7 Of The Most Jaw-Droppingly Expensive Foods In Dubai

Dubai is no stranger to extravagance, from “seven-star” hotels, designer boutiques, and luxury mega-yachts, to the tallest building in the world grazing its impressive skyline. And it’s no different when it comes to food and drink. Here are seven of the most crazy-expensive dishes and cocktails to come out of the city.

Kobe tenderloin, Dh985

Seafire Steakhouse & Bar at Atlantis The Palm serves 350g of Kobe tenderloin for $270 (£217). This rare beef comes from the Tajima-gyu breed of cattle found in Japan’s Hyōgo Prefecture in Kobe, and is considered to be the most succulent wagyu in the world. Perhaps this is because the animals are said to be raised listening to classical music, drinking beer, and receiving daily massages with rice wine.

Ground Level, The Avenues, Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah. T: +971 4 426 2626

Spider king crab, Dh2,875

Restaurant, Chinese, Malaysian, Seafood

Brought in from Norway, the sweet spider king crab at Peppercrab costs approximately $785 (£630) for a 2.5kg serving size. The crab is known for being so flavourful that it doesn’t need to be seasoned. But the Grand Hyatt Dubai restaurant ramps this dish up a notch, adding chili and black pepper sauce options for a fiery kick.

Black diamond ice cream, Dh2,999

Cafe, Dessert

Scoopi Café dishes up what might just be the world’s most expensive ice cream. This gourmet sundae is made with vanilla bean ice cream from Madagascar, infused with Iranian saffron and topped with slivers of black truffle from Italy, and – last but not least – sprinkled with edible 23ct gold-leaf flakes. You can try the delicately creamy dessert for a whopping $820 (£658) – but you do get to take home the Versace spoon it’s served with.

The Golden Phoenix cupcake, Dh3,700

The Golden Phoenix is no ordinary cupcake: think Ugandan vanilla beans, Amedei Porcelana chocolate from Tuscany, organic strawberries dipped in gold, and a smattering of 23ct gold flakes. Although no longer available, this sweet treat was once the priciest cupcake across the globe, costing a hefty $1,010 (£810). But it was for a good cause; for every one sold, Bloomsbury’s, in partnership with the World Food Programme, donated 50% of proceeds towards helping to feed underprivileged children.

27.321 cocktail, Dh27,321

The Skyview Bar earned a Guinness World Record in 2009 for the world’s most expensive cocktail when it created the 27.321 cocktail; named after both its price and location – the 27th floor of the 321-meter high Burj Al Arab. With only 10 to be made, this limited-edition tipple costs a mind-blowing $7,439 (£5,963). It’s made from a 55-year-old Macallan single malt Scotch whisky, stirred with one of their exclusive ‘dried fruit bitters’ and poured over ice made from water used at the distillery, sweetened with passionfruit-scented sugar. The beverage is served in an 18ct-gold glass, which the buyer can keep, along with a leather case and certificate.

27th floor, Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Road. T: +971 4 301 7600

The Skyview Bar serves the most expensive cocktail in the world

Imperial caviar, Dh29,070

AmStur is known for making exquisite caviars sourced from the West Coast of North America, the most expensive of which is the Imperial. Made of a white Sturgeon roe harvested at peak maturity, this smooth and creamy delicacy is so rare that less than 50kg is produced each year. And how much will this exclusive treat set you back? Approximately $7,915 (£6.341) for a 1kg tin, which can be delivered anywhere in the UAE by chauffeur.

Royal Pizza, Dh777,000

Restaurant, Seafood, Mediterranean, European

Initially created for the royal family of Dubai, the Royal Pizza, rustled up by Pierchic at Madinat Jumeirah, is the most expensive on Earth – worth a staggering $211,561 (£169,452). This pizza’s value is all in the toppings, only the finest and most exclusive sourced from all corners of the globe. Ingredients include Italian white Alba truffles, winter black truffles from Périgord, Kashmiri Mogra saffron, Almas caviar from Iran, and Japanese matsutake mushrooms. And its crowning glory: a scattering of edible gold – two ounces, in fact.