Occupying a fine old traditional house next to the entrance to the historic Bastakiya quarter, this attractive little cafe (formerly the Basta Art Cafe) is one of the prettiest in the city centre, with outdoor seating in the central courtyard, shaded by a huge narra tree. Food features a good spread of mainly Arabian-style cafe fare, including a wide selection...
Set on a sea-facing terrace in the Mina A’Salam hotel, this is one of the most memorable bars in the city, offering picture-perfect views over the Madinat Jumeirah and Burj al Arab – particularly stunning at sunset. Even without the views it would be a fine place for a drink, with lovely Arabian-styling and an idyllic terrace scattered with canopied...
In a conveniently central location just inside the entrance to the Textile Souk, this place scores highly for its attractive setting, in the historic old Mackenzie House (the city’s first office when it opened in 1935), and with a beautiful terrace overlooking the Creek. Food is competent rather than outstanding, with a mainly Lebanese menu featuring the usual mezze and...
Few buildings are as instantly recognizable as the stupendous Burj al Arab (literally “Tower of the Arabs”). Commissioned by Dubai’s supreme ruler, Sheikh Mohammad, and built at jaw-dropping expense, the building was expressly intended to serve as a defining symbol of contemporary Dubai – and in the twelve years of its existence the tower’s hugely distinctive, sail-shaped outline has established...
This Lebanese restaurant is one of the best places in Dubai to come for a traditional Arabian night out, and is usually busy any evening of the week with a lively crowd of local Emiratis and expat Arabs. The setting can’t be beaten, occupying one of Shindagha‘s fine old traditional houses and with a breezy open-air terrace overlooking the Creek,...
A short distance south of Bur Dubai, the unpretentious inner-city suburb of Satwa is one of the most characterful in Dubai, home to a mixed crowd of Indians, Iranians, expat Arabs, and the occasional stray European. The area is centred on the attractive 2nd December Street (formerly Al Diyafah Street), lined with an eclectic medley of cafes and shops, including...
For a perfect example of the sort of bizarre kitsch which Dubai does so well, head to the wacky Egyptian-themed Wafi leisure complex, complete with giant statues of assorted pharaohs, plus copious quantities of obelisks, pillars, pyramids, and heiroglyphs galore. The whole thing looks like it’s been airlifted straight out of Vegas (or perhaps the pages of Asterix), while the...
Occupying a fine old traditional house at the back of Bastakiya quarter (which also doubles as a hotel and one of the city’s leading art galleries), this beautiful courtyard cafe is one of the most attractive in the city, and a great place to take a break from the bustling city centre. The entirely meat-free menu features a good selection...
A long-running favourite with local foodies, this deli-cum-cafe serves up some of the best Arabian edibles in the city, with stores piled high with quality Middle Eastern produce including huge wooden tubs full of olives alongside nuts, spices, dried fruits and trays of date rolls, baklava and fine chocolates. If you can’t wait to tuck in, in-store cafes serve up a big...
For an authentic taste of Arabia, nothing beats a box of succulent dates, available for sale at shops, souks and supermarkets across the city. Dozens of different varieties are available, grown in various countries around the region, each with its own distinctive appearance and taste, and all as instantly recognizable to the true connoissuer as a fine vintage French wine....