Skyline views
The outdoor area can combine a sea view, yacht views and a Burj Khalifa view.
Di MARE Restaurant and Cafe
Downtown Dubai
Di MARE is an Italian restaurant and cafe in Downtown Dubai, with indoor and outdoor seating and a menu built around Italian dishes. Reviews make it a draw for pizza and pasta—especially pizza margherita and lasagna—while shisha and skyline views shape the experience for many evening visitors.
Reputation Score
4.7
★★★★★
974 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Italian favourites
Reviewers specifically praise the pizza margherita, arrabbiata pasta and cheese appetizer.
Generous portions
Several reviews describe the portions as generous, including one account of a birthday dinner.
Smooth shisha
Shisha is a major part of the venue, with reviewers describing it as smooth and enjoyable.
Vegan option
A reviewer found the mushroom risotto to be a satisfying vegan-friendly choice.
Late dining
One review notes that the restaurant works at night, making it useful for a late visit.
Opera proximity
Its reported proximity to Dubai Opera makes it convenient for a pre- or post-show meal.
What to Eat at Di MARE Restaurant and Cafe How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Di MARE Restaurant and Cafe, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. We still have more reviews to analyze, so the scores may change. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Di MARE Restaurant and Cafe, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 10
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Bolognese pasta Net +1
“The **Bolognese pasta** was also **absolutely fantastic**—so rich and flavorful!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The **Bolognese pasta** was also **absolutely fantastic**—so rich and flavorful!”May 2025
-
Chicken with mushroom sauce Net +1
“The chicken with mushroom sauce was actually good (4/5).”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken with mushroom sauce was actually good (4/5).”April 2026
-
Greek salad Net +1
“Had a great dinner experience, the Greek salad and salami pizza are delicious. We even took a pizza home - it was that nice.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had a great dinner experience, the Greek salad and salami pizza are delicious. We even took a pizza home - it was that nice.”September 2025
-
Lamb chops Net +1
“I enjoyed the lamb chops, which were perfectly seasoned and cooked to tender perfection, as well as the lasagna, which was rich, cheesy, and bursting with flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I enjoyed the lamb chops, which were perfectly seasoned and cooked to tender perfection, as well as the lasagna, which was rich, cheesy, and bursting with flavor.”March 2025
-
Lasagna Net +1
“I enjoyed the lamb chops, which were perfectly seasoned and cooked to tender perfection, as well as the lasagna, which was rich, cheesy, and bursting with flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I enjoyed the lamb chops, which were perfectly seasoned and cooked to tender perfection, as well as the lasagna, which was rich, cheesy, and bursting with flavor.”March 2025
-
Mixed seafood appetiser Net +1
“Had the mixed seafood appetiser and a pizza, and they were both very good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had the mixed seafood appetiser and a pizza, and they were both very good.”October 2025
-
Mushroom risotto Net +1
“I loved the restaurant, especially because it offers vegan options! I ordered a delicious mushroom risotto.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I loved the restaurant, especially because it offers vegan options! I ordered a delicious mushroom risotto.”February 2026
-
Pasta arrabbiata Net +1
“The food is excellent – I tried the cheese appetizer (absolutely delicious!), the pizza margherita that would make any Italian proud, and a perfectly balanced pasta arrabbiata full of flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is excellent – I tried the cheese appetizer (absolutely delicious!), the pizza margherita that would make any Italian proud, and a perfectly balanced pasta arrabbiata full of flavor.”October 2025
-
Pizza margherita Net +1
“The food is excellent – I tried the cheese appetizer (absolutely delicious!), the pizza margherita that would make any Italian proud, and a perfectly balanced pasta arrabbiata full of flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is excellent – I tried the cheese appetizer (absolutely delicious!), the pizza margherita that would make any Italian proud, and a perfectly balanced pasta arrabbiata full of flavor.”October 2025
-
Salami pizza Net +1
“Had a great dinner experience, the Greek salad and salami pizza are delicious. We even took a pizza home - it was that nice.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Had a great dinner experience, the Greek salad and salami pizza are delicious. We even took a pizza home - it was that nice.”September 2025
Honorable mentions (8)
-
Shrimp past Net +1
“The shrimp past is great.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The shrimp past is great.”October 2023
-
Smoked ribeye (rib eye) Net +1
“I especially loved the **smoked ribeye (Rib Eye)**, which was cooked to perfection, as well as their **delicious and unique pizzas**.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I especially loved the **smoked ribeye (Rib Eye)**, which was cooked to perfection, as well as their **delicious and unique pizzas**.”May 2025
-
Tiramisu Net +1
“Tiramisu - must-order”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tiramisu - must-order”August 2023
-
Tom yum Net +1
“Only the salad with greens was good, and the tom yum in this Italian restaurant wasn’t bad either.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Only the salad with greens was good, and the tom yum in this Italian restaurant wasn’t bad either.”March 2026
-
Burrata pizza Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Ordered their octopus carpaccio, volcano pizza and burrata pizza. Food was acceptable,”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
-
Chicken caesar salad Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“As for the food: the bruschetta was disappointing (sour tomatoes, 2/5), the chicken Caesar salad was decent.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
-
Octopus carpaccio Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Ordered their octopus carpaccio, volcano pizza and burrata pizza. Food was acceptable,”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
-
Volcano pizza Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Ordered their octopus carpaccio, volcano pizza and burrata pizza. Food was acceptable,”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 3
-
Pineapple juice Net +1
“To accompany my meal, I had a refreshing strawberry lemonade and a tropical pineapple juice, both of which were deliciously fresh and well-balanced.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“To accompany my meal, I had a refreshing strawberry lemonade and a tropical pineapple juice, both of which were deliciously fresh and well-balanced.”March 2025
-
Strawberry lemonade Net +1
“To accompany my meal, I had a refreshing strawberry lemonade and a tropical pineapple juice, both of which were deliciously fresh and well-balanced.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“To accompany my meal, I had a refreshing strawberry lemonade and a tropical pineapple juice, both of which were deliciously fresh and well-balanced.”March 2025
-
Matcha Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Matcha: 3/5. Standard flavor and quality. No option given for milk preference.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 2
What to Avoid (11)
Food 10
-
Calzone Net −1
“An Italian restaurant with Moroccan tea in a Turkish style, seafood and calzone made from ordinary dough with just cheese — there is nothing Italian here.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“An Italian restaurant with Moroccan tea in a Turkish style, seafood and calzone made from ordinary dough with just cheese — there is nothing Italian here.”March 2026
-
Carbonara pasta Net −1
“Truffle pizza tastes like a cheese and i couldn’t taste the truffle, and Carbonara pasta is so bad.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Truffle pizza tastes like a cheese and i couldn’t taste the truffle, and Carbonara pasta is so bad.”January 2025
-
Cheese breadsticks Net −1
“The cheese breadsticks were okay but had very little mozzarella (3/5).”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The cheese breadsticks were okay but had very little mozzarella (3/5).”April 2026
-
Octopus Net −1
“As a starter, we ordered octopus — it was overly salty.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“As a starter, we ordered octopus — it was overly salty.”February 2026
-
Seabass Net −1
“The seabass, however, was overcooked and very dry.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The seabass, however, was overcooked and very dry.”April 2026
-
Seafood pasta Net −1
“I ordered the seafood pasta, and it was a train wreck on a plate—tiny portion, funky taste, and clearly freezer burn fresh. Presentation? Nothing like the photos I’d seen; it was more ‘microwave special’ than restaurant quality.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I ordered the seafood pasta, and it was a train wreck on a plate—tiny portion, funky taste, and clearly freezer burn fresh. Presentation? Nothing like the photos I’d seen; it was more ‘microwave special’ than restaurant quality.”August 2024
-
Seafood risotto Net −1
“The seafood risotto was completely ruined: the rice was overcooked and had the texture of porridge, with no proper structure at all. The seafood was prepared separately and was also oversalted, with an excessive amount of black pepper.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The seafood risotto was completely ruined: the rice was overcooked and had the texture of porridge, with no proper structure at all. The seafood was prepared separately and was also oversalted, with an excessive amount of black pepper.”February 2026
-
Truffle pizza Net −1
“Truffle pizza tastes like a cheese and i couldn’t taste the truffle, and Carbonara pasta is so bad.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Truffle pizza tastes like a cheese and i couldn’t taste the truffle, and Carbonara pasta is so bad.”January 2025
-
Bruschetta Net −2
“Bruschetta: 3/5. Average one or slightly under.”
