Because the standard Ladies’ Night at a pub with a few diluted drinks is so cliché… treat yourself and your besties to a laidback session of pampering and massages at Fairmont Dubai. Every Tuesday, from 2 to 10 pm, The Spa at Fairmont Dubai offers a highly discounted package inclusive of a leisurely lunch by the poolside, an hour-long session of yoga and meditation, access to the sauna and steam room, and a rejuvenating treatment of your choice. And how much would you expect for all this at one of Dubai’s finest hotel establishments? Hold your breath… it costs a mere AED 349 per person! Envy us boys!
Category Archive: Food
We’ve dined at Barbecue Delights a number of times with family and friends. Their very first branch near Lamcy Plaza is great value for money, with an authentic Pakistani buffet that costs AED 65 per head. However, I’ve never been to the newer branch that has opened up on the suave, sophisticated hub of Downtown Dubai.
I was invited for a review there last week, and was pretty blown away by the stark difference in the two branches. While Lamcy’s neighbor is rather old-school, bordering shabby, the Downtown version is beautifully spacious, and artfully decorated with quirky-cool relics from Pakistan. They even have lounging sofas at the front for when the weather is kinder.
Matto translates to ‘crazy’ in Italian, and this much-hyped new restaurant in The Oberoi Dubai, has worked hard on living up to this theme. The ambiance here is more in tune with a gastro-pub; the lighting is dim, a DJ revs up tunes from an amputated scooter, and a dominating wall displays this stunning graphic of a man swallowing a fish.

We walked in with our little 6 year-old, and felt a little out of place. This is not a family-friendly space, and given we got there on a Thursday night, the tables were filled with boisterous co-workers and doe-eyed lovers ringing in the weekend.
I envy the people working in Bay Square, they are so spoilt for choice with foodie options. I’ve found myself revisiting this urban hub a number of times in the past few months, each visit for a totally different cuisine. Recently, we were invited to Masala Pot, a familial name that screams of fiery curries, biryanis and other subcontinental delights. They have a few branches scattered around the UAE, but I have never been and wasn’t sure on what to expect.
The restaurant has quirky-cool interiors, taking inspiration from newspaper cuttings. The walls are marked with tongue in cheek Hindi-English quotes relating to food, and everything here has a pale orange halo, so in tune with curries and the saffron hue of Indian patriotism. The restaurant looks more like a chic café, and the pricing here is definitely in line with this. A meal for two at Masala Pot will suffice under AED 150 easily.
“Where will I meet you?” At The Coffee Club ofcourse! With an affiliative tagline like that, this Aussie café chain has taken the global casual eating scene by storm! But don’t get fooled by the name, they have far more to offer here than coffee.
I don’t know about you, but I love a hearty, healthful breakfast… and can have it at any point in time through the day. There seems to be a dearth of restaurants offering all-day breakfasts in Dubai, and the ones that do have a pretty limited menu. Not the case at The Coffee Club! Infact, they’ve expanded their options under a new lineup entitled ‘The Chef’s Table’. Here is what I tried from the brand new menu:
We went on a mini road trip to the capital last weekend, and decided to spend the last few days of Ramadan in Centro Capital Centre. Conveniently located in the hub of Abu Dhabi’s business district, this 3-star property has proven to be a very popular hotel among business executives. The pricing is very reasonable without compromising on the quality of the experience itself.

Infact we had a dejavous experience! Walking into the lobby, I mistook this property to be Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana And even told the receptionist I’ve been here before! When we stayed at Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, we were upgraded to a suite but they don’t have suites in Centro Capital Centre. The bedding, the sofa and even the accessories look identical to our last stay, with everything being compressed into a smaller, cozier space.
Boubouffe (pronounced ‘Bou Bouf’), the chic deli-style Lebanese restaurant, has moved from Sheikh Zayed Road to a cosy nook in Business Bay. The brand new branch boast of a scenic patio facing the urban jungle of the Downtown Dubai area, and I am sure it would be a lovely spot to have an idle sip and nibbles on a breezy evening. Sadly we are in the peak of summer right now, and forced to find a table indoors.

The interiors are beautifully lit, spacious and inviting, and have the look and feel of a chic boulagerie you might happen to walk into on the cobbled streets of Paris. ‘Boubouffe’ translates to ‘food overload’ in French, but apart from the name and chic Parisian-style interiors, the restaurant’s menu has nothing French to offer. Instead, expect to be treated to a very authentic Lebanese fare.
How can Ramadan be complete without having an Iftar in one of the elaborately decorated tents? I missed the Layali Zaman Iftar Tent at Le Meridien (Airport Road, Dubai) last year and had to try it out for myself this time round.
Le Meridien on Airport Road Dubai houses arguably the largest number of award-winning restaurants under its belt, and the hotel also happens to be one of the oldest institutions in the city, conveniently located a few minutes away from the airport.
It is therefore not surprising to see the magnitude of grandeur that goes into creating their Ramadan Tent. The ‘tent’, essentially the grand Falcon Ballroom of Le Meridien Hotel, has been transformed into a majlis-style abode. formal yet exotic, and very spacious allowing for large crowds to entertain together, the ambiance is perfect for reliving a bygone Middle Eastern past.
Logma, the contemporary Emirati restaurant chain, has made its mark in the Dubai foodie scene for its exceptionally good Chai Karak and Logma Fries. I’ve made pit-stops for this enticing combo right after work on several occasions, and as back at Logma last week to try out their Iftar spread.

Unlike most places, Logma does not have a set Iftar menu. Great news I’d say! More variety to pick from, and their menu has a whole lineup of brand new dishes to try.
I broke my fasting with a handful of dates, followed by a steaming hot, frothy glass of Chai Karak. My friend went for the Iced Chai Karak; the same hit of chai but decadently cold and perfect for this summer season.
Looking for a wholesome Iftar spread with the family, with a hit of good old Peri Peri? South African chain Galito’s has put together a Iftar Platter this Ramadan, and we went for a tasting at the Dubai Festival City branch.
You have a choice of two platters here; the chicken platter (priced at AED 109) and the mixed platter (priced at AED 179).

