Restaurant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
One Michelin star. Book it twice.
Smoked Room holds a Michelin star, a MENA 50 Best ranking (#45), and an OAD European ranking of #172 — making it the most credentialled contemporary restaurant currently operating in Dubai. Under chef Massimiliano Delle Vedove, fire and smoke drive every course at the $$$$ tasting-menu format on Palm Jumeirah. Book 6 to 8 weeks ahead minimum; tables are near impossible to secure at short notice.
At the $$$$ price point, Smoked Room on Palm Jumeirah is one of the clearest value propositions in Dubai's fine dining tier. A Michelin star awarded in 2025, a rank of #45 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants MENA list for 2024, and a climb from #213 to #172 on Opinionated About Dining's European rankings between 2024 and 2025 — that is a venue on an upward trajectory, not coasting on a reputation. Under chef Massimiliano Delle Vedove, this is the kind of tasting-menu experience that justifies the spend for diners who treat contemporary fine dining as the occasion itself. If you are comparing it against other $$$$ options in Dubai, Smoked Room consistently delivers more culinary ambition per dirham than most of its peers.
The defining sensory signature of Smoked Room is, as the name promises, smoke. The kitchen's use of fire and smoke as structural cooking techniques , not garnish , means the room carries a warm, wood-tinged aroma that sets the atmosphere before your first course arrives. This is not a restaurant that gestures at live-fire cooking as theatre. It is the premise. For diners who have experienced open-fire contemporary restaurants like 11 Woodfire in Dubai or fire-led contemporary venues globally, Smoked Room operates in the same philosophical space but at a higher technical register.
The venue's recent evolution is worth understanding before you book. The 2025 Michelin star is a meaningful marker , it confirms that what was recognised as a leading new restaurant in Europe in 2023 (OAD #90 New) has now matured into a venue with consistent, repeatable excellence. Chef Delle Vedove has built a kitchen that earns global comparison: the OAD European ranking puts Smoked Room in the same reference tier as contemporary restaurants in cities like Seoul , think Jungsik or Eatanic Garden , and Toronto's Alo. Being ranked alongside those venues matters for calibrating expectations: this is not a Dubai-adjusted fine dining experience. It competes internationally.
Palm Jumeirah address is relevant to your planning. It is not central Dubai, which means you are committing to the meal as the destination. That is actually an argument in its favour for a special occasion dinner: there is no impulse decision-making here, no possibility of drifting somewhere else after a drink. You arrive with intent, and the venue delivers on it. Pair your visit with a broader Palm Jumeirah evening or consider it alongside a hotel stay on the Palm to make the most of the location.
On the question of brunch and daytime format: the $$$$ price tier and tasting-menu structure position Smoked Room firmly in the dinner occasion category. Dubai's weekend brunch culture is substantial , venues like CÉ LA VI and StreetXO operate strong brunch programs , but Smoked Room's fire-forward contemporary tasting format is built for the evening. If a morning or afternoon service is available, expect it to carry the same technical weight and price commitment as the dinner sitting. This is not a casual weekend brunch venue; it is a place where the meal itself is the plan.
For context on how Smoked Room fits into Dubai's wider contemporary dining scene: Orfali Bros and Trèsind Studio operate in the same awards-cited tier, while LOWE offers a more accessible entry point for diners who want chef-led cooking at a lower spend. Smoked Room sits above all of them on international benchmarks. If you are flying into Dubai specifically to eat well , or if you want the best-credentialled contemporary kitchen currently operating in the city , this is the booking to prioritise. For a broader view of what Dubai's dining scene offers across categories, our full Dubai restaurants guide maps the full range.
The Google rating of 4.9 across 42 reviews is a small but telling data point. Early review sets at high-end venues tend to reflect guests who sought the restaurant out deliberately , not walk-ins forming opinions , which gives the score more weight than a large, casual sample. It is consistent with a venue that knows its audience and delivers reliably for them.
For international diners benchmarking Smoked Room against other contemporary restaurants they know: the OAD European ranking (#172 in 2025) places it comfortably above many Michelin-starred venues in major European cities. If you have dined at César in New York, Brutø in Denver, or Campo del Drago in Montalcino, you are operating in a comparable quality tier. If you are visiting the wider UAE region, Erth in Abu Dhabi and Solbam in Seoul represent the same serious contemporary category if you want reference points. Dubai's wider hospitality offer , bars, wineries, and experiences , can be planned around the dinner if you are building a full evening.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoked Room | $$$$ | Near Impossible | — |
| 11 Woodfire | $$$ | Unknown | — |
| Avatara Restaurant | $$$$ | Unknown | — |
| Al Mahara | $$$$ | Unknown | — |
| Zuma | $$$ | Unknown | — |
| At.Mosphere Burj Khalifa | $$$$ | Unknown | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Book at least three to four weeks out, especially for weekends. Smoked Room holds a Michelin star and ranked #45 in World's 50 Best MENA 2024, which means demand is real and tables at this Palm Jumeirah address move fast. If you have a fixed date for a special occasion, lock it in further ahead.
Yes, at the $$$$ price point this is one of the more credible spends in Dubai fine dining. The kitchen's structural use of fire and smoke is the actual concept, not a garnish, and a Michelin star awarded in 2025 confirms the cooking delivers. If you want à la carte flexibility, this format is not for you — the tasting menu is the point.
Counter or chef's table seating formats at Michelin-level smoke-focused restaurants tend to suit solo diners well, since the cooking itself provides the focal point. Without confirmed seating specifics, call ahead to ask about solo placement — a Michelin-starred room at this level will typically accommodate a single diner who books in advance.
The venue data does not specify a dress code, but a Michelin-starred, $$$$ restaurant on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai warrants smart attire at minimum. Err toward a jacket or equivalent — you will be underdressed in jeans, and overdressed is not a problem here.
Yes, this is a strong special-occasion pick. A Michelin star, a #45 ranking in World's 50 Best MENA 2024, and a dedicated smoke-forward tasting concept give the evening structure and talking points. For comparable occasion dining in Dubai, Al Mahara offers a different sensory anchor (the aquarium setting), but Smoked Room's culinary credentials are stronger.
11 Woodfire is the closest conceptual peer — fire-driven cooking at a high price point with serious acclaim. Zuma suits groups who want high energy and Japanese-influenced sharing plates without a fixed tasting format. At.Mosphere Burj Khalifa trades on the view rather than the cooking. Avatara Restaurant is the pick if you want vegetarian-only fine dining with its own Michelin recognition.
At $$$$ it is, provided you are buying into the tasting menu format and the smoke-as-technique concept. The Michelin star (2025) and consecutive OAD rankings — #213 in 2024, #172 in 2025 — show a kitchen that is improving, not coasting. If you want a more casual or à la carte spend at that price, look at Zuma instead.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
