If you are planning a Dubai 3 days escape and want the Best Food and Restaurants in Visit Route, the most efficient strategy is to anchor your trip around three key zones—Downtown Dubai, Dubai Creek & Old Dubai, and Dubai Marina & JBR—then plan meals at top, well-reviewed restaurants within each area so you minimise travel time while maximising food experiences, especially on a weekend Dubai or short trip Dubai schedule.
This focused guide is written from the perspective of a Singapore-based traveller and property researcher, designed to help visitors who love food, are planning a Dubai first visit, and are also curious about Asian real estate—especially Singapore—using Homejourney as a safe, trusted reference for long-term decisions.
How this food-focused Dubai visit route fits into Homejourney’s pillar content
This article is a tactical cluster guide that supports Homejourney’s broader pillar on international travel and lifestyle for global property seekers.
Where the main pillar explains how travel patterns, lifestyle preferences, and neighbourhood vibes influence property decisions across cities, this cluster zooms in on a very practical question: how to structure the Best Food and Restaurants in Visit Route for a 3–5 day Dubai itinerary, and how that experience compares with living, eating, and investing in a food-obsessed city like Singapore.
Throughout, you will find subtle touchpoints back to Singapore—using insights from real neighbourhood life, MRT access, and hawker culture that Homejourney regularly researches when analysing Singapore projects via Projects Directory .
Destination overview: Why food lovers plan a Dubai 3 days route
Dubai has become the Middle East’s equivalent of Singapore: a regional hub for aviation, finance, and luxury tourism with a serious dining scene, from budget-friendly shawarma to Michelin-recognised fine dining. For many Singaporeans and expats based here, a weekend Dubai trip is now a realistic option thanks to frequent direct flights and competitive fares.
Best time to visit (for food and walking routes)
For a food-focused visit route, the most comfortable months are roughly November to March, when daytime temperatures are milder and it’s realistic to walk between restaurants and attractions without relying on taxis for every short hop.
If you’re used to Singapore’s humidity, you’ll still find Dubai hot in the afternoon, but evenings in winter can feel significantly cooler—ideal for alfresco dining, similar to enjoying satay at Lau Pa Sat’s Satay Street after dark in Singapore.
Getting there from Singapore & currency basics
From Singapore, direct flights to Dubai usually take around 7 hours, with multiple full-service and Gulf carriers serving the route. Many Singapore-based investors combine a short stop in Dubai with longer Europe or UK itineraries—similar to how travellers route through Changi when exploring Southeast Asia.
Dubai uses the UAE Dirham (AED). Many Singapore travellers benchmark costs mentally against SGD, just like when comparing property prices from Dubai to Singapore projects on Homejourney via Projects . Homejourney’s multi-currency support makes it easier to visualise property budgets in your home currency if you are planning diversification across cities.
Top food zones in a Dubai itinerary: How to plan your visit route
To make the most of a short trip Dubai, cluster your eating and sightseeing into three main zones that work well as a logical visit route.
Zone 1: Downtown Dubai – views, malls, and refined dining
If it is your first visit, you will likely start around Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. Think of this as Dubai’s equivalent of Marina Bay and Orchard Road combined: big-ticket attractions plus high-end dining and shopping.
- What to expect: Upscale restaurants in malls and hotel towers, international cuisines, and some celebrity-chef concepts. Perfect if you like the integrated-resort feel of Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
- When to go: Late afternoon to night—time your dinner with the fountain shows, similar to how locals in Singapore plan dinners around Marina Bay light shows.
Zone 2: Dubai Creek & Old Dubai – street food, markets, and heritage
Old Dubai around the Creek, Deira, and Bur Dubai is where you experience the soul of the city: spice souks, old trading alleys, and family-run eateries. For Singaporeans, this area feels closest to a blend of Little India, Kampong Glam, and the old shophouse belts along Jalan Besar.
- What to expect: Affordable Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern dishes, fresh breads, grills, and late-night snacks. It is the best area if you miss the density and energy of hawker centres back home.
- When to go: Late afternoon through supper; evenings are livelier and more comfortable.
Zone 3: Dubai Marina & JBR – waterfront dinners and casual cafés
Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) offer a more relaxed, coastal vibe—somewhat like a mix of Sentosa’s lifestyle waterfronts and East Coast Park, but with a vertical skyline.
- What to expect: Family-friendly restaurants, seaside promenades, beach-club dining, and cafés popular with expats. This is where many long-stay visitors choose accommodation because of lifestyle convenience, similar to expats clustering around East Coast in Singapore.
- When to go: Sunset to late night; combine dinner with a stroll along the water.
Best Food and Restaurants in Visit Route: What to eat by area
Specific restaurant names, menus, and opening hours in Dubai change relatively quickly, just like in Singapore’s constantly evolving café scene around Tiong Bahru and Joo Chiat. Always double-check the latest hours and reviews before you go, but use the styles and neighbourhoods below as a reliable framework.
Downtown Dubai – polished dining for a Dubai first visit
For a first-timer, aim for one sit-down dinner in Downtown to enjoy the skyline properly. When I plan food routes for Singapore friends, I usually mix:
- Modern Middle Eastern or Levantine cuisine for grilled meats, fresh mezze, and wood-fired breads, similar in spirit to having a refined Peranakan or modern Singaporean meal instead of pure street food.
- High-view or fountain-view restaurants so you can maximise both food and scenery within one booking—ideal when you only have 3 nights.
Insider tip from a Singapore perspective: book early dinner slots as you would for popular places in Singapore such as Michelin-listed restaurants or hawker stalls with fixed closing times. In both cities, late arrivals risk long waits or sold-out signatures.
Dubai Creek & Old Dubai – budget-friendly, flavour-heavy stops
If you enjoy Singapore’s hawker culture—think Maxwell Food Centre’s chicken rice or Geylang’s late-night eateries—this is where Dubai shines for you.
- Street snacks: Seek out shawarma, falafel, fresh juices, and flatbreads as you walk the alleys. Expect prices lower than many Singapore mall food courts, especially if you avoid tourist-trap frontage.
- Family-run South Asian eateries: Dubai’s labour population means deeply authentic Indian and Pakistani meals, similar to what you might find in Singapore’s Little India but often at even sharper prices.
- Creekside cafés: Simple spots overlooking the water where you can watch abras (traditional boats) while having tea or coffee.
Insider tip: as with Singapore’s older hawker centres, some of the best food here looks the least polished from the outside. Follow local crowds and check how quickly ingredients turn over—high traffic often equals fresher food and safer dining.
Dubai Marina & JBR – lifestyle dining and expat favourites
This area feels closest to where Singapore expats would naturally gravitate: waterfront brunch spots, international menus, and family-friendly chains.
- Beachfront grills and seafood: Great if you’re comparing it with Singapore chilli crab or East Coast seafood sessions. Prices are generally similar or slightly higher than mid-range Singapore restaurants.
- Cafés and dessert bars: Ideal for late-night coffee or sweets after walking the promenade, much like strolling along Clarke Quay or the Singapore River.
Insider tip: if you’re sensitive to crowds, go for earlier dinners or weekday visits—weekend nights can feel as packed as Orchard Road on a public holiday.
Practical travel tips: Safety, transport, and budgeting for food
From a Singapore real estate and lifestyle perspective, Dubai scores similarly on safety for tourists, but you still need to observe basic precautions.
