10 best wine bars in Dubai

Whether you’re a grape connoisseur or just someone who loves a good glass of red with dinner, the grape list at a restaurant can totally transform your dining experience.

The Time Out Dubai Nightlife Awards 2024 have put the spotlight on five Dubai restaurants that offer a pretty fantastic selection of grape.

When choosing the top 10, Time Out Dubai editors looked at a variety of factors including availability by glass and bottle, price and grape varieties.

These are the restaurants that impressed with their selection. So, if you’re on the hunt for a place to sip fine grape (and enjoy great food), these top 10 will not disappoint.

10 of the best bars in Dubai for grape

WINNER

Josette

Well-known for its marshmallow-pink walls, cabaret-style shows and Parisian-inspired menu, Josette also has a pretty huge bar area, from which you can see most of the action. It makes for the perfect setting for date night or drinks with friends and if you enjoy a glass or bottle of grape when you’re out, there is plenty of choice.

What’s even better is the value – glasses start from Dhs50, which considering this venue is in the heart of DIFC, is a pleasant surprise.

And if you like something bubbly, you absolutely have to try the Josette own label non-vintage brut, a steal at Dhs78 per glass (100ml). One of the best bars for grape in Dubai.

ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC, josette.com (04 275 2522).

HIGHLY COMMENDED

City Social

Set high up on the 43rd floor of Grosvenor House Dubai Marina, Jason Atherton’s City Social ticks a lot of boxes – top-notch views, fine quality European fare and its own dedicated bar and terrace.

It’s not just somewhere to go for a fancy dinner; for the Marina set, this is one of the best bars for grape in the neighbourhood.

It’s a concise list of 15 white, red and pink grape-by-the-glass options, mainly crowd-pleasers that are surprisingly well-priced for such a high-end venue. So next time you’re in charge of drinks with the girls, head here and sip smugly as you overlook the illuminated Marina and Palm below.

Grosvenor House Dubai, Dubai Marina, citysocialdubai.com (04 402 2222).

Zuma

It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been to Zuma, it never fails to impress. And if you can’t get a table in the dining room (yes, it’s still that busy), then you can’t go far wrong with finding a spot in the swish bar lounge upstairs.

While the mixed drinks are excellent, it’s also a brilliant bar for grape, with staff that know their stuff if you need any guidance.

There’s also the brand-new Ishigaki Grape Room, home to more than 700 labels and 65 Japanese rice beverages that have apparently been selected for Zuma over the past 17 years. That’s the level of attention to grape we can get behind.

Gate Village 7, DIFC, zumarestaurant.com (04 425 5660).

SHORTLISTED

BOCA, DIFC

Long-rated for its Spanish-Mediterranean plates, dedication to sustainability and laid-back chill, BOCA is a go-to for after-work drinks for anyone working in the DIFC. Especially if you are rather partial to a glass of grape, of which there are 56 by-the-glass options.

It’s a good mix of Old and New World blends, with a heavy leaning towards Spanish varieties.

What really sets this place apart though is the selection of vegan, organic and biodynamic grapes and the focus on regional producers. In the same way BOCA celebrates ingredients sourced locally, it brings in grape varieties from Syria, Lebanon, Greece, Turkey and Palestine. All of this combines to make BOCA a brilliant place to try something new – orange grape, anyone?

Gate Village 6, DIFC, boca.ae (04 323 1833).

CLAP, DIFC

Whether it’s for lunch, dinner or late-night gatherings, CLAP is always buzzing. Japanese cuisine-lovers know the food is great and fans of mixology will be well aware of the 26 handcrafted mixed drinks. But did you know that CLAP is also one of the best bars in DIFC for grape?

There are 39 varieties available by the glass with prices from Dhs58 to Dhs16,000 so every need is catered for, shall we say.

