Last weekend, my baby girl Farasha and I headed out to spend a weekend of leisure, pool time and great food at newly opened Hyatt Place, Wasl District Dubai.
Being over-confident with directions and over-trusting Google Maps, I ended up at Hyatt Place Jumeirah instead! I was assuming ‘Wasl District’ was in Jumeirah, but it turns out this branch is bang opposite Al Ghurair Centre in the heart of busy, bustling Deira, Dubai.
Taking inspiration from the beauty of Islamic art and calligraphy, the beautiful interiors of Bab Al Mansour transports its diners to an exotic palatial setting in faraway Morocco.
Located on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard in downtown Dubai, opposite the Dubai Opera, the restaurant specializes in both Moroccan and Turkish cuisines and all the ingredients used are sourced from organic-certified farms of Morocco.
We stepped into the gilded doors of Bab Al Mansour a few weeks back, and were greeted by a young man in a deep blue ethnic robe with a warm smile and hot cups of sweet Moroccan tea.
Dining at Wok & Co at Ibis Central is nothing short of magical. Apart from my love for their wide range of Pan-Asian favorites, the interiors of this restaurant are absolutely spectacular. I’ve dined here a number of times for dinner, and love their cozy, dimly lit booths that make for a perfect date night setting, and I was recently back for a lunch catchup with a friend. The place takes on a different beauty flooded in the sunlight.
“Legend has it that many years ago there was a hospital for the visually impaired on the current grounds of Fairmont Dubai. According to the local legend, patients started disappearing mysteriously at the hospital some 55 years ago, eventually forcing its closure. Amongst them, a young dark-haired woman, dressed in white, who can every now and then be seen wandering around the floors of the hotel.”
– Noire (Fairmont Dubai)
This October, multi-award-winning ‘dine in the dark’ restaurant Noire at Fairmont (Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai) takes on a spine-chilling persona in the spirit of Halloween.
Planning a night out with the girls, but looking for something far more sophisticated than a smoked up, dimly lit bar with diluted drinks? I’ve got the perfect deal for you!
Newly renovated Mina’s Kitchen at the Westin, Mina Seyahi has launched the Glamour-Us Ladies Night. Happening every Wednesday from 7pm till midnight, ladies get to enjoy 4 complimentary drinks and 50% off an elaborate international buffet. Gents can join in too, and get 25% off the buffet, and happy hours are extended all night long for all.
Ever-popular Purani Dilli at Mankhool Dubai has recently opened a brand-new branch in centrally located 4 Points by Sheraton on Sheikh Zayed Road.
Although our city offers an endless lineup of Indian restaurants, the success of Purani Dilli has been their ability to stay true to their name. The menu is unashamedly ‘Old Delhi’, the capital of authentic North Indian Mughlai cuisine sans any frills or new-age tricks.
The ‘new’ Purani Dilli offers the exact same, much-loved menu but in swanky new interiors. The Sheikh Zayed branch is smaller and cozier than its earlier counterpart and boasts of shabby chic inspired décor amalgamated with kitsch Indian finds.
A few weeks back, we dined at the vibrantly inviting Desi Village. Located in the heart of Garhoud near the Emirates Aviation College, this spacious, beautifully decorated restaurant offers Indian, Arabic and Continental cuisines.
The head chef and most of the staff are from the North Indian state of Lucknow, the capital for Mughlai cuisine and kebabs, and we therefore indulged in a gastronomy of North Indian delicacies.
Travelling someplace new and looking for a comfortable stay that doesn’t cost your entire travel budget? Or perhaps you’re on the lookout for a weekend getaway within the UAE itself?
Take the hassle out of bookings (and the travel agent’s commissions!) by downloading the OYO app. Available both on the Apple and Android Play Store, the OYO (or On Your Own) app is the world’s third largest hospitality chain, and has already been in the UAE for a year now.
Looking for a cozy lunch spot? Have I got a bargain deal for you! Enjoy the enchanted interiors of Indian fine-dining restaurant Bombay Bungalow, and treat yourself to a set lunch menu for as low as AED 79 per head! Your lunching companions will thank you for it.
Last weekend, I caught up with my childhood friend Sara and her gorgeous little girls at Moombai & Co at H Hotel, Dubai. The retro-style Bollywood inspired venue had me awestruck the very first time we visited, and still holds its magic every time I’ve visited since.
Adding to the gastronomic charm of the place is the headline news that Moombai & Co has now been taken over by celebrity chef and restauranteur Hari Nayak. Chef Hari Nayak is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has worked across the United States, the UK and Paris reintroducing the culinary art of Indian cuisine in a more simplistic, globally viable format.
The Tezzy Files 