The UAE loves a business lunch, and every restaurant seems to have a bargain midday deal.
However, not every set menu has a lot to offer for those on a vegan or vegetarian diet.
So, to save you the trouble of hunting down menus and ringing up venues, we’ve compiled a list of 11 of the best vegetarian-friendly business lunches in the UAE.
Whether you’re in the mood for Indian, Asian, Italian, or want to try the UAE’s top award-winning restaurants for a fraction of the normal cost, we’ve got your next business lunch date sorted.
BB Social Dining – Rosewood Abu Dhabi and DIFC, Dubai
Cool and trendy, BB Social Dining is renowned for its lively brunches. But, you don’t have to wait until the weekend to experience its award-winning combination of tasty bites, beautiful decor, and elegant upbeat vibes. Spanning thick and creamy super green hummus, crispy sprouts with soy and chilli, light and fluffy tofu kimchi baos, and aromatic cauliflower katsu, the business lunch is brimming with creative vegetarian appetisers, baos, and grills. Proving that meat-free cuisine can be exciting and interesting, saving room for a slice of ultra-creamy baked cheesecake is also essential.
Weekdays, 12pm to 4pm. AED 125, add a dessert for AED 20. @bbabudhabi.
Beau Rivage Bistro – Grand Millenium Business Bay, Dubai
Overlooking the shimmering waters of the Dubai Water Canal, Parisian-themed Beau Rivage Bistro offers a whole lunch menu that’s purely dedicated to vegetarian cuisine. Inviting you to feast on classic mediterranean favourites such as burrata salad and pumpkin risotto, and contemporary recipes such as pistachio-crusted tofu with horseradish potatoes, and crispy avocado fries served with a scoop of vibrant beetroot moutabel, you’ll be hard pushed to find a better meat-free business lunch in Dubai.
Weekdays, 12pm to 3pm. From AED 105. @beaurivagebistrodubai.
BOCA – DIFC, Dubai
Experience the vibrant flavours of Spain and the Mediterranean at our favourite sustainable fine dining restaurant, BOCA. Located in the heart of DIFC, BOCA’s menu, curated by Chef Patricia Roig for the Green Michelin Star eatery, brings together the best of Spanish cuisine with a modern twist. Vegetarian options include the roasted sweet potato with dairy-free sour cream and the green spelt risotto with Manchego crumble. Finish your meal on a sweet note with Galician crepes drizzled with dulce de leche. Whether you’re looking for a quick yet satisfying two-course meal or a more leisurely three-course experience, BOCA’s business lunch is a perfect choice for those seeking quality and value.
Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 3:30pm. From AED 115 per person. @bocadubai
Cafe 302 – Al Maha Arjaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi
Offering one of the biggest vegan menus in Abu Dhabi, the legendary ‘Best of Cafe 302’ menu is an amazing deal that never gets old. Offering a starter, main and drink for just AED 89, the extensive menu includes more than 12 incredible plant-based options, and lots of meat free ones, too. The salads are simply enormous and, no matter how warm it is outside, the homemade vegetable soups always go down a dream. Ensuring you’re filled with energy throughout the day, the Beyond meat pizza is a satisfying alternative protein source, while the curry thali and vegan bolognese are the ultimate comfort foods.
Daily, 12pm to 10pm. AED 89. @cafe302.
Café Sushi , Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi
Even the most dedicated of vegans sometimes get a craving for a little Japanese food. Thankfully, Café Sushi’s legendary unlimited sushi deal has the perfect solution. The endless conveyor-belt spread now includes a new range of vegan fish and seafood maki rolls that look so convincing you would swear they were the real thing. Alongside the clever vegan substitutes, you can also feast on vegetarian sushi, bowls of miso soup, and as many edamame beans as you like. Plus, if you really fancy turning your lunch break into a celebration, you can add free-flowing house beverages for AED 150.
Daily, 12pm to 3pm, and 7pm to 10pm. AED 179. @cafesushi_abudhabi.
Certo, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City
Ideal for when you’re extra hungry and slightly pressed for time, the Certo express lunch menu offers a tempting choice of simple, no nonsense, and immensely high-quality vegan and vegetarian options. Bound to become your new favourite lunchtime indulgence, the ultra-cheesy arancini balls, juicy tomato bruschetta, fresh caprese salads, make-your-own homemade pastas, and Neapolitan crispy pizzas are as authentically Italian as they come.
Weekdays, 12pm to 3.15pm. One course AED 39, two courses AED 89, three courses AED 99. @certodubai.
