Fresh fish
Reviews repeatedly praise the fresh fish, with options such as Spanish seabass, hammour and grilled seabream.
Karam Al Bahr
Dubai Festival City
Karam Al Bahr is a Lebanese seafood restaurant in Dubai Festival City, known for fresh fish, traditional Lebanese dishes and shisha. The waterfront setting, outdoor terrace and views over Dubai Creek make it appealing for a relaxed lunch, dinner or sunset meal.
Reputation Score
4.1
★★★★☆
314 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Waterfront views
The terrace looks over the waterfront, with reviews mentioning Dubai Creek, promenade views, fountains and fireworks.
Lebanese flavours
Customers highlight authentic Lebanese dishes, especially hummus, mezzes and traditional grilled food.
Outdoor terrace
The outdoor area is described as spacious and relaxing, particularly for sunset meals and waterfront dining.
Helpful service
Several reviews describe attentive, professional service, including guidance when choosing dishes from the menu.
Shisha option
The restaurant also serves shisha, making it suitable for a longer evening rather than a quick meal.
What to Eat at Karam Al Bahr 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 Karam Al Bahr, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. 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 Karam Al Bahr, 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
-
Mixed grill Net +1
“We had the starters and then mixed grill and hammour fish. Was so lovely.”
Positive 2Negative 1
Review excerpts
“We had the starters and then mixed grill and hammour fish. Was so lovely.”January 2026
“The Mixed Grill was succulent and flavourful, a true highlight.”March 2026
-
Bizree fish Net +1
“- Delicious Food : highly recommend octopus provencal , bizree fish , kunafe. Portions are great, cost worthy”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“- Delicious Food : highly recommend octopus provencal , bizree fish , kunafe. Portions are great, cost worthy”July 2021
-
Fried sardines Net +1
“We loved the grilled seabream and the fried sardines!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved the grilled seabream and the fried sardines!”March 2022
-
Grilled seabream Net +1
“We loved the grilled seabream and the fried sardines!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We loved the grilled seabream and the fried sardines!”March 2022
-
Harra beirutiye Net +1
“Tried the new Harra Beirutiye its amazing dish”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tried the new Harra Beirutiye its amazing dish”June 2026
-
Hommos Net +1
“The Hommos was creamy and rich, and the Fattoush salad was the ideal fresh, crispy counterpoint.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Hommos was creamy and rich, and the Fattoush salad was the ideal fresh, crispy counterpoint.”March 2026
-
Kunafe Net +1
“- They also offered delicious dessert , best kunafe I ever tasted in UAE”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“- They also offered delicious dessert , best kunafe I ever tasted in UAE”July 2021
-
Octopus provencal Net +1
“- Delicious Food : highly recommend octopus provencal , bizree fish , kunafe. Portions are great, cost worthy”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“- Delicious Food : highly recommend octopus provencal , bizree fish , kunafe. Portions are great, cost worthy”July 2021
-
Set business menu Net +1
“The Food (Business Lunch): We opted for the set business menu and were thoroughly impressed.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Food (Business Lunch): We opted for the set business menu and were thoroughly impressed.”March 2026
-
Set menu Net +1
“The set menu is super delicious and very generous portions.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The set menu is super delicious and very generous portions.”April 2022
Honorable mentions (7)
-
Spanish seabass Net +1
“Zein recommended the Spanish seabass, which was truly delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Zein recommended the Spanish seabass, which was truly delicious.”January 2026
-
Taboleh Net +1
“The mezza , cold and hot , are delicious, especially the hummus and taboleh.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The mezza , cold and hot , are delicious, especially the hummus and taboleh.”September 2021
-
Tawook Net +1
“The only decent item was the tawook.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The only decent item was the tawook.”January 2026
-
Fattoush salad Net 0
Mixed feedback
“The Hommos was creamy and rich, and the Fattoush salad was the ideal fresh, crispy counterpoint.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“The Hommos was creamy and rich, and the Fattoush salad was the ideal fresh, crispy counterpoint.”March 2026
-
Grilled fish Net 0
Mixed feedback
“We have ordered fried and grilled fish. I didn’t like fried fish at all as it was full of tiny bones. Grilled one was delicious and tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“We have ordered fried and grilled fish. I didn’t like fried fish at all as it was full of tiny bones. Grilled one was delicious and tasty.”December 2025
-
Iftar Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“I had Iftar here, set-menu for 140 AED per person, appetizers are good, main course is average, and service is excellent”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
-
Set-menu Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“I had Iftar here, set-menu for 140 AED per person, appetizers are good, main course is average, and service is excellent”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
