Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 2 November 2026: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a key cultural and lifestyle hub in Dubai, has reaffirmed its standing as a leading dining destination, with two restaurants each awarded One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai.

KIGO, located at Four Seasons Hotel DIFC, and Birch, situated at The Ritz-Carlton, Limestone House, DIFC, are among the latest restaurants to receive the prestigious distinction. KIGO's Chef Akinori Tanigawa was also recognised with the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Service Award for his distinctive approach to hospitality.

Beyond these newly awarded restaurants, this release features 16 MICHELIN Selected dining destinations in DIFC, offering cuisines ranging from Japanese and Italian to French, Indian and Latin American. Spanning Gate Village, Gate Avenue, ICD Brookfield Place and the district's hotels, these restaurants reflect the breadth of DIFC's culinary offering.

DIFC’s newly awarded One MICHELIN Star restaurants

KIGO

One MICHELIN Star (New for 2026) | 2026 MICHELIN Guide Service Award – Akinori Tanigawa

Named after the seasonal words used in traditional Japanese haiku poetry, KIGO features an 8-course seasonal Kaiseki tasting menu alongside an exclusive 12-seat sushi omakase counter carved from rare 40,000-year-old Japanese Aji stone. It is celebrated for its pristine nigiri, rare seasonal produce, and exemplary table hospitality.

Location: Gate Village 9, Four Seasons Hotel DIFC
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday | 6pm – 12am (last seating at 10pm)
Contact: +971 4 506 0388 | kigo.dubaidifc@fourseasons.com

Birch

One MICHELIN Star (New for 2026)

Led by Chef Arslan Berdiev, Birch focuses on precise culinary techniques, high-grade produce, and an intimate fine dining setting infused with Japanese and Central Asian accents. Its tasting and à la carte menus highlight standout creations such as bluefin tuna with Uzbek tomato, pumpkin ravioli, and marbled beef with beetroot and ponzu sauce, served in a modern dining room overlooking an open kitchen.

Location: Ground Level, The Ritz-Carlton, Limestone House, DIFC
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday | 5pm – 12am (closed Mondays)
Contact: +971 4 572 8482 | bookingbirchdxb@gmail.com

DIFC’s MICHELIN Selected restaurants

Amazónico

Inspired by the Amazonian rainforest, Amazónico delivers Peruvian-style sushi, Amazonian wood-fired grilled meats, and a vibrant rooftop lounge featuring resident DJs.

Location: DIFC Pavilion, Gate Village
Opening hours: Daily | 12pm– 3am
Contact: +971 4 571 3999 | reservations@amazonico.ae

Avli by tashas

Capturing the essence of modern Greece, Avli by tashas serves slow-roasted lamb shoulder, saganaki, sea bass ceviche, and authentic mezze spreads set against a warm sandstone aesthetic.

Location: Gate Village Building 9, DIFC
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday | 12pm – 1am; Friday | 12pm – 2am; Saturday | 12pm – 5pm and 7pm – 2am; Sunday | 12pm – 3.45pm and 7pm – 1am
Contact: +971 4 359 0008 | info@avlibytashas.com

Barrafina Dubai

Barrafina brings London’s acclaimed Spanish dining concept to DIFC, serving authentic tapas and seasonal specials in a lively counter-dining setting with an open kitchen.

Location: Gate Village 01, DIFC

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday | 12pm – 12am

Contact: +971 58 569 1896 | reservations@barrafina.ae 

Carnival by Trèsind

Delivering playful, progressive tasting menus and inventive reinterpretations of Indian street food, Carnival by Trèsind features tableside molecular gastronomy.

Location: Podium Level, Burj Daman, DIFC
Opening hours: Daily | 12pm – 11.45pm
Contact: +971 52 242 4262 | carnival@passionfandb.com

Chic Nonna

Combining handcrafted fresh pasta, truffle tagliolini, and sea bass carpaccio, Chic Nonna features an elegant dining space centred around an open kitchen.

Location: Gate Avenue 4
Opening hours: Daily | 12pm – 11.30pm
Contact: +971 4 605 2000 | reservations@chicnonna.com

CLAP

Known for its salmon teriyaki, miso-glazed black cod, and artistic sushi rolls, CLAP combines an open kitchen counter with an expansive alfresco terrace overlooking DIFC.

Location: Gate Village, Building 11, DIFC
Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday | 12pm – 2am; Thursday to Friday | 12pm – 3am; Saturday | 12.30pm – 3am; Sunday | 1pm – 2am
Contact: +971 4 871 8500 | reservations@clapdubai.com

Hutong

Famous for its Red Lantern crispy soft-shell crab, roasted Peking duck with caviar, and dim sum platters, Hutong boasts a dramatic interior centred around a traditional Chinese wish tree.

Location: Gate District, Building 6, DIFC
Opening hours: Sunday to Friday | 12pm – 3.30pm (Lunch); Saturday | 12.30pm – 3.30 pm (Brunch); Daily | 6pm – 12am (Dinner)
Contact: +971 4 220 0868 | hutongreservations@aqua-dubai.com

Josette

Offering classic Escargots de Bourgogne, soufflés, and foie gras ballotine, Josette pairs authentic French gastronomy with glamorous pink Parisian interiors and live cabaret performances.

