Observatory Dubai: A View, A Stardust Cocktail & More Reasons To Come

Rating:

Before You Book

The Occasion

Impressing out-of-towners. I've brought visitors here who've already done Burj Khalifa, already done Atlantis, already done the canal cruise — and Observatory still gets the reaction I wanted. The view does a lot of it. The food and drinks do the rest.

What I Ordered

Seaweed salad and California maki to start, black cod wrapped in hoba leaf as the main, mochi selection for dessert, and a Stardust cocktail from the bar.

The Weak Link

The windows reflect so much interior light you can't take a proper photo of the view. I get why they don't open, but a dedicated photo spot somewhere in the room would go a long way.

Order Again

The black cod hoba leaf, no hesitation. The Stardust if you're drinking.

The Return Question

Yes — and I have, more than once. Most view restaurants in Dubai you visit once and that's it. This one I keep coming back to, and not just for the view.

The Room

The space is warmer and more intimate than most view restaurants in Dubai — deep amber and red lighting, warm wood, textured brick columns, low banquettes. The bar at the centre, curved with the backlit "Observatory" signage, is where the room collects before the skyline takes over, and later in the evening the lounge half shifts gear: music up, lighting down another notch. The view itself: Marina directly below, Palm Jumeirah to one side, Bluewaters and JBR stretching across the glass. The one frustration, and it's the only one I have with the space, is that the interior light reflects so hard off the windows that photographing the view properly is close to impossible. You can see it perfectly. You just can't take the photo home.

What I Ordered

Started with the seaweed salad and California maki. No surprises, but the kind of starter that tells you the kitchen knows what it's doing.  

Then the black cod wrapped in hoba leaf — the dish I come back for. Served on a charred magnolia leaf with a dark miso glaze and grilled corn on the side finished with what tastes like togarashi and lime.

For dessert, the mochi selection — if you like mochi, you'll be happy. If you don't, they have other options on the menu.

The Cocktails

The cocktail list is where Observatory does something most view restaurants don't bother with — it actually builds drinks worth ordering on their own. The Stardust is the one I'd point you to first, and it's the one I keep coming back for across visits. It's that good. And it looks that good, I'll put a video below.

Reviewed in May 2026

Practical

Where: Observatory Lounge, 52nd floor, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, Dubai Marina
Hours: Daily 12pm–1am
Dress code: Smart casual. Shorts not permitted for men after 6pm. 
Best time to visit: Sunset into the blue hour, then stay as the room shifts toward its lounge register.
Reservations: Via the Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel dining page.