Fi’lia is located on the 70th floor of the SLS Hotel, requiring two lifts to reach—first up to the 71st floor, then one down. When we arrived, I was surprised to see a DJ playing in the middle of the restaurant, and it was quite loud. However, I later found out that the DJ is only there on Fridays and during Saturday brunch. So, if you’re planning a business meeting, it’s best to steer clear of those days!

We requested a table further from the DJ, and the noise level turned out to be perfect for conversation—we even ended up enjoying the music. They also offered us a seat on the terrace with breathtaking Burj Khalifa views, but it was still too humid for us. That said, plenty of others were happily dining outside.

When we sat down, we were initially given the à la carte menu, which most of the diners seemed to be ordering from. I asked our server for the business lunch menu, and she quickly brought it over. The options are fantastic, with three price tiers to choose from: a budget-friendly AED 105 option, a mid-range AED 135, and a more indulgent AED 225. We decided to go with the AED 105 and AED 135 menus.

Fi’lia Restaurant – Starters

First up, we were served a basket of focaccia and assorted breads, alongside olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and an olive tapenade that was absolutely delicious. My husband couldn’t get enough of the tapenade!

For starters, we chose the mozzarella and the vitello. The mozzarella was definitely my favourite! Its buttery texture paired perfectly with the super-sweet melon and slightly salty beef prosciutto. The vitello, made with slow-cooked veal, was just as impressive, with a silky-smooth tuna mousse and a nicely balanced taste. Both dishes were beautifully presented, and the portions were generous too!

Fi’lia Restaurant – Mains

We ordered the Diavola pizza and the carbonara. The clear winner was the carbonara. The pasta was incredibly fresh and cooked to perfection, while the sauce was rich and packed with flavour. The fresh Parmesan cheese was the icing on the cake, making it heaven on a plate! This dish alone will have me sprinting back to Fi’lia. The pizza was good, but we’ve had better (sorry, Fi’lia!). That said, it was impressively cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven.

Sweet Endings

For dessert, we went with the Tiramisu and the Pavlova. There’s a running joke between my husband and I because my all-time favourite Tiramisu comes from Morrisons in the UK. I swear it’s better than any fancy version, even those I’ve tried in Italy! I found that Fi’lia’s Tiramisu held its own and even had a touch of gold on top—just in case I forgot I was in Dubai!

The Pavlova was the definite showstopper, with coconut meringue shaped like a bauble and paired with passion fruit cream, mango gelato, and coconut jelly. The presentation was gorgeous, and once again, the portion sizes were very generous!

Overall Experience

This is definitely one of the best business lunches we’ve tried in Dubai! The service was incredible; nothing was too much trouble, and every request was met with a genuine smile. The venue is beautiful, the views are stunning, and the value is unbeatable. Plus, the food is some of the best Italian cuisine we’ve had in Dubai—how could I not recommend this place?

Oh, and there’s free valet parking; just remember to get the server to validate your ticket. I can’t wait to go back to Fi’lia; I’ve already got my eye on their Saturday brunch deal, and I’m also tempted by their AED 295 eight-course tasting menu, which runs daily from 6:30 p.m., giving the opportunity to experience the night skyline views! It’s also worth noting that many of their dishes have gluten-free options!

Please note that I paid for my own meal and have no affiliation with the restaurant. These opinions are my own, based on a single visit. If you’d like to book a table, you can do so here: Fi’lia website

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