Searching for Latin flair in the heart of the desert? Add La Niña to your weekend roster
Nestled in the epicentre of Dubai’s fine dining scene, otherwise known as DIFC, La Niña is everything you imagine it to be and more—slick, intimate and painfully stylish. What else would you expect from a restaurant from the people behind Bagatelle and Opa? Drawing inspiration from both Spain and Portugal, the interiors are pulled straight from Lisbon with double-height ceilings, gorgeous hardwood floors and patterned Portuguese blue tiles, while reds, long white drapes and touches of natural greenery are dispersed throughout.
A late-night dinner spot, take a seat at the marble bar for a quick pre-meal tipple—it makes prime position for people watching—before taking your seat out on the expansive terrace (if weather permits) for one of the best meals of your life. Elegant, romantic and surrounded by DIFC skyscrapers that flood it with light, La Niña’s terrace wins prettiest in Dubai. Although summer’s sky-high temperatures have us scrambling for the air-conditioned indoors – not that it’s too shabby in there either – be sure to reserve a table outdoors when alfresco season returns.
Great Portuguese restaurants are few and far between in Dubai, but luckily La Niña delivers on all fronts. Drawing together the Old World Iberia and New World Latin America, its nearly 40-dish menu comprises snacks, cold starters, hot starters and mains, with everything from tuna tartare to wagyu striploin or beef tartare with crispy potato and Manchego to kick things off in style. For mains we suggest ordering a few to share—don’t miss out on the lime-brined baby chicken, marinated lamb chops and whole wood grilled turbot that comes glazed in juices. There are of course the additional Dubai inflections like caviar, truffle and lobster, but would you have it any other way? Book now
