The weather is finally changing, which means one thing in Dubai: alfresco season is officially back.
And just in time for those long evenings outdoors, ZEA Dubai has opened ZEA Garden, a new open-air dining destination in DIFC combining lush greenery, a dedicated terrace menu, sundowners and uninterrupted views of the Burj Khalifa.
Now open since October 1, the Garden has been designed for those Dubai afternoons that start with a late lunch or after-work drink and somehow turn into dinner, cocktails and the rest of the evening.
More Than Just A Terrace
ZEA Garden isn’t simply the restaurant with a few tables moved outside.
The new space has been designed with an identity of its own: relaxed but polished, sociable without feeling overcrowded and intimate enough for everything from date night to drinks with friends.
The venue images show a terrace surrounded by dense greenery, with warm natural finishes, deep green seating and the Downtown skyline rising above it. Most importantly, there’s a pretty impressive Burj Khalifa view waiting in the background.
It’s very Dubai, but without feeling like it’s trying too hard.
The Terrace Gets Its Own Menu
Executive Chef Sundeep Taucoory has created a dedicated menu specifically for the Garden, taking ZEA’s Mediterranean foundations and introducing playful Latin American and Peruvian influences.
For something light, there’s Hamachi Tiradito with aji amarillo ponzu, scallions and truffle, alongside Crispy Calamari with smoked paprika and lemon aioli. The ZEA Guacamole brings lime, coriander and jalapeño into the mix, while the Avocado Tartine combines poached egg, feta, pomegranate and chilli.
If you’re arriving hungry, things get considerably more indulgent.
Wagyu, Lomo Saltado & Plenty From The Grill
The Wagyu Beef Sliders come with Manchego, pickles and fries, while the 9+ Wagyu Striploin is served with chimichurri and truffle fries.
There’s also Lomo Saltado, combining beef tenderloin with aji amarillo, soy and crispy potatoes, and Baby Chicken paired with Peruvian chilli and grilled broccolini.
Seafood lovers aren’t forgotten either. Spaghetti de Gambas brings together chilli, garlic prawns, Kalamata olives and lemon, while roasted salmon is finished with aji amarillo butter, fennel, orange and feta.
And if you’re staying for dessert, options range from the tropical Vegan Chia Delight with mango and passion fruit to Matcha Tiramisu with pistachio crumble and homemade Lemon & Yuzu Sorbet.
From Golden Hour to Late-Night Drinks
The Garden has been designed to change character as the evening progresses.
Early on, it’s an easy option for an informal meeting or a relaxed escape from the office. But as the sun starts to disappear behind Downtown, cocktails arrive, the shisha comes out and the Burj Khalifa becomes the backdrop for the evening.
Dinner can turn into drinks, and drinks can quite easily turn into a late night without having to move anywhere else.
With the venue open until 2am, there’s no particular reason to rush.
Everything You Need to Know
- What: ZEA Garden
- Opening: 1 October 2026
- Where: ZEA Dubai, Level C, Emirates Financial Towers, DIFC
- Opening Days: Tuesday to Saturday
- Opening Hours: 5pm – 2am
- Reservations: +971 56 402 6633
- Email: reservations@zeadubai.com
- Website: zeadubai.com
- Instagram: @zea.dubai
The Gulf Buzz Take
There are few things Dubai residents appreciate more than the moment the weather finally allows us to move dinner back outside.
ZEA Garden arrives at exactly the right time, combining Burj Khalifa views, greenery, a dedicated terrace menu, cocktails and a setting designed to carry you from golden hour well into the night.
DIFC certainly isn’t short of places to eat and drink, but when Dubai’s alfresco season arrives, a table outside with that skyline in front of you is going to be difficult to argue with.