Bubbly fans are particularly spoilt here, with the menu and team taking great care to explain the differences between fresh and lively, rich and creamy, and structured varieties. Every day’s a school day, right? Whatever grape appeals to you, raising a toast on the CLAP terrace is just one of those things you have to do.

Gate Village 11, DIFC. Claprestaurant.com (04 569 3820).

Grapeskin Grape Bar & Kitchen

You’ll find this complete celebration of all things grape nestled within the courtyard at La Ville Hotel & Suites in City Walk. It’s welcoming, low-key, fun and good value, making it a great place to catch up with mates (or possibly meet new ones).

An utter gem for grape lovers, you’ll find recommendations of the week, coravin grape, 185ml medium measures (unusual in Dubai), and more than 40 by-the-glass options.

The bar suggests you choose your grape based on your mood, with its own take on emojis to help direct you. Build-your-own sharing plates are delish – think crackers, breads, cold cuts, a whopping 35 types of cheese to choose from and chutneys.

Or go for one of the grape and cheese discovery pairings if you prefer to be guided by the expert. Everything you need to make that glass of grape – and your heart – sing.

La Ville Hotel & Suites, City Walk. Livelaville.com (04 403 3111).

Il Borro Tuscan Bistro

As you’d expect from this previous winner of Time Out Dubai’s Best Italian Restaurant Award, the grape list at Il Borro is meticulously crafted. Designed to bring the best of Tuscany to Dubai, the restaurant offers its own labels from the Il Borro estate alongside those carefully sourced from other Tuscan producers.

Plus, if biodiversity and organic farming are important to you, Il Borro’s estate has been organic-certified since 2015.

Take your pick with the help of expert sommelier recommendations and enjoy being perched at the refined but social restaurant bar or if weather allows, outside on the terrace. Order the Umbrian black truffle pizza and Panzanella while you’re there.

Jumeirah Al Naseem, Umm Suqeim, ilborrotuscanbistro.ae (04 275 2555).

Leña Dubai

Located in the stylish St. Regis Gardens, upmarket grill-house Leña from acclaimed Spanish chef Dani Garcia has been a hit since opening a year ago. Grape fans are remarkably well taken care of here, with an extensive white and red coravin selection, as well as a standard by-the-glass list that offers both value and variety.

There are Spanish recommendations as you’d expect but also an appealing mix of Old and New World grapes.

Order your favourite at the outdoor bar and soak up the vibes from the rooftop, or take up residence in the mean and moody lounge.

There are few greater spots for a glass of grape, but you’d be hard-pressed not to order from the food menu too. The smoked beef pretzel and spiced chicken empanada are the perfect accompaniment to your glass.

St. Regis Gardens. Palm Jumeirah, @lenadubai.dg (04 453 7523).

Salotto at Chic Nonna

With views of Burj Khalifa and a long bar lined with stools that beckon you to sit, Salotto at Chic Nonna is one of the most refined bars in town – and a haven for grape lovers. There’s around 18 varieties by the glass, all at very decent prices considering how upmarket a venue this is.

Think of Salotto as a sophisticated living room, where you can relax and unwind with a glass of grape, and pick up the energy as the evening rolls into night. This is when the live entertainment or DJ takes over, amping up the mood and keeping you there until close.

Gate Avenue Mall, DIFC, @salottobychicnonna (04 605 2000).

Soirée Grape & Tails Restaurant

This Manhattan-style bar for grape manages to be classy and cosy at the same time. You’ll find more than 50 options to order by the glass, including biodynamic and eco-friendly grapes, along with some rather funky labels.

Soirée aims to encourage guests to take a more chilled approach to grape, focusing on what people enjoy rather than what is deemed to be the ‘best’.

What we love most though is the innovative mixed drinks that are all made from either grape or grape-based short measures.

These are concoctions you won’t have seen anywhere before. Oh, and the bites menu also includes a rather fabulous cheese fondue.
The Opus by OMNIYAT, ME Dubai Hotel, @soireedxb (055 413 6648).