Skyline views
High-floor windows put the Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai skyline at the centre of the meal.
Il Gattopardo
DIFC
Il Gattopardo is an Italian restaurant on the 51st floor of ICD Brookfield Place in DIFC, known for skyline dining with the Burj Khalifa in view. The menu includes fresh pasta, generous sharing dishes and a business lunch, while the dramatic setting suits celebratory dinners and drinks.
Reputation Score
4.6
★★★★★
455 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Striking interiors
The restaurant’s dramatic ceilings, burgundy tones and elegant lighting create a polished, lively setting.
Fresh pasta
Fresh pasta is a consistent highlight, with the agnolotti receiving especially strong praise.
Tiramisu
The tiramisu is a signature order, with one review calling it unusually large as well as delicious.
Business lunch
The weekday business lunch is repeatedly described as a well-executed option for meetings or a shorter daytime meal.
Free valet
One reviewer reported three hours of free valet parking, a useful convenience for an evening visit.
Live music
DJ sets, live performances and a singer moving through the tables add energy, especially at dinner and on weekends.
What to Eat at Il Gattopardo 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 Il Gattopardo, 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 Il Gattopardo, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 2
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Tiramisu Net +9
“The tiramisu deserves a special mention, the biggest one I have ever been served in a restaurant, and obviously delicious.”
Positive 9Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The tiramisu deserves a special mention, the biggest one I have ever been served in a restaurant, and obviously delicious.”May 2026
“The food was outstanding everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The tiramisu was a perfect way to end the meal.”July 2026
-
Margherita pizza Net +2
“It was a great and delicious experience, and I plan to return soon. My favorite dishes were the tartufo pasta and the margherita pizza”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“It was a great and delicious experience, and I plan to return soon. My favorite dishes were the tartufo pasta and the margherita pizza”January 2026
“The lobster pasta was really good, the Margherita pizza was one of the best I’ve ever had, and the tiramisu was simply amazing.”August 2025
Honorable mentions (20)
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Agnello arrosto Net +1
“We also tried the Agnello Arrosto & Tagliata di Manzo. Both were cooked to perfection and packed with flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We also tried the Agnello Arrosto & Tagliata di Manzo. Both were cooked to perfection and packed with flavor.”April 2025
-
Agnolotti Net +1
“A special mention goes to the agnolotti, which is absolutely exceptional—perfectly prepared and full of flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A special mention goes to the agnolotti, which is absolutely exceptional—perfectly prepared and full of flavor.”March 2026
-
Beef tartare Net +1
“The beef tartare was fresh, delicately seasoned, and paired perfectly with crisp, thin bread.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The beef tartare was fresh, delicately seasoned, and paired perfectly with crisp, thin bread.”September 2025
-
Burrata Net +1
“Their door was really good. Loved the burrata and truffle fries.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their door was really good. Loved the burrata and truffle fries.”July 2026
-
Gluten-free pesto pasta Net +1
“I went for the gluten-free pesto pasta; the portion was generous, flavourful, and only slightly salty but still very enjoyable.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I went for the gluten-free pesto pasta; the portion was generous, flavourful, and only slightly salty but still very enjoyable.”December 2025
-
Insalata di mare Net +1
“My absolute favorite was the Antipasti from the Crudo Bar, especially the Insalata di Mare. It was fresh & flavorful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My absolute favorite was the Antipasti from the Crudo Bar, especially the Insalata di Mare. It was fresh & flavorful.”April 2025
-
Lemon dessert Net +1
“The tiramisu was decent, though not particularly memorable, while the lemon dessert was the strongest dish of the evening.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The tiramisu was decent, though not particularly memorable, while the lemon dessert was the strongest dish of the evening.”May 2026
-
Light choux pastry Net +1
“Dessert was the perfect finale: light choux pastry filled generously with cream, topped with a cherry, and just the right touch of sweetness.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Dessert was the perfect finale: light choux pastry filled generously with cream, topped with a cherry, and just the right touch of sweetness.”September 2025
-
Lobster pasta Net +1
“The lobster pasta was really good, the Margherita pizza was one of the best I’ve ever had, and the tiramisu was simply amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The lobster pasta was really good, the Margherita pizza was one of the best I’ve ever had, and the tiramisu was simply amazing.”August 2025
