Dubai Recommendations
Discussion
My wife and I are off to Dubai in a couple of weeks for a long weekend (Thursday-Tuesday). Staying in the Rixos Premium Dubai JBR.
Anyone got any must haves/do's? We aren't planning on being too adventurous but would be good to get some recommendations on places to eat/things to see. Would definitely like to go up the Burj and I am quite keen on getting a new watch so would like to go to the Mall of the emirates. Don't really have a budget but don't want to be spending thousands and thousands. Can appreciate a good restaurant but Michelin fine dining would be a bit wasted on us!
Anyone got any must haves/do's? We aren't planning on being too adventurous but would be good to get some recommendations on places to eat/things to see. Would definitely like to go up the Burj and I am quite keen on getting a new watch so would like to go to the Mall of the emirates. Don't really have a budget but don't want to be spending thousands and thousands. Can appreciate a good restaurant but Michelin fine dining would be a bit wasted on us!
Before jumping on your high horse and spouting nonsense, maybe you should read this, given your car choices -
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https://www.harpercollins.com/products/nazi-billio...
jimmyt1202 said:
My wife and I are off to Dubai in a couple of weeks for a long weekend (Thursday-Tuesday). Staying in the Rixos Premium Dubai JBR.
Anyone got any must haves/do's? We aren't planning on being too adventurous but would be good to get some recommendations on places to eat/things to see. Would definitely like to go up the Burj and I am quite keen on getting a new watch so would like to go to the Mall of the emirates. Don't really have a budget but don't want to be spending thousands and thousands. Can appreciate a good restaurant but Michelin fine dining would be a bit wasted on us!
If you’re in a Rixos and all inclusive the speciality restaurants will likely be excellent in their own right.Anyone got any must haves/do's? We aren't planning on being too adventurous but would be good to get some recommendations on places to eat/things to see. Would definitely like to go up the Burj and I am quite keen on getting a new watch so would like to go to the Mall of the emirates. Don't really have a budget but don't want to be spending thousands and thousands. Can appreciate a good restaurant but Michelin fine dining would be a bit wasted on us!
We’ve reached the point where people saying stuff like that about Dubai are showing more of their own ignorance than anyone elses. A lot of the negative views are ten years out of date.
Today, Dubai crushes the UK on quality of life, economic opportunity and even how morals are baked into everyday life (kindness, politeness, less chavs, no crime, hard work etc).
Today, Dubai crushes the UK on quality of life, economic opportunity and even how morals are baked into everyday life (kindness, politeness, less chavs, no crime, hard work etc).
We always stay in the Hilton next to the Rixos, it's a great location although traffic can be rough sometimes. Some recommendations:
Black Tap in Rixos is good. Great burgers and they'll have the football on. Lock Stock is supposed to be decent. I haven't been yet but have been told I should go.
The Maine Oyster Bar is fantastic and does a great brunch. We visit pretty much every time we go now. Book early for the Saturday brunch if you can. https://themaine.ae/jbr It's in the Doubletree down at the end by The Address. You have to go through the car park to get to it but it's a lovely spot.
Mott 32 in The Address is a lovely Chinese but is spendy https://mott32.com/dubai
Blue Jade is a great Vietnamese place. Friday evening brunch is good value but not too bad for a la carte. https://www.bluejadedubai.com/
Meat Company is a great steak place in Souk Madinat, which also has some nice bars.
Mandarin Oriental has a Portuguese place that again does a great brunch. There's a Japanese restaurant that does an incredible wagyu tasting menu - again a bit spendy but is worth it. https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/dubai/jumeira-beach/dine/netsu-by-ross-shonhan
Sushi Samba is worth a visit as it's on the 51st floor of the St Regis with great views. You can go mad with all the dishes but there is a "business lunch" that is good value. https://www.sushisamba.com/locations/dubai
Some cheaper JBR bars: JBs - the pork nachos are AMAZING and probably the best pork belly I've had, McGettigans in the Hilton, Black Goose in the Sheraton. Offside is a good sports bar. All of those are along the strip.
