#5: Caramel Restaurant & Lounge

Caramel Restaurant & Lounge is a laid-back, hip affair for an urban and edgy crowd. It’s easy to understand why some sweet-toothed patrons may find Caramel disappointing. Despite the name, it’s not a sugar-shack; instead it positions itself as a purring after-work lounge. The place is a Las Vegas export, and as such you’d expect something flashy and ostentatious. Defiantly eschewing the stereotype, Caramel is a sophisticated, low-lit, low-key affair with a long central bar that demands mingling. There is no re-invention of the wheel, but food that is succulent without drowning in too many overpowering flavors.

#7: The Meat Co.

The Meat Co. is a nice spot for great steak and unpretentious grub. The most recent incarnation of the restaurant in Souq Al Bahar, Dubai Mall, has been open since February, yet is a much quieter affair than its Jumeirah-based brethren. The room is flush with warm burgundies and creams, and minimally decorated with hand-painted leather chairs, polished wooden flooring, and custom cone-shaped lights emitting a soothing terracotta hue. The waiters all hail from South Africa and, like the restaurant’s interior, prove relaxed and cheerful. Though The Meat Co. offers sauces on the side, the quality of their steaks is such that it’s really best eating them plain. Restaurant has one of the best views, with outside seating right in front of Burj Khalifa and overlooking the Dubai fountains.

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