Dubai foodie events October: 8 must-try chef collaborations

Discover 8 can’t-miss Dubai foodie events this October, from chef collaborations to cinema dinners and festival weekends across Downtown, Palm Jumeirah and Alserkal Avenue.

Dubai’s restaurant scene is presenting a concentrated run of special evenings this month, from an eight-course REIF Japanese Kushiyaki collaboration and Sofitel’s La Nuit four-hands dinner to Michael Mina’s five-night residency at Mina Brasserie in DIFC. These events mix guest chefs, live-fire menus and film-paired dining, with ticketed prices shown so you can budget for everything from oyster starters at AED 99 to curated tasting menus at AED 550.

Most events have single-night bookings or short runs, so quick decisions matter: several dinners fall on Friday October 23, with others spread between October 25 and October 31 and Michael Mina’s residency running from October 30 to November 4. Expect varied formats and prices so you can choose relaxed seaside lunches, theatrical open-fire dinners, or formal tasting menus.

The REIF Japanese Kushiyaki x Chôm Chôm dinner is an eight-course collaborative menu between chefs Reif Othman, Jun Tomioka and Kelvin Ng at Chôm Chôm on Friday October 23. The evening plays out as a back-and-forth menu, with the final two dishes determined by the host chef for a one-night-only dialogue between the kitchens.

This dinner is priced at AED 388 for food only and runs from 6pm to 9pm at Chôm Chôm in Galleria Al Barsha. The menu mirrors the prior night for much of the evening, then changes in the final courses, offering diners a mix of repeated highlights and unique surprises; bring a tasting appetite because eight courses are intended to be shared and paired by the team.

The main risk for planners is availability: single-night collaborations sell quickly and the set price means there’s limited menu flexibility for dietary changes. If you need substitutions, check with Chôm Chôm ahead of time; otherwise accept the curated flow of the eight courses and arrive prepared to savour each chef’s intent.

Chôm Chôm hosts the playful chef collaboration with REIF Japanese Kushiyaki on Friday October 23, presenting an eight-course exchange between Reif Othman, Jun Tomioka and Kelvin Ng. The event runs at Chôm Chôm in Galleria Al Barsha with seatings between 6pm and 9pm and a fixed food price of AED 388.

The collaboration structure means the first six courses match the previous night while the final two are chosen by the host chef, allowing diners to experience both repetition and novelty in one sitting. This model suits foodies who value chef-driven storytelling and want a tightly sequenced tasting without à la carte choices; the fixed AED 388 fee covers the full eight-course journey and helps budgeting for a set evening out.

Because it’s single-night and chef-led, expect limited flexibility for timing and special requests; if you need an earlier seating or allergy accommodations, contact Chôm Chôm before booking. Advance reservations are recommended to secure a table and to avoid disappointment for this curated collaboration.

La Nuit is a one-night four-hands dinner at Porterhouse Bar & Grill on Friday October 23 that pairs chefs Daniel Hillier and Russell Impiazzi for a multi-course French-inspired menu. The event celebrates Sofitel’s culinary heritage with dishes such as haggis Scotch eggs with truffle and wild seabass with lobster cassoulet.

Porterhouse’s event runs from 6.30pm to 10.30pm and is priced at AED 325 for food only or AED 535 with wine pairing, giving guests the option to include sommelier-selected pours. The menu’s structure and the wine-pairing upgrade make it suitable for diners seeking a classic fine-dining tasting night with a clear price point for budgeting; the wine-paired option adds AED 210 to the base food price.

Because the dinner is formal and single-evening, reservations are important and table layout is likely fixed to suit the multi-course service. If you prefer a la carte flexibility or casual timing, this structured format may feel restrictive, but it delivers a composed chef collaboration and a guided tasting experience.

Culinary Fridays at DRIFT are a relaxed Riviera-style seafood market and lunch experience running on Friday October 23 and Friday October 30 from midday onwards. Chef Yassine Riahi presents a fresh catch menu and specials such as six oysters with a glass of wine for AED 99 and caviar pasta as a signature indulgence.

The format is a long, leisurely lunch rather than a set tasting menu, so pricing is largely à la carte with highlighted deals to guide choices: oysters and a glass of wine at AED 99 is an explicit entry point. This approach suits groups wanting a social, daytime experience by the sea at One&Only Royal Mirage and lets diners scale spend from modest starters to more indulgent mains without a fixed per-head fee.

