Team What’s On pick their favourite things in the UAE right now

If I had to pick my favourite hotel in Dubai, Jumeirah Al Naseem would certainly be a strong contender. The ever-impressive array of restaurants at Turtle Lagoon is a particular draw for me, so I was delighted to go and check out the new Thursday jazz night at the cool Blind Tiger bar this week. It’s got a really cosy, intimate feel, although it’s still a sleek, glam spot, and the live music filling the room was the perfect addition. – Alice Holtham, Group Editor

@blindtigerdxb

I’ve written before about how much I love Mimi Kakushi, the Art Deco, 1920s-inspired Japanese restaurant at Four Seasons Restaurant Village. But as much as I go for their delicious gyozas, the bar is a destination in its own right. With Hiroyasu Kayama and his team from Bar Beniddich in town from Toyko, it was the perfect opportunity to return to this fabulous spot, to sample some of the liquid libations from the 48th best bar in the world. – Alice Holtham, Group Editor

@mimikakushi

They say that the spontaneous nights are the best, which definitely rang true for me when I made a last-minute decision to head to February30 this week. On Thursday night, the Palm West Beach spot was buzzing as groups got their weekends kick-started early. Sat on a table on the sand, we tucked into a delicious array of sushi and truffle pizza while sipping cocktails under the sand. I didn’t want to leave! – Elise Kerr, Deputy Editor

@february30dubai

Fear of God is one of those brands that instantly elevates someone’s style without looking like they’ve tried too hard. The laid back sillouettes and buttery soft fabrics make it an ideal choice for anyone who likes to be comfortable but stylish. The brand held a pop-up in Alserkal Avenue this week and I got a sneak preview of the Essentials collection, available exclusively at the pop-up and on Ounass. It runs until 10pm on May 12 so be sure to check it out if you get a chance. – Elise Kerr, Deputy Editor

@fearofgod @ounass

I will never take off my ‘I heart Saadiyat hat’, nor tire of telling the uninitiated about just how magical that Abu Dhabi island truly is. And the SBC brunch is probably one of the enclave’s most outrageous dining experiences. It’s a buffet-style feast at the Safina restaurant. The only corners cut there are on the laps around the pool. There are tables lined up with intricate salad concoctions and connoisseur cold cuts, a focused team of chefs sears char lines into premium cuts on the grill stations, there’s an ice-chilled super luxe seafood spread. and pizzas, big Neopolitan energy, freshly fired flat bread – topped with glinting, oil dimpled mozzarella. SBC is a bit of me. – Miles Buckeridge, Senior Online Reporter

@saadiyatbeachclub

It’s normally around this time that I compile the What’s On summer blockbuster. The season where plots and nuanced character arcs take a back seat to car chases, explosions, one-line catchphrases, kill counts and plans that are just so crazy, they might just work. And with the pandemic a distant spec in the rearview there’s a jumbo popcorn-bucket sized serving coming up this particular summer. If you’re curious about what’s coming soon, make sure you check out our guide to 2023’s best summer blockbusters. – Miles Buckeridge, Senior Online Reporter

I’ve been struggling to get back into the reading habit for some time now, but I’ve finally set my mind to spending at least an hour every day for reading. I am enjoying my current read – Michelangelo, God’s Architect by William E. Wallace. The book has a lot of insight into the life of Michelangelo and quite honestly, stunned me with what the Renaissance artist was really like during the last two decades of his life. It follows the projects he undertook when he was at a ripe old age of 70 including the most ambitious and daunting project of his long creative life – St. Peter’s Basilica – his greatest masterpiece. – Aarti Saundalkar, Online Reporter

I love my curly hair but there are days that it can drive me absolutely bonkers. It can be so difficult to manage and quite honestly has a mind of its own. I currently use Olapex to help maintain it, but I’ve been looking for alternatives to try out. Think the universe heard me, because two days later a package arrived to my desk with products from The Hair Addict. It’s been about a week since I’ve started using the products and I am so far quite impressed with how it manages my frizz. The products are also 100 per cent cruelty free which is always great the products are affordable for the quantity offered. – Aarti Saundalkar, Online Reporter

@thehairaddictofficial 

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Tucked away in a villa in Jumeirah, Samadhi Wellness is a female-owned homegrown wellness oasis where you can join a yoga class, grab some dinner, cool down in the pool, get some work done, and shop for wholesome goodies, all without giving up your parking spot. The feel-good space features two yoga studios (one hot with infrared lights and one that extends outdoors in the cooler months), as well as a sauna, stunning pool, ice bath, hair therapy rooms, sanctuary garden, wholesome café, and a shop. The hardest part is leaving. – Tamara Wright, Online Reporter

@samadhimywellness

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As well as being home to some of the best restaurants in the world, Dubai’s supper club scene is thriving and, in turn, producing some of the city’s top new restaurants. After accruing a small legion of fans across the UAE, sellout supper club Hawkerboi has opened a permanent restaurant in JLT. The homegrown success story is set to take the local foodie scene by storm with its spicy Far Eastern flavours, with influences from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. While we don’t want to give too much away (review coming soon), try the chicken and truffle shumai and Peking-style duck and thank us later. – Tamara Wright, Online Reporter

@hawker.boi

I never fully understood the office hype of this venue, until I visited Alici to try out their latest lunch menu. I instantly fell in love with everything about the place. From the washed white wood, photo collages all up the staircase, countless gorgeous lemons a top the bar… the aesthetic is perfect. I cannot recommend the tuna tartare and the fried calamari enough. While it isn’t on the lunch menu, we were offered to enjoy one of their top sellers, the ravioli with black cod and burrata. Traditional, perfect little bites of bliss. I think that it could very easily be a dish added to my death row meal. ­– Shelby Gee, Junior Reporter  

@alicidubai

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Something that is almost a requirement when working in this industry is experiencing an “immersive dining experience.” Now typically that is met with apprehension because how can one be immersed into a dish? Well, at Krasota ­– it’s not just about the dish, its about the art world displayed around you in 360 degrees, it’s about the plates that have been specifically designed to match the Soviet-Russian artists struggles. Costumes to match the flags flowing in the painting, as you stir the curry, a sunset that represents the flags begins to emerge. For lack of wanting sounding like a character out of the film The Menu, I can confidently say that while Dhs2,000 is pricy for one dinner, the attention to detail, intricately picked ingredients and art works make it worth it ­– and then some. – Shelby Gee, Junior Reporter

 @krasota.restaurant.dubai

Nurai Island has always enjoyed a mysterious allure, floating just a 20-minute boat trip from Saadiyat Island. So with a rare burst of Sunday afternoon motivation I found myself on a water taxi and Nurai-bound. Riding over the waves through untouched ocean blues, we traced a line of serene green mangroves, before being greeted by a luscious canopy of tropical greenery on arrival. This tropical oasis exudes sophistication and luxury while retaining an understated barefoot bohemian chic. We ate at a charming Mexican eatery called Dusk, where we munched on smoked guacamole, an array of tacos and ceviche – the perfect way to beat the Sunday scaries. – Romy Hunt, Junior Reporter

@nurai_island 

Two years ago, when this TV show transcended upon Netflix’s streaming site, my university house mates and I became obsessed, answering our desperate calls for an easy going show that would cover a full day of hungover TV binge watching. Since then, I’ve stayed adamant to keep up with the show, watching the characters navigate the highs and lows of their lives, but now alongside my mother here in Dubai. This wholesome tale is sure to touch your heart, with Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke’s friendship meandering through work, love, grief and joy from their early teens to their adulthood. – Romy Hunt, Junior Reporter

@netflixmena

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