Nobu Nights at One Za’abeel

Put a circle around January 20th and let it be your excuse to plan a proper Dubai night out. Not a last minute dinner where everyone is hungry and grumpy, and not another familiar spot you could walk into with your eyes closed. This one feels like a new chapter. Nobu One Za’abeel is set to open in January 2026 at One&Only One Za’abeel, right up on The Link, that striking sky bridge that connects the towers and makes you look up the moment you see the building.

If you have already done the Nobu on the Palm Jumeriah, the beach club day, the signature dishes you always return to, then this is the next move. New address, new mood, and views that are meant to be a big part of the experience. If you have never tried Nobu in Dubai, honestly, opening season at a landmark location is a pretty unforgettable way to do it.

The location that transforms an evening
Let me explain it in a simple way. Some dinners feel like dinner. You sit down, you eat, you go home, and by the next day it is already blending into the week. Then there are nights where the setting changes how you feel before the first plate even hits the table. That is what The Link does.

The Link is the dramatic cantilevered structure connecting the two One Za’abeel towers, and it sits high above the city. You are not just walking into a restaurant, you are heading up into a space that feels like a destination. The whole place has that modern Dubai energy, sleek, bold, and a bit cinematic, like the city decided to build a landmark and then casually put some of the best dining inside it.

The view is not a side detail, it is the point
You know those moments in Dubai where you catch yourself smiling because the city looks unreal? This is built for that. Dining up on The Link means you are surrounded by skyline, light, and that feeling of being above the noise without being cut off from the energy.

It is the kind of setting where you take one photo, then put your phone down because the real view does not fit into a screen. If you are going with someone who loves capturing everything, tell them they are allowed one proper video, then they have to actually live the rest of it. That is the only fair deal.

The Dishes You Can’t Skip
Nobu has a way of making you care about your order. Not in a stressful way, more in a “let’s do this properly” way. It is not the sort of place where you choose one main, eat quietly, and leave. The best Nobu nights are shared, paced, and slightly indulgent.

The dishes most people have in mind straight away are the classics, and for good reason.

Black cod miso is the obvious headline. Soft, rich, and perfectly balanced, it is the dish that turns first timers into loyal fans in about two bites. And then there is premium wagyu, which is what you order when you want the meal to feel like a treat rather than just food.

If you are going with friends, do it this way. Order a few different things and share. Cold dishes first, then warm dishes, then something substantial, then a little extra because you will convince yourselves you deserve it. That flow keeps the night exciting and stops anyone at the table feeling like they missed out.

The excitement of a new opening in Dubai
Dubai loves a new opening, and you can feel the difference when you go somewhere in its early days. The room feels fresh, the team is buzzing, the whole place has that new energy, and everyone is slightly more dressed up than usual without making a big deal of it.

That is why January 2026 is the moment. It is not a vague “we should go one day”. It is “this is when it opens”. And if you know how these things go, reservations can move quickly once people start talking about it. If you want this to be part of your January plans, it is worth being ready to book as soon as it is available.

Turn the evening into something special
You do not need a birthday or an anniversary to go somewhere like this. Sometimes it is enough to say, let us have a night that feels a bit special. Dubai winter is the perfect time for it. The city is busy in a nice way, the evenings are comfortable, and going out feels fun rather than exhausting.

Savor the Evening
Arrive a bit early. Give yourselves time to take in the building, the atmosphere, the sense of height, the skyline. Then sit down and let the meal unfold slowly. Do not rush. Do not treat it like a quick stop. The best Nobu nights are the ones where you lose track of time a little.

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Effortless Style for Every Night
Think smart, but not stiff. Nobu is not about formal dress, but it is definitely a place where people make an effort. A well put together outfit goes a long way, even if it is simple. If you are going straight from work, you will still fit in, but a quick upgrade can help, a sharper shoe, a nicer top, something that makes you feel confident.

One small practical note. Dubai winter nights can be warm at ground level and cooler up high, especially later. If you get chilly easily, bring a light layer. It is one of those tiny things that makes the whole evening more comfortable.

A simple plan for January
So here is the takeaway. On the 20th of January, make it your booking day or your dinner day. Either way, treat it like a proper plan. Pick the friend who actually enjoys good food, or the person you want to impress, or the group who always says “we need to do something nice” and then never does.

Then do it properly. Go for the view, stay for the atmosphere, and order the dishes you already know you want, black cod miso, wagyu, and whatever else catches your eye once you are in the moment. Because some Dubai nights are just dinner, and some feel like you have stepped into the city’s highlight reel. Nobu on The Link has every chance of being the second kind.