The Review
José Avillez is the most decorated Portuguese chef working today — the holder of multiple Michelin stars in Lisbon, including the two-star Belcanto, one of the Iberian Peninsula's most prestigious tables. When he chose Dubai for his first restaurant outside Portugal, he chose the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, a hotel that sits on Jumeirah Beach Road with an infinity pool and terrace cantilevered over the Gulf. The combination of Avillez's reputation, a Mandarin Oriental address, and a terrace that looks directly across the Arabian Gulf toward the sun setting over the horizon was, on paper, a rather effective argument for a Michelin star. The Michelin Guide agreed.
Tasca occupies the sixth floor, the terrace reaching toward the water and an interior that is warm and considered rather than imposing. The menu is a love letter to Portugal built for sharing — the tasca (tavern) format Avillez grew up with, raised to a Michelin register and run day to day by head chef José Barroso. The Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, the Porto classic layering salt cod with onion, potato, egg and olives, is the dish to judge the kitchen by. The Bulhão Pato clams arrive in olive oil, garlic, white wine and coriander, exactly as Lisbon does them; the Prego à Tasca turns Portugal's beloved steak sandwich into something worth a starred bill; and the blue lobster and prawn rice is the showpiece. The wine list holds the largest Portuguese selection in Dubai, and the sommeliers know it well.
Tasca serves lunch and dinner daily, the kitchen running from around noon and again from 6:30pm, with a popular weekend brunch when the Gulf light is at its best. The terrace wins in the cooler months, October to April; the dining room is the summer choice. Both look at the water.
Tasca is, in the context of Dubai's dining scene, a genuinely distinctive voice. In a city where French, Japanese, and Italian fine dining are well-represented, a Michelin-starred Portuguese restaurant with José Avillez's pedigree represents real cultural capital. For anyone who wants to demonstrate knowledge of Dubai's restaurant landscape beyond the obvious choices, Tasca is the correct answer.
Best for Impress Clients
The case for Tasca as a client dinner is built on three pillars: chef pedigree, hotel address, and culinary distinctiveness. A client who follows food will recognise José Avillez immediately — his Lisbon restaurants are on every serious European dining itinerary — and the choice of his Dubai table signals that you are someone who tracks the best new openings in the city rather than defaulting to the obvious. The Michelin star provides the institutional validation for those who need it. The Mandarin Oriental context does the rest. As a working dinner, the terrace produces a relaxed energy that encourages conversation, and the menu's Portuguese focus makes it genuinely interesting — a meal to discuss rather than simply consume.
Best for Close a Deal
Tasca's Jumeirah location removes it from the DIFC power corridor, which is, for the right kind of meeting, an advantage. A lunch or dinner here signals deliberate choice rather than geographic convenience. The terrace creates the physical separation from an office environment that makes conversations more honest. The tasting menu format provides a natural rhythm to the meeting — each course is a transition point, a reset. The Portuguese wine list is a conversation starter for anyone with European connections. And the Michelin star means you never have to explain your choice to a counterpart who equates stars with seriousness.
What to Know Before You Go
Tasca by José Avillez is located on the sixth floor of the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira hotel, Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 1, Dubai. It serves lunch and dinner daily — roughly noon to 3:30pm and 6:30pm to 11:30pm — with a popular weekend brunch. The terrace is recommended for months between October and April; the interior is preferred during summer. Reservations through the Mandarin Oriental website are essential — the restaurant does not typically have walk-in availability at peak times. Smart formal dress is required. Valet parking is available at the hotel entrance. For special occasions, contact the restaurant directly to arrange any additional requirements.
Also in Dubai, for Michelin-level cuisine with distinctive national identities, see Trèsind Studio for Indian contemporary fine dining on the Palm, and Il Ristorante by Niko Romito at Bulgari for another globally celebrated chef's Dubai expression. For Impress Clients dining with genuine culinary credentials, see our global occasion guide. For Close a Deal restaurants across Dubai, Tasca offers an alternative to the DIFC circuit that rewards the choice to look beyond the obvious.
Not For
Not for a quick or cheap meal, and not for anyone after the DIFC scene: Tasca is a destination hotel restaurant on Jumeirah Beach Road, priced for a special occasion, with signature seafood dishes that run past AED1,000. If you want casual Portuguese, this is the wrong room.
Frequently Asked
Is Tasca by José Avillez worth it?
Yes, if Portuguese cooking at the top end appeals. José Avillez is Portugal's most decorated chef — his Lisbon flagship Belcanto holds two Michelin stars — and Tasca, his first restaurant outside Portugal, has held a Michelin star since Dubai's inaugural guide. Expect roughly AED550 to AED850 per person, more if you order the signature seafood. The Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá alone justifies the trip.
What should I order at Tasca?
It is built for sharing. Start with the Bulhão Pato clams in garlic, white wine and coriander, then the Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, the Porto salt-cod classic that best shows the kitchen. The Prego à Tasca, a refined Portuguese steak sandwich, and the blue lobster and prawn rice are the dishes to split. Finish with pastel de nata, and let the sommelier pour Portuguese.
How much does Tasca cost, and where is it?
Tasca is on the sixth floor of the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira on Jumeirah Beach Road, with a terrace over the Gulf. À la carte plates start around AED60 (a garlic prawn) and climb past AED1,000 for the grand seafood dishes; budget roughly AED550 to AED850 a head for dinner. Reserve through the Mandarin Oriental two to three weeks ahead. More sit in our Dubai dining guide.
Who is the chef at Tasca?
José Avillez, the chef-patron, is Portugal's most celebrated cook, with two Michelin stars at Belcanto in Lisbon; Tasca is his first restaurant abroad. The kitchen in Dubai is led day to day by head chef José Barroso. Together they cook the tavern food of Portugal — bacalhau, clams, seafood rice — raised to a starred standard.
What is the dress code at Tasca?
Smart and formal. This is a Michelin-starred hotel restaurant, so a jacket for men and equivalent for women is the right call, though it is not strictly black tie. The mood is polished but warm, especially on the terrace at sunset. Plan a long, unhurried dinner and book the terrace in the cooler months for the Gulf view.