Mall of the Emirates is good. Dubai Mall is bigger with loads of watch shops. If you go there you should absolutely go to Time Out Market. Lots of different kitchens, cheap (for Dubai!) beer and right by the fountains so you'll probably catch them. If you want to do the Burj I would book the VIP tickets where you go up a couple of floors and it is a bit quieter and try and time it for the sunset. They did include aquarium access when we went but not sure they still do now. If you are making a day of it up there then there is another Maine restaurant in a Zaha Hadid hotel which is another of our favourites - Maine Brasserie.
It will be hot and humid so you most likely won't want to spend much outside. Taxis everywhere. In JBR it won't take more than a minute or so to get one on the street. Uber better for longer journeys than short ones, if you want to book on an app download Careem and book a Hala taxi which are the licensed ones. Oh, and don't be ushered to the black taxis when you come out of the airport, the multi coloured ones are fine.
I should write a proper list and just copy and paste it - these are just the spots off the top of my head.
Black Tap in Rixos is good. Great burgers and they'll have the football on. Lock Stock is supposed to be decent. I haven't been yet but have been told I should go.
The Maine Oyster Bar is fantastic and does a great brunch. We visit pretty much every time we go now. Book early for the Saturday brunch if you can. https://themaine.ae/jbr It's in the Doubletree down at the end by The Address. You have to go through the car park to get to it but it's a lovely spot.
Mott 32 in The Address is a lovely Chinese but is spendy https://mott32.com/dubai
Blue Jade is a great Vietnamese place. Friday evening brunch is good value but not too bad for a la carte. https://www.bluejadedubai.com/
Meat Company is a great steak place in Souk Madinat, which also has some nice bars.
Mandarin Oriental has a Portuguese place that again does a great brunch. There's a Japanese restaurant that does an incredible wagyu tasting menu - again a bit spendy but is worth it. https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/dubai/jumeira-beach/dine/netsu-by-ross-shonhan
Sushi Samba is worth a visit as it's on the 51st floor of the St Regis with great views. You can go mad with all the dishes but there is a "business lunch" that is good value. https://www.sushisamba.com/locations/dubai
Some cheaper JBR bars: JBs - the pork nachos are AMAZING and probably the best pork belly I've had, McGettigans in the Hilton, Black Goose in the Sheraton. Offside is a good sports bar. All of those are along the strip.
Mall of the Emirates is good. Dubai Mall is bigger with loads of watch shops. If you go there you should absolutely go to Time Out Market. Lots of different kitchens, cheap (for Dubai!) beer and right by the fountains so you'll probably catch them. If you want to do the Burj I would book the VIP tickets where you go up a couple of floors and it is a bit quieter and try and time it for the sunset. They did include aquarium access when we went but not sure they still do now. If you are making a day of it up there then there is another Maine restaurant in a Zaha Hadid hotel which is another of our favourites - Maine Brasserie.
It will be hot and humid so you most likely won't want to spend much outside. Taxis everywhere. In JBR it won't take more than a minute or so to get one on the street. Uber better for longer journeys than short ones, if you want to book on an app download Careem and book a Hala taxi which are the licensed ones. Oh, and don't be ushered to the black taxis when you come out of the airport, the multi coloured ones are fine.
I should write a proper list and just copy and paste it - these are just the spots off the top of my head.
muscatdxb said:
We’ve reached the point where people saying stuff like that about Dubai are showing more of their own ignorance than anyone elses. A lot of the negative views are ten years out of date.
Today, Dubai crushes the UK on quality of life, economic opportunity and even how morals are baked into everyday life (kindness, politeness, less chavs, no crime, hard work etc).
And those pesky gays are still illegal. Today, Dubai crushes the UK on quality of life, economic opportunity and even how morals are baked into everyday life (kindness, politeness, less chavs, no crime, hard work etc).
Let's not pretend that the UAE is some magical land of milk and honey... Dubai can be great if you're a westerner fulfilling a skills shortage and highly paid. For other migrant groups, less so.
Anyway, have a great time OP. It's a bonkers spectacle of a place.
was8v said:
Don't go.
