Found on the fifth floor of the Dubai Festival City hotel, Zaytoun is an intriguing restaurant with a double identity. During the day, you’ll find a selection of Mediterranean dishes to choose from, while in the evening the flavours of Arabian cuisine take over.
Zaytoun is found by the hotel pool and most of the seating is outside, so you can soak up the sun in the day and relax under the stars at night. If you’re visiting during daylight hours, the Mediterranean dishes you can tuck into include crispy calamari served with a spicy aioli and an indulgent lobster and prawn linguine. There are sandwiches too which you can enjoy as a hearty lunchtime snack, including a lobster club sandwich with avocado and veal bacon, or a vegetable wrap stuffed with truffle-flecked grilled vegetables, labneh and lettuce.
Those choosing to dine at night will be embraced by a range of classic Arabian dishes. Start with the likes of a traditional lentil soup served with fried pita and lemon wedges, before moving on to more substantial main courses, such as spicy lamb chops paired with sautéed potatoes or a mixed grill which features beef kebabs, lamb chops and rice.
Like many Dubai restaurants, Zaytoun also hosts special evenings. Join one of the Mashawi Nights where you’ll find live musicians and a carnivorous feast awaiting you. Start things off with a selection of soups, salads and starters, before tackling the array of freshly grilled meats and seafood. You can round things off with tempting desserts such as a baklava cheesecake with a hazelnut sauce or chocolate mohalabiya topped with candy floss and vanilla ice cream, while families will be glad to know that children under 12 dine for free.
For a real family day out though, we’d recommend Zaytoun’s picnic brunch, which features live music, child-friendly activities and pool access, all while guests tuck into a selection of tasty food from a walk-in pantry, or the live barbecue stations.