-
Maltagliati Net +1
“Portions are very generous: we shared one pizzetta, one maltagliati, and one padella, and still struggled to finish everything. We would have loved to try the desserts, which looked fantastic, but we honestly had no space left after all that amazing food.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Portions are very generous: we shared one pizzetta, one maltagliati, and one padella, and still struggled to finish everything. We would have loved to try the desserts, which looked fantastic, but we honestly had no space left after all that amazing food.”January 2026
-
Mozzarella di bufala Net +1
“For starters, we had bresaola and a fresh Mozzarella di bufala both delicious and fresh.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For starters, we had bresaola and a fresh Mozzarella di bufala both delicious and fresh.”December 2025
-
Pistachio ice cream Net +1
“Dessert was perfect too: he had the tiramisu (which he loved), and I had the pistachio ice cream — simple but so good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Dessert was perfect too: he had the tiramisu (which he loved), and I had the pistachio ice cream — simple but so good.”December 2025
-
Pizzetta Net +1
“Portions are very generous: we shared one pizzetta, one maltagliati, and one padella, and still struggled to finish everything. We would have loved to try the desserts, which looked fantastic, but we honestly had no space left after all that amazing food.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Portions are very generous: we shared one pizzetta, one maltagliati, and one padella, and still struggled to finish everything. We would have loved to try the desserts, which looked fantastic, but we honestly had no space left after all that amazing food.”January 2026
-
Tagliata di manzo Net +1
“We also tried the Agnello Arrosto & Tagliata di Manzo. Both were cooked to perfection and packed with flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We also tried the Agnello Arrosto & Tagliata di Manzo. Both were cooked to perfection and packed with flavor.”April 2025
-
Tartufo pasta Net +1
“It was a great and delicious experience, and I plan to return soon. My favorite dishes were the tartufo pasta and the margherita pizza”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“It was a great and delicious experience, and I plan to return soon. My favorite dishes were the tartufo pasta and the margherita pizza”January 2026
-
Truffle fries Net +1
“Their door was really good. Loved the burrata and truffle fries.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their door was really good. Loved the burrata and truffle fries.”July 2026
-
Truffle pizzetta Net +1
“The truffle pizzetta is also delicious and something we always look forward to ordering.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The truffle pizzetta is also delicious and something we always look forward to ordering.”March 2026
-
Vitello tonnato Net +1
“The Vitello Tonnato was perfect.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Vitello Tonnato was perfect.”May 2026
-
Carpaccio Net 0
Mixed feedback
“We ordered the carpaccio (the best I’ve ever had), the ravioli, and a pizza — everything was delicious and full of flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“We ordered the carpaccio (the best I’ve ever had), the ravioli, and a pizza — everything was delicious and full of flavor.”December 2025
-
Chicken caciattore Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“The chicken caciattore was so la la, the Canneloni were terrible but after complaining they didn't charge us for the Canneloni.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 3
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Classic negroni Net +1
“We loved the classic Negroni and Gattopardo Negroni as it was perfectly handcrafted.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved the classic Negroni and Gattopardo Negroni as it was perfectly handcrafted.”November 2025
-
Coffee Net +1
“Even the coffee at the end of the meal was served with style, in beautiful floral porcelain cups, adding a touch of charm to the experience.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Even the coffee at the end of the meal was served with style, in beautiful floral porcelain cups, adding a touch of charm to the experience.”September 2025
-
Gattopardo negroni Net +1
“We loved the classic Negroni and Gattopardo Negroni as it was perfectly handcrafted.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved the classic Negroni and Gattopardo Negroni as it was perfectly handcrafted.”November 2025
What to Avoid (6)
Food 5
-
Canneloni Net −1
“The chicken caciattore was so la la, the Canneloni were terrible but after complaining they didn't charge us for the Canneloni.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The chicken caciattore was so la la, the Canneloni were terrible but after complaining they didn't charge us for the Canneloni.”May 2026
-
Fregola Net −1
“Unfortunately, the fregola was a huge disappointment — honestly one of the worst dishes I’ve ever had. It completely missed the mark in both taste and texture.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Unfortunately, the fregola was a huge disappointment — honestly one of the worst dishes I’ve ever had. It completely missed the mark in both taste and texture.”October 2025
