Bait Maryam

The story

Bait Maryam: Authentic Palestinian & Levantine Home Cooking in Dubai Marina | Bib Gourmand

Your Home, Away from Home in Dubai Marina

At Bait Maryam in Dubai Marina, the name says it all: “Maryam’s Home.” This warmly run restaurant, named after the owner’s mother, delivers the authentic, comforting flavours of the Levant — from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan — right to your table. The philosophy is simple: “Baitak w Matrahak” — your home is our home. It’s a place where the sweet aroma of Belad Al Sham (the Levant) fills the air, and the spirit of Fairouz’s songs sets a nostalgic tone.

The setting matches the sentiment. You can choose between a cool, tranquil dining room or a glass-enclosed terrace overlooking the lake. Either way, you’re welcomed like a guest in a family home. This genuine hospitality is a key reason why Bait Maryam has earned both a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand — for good quality, good value cooking — and the MICHELIN Guide Welcome and Service Award, a first for Dubai.

Chef Salam Dakkak’s Family Table

The heart of Bait Maryam is Chef Salam Dakkak, a chef who dreamed of cooking since childhood. After hosting her own cooking show in Saudi Arabia, she brought her passion and authenticity to Dubai. She is fiercely proud of her Palestinian heritage, and her biggest achievement is seeing Bait Maryam recognised as a Palestinian restaurant that introduces her native country’s cuisine to the world.

Chef Dakkak takes regional flavours and plates that come straight from the family table, turning them into a restaurant experience. The menu is a true melting pot of Middle Eastern comfort food, featuring everything from classic mezze like hummus and moutabal to hearty Fekharat (clay pot dishes), grilled meats, and specialities like Fatet Maryam Muskhan. The lunch “dish of the day & soup” offers remarkable value, and dessert — think Halawat El Jeben or a perfectly made Kunafa — is a must.

A Sanctuary for the Soul

More than a restaurant, Chef Dakkak has created a sanctuary. In a city of expats, Bait Maryam is a place where diners longing for a taste of nostalgia can truly feel at home. “Those who miss that home-away-from-home feeling are the reason we opened the restaurant,” she says. Whether you’re here for a leisurely lunch of Shakshuka or a dinner of Maryam Special Farooj followed by Turkish coffee, the experience is one of warmth, generosity, and unforgettable Middle Eastern cuisine.