If you need a structured multi-course experience or strict timing, DRIFT’s relaxed market approach may not match expectations; however, for seaside casual dining and seafood-focused plates it’s ideal and more budget-flexible than set tasting dinners priced in the several-hundred-dirham range.

The Khufu’s x Jun’s collaboration features chef Mostafa Seif of Khufu’s teaming up with chef Kelvin Cheung at Jun’s on Sunday October 25 from 5pm onwards for a special tasting menu. This one-night collaboration is priced at AED 550 per person and showcases food that tells cultural stories through shared dishes and paired perspectives.

The tasting menu format at Jun’s is designed for diners who want a curated, narrative-driven meal rather than à la carte choices; the AED 550 per-person price reflects a full tasting experience and positions this event toward guests seeking a higher-end, story-led dinner. Expect a crafted progression of plates that weave Egyptian-inspired cooking with Jun’s established techniques, offering a distinctive cross-cultural dining evening.

Because it’s a single evening with a fixed price, disappointed expectations can arise if diners expect à la carte substitution; check for allergy accommodations in advance. For travellers or food writers, this is an opportunity to sample award-recognised regional cuisine in a tightly composed tasting.

Coolab Vol. 8 is a live-fire, collaborative dinner at Chez Wam in The St. Regis Gardens on Tuesday October 27 that brings AATISH together with chef Hadrien Villedeau’s team. The menu focuses on fire and smoke with dishes such as sizzling prawns with smoked garlic butter, flame-grilled lamb chops and a T-Rex bone marrow cheeseburger with spiced onion jam and masala fries.

The event is priced at AED 350 per person and starts from 6pm onwards, offering bold flavours and theatrical plates aimed at diners who enjoy open-fire cooking and communal energy. AED 350 places this event between casual market lunches and high-end tasting menus, making it an accessible option for adventurous diners wanting a standout, flavour-forward evening on Palm Jumeirah.

Be ready for a louder, more interactive dining environment than formal tasting rooms; the live-fire format can mean smoke and strong aromas, which add to the experience but may not suit diners seeking subtle, low-sensory plates. Consider this for groups that enjoy theatrical food and robust flavours.

Chef Michael Mina will be at MINA Brasserie, Four Seasons DIFC, for five nights from Friday October 30 until Wednesday November 4, presenting off-menu creations and personal signature dishes. The residency gives guests the chance to sample exclusive items and meet Chef Mina in person during his limited visit.

Dining is priced à la carte during the residency, so spend will vary by selection rather than a fixed tasting fee; the schedule runs across five nights and is ideal for diners who want to try signature plates without a set-menu commitment. The lack of a fixed-price tasting means flexibility in budgeting, but high-demand signature dishes may carry premium prices; check the restaurant on the day for any special offers or set chef’s menus introduced during the residency.

Because Chef Mina’s visit is multi-night but limited, reservations on preferred dates are recommended and popular time slots may book quickly. For those seeking a curated meet-and-greet or to taste off-menu highlights, expect variability in availability and plate selection across the five nights.

The Riviera Cinema Club is an open-air film and dining experience on the Riviera Terrace at The Lana, Dorchester Collection, returning for a showing on Friday October 30 with a film-tied bespoke menu inspired by Beauty and the Beast. Tickets for the October 30 edition are AED 650 and combine a curated meal with the outdoor screening and skyline views.

The Riviera Cinema Club runs across multiple limited dates through the season, with future screenings of Pretty Woman on November 13 and The Devil Wears Prada on November 27; each edition pairs a film with a themed menu and an elevated outdoor setting. At AED 650, the night is positioned as a premium cinema-dining experience that bundles food, seating and the film into one set price rather than à la carte ordering.

Because the event is ticketed and includes a bespoke menu, flexibility is lower than a typical dinner night; expect allocated seating and a set offering tailored to the film night. For guests prioritising atmosphere, skyline views and a fully produced pairing, the AED 650 ticket is a clear single-price option.

This October’s curated roster includes eight headline foodie nights across Dubai, with prices ranging from AED 99 for an oyster-and-wine starter to AED 650 for a cinema-dinner ticket. Dates cluster between October 23 and October 31, with Michael Mina extending the window through November 4, offering choices for casual lunches, theatrical fire-cooking and formal tasting menus.