-
Pesto pasta Net −1
“I had the restaurant week menu not the full à la carte, but the mains and starter really were subpar, especially the pesto pasta which I could have made at home from a supermarket cookbook.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I had the restaurant week menu not the full à la carte, but the mains and starter really were subpar, especially the pesto pasta which I could have made at home from a supermarket cookbook.”May 2026
-
Set à la carte menu Net −1
“We were told that the set à la carte menu had to be ordered by two people because the portions were supposedly too large for one person and that the chef would not be able to prepare it for just one person. Thinking that the food prepared would go to waste, we agreed. Only to find that every dish was shockingly small.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We were told that the set à la carte menu had to be ordered by two people because the portions were supposedly too large for one person and that the chef would not be able to prepare it for just one person. Thinking that the food prepared would go to waste, we agreed. Only to find that every dish was shockingly small.”July 2026
-
T-bone Net −1
“Our mains were mainly good - just a bit disappointing on the T-Bone, which at that price was not as great quality as we expected, being both tough and lacking flavour.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Our mains were mainly good - just a bit disappointing on the T-Bone, which at that price was not as great quality as we expected, being both tough and lacking flavour.”May 2025
Drinks 1
-
Passionfruit mocktail mojito Net −1
“After we raised our concerns, the staff offered a complimentary dish, but it was also too salty and we could not finish it. The passionfruit mocktail mojito was terrible as well. The request for less ice in the drink was too seemingly ignored.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“After we raised our concerns, the staff offered a complimentary dish, but it was also too salty and we could not finish it. The passionfruit mocktail mojito was terrible as well. The request for less ice in the drink was too seemingly ignored.”July 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Book ahead. Reserve in advance, particularly if you want a window table or are planning a special occasion.
Share dishes. If you are concerned about portions, share several dishes rather than relying on one pizza or main course.
Check dress code. Men should wear long trousers; one reviewer specifically noted a long-pants dress requirement.
Use valet. Factor in the reported three hours of free valet parking when planning your visit to DIFC.
Mention restrictions. Tell the team about dietary needs when booking; one diner received fresh gluten-free bread and menu guidance.
Ask for comfort. If your table or temperature is uncomfortable, speak up: reviewers were given a normal dining table, a pashmina or a blanket after asking.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Icd Brookfield Place - 51st Floor
Zaa'beel Second - DIFC, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 PM – 1:30 AM |
| Tue | 12:00 PM – 1:30 AM |
| Wed | 12:00 PM – 1:30 AM |
| Thu | 12:00 PM – 1:30 AM |
| Fri | 12:00 PM – 1:30 AM |
| Sat | 1:00 PM – 1:30 AM |
| Sun | 12:00 PM – 1:30 AM |
Common Concerns
Uneven cooking
Food quality is inconsistent: one visit found the risotto undercooked, while other dishes were too salty or lacked seasoning.
Small portions
Several diners felt portions were small for the price, including one review describing the pizza main as child-sized.
Expensive wine
Wine pricing is a recurring concern, with reviewers finding both bottles and by-the-glass choices costly.
Slow service
One dinner review reported long waits for bread and the bill, alongside a missed birthday-dessert request.
Cigar smell
Cigar smoke and smell from the cigar bar were noticeable even from the opposite side of the restaurant.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Il Gattopardo is a high-rise Italian restaurant in DIFC, set on the 51st floor of ICD Brookfield Place. The main draw is the Downtown outlook, with several diners mentioning direct Burj Khalifa views, alongside an ornate interior and an energetic mix of DJ sets and live performances. It works for a business lunch, a date, or a birthday dinner where the setting matters as much as the food.
The menu’s clearest review-backed highlights are the tiramisu, fresh pasta and agnolotti, with truffle pizzetta, tartufo pasta and Margherita pizza also earning repeat praise. Some diners found portions generous, but others called them small, so sharing a few dishes is a sensible way to order. Gluten-free guests have reported helpful guidance and fresh gluten-free bread.
Service is often warm and attentive, and the restaurant has handled table changes and special celebrations thoughtfully. Still, experiences vary: one dinner had undercooked risotto, uneven seasoning, slow bread and bill service, and a missed birthday request. Wine is widely considered expensive, while cigar odours can travel from the cigar bar.
Book ahead for a preferred view, check the dress code, and use the reported three-hour free valet if driving.