What to Avoid (5)
Food 5
-
Chicken liver Net −1
“The place looks good. Meanwhile the food was very average, shrimps tasted off, the chicken liver was not fresh. The hummus was extremely salty.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The place looks good. Meanwhile the food was very average, shrimps tasted off, the chicken liver was not fresh. The hummus was extremely salty.”July 2025
-
Fried fish Net −1
“We have ordered fried and grilled fish. I didn’t like fried fish at all as it was full of tiny bones.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We have ordered fried and grilled fish. I didn’t like fried fish at all as it was full of tiny bones.”December 2025
-
Fried fish bizre Net −1
“Went there today and all I can say is am a bit disappointed as I was been looking to have nice lunch in there as have been told it’s one of the best but unfortunately it’s not, I ordered shrimp curry which look like a soup and fried fish bizre which is nothing like they have on the pictures”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Went there today and all I can say is am a bit disappointed as I was been looking to have nice lunch in there as have been told it’s one of the best but unfortunately it’s not, I ordered shrimp curry which look like a soup and fried fish bizre which is nothing like they have on the pictures”September 2025
-
Shrimp curry Net −1
“Went there today and all I can say is am a bit disappointed as I was been looking to have nice lunch in there as have been told it’s one of the best but unfortunately it’s not, I ordered shrimp curry which look like a soup and fried fish bizre which is nothing like they have on the pictures”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Went there today and all I can say is am a bit disappointed as I was been looking to have nice lunch in there as have been told it’s one of the best but unfortunately it’s not, I ordered shrimp curry which look like a soup and fried fish bizre which is nothing like they have on the pictures”September 2025
-
Supreme fish fillet Net −1
“Unfortunately, I ordered the Supreme fish fillet, but neither the taste nor the presentation matched what a “Supreme” dish should be.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Unfortunately, I ordered the Supreme fish fillet, but neither the taste nor the presentation matched what a “Supreme” dish should be.”February 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Request medium. If ordering grilled meat, ask for medium doneness; one diner otherwise received burned chops and meat.
Choose grilled fish. Grilled fish received better feedback than fried fish, which one reviewer found full of tiny bones.
Check discounts. Confirm discount eligibility before ordering, since diners reported conflicting information about listed card and company offers.
Plan timing. Allow extra time during busy periods: some customers waited for orders, water and tableware.
Try sunset. The terrace and waterfront atmosphere are especially appealing around sunset, according to one review.
Use valet. If you are driving, the hotel has valet parking available, according to a customer review.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Promenade Level - InterContinental
Al Kheeran - Dubai Festival City, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Sat | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
| Sun | 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Slow service
Some diners waited to order, had to raise their hands repeatedly or found service generally slow.
Inconsistent food
Food quality varies sharply between reviews, with complaints about off-tasting prawns, salty hummus and disappointing fish dishes.
Overcooked grills
One review warns that grilled meat can arrive burned unless you request medium doneness.
Discount confusion
Diners reported problems when trying to use Al Saada Card or company discounts, including lengthy verification at the table.
Late refusal
A late-night diner said the restaurant refused shisha and Moroccan tea despite arriving before the stated midnight closing time.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Karam Al Bahr is a Lebanese seafood restaurant in Dubai Festival City where the main draw is the combination of fresh fish, Lebanese cooking and a waterfront setting. You can choose fish to be cooked your way, order dishes such as mixed grill, hammour or Spanish seabass, and settle in for a longer meal with shisha. The setting is a strong part of the experience.
Reviews describe an outdoor terrace overlooking the promenade and Dubai Creek, with fountain and laser shows, waterfront breezes and even Festival City fireworks visible during dinner. The atmosphere also suits families, couples and business lunches, while hotel valet parking is available. Food and service are not completely consistent.
Many diners praise the hummus, fresh mezzes, grilled fish and attentive hospitality, but others report slow ordering, salty dishes, off-tasting prawns or disappointing fish preparation. If ordering grilled meat, ask for medium doneness; one customer received burned chops otherwise. Grilled fish may be a safer choice than fried fish, which was reported to contain many tiny bones.
Prices are described as reasonable by some reviewers, though another calls them a little high. An Iftar set menu was reported at 140 AED per person. Check discount eligibility before ordering, and allow extra time if visiting during a busy service.