Fresh pizza
Several reviews praise crisp pizza crusts, generous toppings and fresh ingredients, including the Margherita and Verdure pizzas.
Vapiano
Downtown Dubai
Vapiano is a laid-back Italian restaurant in Downtown Dubai serving made-to-order pasta, pizza and salads. Reviews especially point to customizable pasta, fresh Margherita pizza and outdoor tables with views of The Dubai Fountain near Burj Khalifa.
Reputation Score
4.7
★★★★★
6,802 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Custom pasta
You can customize pasta to your preferences, with chefs preparing dishes in front of diners.
Fountain views
Outdoor seating beside the fountain gives diners a clear view of the evening fountain shows and Burj Khalifa skyline.
Vegetarian choices
Vegetarian diners have well-reviewed options such as Verdure Pizza, Primavera Pasta and pesto pasta.
Family friendly
Reviews mention children’s meals, including a bunny-shaped kids pizza, plus a fountain-show view.
Table service
This Dubai Mall branch has table service, unlike some other Vapiano locations that use self-service.
Airy seating
The bright, spacious atmosphere includes airy seating and both indoor and outdoor options.
What to Eat at Vapiano 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 Vapiano, 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 Vapiano, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 3
-
Bruschetta Net +2
“The bruschetta was also so good. I might be thinking about it after this because it was that good.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The bruschetta was also so good. I might be thinking about it after this because it was that good.”April 2025
“The food there was amazing. Was really thrilled to try their bruschetta and it did not disappoint, even the tomatoes on their own were mouth-watering.”August 2022
-
Fresh margherita pizza Net +2
“I ordered a custom pasta dish and a fresh Margherita pizza, and man, the flavors were completely on point—the pasta was perfectly al dente and the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered a custom pasta dish and a fresh Margherita pizza, and man, the flavors were completely on point—the pasta was perfectly al dente and the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh.”July 2026
“The Margherita pizza we ordered was flavorful, boasting a crispy crust and fresh toppings that truly captured the essence of Italian cuisine.”February 2025
-
Pesto pasta Net +2
“Their pesto pasta is 😋 We had tried their veg options only.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their pesto pasta is 😋 We had tried their veg options only.”February 2025
“Back to our favourite pasta spot outside of Italy🇮🇹 The best pasta was needed and it definitely hit the spot! The pasta tastes the best around. I got the Pesto pasta and the wife got the burrata pasta, both were incredible and it was made within 7 minutes ⏳ Highly recommend 🙌”June 2024
Honorable mentions (11)
-
Alfredo pasta Net +1
“I also enjoyed the Alfredo pasta, which had a rich, creamy sauce that complemented the pasta well, though I would have liked a touch more seasoning.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I also enjoyed the Alfredo pasta, which had a rich, creamy sauce that complemented the pasta well, though I would have liked a touch more seasoning.”September 2024
-
Bolognese Net +1
“I ordered a carbonara and my wife a bolognese and they were spectacular.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered a carbonara and my wife a bolognese and they were spectacular.”June 2024
-
Burrata pasta Net +1
“Back to our favourite pasta spot outside of Italy🇮🇹 The best pasta was needed and it definitely hit the spot! The pasta tastes the best around. I got the Pesto pasta and the wife got the burrata pasta, both were incredible and it was made within 7 minutes ⏳ Highly recommend 🙌”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Back to our favourite pasta spot outside of Italy🇮🇹 The best pasta was needed and it definitely hit the spot! The pasta tastes the best around. I got the Pesto pasta and the wife got the burrata pasta, both were incredible and it was made within 7 minutes ⏳ Highly recommend 🙌”June 2024
-
Caesar salad Net +1
“The Caesar salad complemented the meal perfectly, offering a refreshing and well-balanced taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Caesar salad complemented the meal perfectly, offering a refreshing and well-balanced taste.”February 2025
-
Carbonara Net +1
“I ordered a carbonara and my wife a bolognese and they were spectacular.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered a carbonara and my wife a bolognese and they were spectacular.”June 2024
-
Custom pasta dish Net +1
“I ordered a custom pasta dish and a fresh Margherita pizza, and man, the flavors were completely on point—the pasta was perfectly al dente and the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered a custom pasta dish and a fresh Margherita pizza, and man, the flavors were completely on point—the pasta was perfectly al dente and the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh.”July 2026
-
Lasagna Net +1
“The lasagna was also great although it needed a little bit salt.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The lasagna was also great although it needed a little bit salt.”August 2022
-
Tomato soup Net +1
“The quality was perfect — everything was really delicious, and the service was great! The tomato soup was especially amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The quality was perfect — everything was really delicious, and the service was great! The tomato soup was especially amazing.”October 2025
-
Vegetarian italian meal Net +1
“We had a simply excellent vegetarian Italian meal. The pasta is made instead of a very tasty Italian pizza. Cheap prices relative to the prices in Israel and the level of the portions ♡♡♡ The waiter Jefferson was very kind”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had a simply excellent vegetarian Italian meal. The pasta is made instead of a very tasty Italian pizza. Cheap prices relative to the prices in Israel and the level of the portions ♡♡♡ The waiter Jefferson was very kind”October 2024
-
Chicken scewers Net 0
Mixed feedback
“The chicken skewers were a highlight—tender, flavorful, and perfectly grilled, with a delicious marinade that made each bite irresistible.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“The chicken skewers were a highlight—tender, flavorful, and perfectly grilled, with a delicious marinade that made each bite irresistible.”September 2024
-
Barbecue chicken pizza Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Barbecue chicken Pizza was ok.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 2
-
Coffee Net +1
“Coffee is well done almost with barista quality...”
