Authentic cooking
Italian reviewers describe the food as genuinely close to what they would eat in Italy, with homemade bread, pasta and ice cream.
Marini Restaurant
Al Sufouh
Marini is an Italian / Mediterranean restaurant in Al Sufouh, known for authentic cooking and a warm, polished setting. Reviews point especially to its pizza and homemade desserts, including pistachio gelato, making it a good choice for a relaxed lunch, dinner or coffee stop.
Reputation Score
4.6
★★★★★
195 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Excellent pizza
The pizza is repeatedly praised; one review highlights its crispy crust, fresh ingredients and full flavour.
Homemade pasta
Homemade pasta is a recurring strength, with reviews describing it as nostalgic, distinctive and carefully made.
Pistachio gelato
Pistachio gelato is one of the restaurant's standout desserts, alongside other homemade gelato and Italian sweets.
Welcoming service
Many diners find the team attentive and accommodating, with repeat guests saying staff remember preferences such as extras and exclusions.
Warm setting
The interior is described as rustic yet elegant, with Italian photographs, plants and soft background music creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Group dining
A group of 15 reported that every dish arrived fresh and delicious, suggesting the kitchen can handle larger gatherings well.
What to Eat at Marini Restaurant 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 Marini Restaurant, 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.
These items at Marini Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 10
-
Pistachio gelato Net +2
“All dishes were approved by friends and family. I particularly loved the pizza and the pistachio gelato”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“All dishes were approved by friends and family. I particularly loved the pizza and the pistachio gelato”February 2026
“Their specialty pistachio gelato was perfect as well.”February 2025
-
Tiramisu Net +2
“They serve authentic italian food with high quality ingredients and fully packed with flavors, fresh and delicious.there desserts are also really good… will highly recommend everyone to try their tiramisu.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They serve authentic italian food with high quality ingredients and fully packed with flavors, fresh and delicious.there desserts are also really good… will highly recommend everyone to try their tiramisu.”March 2023
“Absolutely delicious! The food and service were so good, we went back a second evening. Must have the tiramisu!”January 2025
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Truffle arancini Net +2
“I try two different starters: the quinoa octopus salad and the arancini truffles was both delicious!”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I try two different starters: the quinoa octopus salad and the arancini truffles was both delicious!”March 2023
“Delicious and homemade truffle arancini, chicken milanese followed by a unique melanzane pasta.”October 2023
-
Beef sislik Net +1
“The beef sislik was amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The beef sislik was amazing.”June 2025
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Chef's unique pasta Net +1
“What sets Marini Restaurant apart is the chef's unique pasta, handcrafted with love and attention, resulting in a truly distinctive and unforgettable taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“What sets Marini Restaurant apart is the chef's unique pasta, handcrafted with love and attention, resulting in a truly distinctive and unforgettable taste.”March 2023
-
Chicken milanese Net +1
“Delicious and homemade truffle arancini, chicken milanese followed by a unique melanzane pasta.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Delicious and homemade truffle arancini, chicken milanese followed by a unique melanzane pasta.”October 2023
-
Lasagna Net +1
“The lasagna felt like real comfort food, rich and satisfying.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The lasagna felt like real comfort food, rich and satisfying.”May 2025
-
Margherita with additional mushrooms Net +1
“Great Italian pizza (I tried margherita with additional mushrooms) at a decent price (60 AED). Friendly staff.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great Italian pizza (I tried margherita with additional mushrooms) at a decent price (60 AED). Friendly staff.”February 2025
-
Melanzane pasta Net +1
“Delicious and homemade truffle arancini, chicken milanese followed by a unique melanzane pasta.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Delicious and homemade truffle arancini, chicken milanese followed by a unique melanzane pasta.”October 2023
-
Quinoa octopus salad Net +1
“I try two different starters: the quinoa octopus salad and the arancini truffles was both delicious!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I try two different starters: the quinoa octopus salad and the arancini truffles was both delicious!”March 2023
Drinks 1
-
Espresso Net +1
“To top it all off, the espresso was spot on—strong, smooth, and really well-made.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“To top it all off, the espresso was spot on—strong, smooth, and really well-made.”May 2025
What to Avoid (1)
Food 1
-
Red prawn carpaccio Net −1
“We tried red prawn carpaccio: fresh! Could be fantastic but oversalted!”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We tried red prawn carpaccio: fresh! Could be fantastic but oversalted!”March 2024
Tips for a Better Visit
Save room. Leave space for dessert: the pistachio gelato is a frequently praised choice, and diners also recommend the tiramisu.
Try lunch. For a business lunch, check the two-course 99 AED or three-course 120 AED offer mentioned in a review.
Plan parking. If you are driving, allow extra time to find parking around the business district, where one diner found it tricky.
Bring a layer. The air conditioning was uncomfortably strong for one diner, so a light layer may make a long meal more comfortable.
Ask clearly. If an Italian dish name is unfamiliar, ask for an explanation before ordering; one reviewer found the menu difficult to understand.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Al Majarrah St
Al Sufouh - Al Sufouh 2, Dubai
| Mon | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Tue | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Wed | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Thu | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Fri | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Sat | 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Sun | Closed |
Common Concerns
Not cheap
One detailed review described the restaurant as not cheap, with individual dishes landing between 50 and 200 AED.
Parking difficulty
Parking can be tricky in the surrounding business district, so allow extra time if you are driving.
Cold interior
One diner found the air conditioning excessively strong and said the restaurant was very cold inside.
Uneven service
Although service is often praised, some diners reported inattentive service or inconsistent attention during their visit.
Menu clarity
A reviewer found the menu difficult to understand because the dish names were in Italian.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Marini is an Italian / Mediterranean restaurant in Al Sufouh that stands out for food rather than simply being a business-district stop. You can come for pizza, homemade pasta, Italian desserts and a full lunch or dinner; reviews from Italian diners describe the cooking as genuinely authentic, while repeat customers praise the fresh ingredients and consistently satisfying meals. Pizza is the safest starting point.
One diner specifically praised its crispy crust and fresh toppings, while another highlighted a light sourdough base. The pistachio gelato is another recurring favourite, and tiramisu, homemade gelato, truffle arancini and beef sislik all receive individual mentions. The setting is generally described as intimate, peaceful and rustic-elegant, with vintage Italian photographs and a warm atmosphere that suits dates, family meals and business lunches.
Pricing varies by order. A detailed review put individual dishes at roughly 50–200 AED, although another mentioned a business-lunch deal of 99 AED for two courses or 120 AED for three. Parking may be tricky around the business area.
Service is usually friendly and attentive, but a few diners reported inconsistency, and one found the air conditioning uncomfortably strong. If you are sensitive to cold interiors, bring a light layer.