But here’s the good news for the Dubai-curious: copycats are hitting the shelves left, right and centre and you don’t need to blow the budget on them (well, some of them). Whether you’re after a worthy dupe, a UK-based alternative, or you fancy going full domestic goddess and making your own, here’s where to turn when those luxury bars are sold out (again).
Ombar Pistachio Cream, £2.15
Organic, dairy free, fair trade, 60% cacao and, crucially, filled with creamy pistachio. It’s vegan, sustainably sourced, and genuinely indulgent. Buy it.
Healf Pistachio & Lion’s Mane, £2.69
This one will not only swerve bank breaking; it even purports to do you good. With pure pistachio butter, raw dark chocolate and added Lion's mane for cognitive support, it’s rich in protein, magnesium, polyphenols, and healthy fats. No naughty, all nice. Buy it.
Barbero Pistachio Gianduiotti Tin, £12 (Was £15)
We’re not a hundred per cent confident that we could show any sort of decorum or restraint faced with this beautiful tin full of even more beautiful pistachio-flavoured chocs. Crafted from white chocolate and Sicilian pistachio nuts, they are dangerously good. You have been warned. Buy it.
Pistachio & Kataifi Dark Chocolate Bar, £16
Decadent? Yes. Affordable compared to a flight to Dubai? Also yes. If you're after a luxe take on the trend without crossing continents, Birley Chocolate’s new ‘Dubai Chocolate’-inspired collection is the real deal. Each bar is handcrafted in-house n Chelsea Green and layered with velvety milk or dark chocolate, your choice of roasted pistachio, hazelnut, or peanut, and finished with a shimmering crown of caramelised kataifi pastry. Sure, it’s no cheaper than the Dubai. But it’s a truly artisanal London reimagining of the pistachio bar: golden, crisp, and rich with Middle Eastern flair. Available in-store and online with nationwide delivery. Buy it.
Lindt Dubai Style Chocolate Pistachio & Kadayif, £10
Yes, Lindt has joined the pistachio party. The brand’s Dubai-style bar fuses creamy milk chocolate with rich pistachio filling and crispy caramelised kadayif (a shredded pastry similar to kataifi). The result? A luxe, supermarket-friendly take on the viral sensation that actually lives up to the hype. Smooth, crunchy, sweet. Buy it before it sells out – again. Buy it.
Crosta & Mollica Pistachio & Almond Tartufi, £5
For an ice-cold twist on the pistachio craze, look to the always-excellent Crosta & Mollica’s Pistachio & Almond Tartufi. A classic ice cream truffle, these look good enough to serve at a dinner party or, indeed, to roll their way around a restaurant on an old-fashion dessert trolley. Think pistachio gelato at the centre and a creamy almond ice-cream exterior, all rolled in pistachio crumb. Nutty joy. Buy it.
DIY the Dubai Bar: Not Quite Nigella
These may not be the ‘real’ mccoy and she might not quite be Nigella, but we can attest that these are every bit as good as the viral Dubai chocolate bar. Good news: it’s easier than you think to whip up a pistachio bar at home. Grab some good-quality white chocolate (we rate Green & Black’s), a jar of pistachio cream (Sicilian if you’re fancy), do pay attention to the crunchy toasted kataifi pastry. Et voila – your very own Dubai bar (minus the mad rush.) Make it.