They will relax their beliefs and take your money in exchange for some sunshine but so will plenty of other places in the world that don't have such a poor human rights record.
Unless you hold the same views for other countries, e.g. USA and many European countries, you're going to come off as a massive racist.They will relax their beliefs and take your money in exchange for some sunshine but so will plenty of other places in the world that don't have such a poor human rights record.
SaulGoodman said:
We always stay in the Hilton next to the Rixos, it's a great location although traffic can be rough sometimes. Some recommendations:
Black Tap in Rixos is good. Great burgers and they'll have the football on. Lock Stock is supposed to be decent. I haven't been yet but have been told I should go.
The Maine Oyster Bar is fantastic and does a great brunch. We visit pretty much every time we go now. Book early for the Saturday brunch if you can. https://themaine.ae/jbr It's in the Doubletree down at the end by The Address. You have to go through the car park to get to it but it's a lovely spot.
Mott 32 in The Address is a lovely Chinese but is spendy https://mott32.com/dubai
Blue Jade is a great Vietnamese place. Friday evening brunch is good value but not too bad for a la carte. https://www.bluejadedubai.com/
Meat Company is a great steak place in Souk Madinat, which also has some nice bars.
Mandarin Oriental has a Portuguese place that again does a great brunch. There's a Japanese restaurant that does an incredible wagyu tasting menu - again a bit spendy but is worth it. https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/dubai/jumeira-beach/dine/netsu-by-ross-shonhan
Sushi Samba is worth a visit as it's on the 51st floor of the St Regis with great views. You can go mad with all the dishes but there is a "business lunch" that is good value. https://www.sushisamba.com/locations/dubai
Some cheaper JBR bars: JBs - the pork nachos are AMAZING and probably the best pork belly I've had, McGettigans in the Hilton, Black Goose in the Sheraton. Offside is a good sports bar. All of those are along the strip.
Mall of the Emirates is good. Dubai Mall is bigger with loads of watch shops. If you go there you should absolutely go to Time Out Market. Lots of different kitchens, cheap (for Dubai!) beer and right by the fountains so you'll probably catch them. If you want to do the Burj I would book the VIP tickets where you go up a couple of floors and it is a bit quieter and try and time it for the sunset. They did include aquarium access when we went but not sure they still do now. If you are making a day of it up there then there is another Maine restaurant in a Zaha Hadid hotel which is another of our favourites - Maine Brasserie.
It will be hot and humid so you most likely won't want to spend much outside. Taxis everywhere. In JBR it won't take more than a minute or so to get one on the street. Uber better for longer journeys than short ones, if you want to book on an app download Careem and book a Hala taxi which are the licensed ones. Oh, and don't be ushered to the black taxis when you come out of the airport, the multi coloured ones are fine.
I should write a proper list and just copy and paste it - these are just the spots off the top of my head.
Many thanks for the recommendations, will look into all of these!Black Tap in Rixos is good. Great burgers and they'll have the football on. Lock Stock is supposed to be decent. I haven't been yet but have been told I should go.
The Maine Oyster Bar is fantastic and does a great brunch. We visit pretty much every time we go now. Book early for the Saturday brunch if you can. https://themaine.ae/jbr It's in the Doubletree down at the end by The Address. You have to go through the car park to get to it but it's a lovely spot.
Mott 32 in The Address is a lovely Chinese but is spendy https://mott32.com/dubai
Blue Jade is a great Vietnamese place. Friday evening brunch is good value but not too bad for a la carte. https://www.bluejadedubai.com/
Meat Company is a great steak place in Souk Madinat, which also has some nice bars.
Mandarin Oriental has a Portuguese place that again does a great brunch. There's a Japanese restaurant that does an incredible wagyu tasting menu - again a bit spendy but is worth it. https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/dubai/jumeira-beach/dine/netsu-by-ross-shonhan
Sushi Samba is worth a visit as it's on the 51st floor of the St Regis with great views. You can go mad with all the dishes but there is a "business lunch" that is good value. https://www.sushisamba.com/locations/dubai
Some cheaper JBR bars: JBs - the pork nachos are AMAZING and probably the best pork belly I've had, McGettigans in the Hilton, Black Goose in the Sheraton. Offside is a good sports bar. All of those are along the strip.
