Live shows
Live singers, Bollywood medleys, impersonators and dance performances give the rooftop a proper evening-out feel.
The Original Rooftop by Citrus
Bur Dubai
The Original Rooftop by Citrus in Bur Dubai pairs city views with a lively lounge atmosphere, live music and dance performances. Reviews also point to a broad food-and-drinks menu, with dishes such as pizza, butter chicken and roti mentioned by diners.
Reputation Score
4.2
★★★★☆
903 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Rooftop views
The terrace and rooftop setting provide city views that several diners considered a highlight.
Group space
There is enough room for groups, including a floor area large enough for dancing and organised gatherings.
Food quality
Specific dishes receive praise, including the samosa appetiser, butter chicken, roti and aloo gobhi.
Attentive service
Some visits report fast, friendly service, with staff described as polite and attentive during a drinks-bar visit.
Pool table
A well-maintained pool table adds an activity beyond dining, drinks and the entertainment programme.
What to Eat at The Original Rooftop by Citrus 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 The Original Rooftop by Citrus, 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.
These items at The Original Rooftop by Citrus got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 5
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Aloo gobhi Net +1
“Very tasty food with live music and dance on Bollywood songs , aloo gobhi we ordered was very tasty , thanks to chef who cooked with heart.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Very tasty food with live music and dance on Bollywood songs , aloo gobhi we ordered was very tasty , thanks to chef who cooked with heart.”January 2022
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Butter chicken Net +1
“Food was really good, samosa appetiser was a perfect start, followed by butter chicken and roti.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was really good, samosa appetiser was a perfect start, followed by butter chicken and roti.”January 2023
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Pizza Net +1
“We tried pizza is good taste with and drinks are average normal as i feel”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We tried pizza is good taste with and drinks are average normal as i feel”February 2026
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Roti Net +1
“Food was really good, samosa appetiser was a perfect start, followed by butter chicken and roti.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was really good, samosa appetiser was a perfect start, followed by butter chicken and roti.”January 2023
-
Samosa appetiser Net +1
“Food was really good, samosa appetiser was a perfect start, followed by butter chicken and roti.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Food was really good, samosa appetiser was a perfect start, followed by butter chicken and roti.”January 2023
Tips for a Better Visit
Book directly. Confirm reservations directly with the venue; one diner said Zomato bookings were not accepted for seating decisions.
Arrive early. Arriving around 8pm helped one booked party avoid table trouble, so earlier visits may be easier.
Check music. Ask about the night’s music before settling in if you want something beyond Hindi songs.
Expect noise. This is a high-volume nightlife venue, not a quiet dinner spot; plan accordingly if loud music is uncomfortable.
Parking plan. Ask for the basement-parking pin if valet is unavailable; one organiser said it solved the parking problem.
Check shisha. If ordering shisha, check its condition promptly and question any charge when the session has not worked properly.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Royal Ascot Hotel - Khalid Bin Al Waleed Rd
Bur Dubai, Dubai
| Mon | 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Tue | 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Wed | 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Thu | 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Fri | 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Sat | 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Sun | 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Very loud
Music can be loud enough to cause discomfort, and one review says it continued until 2am.
Music choices
Several diners felt the DJ prioritised Hindi music or a particular group and ignored requests for other styles.
Seating disputes
One booking party reported being offered high chairs and told front seating depended on a higher minimum spend.
Shisha problems
Shisha feedback is mixed, including a report of repeated repairs followed by an attempted charge for a poor session.
Crowding
A congested indoor table arrangement was linked by one reviewer to a child falling on the stairs.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
The Original Rooftop by Citrus is a Bur Dubai lounge built around an evening of views, food and entertainment rather than a quiet meal. You can come for live singers, Bollywood music, dance shows and impersonator performances, with space for group celebrations and even a pool table. The rooftop setting and energetic crowd are the main draw.
Food reviews are generally favourable, with the samosa appetiser, butter chicken and roti, aloo gobhi and pizza all receiving specific praise. Drinks range from mocktails and cocktails to beer, while shisha is available. Service is uneven: some diners describe it as fast, friendly and attentive, while others report slow service, rude management or abrupt handling of requests.
Plan ahead for a loud, party-focused atmosphere. Music has been described as extremely loud, sometimes continuing until 2am, and several guests were unhappy when requests for non-Hindi or different songs were ignored. Booking directly is worth confirming, as one party said a Zomato reservation was not accepted for preferred seating.
Arriving early may help, and basement parking is a useful fallback when valet is unavailable. Families do attend, but congestion, smoking and the nightlife volume may not suit every group.