Flamingo Room – The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, and Jumeirah Al Naseem, Dubai
Pink, sparkly, and unashamedly flamboyant, few restaurant interiors are more stunning than those of Flamingo Room by tashas. The business lunch provides the perfect opportunity to admire its stunning African-inspired decor, sample its contemporary Mediterranean dishes, and maybe even indulge in a cocktail or two. Prioritising style and substance in equal measure, the refined menu features delectable vegetarian dishes such as fresh butternut carpaccio, colourful house salads, homemade traditional Italian pastas, and premium quality sides like nutrient-rich African spinach and creamy herb mash.
Weekdays, 12pm to 3pm. AED 135. @flamingoroomae.
La Petite Maison, DIFC, Dubai
Chic and sophisticated, La Petite Maison is the epitome of French Riviera elegance, offering a reasonably priced business lunch that doesn’t compromise on quality. With starter options like the fresh and zesty Red Cabbage Salad with Hazelnut Dressing or the sweet and savory Quinoa Salad with Raisins and Goji Berries, vegetarians are well-catered for. For the main course, enjoy a creamy Risotto with seasonal mushrooms and parmesan.
La Petite Maison’s business lunch offers the excellence of French cuisine without breaking the bank, and if you still have room, don’t miss the chance to end your meal on a sweet note with their selection of desserts.
Weekdays, 12pm to 3pm. Le Petit Menu: AED 135 per person (1 starter, 1 main course) Le Grand Menu: AED 180 per person (1 starter, 1 main course, 1 dessert) @lpm_dubai
Mr Toad’s – Various locations, Dubai
Taking the traditional British pub into the modern world, this crazily good-value lunch deal features an admirable array of vegan and veggie options. While some pubs offer nothing but reheated vegetable lasagna as a meat-free option, Mr Toad’s invites you to choose between starters of dynamite cauliflower and daily homemade soups, hearty comfort-foods such as vegetable biryani, mushroom risotto, and feta and harissa penne, and generously portioned vegan superfood bowls, avocado toasts, and kale, feta and barley salads.
Available on weekends as well as weekdays, it’s ideal for your next low-key meet up.
Daily, 12pm to 5pm. One course with soft drink AED 40 (one person), AED 70 (sharing), two courses and one soft drink AED 55 (one person), AED 100 (sharing). @mrtoadsme.
OAK – Jumeirah 3, Dubai
Filled with imaginative vegetarian Asian recipes, the OAK business lunch is ideal for those who are craving something spicy and flavoursome. Starting with a bowl of edamame, you can then choose between grilled corn and quinoa salad, or wood fired beetroot and guacamole salad, followed by fresh butternut carpaccio, and a main of either homemade gnocchi pesto parmesan, or kimchi cauliflower. To elevate the experience even further, you can add a sumptuous side of teriyaki mushroom or grilled avocado, and decadent desserts such as the ultra-tempting sea-salt caramel and banana pudding.
Daily, 12pm to 4pm. AED 120. @oakdubai.
Punjab Grill – The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, and Anantara Downtown, Dubai
If you’re a fan of Indian cuisine, this extravagant business lunch will blow your mind. Named as one of best restaurants with a view by the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi and featured in the prestigious Gault&Millau rankings, the UAE capital branch is completed with a stunning terrace overlooking the Grand Canal, while the Dubai location boasts a live open kitchen. Specialising in luxurious, modern and beautifully presented Indian cuisine, more than half the business lunch is vegetarian friendly.
Taking in piles of vibrant palak patta chaat, spicy grilled paneer, irresistable curried broccoli, and sides of rich and creamy makhani sauce, veggie-packed palak saag, and all the freshly baked naans and fluffy basmati rice you could ever want, it’s an extra special experience deserving of the most important occasions.
Abu Dhabi – weekdays, 12.30pm to 4pm, Dubai – weekdays, 11.30am to 4pm. AED 130 for regular menu, AED 150 for premium menu. @punjabgrillabudhabi @punjabgrilldubai.
The Pods – Bluewater’s Island, Dubai
If you like to enjoy privacy, intimacy, and panoramic views while you dine, The Pods are your perfect dining concept. Quirky, unique, and far more than just a fine-dining fad, the daily lunch menu will set you back an unbelievably reasonable AED 99. Spanning vegetable tom yum soup, shiitake mushroom and avocado salad, Asian stir-fried vegetables, sweet and sour tofu, and vegetable Thai green curry, you’ll be spoilt for choice with all the high-quality vegetarian options. Featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the mesmerising views over the blue Arabian Gulf don’t hurt either.
Daily, 1pm to 4pm, AED 99. @thepodsdubai.