Mall of the Emirates is good. Dubai Mall is bigger with loads of watch shops. If you go there you should absolutely go to Time Out Market. Lots of different kitchens, cheap (for Dubai!) beer and right by the fountains so you'll probably catch them. If you want to do the Burj I would book the VIP tickets where you go up a couple of floors and it is a bit quieter and try and time it for the sunset. They did include aquarium access when we went but not sure they still do now. If you are making a day of it up there then there is another Maine restaurant in a Zaha Hadid hotel which is another of our favourites - Maine Brasserie.
It will be hot and humid so you most likely won't want to spend much outside. Taxis everywhere. In JBR it won't take more than a minute or so to get one on the street. Uber better for longer journeys than short ones, if you want to book on an app download Careem and book a Hala taxi which are the licensed ones. Oh, and don't be ushered to the black taxis when you come out of the airport, the multi coloured ones are fine.
I should write a proper list and just copy and paste it - these are just the spots off the top of my head.
Sensei Rob said:
was8v said:
Don't go.
They will relax their beliefs and take your money in exchange for some sunshine but so will plenty of other places in the world that don't have such a poor human rights record.
Unless you hold the same views for other countries, e.g. USA and many European countries, you're going to come off as a massive racist.They will relax their beliefs and take your money in exchange for some sunshine but so will plenty of other places in the world that don't have such a poor human rights record.
I’ve never seen women treated with such respect as they are there (and Abu Dhabi), and speak to any minority in the bar/table waiting/customer service industries out there they’ll all say how well they’re treated and valued etc.There’s loads of expats (especially females)throughout Europe and beyond that are now branching out into Qatar/Saudi and beyond without any concerns.
I ended up in hospital NYE in Abu Dhabi,came out onto the streets at 11.30 Pm with my partner in a ball gown,no drunk leering f
kwits,no one being sick/ fighting/shouting abuse,no 17 year old with their puppies out… just a just a load of people enjoying the fireworks and appreciating their country/state.SP_ said:
Grab an eSIM from Nomad/Airalo before you go, very good value. Then yo ucan use Careem etc for taxi's which are cheap and plentiful
Why can't you just use your normal UK carrier abroad like when going Europe etc? Only asking as I'm off there soon and have neevr been, will need to use taxis a fair bit whilst there.Big Rig said:
SP_ said:
Grab an eSIM from Nomad/Airalo before you go, very good value. Then yo ucan use Careem etc for taxi's which are cheap and plentiful
Why can't you just use your normal UK carrier abroad like when going Europe etc? Only asking as I'm off there soon and have neevr been, will need to use taxis a fair bit whilst there.Big Rig said:
Why can't you just use your normal UK carrier abroad like when going Europe etc? Only asking as I'm off there soon and have neevr been, will need to use taxis a fair bit whilst there.
Im on O2 - they charge a flat rate of £5/6 per day to just use your phone as normal - personally thats worth it to me rather than mess around with sim/esims top up etc.On Dubai, I normally always stay at the Conrad on SZR, their Exec Corner Suites are massive (bigger than a lot of apartments and 1/2 bed houses) and very nice - the pool area is great too and its very accessible to most popular areas.
Depending on budget, the BAA is amazing both to stay at and also for the their Afternoon Tea in Sahn Eddar - its not cheap but it really is next level. If afternoon tea is your thing bu the BAA is out of budget, Raffles also do an excellent one and its very choclate decadent! I went for my 40th and they prepared a mega-rich cholocate and gold-leaf cake/dessert completly FOC for me - it was amazing.
If you like theme parks I would absolutely recommend MotionGate (and if youre flying Emirates you get free tickets to there and a few other places over the summer IIRC) - lots of the rides/coasters are indoors, which is odd but cool, but you wont have to queue for anythign as its always empty which is really odd - it only takes half a day to go on everything there, its a tad surreal!
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