Roberto's Returns to DIFC in 2026

Roberto’s, one of Dubai’s most established homegrown Italian restaurants, is preparing to reopen in DIFC in January 2026 with a renewed direction that reconnects the brand with its origins and its place within the city’s dining community. Anchored in the neighbourhood since 2012, the restaurant will enter its next chapter with the perspective of a venue that has grown alongside the city’s evolving tastes.

The relaunch places a stronger emphasis on what has always defined Roberto’s: elevated cooking, premium ingredients, and a dining experience shaped by ease and warmth. It brings forward the heart of Roberto's philosophy, which is centred on conviviality and delivered with the confidence of a homegrown institution.

The space has been reimagined, with a brighter dining room, an expanded terrace, and a new bar lounge featuring a richer, more intimate mood. With a refined take on Milanese mid-century aesthetics, the interiors reflect a timeless elegance with a cinematic, distinctly Italian sense of style. The layout moves naturally from day to night, reflecting the easygoing spirit that has long defined the venue.

In the lead-up to the opening, Roberto’s culinary team spent time in Italy to train under Chef Enrico Bartolini, the country’s most Michelin-starred chef, strengthening their ingredient-led approach and reconnecting with the traditions that guide true Italian cooking. Their time with regional producers and artisans gave deeper context to the ingredients at the heart of the menu, bringing authenticity and a sense of community into the cooking. The experience reinforces the restaurant’s Italian foundation while sharpening the perspective they bring back to Dubai.

More details will be shared ahead of the opening, as Roberto’s finalises an evolution that reflects where the brand is today and where modern Italian dining in the city is headed next.