Alici

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Seafood, the Italian Way

The name says it: alici is Italian for anchovy, that humble, briny staple of southern Italian cooking. At Alici on Bluewaters Island, the anchovy serves as both mascot and philosophy — a commitment to honest, ingredient-led seafood rooted in the traditions of the Amalfi Coast. The restaurant earned a Gambero Rosso fork in 2024, a recognition that sits alongside a string of local accolades including multiple FACT Dining Awards and Time Out Dubai Best Seafood wins since opening in 2019.

Where the Story Started

The team's origin story began on the working docks of southern Italy, where they spent time alongside local fishermen sourcing sustainably-caught seafood, then moved inland through farms, markets and family tables — tasting, learning, and drinking a fair amount of wine along the way. Everything they absorbed on that journey, they say, is what you experience at the table.

The Space

Spread across two floors on Bluewaters Island, the restaurant opens onto large terraces on each level, with unobstructed views of the JBR and Dubai Marina skylines. The interiors are anything but generic: ceramicist Lucio Liguori's playful anchovy figures and hand-thrown plates in Salerno clay sit alongside tiles by the legendary Italian architect Gio Ponti, terracotta busts by Campanian sculptor Paolo Sandulli, and a hyper-realistic mural of the Amalfi Coast by artist Steffen Jünemann. A handmade ceramic olive oil bottle, produced in collaboration with Neapolitan firm Riccio Caprese — founded in 1867 — is among the Alici-exclusive pieces available to take home.

At the Table

The menu moves between a full à la carte, a three-course Pranzo in Costiera set lunch, and a weekend brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM — a signature spread of southern Italian seafood dishes that has become a fixture for regulars. Desserts are described as being "made from the richest ingredients, always topped off with love," while the bar programme was developed by mixologists who drew on travels between Italy and beyond. A private dining room with sommelier and mixologist service is available for special occasions.

Southern Italian Craft in Dubai

What distinguishes Alici is the consistency of its point of view: the seafood, the art, the tableware and the atmosphere all pull in the same direction — toward a specific, sun-warmed stretch of Italian coastline. For a city with no shortage of Italian restaurants, that clarity of identity, recognised by Gambero Rosso and sustained across several years of local award wins, makes Alici one of the more considered addresses for southern Italian seafood in Dubai.