Location: ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC
Opening hours: Daily | 8am – 11.30am (Breakfast) and 7pm – 11pm (Dinner); Monday to Friday | 12pm – 3pm (Lunch); Saturday to Sunday | 12pm – 4pm (Brunch)
Contact: +971 4 275 2522 | reservations@josette.com

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Honouring the legacy of Joël Robuchon, the restaurant highlights Robuchon’s iconic smooth pomme purée, crispy langoustine papillote, and poached sea bass, served around an intimate black-and-red counter kitchen.

Location: Gate Village, Building 11, DIFC
Opening hours: Daily | 12pm – 3.30pm and 6.30pm – 12am
Contact: +971 4 297 7729 | info@joelrobuchondubai.com

La Petite Maison (LPM Restaurant & Bar)

Celebrated for warm prawns in olive oil, burrata with fresh tomatoes, and salt-baked sea bass, LPM delivers classic French Riviera dishes served in a bright, art-filled dining atmosphere.

Location: Gate Village, Building 8, DIFC
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday | 12pm – 3.30pm and 6pm – 11.30pm; Friday | 12 pm – 4pm and 6pm – 11.30pm; Saturday to Sunday | 12.30pm – 4pm and 6pm – 11.30 pm
Contact: +971 4 439 0505 | info@lpmdubai.ae

MINA Brasserie

Created in partnership with award-winning Chef Michael Mina, MINA Brasserie offers signature tuna tartare, prime grilled cuts, and decadent desserts, paired with a green, sunlit outdoor terrace tailored for executive business lunches and relaxed evening dining.

Location: Gate Village, Building 9, Four Seasons Hotel DIFC
Opening hours: Daily | 7am – 11am (Breakfast) and 11am – 1am (Dining; last food order at 11.30pm)
Contact: +971 4 270 7960 | Minabrasserie.dubaidifc@fourseasons.com

Nazaara

Nazaara offers a contemporary take on Indian cuisine, blending traditional flavours with modern techniques. Led by Chef Pradeep Khullar, the dining experience is complemented by stunning views of the Burj Khalifa.

Location: 16th Floor, Emirates Financial Towers, DIFC, Dubai
Opening hours: Daily | 12pm – 11.30pm
Contact: +971 54 224 3470 | info@actrestaurant.com

Sexy Fish

Renowned for premium sushi, king crab and Wagyu beef, Sexy Fish delivers a lively dining atmosphere set within extravagant marine-inspired interiors featuring artwork by Damien Hirst and Frank Gehry.

Location: Level 11, Innovation One, DIFC
Opening hours:

Lunch: Monday to Wednesday | 12pm – 4pm; Thursday to Friday | 12pm – 5pm
Dinner: Monday to Friday | 6pm – 2am; Saturday | 6.30pm – 2am; Sunday | 6pm – 2am
Last lunch booking: Monday to Wednesday | 4pm; Thursday to Friday | 4.45pm
Last dinner booking: Sunday to Thursday | 11.30pm; Friday to Saturday | 12am
Contact: +971 4 381 9000 | reservations.dubai@sexyfish.com

The Artisan

Known for handcrafted Agnolotti del Plin, slow-fermented pizzas, and classic Tiramisu, The Artisan offers refined Italian hospitality in an intimate and elegant setting.

Location: Ground Floor, Waldorf Astoria DIFC
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday | 12pm – 11pm; Friday to Saturday | 12pm – 11.30pm
Contact: +971 4 338 8133 | reservations@theartisan.ae

The Guild

Featuring live rock lobster from custom tanks, wood-fired prime steaks, and an artisanal pastry room, The Guild offers a multi-concept culinary destination surrounded by lush indoor botanical gardens.

Location: ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC
Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday | 8am – 1am; Thursday to Saturday | 8am – 3am
Contact: 800 3289 | hello@theguilddubai.com

Zuma

World-renowned for its miso-marinated black cod, sliced yellowtail with green chilli, and robata-grilled skewers, Zuma offers contemporary Japanese dining across two levels in Gate Village.

Location: Gate Village, Building 6, DIFC
Opening hours: Monday to Friday | 12pm – 3.30pm (Lunch); Saturday | 12.30pm – 4 pm; Sunday | 12pm – 4pm; Monday to Wednesday and Sunday | 6.30pm – 12am (Dinner); Thursday to Saturday | 6.30pm – 1am (Dinner)
Contact: +971 4 425 5660 | reservations@zumarestaurant.ae

DIFC continues to solidify its reputation as a dynamic lifestyle and cultural destination where gastronomy, fine art, and urban sophistication seamlessly converge. From refined Japanese omakase and seasonal European fusion to authentic Italian osterias and vibrant Latin American concepts, DIFC provides an unrivalled destination for residents, international visitors, food enthusiasts, and epicurean diners. The latest MICHELIN Guide recognitions reaffirm DIFC’s commitment to setting global benchmarks in hospitality, positioning the district as one of the world’s most vibrant urban lifestyle destinations.
 
DIFC is easily accessible by public transport, with Financial Centre Metro Station within walking distance. Visitor parking facilities are available across DIFC.