contemporary Indian food in a dining room decorated with gold and silver accents, with a show kitchen providing a view of the chefs at work. Availability at both lunch and dinner gives guests a choice between a daytime gathering and an evening meal on Palm Jumeirah.
Where: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, East Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah
When: 30 October to 15 November
Time: Lunch, noon to 3 pm; dinner, 6 pm to midnight
Price: Dhs275 for the festive set menu.
More restaurants to consider for a Diwali meal
The following venues offer regular dining options for a gathering during the festive season. Their dedicated 2026 Diwali menus and package prices are TBC; the timings below refer to regular restaurant service.
5. Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia
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Atrangi combines regional Indian cooking with a waterside setting at Jumeirah Al Qasr. Its menu draws on recipes from communities and households across India, bringing familiar dishes and less widely known preparations into a contemporary restaurant setting.
The lagoon is part of the appeal, and guests can arrive or depart by abra. That makes Atrangi a consideration for anyone planning a meal where the surroundings matter as much as the food, particularly when hosting visiting friends or relatives.
Where: Jumeirah Al Qasr, Dubai
Time: Daily lunch, noon to 3 pm; dinner, 7.30 pm to 11.30 pm.
6. Carnival by Trèsind
Carnival offers a contemporary take on Indian dining, with dishes that combine familiar ingredients and unexpected presentations. Its current à la carte menu includes jackfruit 65, tandoori lamb chops and a chaat built around ghewar and avocado kachalu.
There are recognisable choices too, including butter chicken, alongside desserts such as mango sorbet with coconut rasmalai. The range makes it worth considering for a group that enjoys trying several dishes together. Diners can choose between à la carte ordering and the restaurant’s regular experience menus.
Where: The Buildings by Daman, 312 Al Sa’ada Street, DIFC
Time: Noon to 11.45 pm.
7. Jodhpur Bar & Kitchen
Jodhpur takes a regional approach, with a menu centred on Rajasthani cooking. Dishes include dal baati churma, gulab jamun ki sabzi and kair sangri kofta, giving diners a reason to explore beyond their usual restaurant order.
The interiors reference the restaurant’s namesake city, adding a sense of place to the meal. For groups arranging a gathering around different work schedules, the later dinner service provides some flexibility, particularly at weekends.
Where: Hyatt Place Dubai Jumeirah
Time: Monday to Friday, noon to 3 pm and 6 pm to 1 am; weekends, noon to 4 pm and 6 pm to 2 am.
8. Palm Kitchen at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa
Palm Kitchen has a broader international menu, including Indian and Pan-Asian dishes. That variety may suit a family gathering where guests have different food preferences.
The restaurant has spacious interiors and a terrace overlooking the resort’s swimming pool and the sea. Its published regular lunch and dinner services are à la carte, so guests planning a festive visit should check the available dining format when reserving.
Where: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, East Crescent Road, Palm Jumeirah
Time: À la carte lunch, 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm; à la carte dinner, 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm.