Burj Khalifa view
The terrace faces Burj Khalifa, making the view a central part of dinner or shisha.
Exception Restaurant & Lounge
Downtown Dubai
Exception Restaurant & Lounge is a Downtown Dubai restaurant and lounge centred on its terrace view of Burj Khalifa. It suits an evening of dinner and shisha, with a relaxed indoor setting and an upper-floor lounge with a DJ and alcohol.
Reputation Score
4.8
★★★★★
595 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Terrace seating
The terrace has plenty of tables and is repeatedly highlighted as the best place to enjoy the view.
Standout desserts
Reviews specifically call out the tiramisu, while pasta dishes also receive strong individual praise.
Smooth shisha
Customers describe the shisha as smooth and recommend sweet melon and watermelon flavours.
Attentive service
Several reviews mention friendly, careful and quick service during meals and shisha visits.
Valet parking
One review reports free valet parking, a useful Downtown Dubai convenience when arriving by car.
Upper lounge
The upper-floor lounge has a DJ and serves alcohol, giving the venue a livelier evening option.
Tips for a Better Visit
Choose terrace. Ask for terrace seating if the Burj Khalifa view is your priority; one reviewer called it the best area.
Ask about valet. If you are driving, ask about the reported free valet parking before arrival.
Try tiramisu. Leave room for the tiramisu, which multiple reviews identify as a standout dessert.
Order watermelon. For shisha, watermelon is specifically recommended by one dinner review.
Check Iftar. During Ramadan, ask whether the Iftar buffet is running; reviewers praised its variety and taste.
Try Moroccan tea. The Moroccan tea is singled out in buffet and dinner reviews, so it is worth asking for.
Plan the visit
Practical details
114822 - Dubai - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd
Downtown Dubai, Dubai
| Mon | 7:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Tue | 7:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Wed | 7:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Thu | 7:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Fri | 7:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Sat | 7:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
| Sun | 7:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
Common Concerns
No concerns reported yet.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Exception Restaurant & Lounge is a Downtown Dubai spot where the Burj Khalifa view is part of the experience, especially from the outdoor terrace. Reviews make it sound well suited to an unhurried dinner, a shisha date, or a casual meet-up after a walk along the Boulevard. Indoor seating is also available, and the atmosphere is often described as cosy and relaxed.
The menu has a few clear favourites. Tiramisu appears repeatedly, alongside creamy penne, seafood pasta and spaghetti. For drinks, customers mention strawberry, passion-fruit and non-alcoholic mojitos, while Moroccan tea is a notable pick from the buffet meals.
Shisha is a major draw, with sweet melon and watermelon receiving specific recommendations. During Ramadan, reviewers praised the Iftar open buffet for its range and taste. Service is commonly described as friendly, attentive and quick.
Drivers may find the reported free valet parking useful. There is also an upper-floor lounge with a DJ and alcohol, so the venue can shift from a quieter terrace dinner to a livelier evening setting. No customer review gives a specific price, although one describes the food as not too pricey.