COYA Dubai — Restaurant in Dubai

Coya Dubai: From Fine Dining to a Wannabe Nightclub Disaster There was a time when Coya Dubai was the go-to spot for an exquisite culinary experience. A place where you could enjoy delicious food in an elegant setting, with the perfect balance of South American music and an atmosphere that allowed for actual conversation. Imagine that, being able to hear the person sitting across from you while enjoying a high-end meal. What a concept, right?

Fast forward to today, and those days are long gone. Coya has seemingly undergone an identity crisis and decided that being a world-class restaurant just isn’t exciting enough. Instead, they’ve opted for a full-fledged wannabe nightclub experience, because apparently, what everyone really wants while dining is to be blasted with deafening music from a DJ who thinks he's headlining a festival.

Gone are the days of enjoying a peaceful meal. Now, you’ll spend the evening desperately trying to decipher your dinner companion’s lip movements while simultaneously regretting not bringing noise-cancelling headphones. Forget about tasting the food properly, your senses will be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the "experience" they’re forcing upon you.

The Menu? More Like a Museum Exhibit. As if the sensory assault weren’t enough, Coya's menu has been stuck in time for over a year. Innovation? Zero. Seasonal specials? None. Exciting new dishes? Dream on. The exact same options have been served on repeat, as if they’re hoping nobody notices. Perhaps they assume the eardrum-shattering music will distract guests from the fact that they’ve been eating the same ceviche since the dawn of time.

It’s almost impressive, really. While other fine dining establishments constantly evolve, experimenting with new flavours and keeping things fresh, Coya seems to have thrown in the towel entirely. Why put effort into creativity when they can just drown you in sound instead?

And Then There’s the Service… If you thought the menu was uninspired, wait until you experience the service.

Once upon a time, the staff at Coya were known for their professionalism and attentiveness. Now? It’s a completely different story. Instead of being focused on providing a first-class dining experience, some of them seem to think they’re part of a theatrical performance, one where they’re the stars, and the guests are merely an inconvenience.

Rather than subtle, elegant hospitality, you’re now treated to a display of over-the-top, self-important flamboyance, where certain staff members appear far more interested in showcasing their "sexual preferences" than in making sure you have a great time. And that in a city like Dubai.

Service should be about the guest, not about staff putting on a g-show. But at Coya, it feels like the priority is anything but the customer.

Many reviews highlight how the restaurant has completely shifted its focus from food and hospitality to entertainment and "vibes." Instead of enhancing the dining experience, this new direction has ruined it, turning what was once a top-tier restaurant into an overpriced, overhyped mess that seems more interested in keeping influencers happy than actual paying customers.

The Verdict: A Complete Letdown If you’re looking for a refined dining experience where you can actually hear the people at your table, enjoy a menu that changes once in a blue moon, and be served by professionals who put the guest first, then Coya Dubai is no longer the place for you.

Unless, of course, you’re after an evening of shouting over absurdly loud music, eating the same dish you had last year (but in an even smaller portion), and being "served" by a team that seems more interested in outshining each other than in delivering quality hospitality.

In short: Coya has completely...

[Last Visit] I’ve been to Coya Dubai easily over 30 times. The food is consistently superb, the service is good. I’ve done their Pisco Sour Master Class and also their Ceviche Master Class. Both a handful of times. I love taking friends to experience great Peruvian food. The brunch is ok, they are really tight on the drinks. It takes them about 20-30 minutes to get you a new drink and they don’t offer their best food in the brunch menu, is a bit of a disappointment. However, the food is still very good. Tito is overall a great manager and makes us feel welcomed. I will always wish this spot tons of success. Generally everyone is great and friendly. Had a couple of issues with stuck up bartenders treating me like a lower class citizen, but what to do. Management itself didn’t care after I flagged the problem. As long as you aren’t dealing directly with the bar staff you’ll have a great time. I recommend the veal heart skewers (weren’t available for a very long time), the tartufo ceviche, the patatas bravas with extra sauces on the side (worth the price to get extra sauce), and pretty much anything else on the menu. My favorite part to sit at is the elevated area of the restaurant by the windows.

[First Visit] This is best modern Peruvian food you can get in Dubai. I’ve been to Coya to celebrate birthdays, go on special dates, and to get friends who’ve never been exposed to Peruvian food to try it. Every single time I bring someone new to Coya, they leave speaking wonders about the evening. They love it so much not only because of the superb food but also due to the impecable service.

The portions are quite small, but you are at the Four Seasons and they’ve positioned themselves as fine dining so it kind of makes sense.

All the dishes are incredible but the seafood in general is fantastic. All the ceviches and tiraditos are delicious but their truffle ceviche is out of this world. Make sure you leave room for dessert and try their Pisco Sours.

Their ceviche making class which happens once a month is also fun. Grab a friend, girlfriend, or boyfriend and enjoy yourself at the ceviche bar with a couple of the chefs

I’m yet to try the brunch, but I’ve heard is fun.

Can’t...

Honestly, this was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in Dubai and it was supposed to be my birthday.

I chose COYA at Four Seasons expecting something special, but it ended up being a huge disappointment. From the second I walked in, no one even smiled or welcomed us properly. No one cared it was my birthday even though it was clearly mentioned in the reservation. Not a word. Not even a simple “happy birthday.”

They seated us in the most random spot, like we were invisible. It felt like a forgotten corner, far from the music, the energy, and the atmosphere. We weren’t even given a proper menu at first we had to ask for it after waiting way too long.

The staff were cold, inattentive, and just didn’t care. We kept trying to get their attention and they either looked away or acted too busy. We felt uncomfortable the whole time, like we weren’t welcome. At one point, we waited over 20 minutes just to get someone to check on us no one came.

Yes, the food was good. But in Dubai, service always comes first especially in fine dining. You go for the full experience, not just a plate of food. This wasn’t luxury, this wasn’t hospitality it was careless and disappointing.

For a birthday dinner, it honestly ruined the mood. We didn’t feel celebrated or even respected as guests. And for the prices being paid? It’s just not worth it. There are so many other amazing places in Dubai that know how to treat people right.

I really hope the management reads this, because this is not the COYA experience people expect. You need to seriously work on your service, your attention to detail, and how you handle special occasions.

We left with a bad feeling, and for a birthday night that’s the last thing anyone should feel. I hope you make it right, because this was far below...