Bussola Celebrates 20 Years in Dubai
Bussola Celebrates 20 Years in Dubai
words: Sophie Alexander-Osman
photography: Sophie Alexander-Osman
published: November 21, 2025
Bussola marked its 20th anniversary last weekend, an impressive milestone for any Dubai restaurant, especially in a city that moves as fast as this one. When Bussola first opened, it stood alone on the beachfront long before the current marina skyline or the new Dubai Harbour existed. Today it sits within The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, yet it has kept the same consistency and familiarity that long-term residents will recognise instantly. If you have lived in Dubai for a while, you will know it is one of the few places that never disappoints, and it is somewhere people naturally return to.
The evening started on the upper deck with sunset views across the harbour, a backdrop that has changed dramatically over the past two decades. We were met with a spread of different cheeses, fresh pasta, focaccia and seafood, paired with Bellinis and Aperol Spritz. As the night moved on, the celebration continued at Mare by Bussola, the more relaxed beachfront extension of the restaurant. Here, the marina skyline sat behind us as we tried fresh pizza, arancini and watched chefs roll out mozzarella by hand.
Bussola’s menu has always centred on classic Italian cooking with a focus on quality ingredients, simple techniques and dishes that suit both casual and refined dining. The pizza bar remains one of its signatures, and the kitchen team, led by its long-standing head chef, continues to serve the kind of straightforward Italian food people return for.
Entertainment came from an Italian band playing disco favourites, along with charm making and live illustration. Two decades on, Bussola has evolved with its surroundings but stayed true to what made it a Dubai favourite in the first place. It still knows how to throw a great party.
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