Positive 1Negative 0Neutral 1
Review excerpts
“Coffee is well done almost with barista quality...”January 2019
-
Lemonade Net +1
“To top it all off, the lemonade was incredibly refreshing—balanced perfectly between sweet and tart.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“To top it all off, the lemonade was incredibly refreshing—balanced perfectly between sweet and tart.”September 2024
What to Avoid (6)
Food 5
-
Pasta Net −1
“We ordered pizza but the pizza was hard and the sauce was sour and for the pasta the prawns were grilled and not cooked with the sauce with a strong taste of garlic and onion and a lot of oil none of this details were mentioned in the menu adding to that the long waiting time (more than 30minutes) to receive the order”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We ordered pizza but the pizza was hard and the sauce was sour and for the pasta the prawns were grilled and not cooked with the sauce with a strong taste of garlic and onion and a lot of oil none of this details were mentioned in the menu adding to that the long waiting time (more than 30minutes) to receive the order”October 2025
-
Penne alfredo in pink sauce with veggies Net −1
“Another Penne Alfredo in pink sauce with veggies was still edible.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Another Penne Alfredo in pink sauce with veggies was still edible.”January 2025
-
Penne alfredo in white sauce Net −1
“Penne Alfredo in white sauce was really average.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Penne Alfredo in white sauce was really average.”January 2025
-
Spaghetti aglio olio Net −1
“My spaghetti aglio olio was bland, it was just boiled and served.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“My spaghetti aglio olio was bland, it was just boiled and served.”January 2025
-
Chicken alfredo pasta Net −2
“I bought a chicken Alfredo pasta, it had too much mushroom that's it. No creamy texture and taste at all.”
Positive 0Negative 2
Critical review excerpts
“I bought a chicken Alfredo pasta, it had too much mushroom that's it. No creamy texture and taste at all.”July 2026
“We ordered the Chicken Alfredo and the Gamberi e Spinaci, and both were extremely underwhelming. The quality of the food was poor, and the portion of chicken in the Alfredo was almost nonexistent — barely a few pieces in the entire dish. It’s surprising they promote this as a “best seller.””March 2026
Drinks 1
-
Ice lemon tea Net −1
“Ice lemon tea can be bit better 😀”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Ice lemon tea can be bit better 😀”February 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Sit outside. Choose an outdoor table if the fountain show is part of your plan; several reviews say the evening view is the main attraction.
Try off-peak. For a quieter meal, consider early afternoon: one visit around 1 PM was not crowded and had helpful service.
Customize dishes. Ask about customizing pasta or pizza, especially if you have vegetarian preferences or a particular combination in mind.
Check doneness. If pasta texture matters to you, mention your preference when ordering; multiple diners reported undercooked pasta.
Expect table service. At this Dubai Mall branch, expect table service rather than the self-service setup reported at other Vapiano locations.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Ground Floor, Fountain side, The Dubai Mall
Burj Khalifa - Downtown Dubai, 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
Inconsistent pasta
Some diners found pasta undercooked, while others described Alfredo as greasy, bland or lacking its creamy texture.
Small portions
The chicken portion in one Alfredo was described as almost nonexistent, while another chicken dish was estimated at 80–100 grams.
Long waits
One review reports waiting more than 30 minutes, alongside complaints about hard pizza and oily pasta.
Dish mismatch
A recent diner said the chicken Alfredo had too many mushrooms but lacked the expected creamy texture and taste.
Poor response
One customer reported unprofessional treatment after raising a mistake with the crew.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
40 AED
chicken scewers
“Bought chicken scewers priced at 40 AED”Google review · July 2026
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Vapiano is a laid-back Italian restaurant in Downtown Dubai, inside Dubai Mall, where the practical draw is fresh, made-to-order food with a strong setting. You can order customizable pasta, Margherita pizza, pesto pasta or salads, and several reviews describe chefs preparing dishes in view of the dining room. The outdoor tables are the big experience-maker.
Diners describe clear views of The Dubai Fountain, the Burj Khalifa skyline and evening fountain shows, while indoor seating is bright, spacious and relaxed. Families can order kids’ meals; one review mentions a bunny-shaped kids pizza. Vegetarian diners also have options such as Verdure Pizza and Primavera Pasta.
Food quality is not completely consistent. Pizza is often praised for a crisp crust and fresh toppings, but other reviews report undercooked pasta, greasy or bland sauces, and a Chicken Alfredo with very little chicken. One diner waited more than 30 minutes, so an off-peak visit may be sensible; a 1 PM visit was described as uncrowded.
Prices are called reasonable in some reviews, but a chicken-skewer order was 40 AED for three mini skewers, and portion sizes may feel light for the location.