Rialto – Where Old-World Italy Meets a New Dubai Icon
Review by James Knight Paccheco
I am going to say it. I thought Italian food was just the traditional staples, pizza, pasta, and gelato.
Very presumptuous for a chef I know, however the truth is yours truly wasn’t prepared for the journey of wonder that lay before me.
The Dubai dining scene we know is one of the best in the world, having had the fortune to experience so many, Rialto truly blew me away, this is a restaurant that deserves to be on your radar!
The Story
Inspired by the glamour of Italy’s golden age, Rialto feels like stepping into a bygone era.
It is so beautiful in fact, it almost feels like a film set, a 1920s impeccable old style set, or could even be mistaken for one of the many rooms in Gatsby’s mansion.
The dining room itself is stunning, high ceilings, rich textures, polished marble, warm lighting and impeccable attention to detail create a dining room that is sophisticated, to me this is what an old school dining room should be, opulent, slightly mysterious, and has a certain allure that you can’t quite put your finger on.
It is luxurious, yes, but most importantly, it is comfortable. The sort of venue where two hours somehow become four.
First Impressions
Walking into Rialto, tucked inside the breathtaking Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, you immediately understand that this isn’t another Italian restaurant trying to compete in Dubai’s already crowded dining scene.
My mother from a young age told me, that first impressions are everything, she wasn’t wrong. Walking through the hotel lobby, I did not know what to expect, there is the story that you see online and then there’s the truth. Was I wrong to think it was going to be a simple lunch, with no fireworks!
After so long working in the world of hospitality, it is rare to be taken aback, my thoughts were the following when walking in. The place has a confidence about it. A quiet elegance. The kind that doesn’t need to shout because it already knows exactly what it is.
As a chef and lover of restaurants, I always say the room sets the expectation, the front of house team has to give you a warm welcoming embrace, and the kitchen has to deliver on the promise.
Thankfully, Rialto delivers on all fronts!
The Food
One of the biggest misconceptions about Italian food is that it is simple. Here it isn’t.
This type of Italian cooking is disciplined.
Italians have the upper hand, not only do they have great produce, they have one of the richest food heritages, steeped in history, it is engraved in their DNA, this is why even the most simplest of dishes have to be understood from the ground up.
Every ingredient has to earn its place, balance, texture, technique, and above all deliver bags of flavour. Every sauce has to know when to stop. Every pasta has to have the perfect bite. There is nowhere to hide behind unnecessary techniques or overcomplicated presentations.
That is precisely what impressed me here.
The cooking demonstrates complex simplicity, something many luxury restaurants struggle to achieve. Nothing feels overly forced. Flavours remain clean, balanced and bold, allowing exceptional produce to speak for itself rather than becoming buried beneath unnecessary embellishment.
Yes, there are highlights to the menu, the first little details which arrive set the scene, two year old Parmeggiano, along with the beautiful bread basket served with the lightest air like focaccia, along with the house made tomato and chili jam.
The house made cold cuts are also something of a delicacy, considering how many months it takes perfect such things.
The usual suspects are included, however what made me look up is the “Tomato Menu” an entire section dedicated to tomatoes, so obvious right, but I’ve not seen this in a while. Incredible raw and cooked fish dishes, langoustines are a must try!
Not one to sound boring or cliche, but a dish I cannot stop thinking about is the the fresh pasta, spaghetti to be precise, with an acidic cream sauce accompanied with caviar mixed at the table, it was pure and utter delicious exuberance in a mouthful. It was exactly what you’d hope for; silky, delicate and cooked with precision.
Sauces coat rather than overwhelm, creating harmony instead of competition. It’s cooking that understands one of the hardest lessons in gastronomy: knowing when enough is enough.
And that, ironically, is what elevates the entire experience.
Above all, leave room for a dessert or three!
The Hospitality
Service deserves equal recognition.
Hospitality isn’t simply carrying plates or glasses to a table. It’s reading people, becoming an on the spot psychologist. Knowing when to engage, when to step back, when to recommend and when to simply let guests enjoy the moment.
The team at Rialto understand this beautifully, even when we arrived, they made us feel like friends rather than guests, professional without being formal.
Our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable without being snooty, best of all, he was attentive without ever interrupting the flow of our conversation, we all know how painfully rare that is theses days.
It’s a level of hospitality that feels increasingly extraordinary, and one that deserves recognition.
Nothing felt at all rushed.
Each course arrived like clockwork, the check backs were seamless, and the experience unfolded exactly as Italian dining should be, delivered with gusto.
The wine list has some fantastic labels, all at very affordable price points, if you happen to be the designated driver, they also have some seriously good non-alcoholic beverages on offer.
I would also recommend checking out their delightfully elegant cocktail bar, which just so happens to be directly opposite the restaurant, you wont regret it.
The business lunch is also something to be considered, at just 165AED for 3 courses, or for those of you who work in dollars - 45USD.
A perfect way to end the week I would say!
Why Rialto Works
In my view, great restaurants are like a rare breed theses days, they feel almost extinct!
When you feel true un-apologetic hospitality, it hooks you in a way that keeps you up at night, you think about it for hours on end, which is precisely what happened to me after my experience there.
Encapsulating perfection, I had wondered into a mystical land, a place where I could just be myself for a few hours, this captured my full attention.
The team designed a timeless menu, which was designed to be shared, to create memories, to celebrate good company.
The restaurant itself, allows you lose yourself, no thoughts of work or what is happening outside these walls, transporting you to only focus on the here and now.
Rialto captures all of these feelings remarkably well.
Of course, I suppose the setting helps too.
Final Reflection
Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab has quickly established itself as one of Dubai’s most exciting luxury destinations, and Rialto feels perfectly at home within it. It delivers the elegance guests expect from the property while maintaining its own distinct personality rather than becoming just another beautiful hotel restaurant.
The biggest questions is would I return? Without hesitation, not because the food is excellent, or because the room is stunning, and certainly not because the service is well polished.
I would return because Rialto understands something that many restaurants forget.
The restaurant has bundles of confidence. Confidence to cook simply. Confidence to serve graciously.
Confidence to allow great ingredients, talented people and genuine hospitality to do the talking.
If you’re looking for one of Dubai’s standout Italian dining experiences this year, whether it’s for a celebration, an important business lunch, a romantic evening or simply because you appreciate exceptional cooking, Rialto deserves a place on your list.
CHEFJKP VERDICT
Food ★★★★★ (9.5/10)
Cooking with confidence. Refined, elegant and respectful of Italian tradition while embracing modern luxury.
Service ★★★★★ (10/10)
Professional, intuitive and beautifully paced. Hospitality that feels genuine rather than rehearsed.
Atmosphere ★★★★★ (10/10)
One of Dubai’s most elegant dining rooms, perfectly suited to its home inside Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab.
Value ★★★★☆ (9/10)
A luxury dining experience that delivers on expectation. You’re paying for craftsmanship, exceptional hospitality and a memorable evening.
Would I Return?
Without question.
For the cooking, the atmosphere, most importantly, because Rialto understands going beyond the guests expectations.
CHEFJKP Final Score
9.6 / 10
An elegant celebration of Italian hospitality where exceptional cooking, understated luxury and genuine warmth come together to create one of Dubai’s finest dining experiences.
Food is memories!
Opening times
Open Wednesday to Sunday
Lunch: 12:30 to 15:00
Dinner: 18:30 to 23:00
Contact
Dress Code:
Smart casual for lunch and elegant for dinner
Age Policy:
Guests aged seven and above are welcome for dinner