InterContinental Dubai Marina

Set inside the InterContinental hotel on Dubai Marina, Papas looks out over the waterfront through a trattoria-style dining room built to read as a neighbourhood eatery rather than a hotel restaurant. The outdoor terrace closes over summer, but the indoor room keeps its marina outlook, with bright, plain furnishings meant to feel more like a kitchen table than a formal dining hall. Cooking draws on Italian trattoria staples, seasonal where possible, built around sharing. Panzanella, nduja and burrata pizza, veal ossobuco and Sicilian cannoli anchor the menu. It is family Italian food, plainly done. The week carries a set rhythm of its own. Thursday brings a ladies' night with a set menu and two hours of free-flow drinks; Friday runs three courses with two drinks against the marina backdrop; Saturday afternoon turns to Nonna's House, a brunch with a live DJ. You can watch the marina traffic pass while the room fills for brunch, or arrive early on a Friday for a quieter start. Reservations for the main dining room and terrace during brunch are restricted to guests aged 21 and over, with a separate family area for tables with children. Smart casual dress applies, and sportswear or open-toed shoes are not permitted for men.