When a Michelin-starred restaurant in Lake Como recommends an Italian spot in your own city, you don’t hesitate, you make a reservation immediately. That’s exactly how we found ourselves at Il Gattopardo Dubai, following a glowing endorsement from Italy itself.

From the minute you enter the restaurant, Il Gattopardo lives up to its name, sophisticated and sleek as the leopard it’s named after. We were seated at a lovely window table overlooking the breathtaking views of Dubai’s downtown skyline, with the Burj Khalifa providing a sparkling backdrop to our evening. Honestly, I was already enchanted before we’d even opened our menus.

With the flavours of Como still fresh on my tastebuds we were ready to try a few of the restaurant’s dishes.

The trio of classic Italian starters, arancini, burrata, and octopus salad, set the tone perfectly. The arancini were smaller than typical but explosively flavorful and easy to pop away. The octopus salad wasn’t just delicious; it was Instagram-worthy art on a plate. As for the burrata, while perfectly executed, it didn’t quite compare to its two show-stealing companions.