Positive 0Negative 2Neutral 1
Critical review excerpts
“Bruschetta: 3/5. Average one or slightly under.”January 2026
“As for the food: the bruschetta was disappointing (sour tomatoes, 2/5), the chicken Caesar salad was decent.”April 2026
-
Tuna salad Net −2
“Tuna Salad: 3/5. Overdressed, and unfortunately there were small pieces of eggshell in the dish.”
Positive 0Negative 2
Critical review excerpts
“Tuna Salad: 3/5. Overdressed, and unfortunately there were small pieces of eggshell in the dish.”January 2026
“Tuna Salad: 3/5. There was far too much dressing, and I found pieces of eggshell in the salad.”January 2026
Drinks 1
-
Moroccan tea Net −1
“An Italian restaurant with Moroccan tea in a Turkish style, seafood and calzone made from ordinary dough with just cheese — there is nothing Italian here.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“An Italian restaurant with Moroccan tea in a Turkish style, seafood and calzone made from ordinary dough with just cheese — there is nothing Italian here.”March 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Choose outdoors. Ask for the outdoor area if views matter; one diner saw the sea, a yacht and the Burj Khalifa from there.
Check smoking. Confirm the smoking setup before booking if shisha smoke bothers you, as one review found no truly separate non-smoking area.
Consider lunch. Compare the lunch special with dinner pricing: one reviewer reported pasta, salad, drink and tiramisu for 80AED.
Confirm bookings. If you reserve online, confirm carefully and keep the booking details handy because a reviewer said phone staff could not find it.
Plan around shows. The location is reported to be one building from Dubai Opera, so it can work before or after a performance.
Try late hours. A review specifically recommends the venue at night, which may suit a late dinner or evening shisha visit.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd
Burj Khalifa - Downtown Dubai, Dubai
| Mon | 10:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Tue | 10:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Wed | 10:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Thu | 10:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Fri | 10:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Sat | 10:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Sun | 10:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Shisha smoke
Smoke may be noticeable throughout the venue, including areas described as non-smoking.
Loud music
One diner found the club-style music unsuitable for a relaxed Italian dinner.
Inconsistent dishes
Food feedback varies: one review found the seabass overcooked and dry, while another found seafood risotto overcooked and oversalted.
Hard-to-find staff
Two reviews say staff were difficult to catch and that getting attention took several minutes.
Phone confusion
A reservation-holder said repeated confirmation calls could not locate the booking and felt abrupt.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
80AED
lunch special
“If you insist on going here you can get the lunch special which is any pasta on the menu, a salad, drink, tirimisu for 80AED which is cheaper than ordering most of the pastas a la carte during dinner time”Google review · August 2024
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Di MARE is an Italian restaurant and cafe in Downtown Dubai where you can order pizzas, pasta, risotto, seafood and desserts, then stay for shisha. Reviews particularly mention pizza margherita, lasagna, mushroom risotto and tiramisu, while the outdoor seating can bring sea, yacht and Burj Khalifa views into the evening. The strongest theme is hospitality: many diners describe warm, attentive service and prompt food, and regulars say the team has looked after them consistently.
Portions are often described as generous. There are also useful details for specific visits: the restaurant is reported to operate at night, and its proximity to Dubai Opera makes it a practical pre- or post-show stop. The atmosphere is not universally restaurant-like.
Some guests enjoy the elegant design and cozy setting, but others say shisha smoke reaches the non-smoking area and that loud, club-style music makes conversation or a relaxed Italian dinner harder. Service feedback is similarly mixed, ranging from excellent to several-minute waits for attention. Food quality is also uneven in the reviews.
Pizza, pasta, meats and desserts receive enthusiastic praise, but individual diners reported dry seabass, disappointing bruschetta and overcooked or oversalted seafood risotto. If smoke matters, check the seating arrangement first; if booking online, confirm the reservation carefully.