Things to do in Dubai this weekend
What’s On has a list of things to do in Dubai this weekend, including brunch, drinks deals, festive events, live entertainment and new openings.
You know that moment on a Thursday afternoon when your work buddy asks what you’re doing this weekend and your mind goes blank? Well worry no more, friends, because What’s On has the perfect solution, whatever mood you are in.
THURSDAY
Indian Street Food Festival
Claypot has bought its successful food festival back for another year, featuring 21 different delicacies from all over the country, including a live Chaat counter, Ragda Pattice, Kathi Rolls, Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav and Chicken Pakora. The festival runs for a month from January 21.
Claypot, Citymax Hotel, Kuwait Street, Bur Dubai; from 7pm. Tel: 050 1007065. Taxi: Citymax Bur Dubai. facebook.com/ClaypotDubai
Acrobatic dinner
If you like food with a side order of circus arts then head to the acrobatics night at Clé Dubai. The world-renowned Cirque Eloize blends circus skills with music and dance.
Al Fattan Currency House, DIFC, Dubai, Sat to Mon noon to 2am. Tel: (04) 3525150. Metro: Financial Centre. facebook.com/CleDubai
Yousef at Shibuya
One of the city’s favorite underground night, Shibuya at The Basement, will have Yousef on the decks tonight. With support from local DJs, Smokingroove, Mr Mr and Michka, the night truly showcases the art of house music. Come for no fuss and proper underground clubbing in the city.
The Basement, Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom, Thursday, January 22, 10pm to 3am, Dhs100, ladies free before midnight. Metro: Tecom. Tel: (04) 4345555. Facebook.com/shibuyadxb
DJ Yoda
One the world’s most famous and talented technical DJs, Yoda rolls into town this weekend, bringing with him his usual flair. Expect hip-hop fused with cartoon theme tunes, scratching and 80s pop tracks.
Free before 10pm and Dhs100 after for gents, free before midnight and Dhs100 after for ladies. 6pm-3am. Zero Gravity, SkyDive Dubai, Dubai Marina (04 399 0009).
Nicole Richie pop-up
Nicole Richie’s signature brand ‘House of Harlow 1960′ hosts a pop-up at The Beach opposite JBR, as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival. The reality TV star-turned-acclaimed fashion designer will be in the region between January 29 and 31, while the store itself will run for 12 days from January 20.
Courtyard Playhouse special
Courtyard Playhouse has decided to find out what happens when you put the best of UAE’s Comics and Musicians on one stage. It’s ambitious, but certain to be fun.
The Courtyard Playhouse Dubai. Al Quoz, Dubai, 8pm, Dhs60. Tel: (055) 967927. courtyardplayhouse.com
Eat Dubai – LAST CHANCE
EAT Dubai is a unique theatre experience that allows audiences to experience a number of cultural clashes that take place between five actors playing characters from different cultures living in Dubai. Three guests, a host and her waiter begin to enjoy a traditional Emirati dinner and end up getting a deeper look into the cultures values and attitudes of each other.
January 15 to 22
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, Al Fahidi District, Dhs460. Tickets are available from EventBrite.
FRIDAY
Cheer on the Dubai Marathon
Two of the members of Team What’s On will be taking on the Dubai Marathon on Friday morning, pounding the pavement all the way along Jumeirah Beach Road and Al Sufouh.
Check out a new bar
The award-winning Pierchic restaurant has opened two new pods called The Chic Bar and The Chic Lounge. And on Fridays, Miss PM and Gareth Davies alternative behind the decks between 5pm and 9pm.
Pierchic, Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh Road, daily 6.30pm to 11.30pm. Taxi: Madinat Jumeirah. Tel: (04) 3665866. Facebook.com/pierchicdubai
New restaurant
TR!BECA Kitchen and Bar opens at the JA Oceanview Hotel, headed by award-winning Chef Giovanni De Ambrosis. It describes itself as ‘New York inspired’; the clue is in the name, of course – Tribeca, which got its name from Triangle Below Canal, a reference to its Manhattan location, is one of the Big Apple’s trendiest locations. And every bit of that ‘cool’ can be seen in the decor here; it’s a NYC loft environment, complete with concrete floors and walls, bare ceilings, exposed grates, wooden pallets and steel structures throughout, and graffiti by local and international artists Justone and Onemizer.
JA Ocean View Hotel, JBR, Dubai. Tel: (04) 814 5590. jaresortshotels.com
H.O.S.H.
H.O.S.H. takes to the stage at Eden Beach Club tonight. This new music playground on The Palm is on fire with their bookings at the moment, and has been since their grand opening late last year.
Eden Beach Club, Rixos The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Friday, January 23, 1pm to midnight. Taxi: Rixos The Palm. Tel: (055) 2771477. Facebook.com/edendubai
Stretchy man at Cirque Le Soir
Brit Gary Turner, who says he discovered his bizarre ‘skill’ while still at school, suffers with a rare genetic skin condition that allows him to stretch all parts of his skin to never-before-seen lengths and places. In one video ‘Stretch’ is seen pulling the excess from around his neck up over his face, covering chin, mouth and almost his nose. You can see him in action at Cirque Le Sior tonight, along with the usual weird and wonderful entertainment.
Cirque Le Soir, Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road. 10.30pm to 3am, free. Metro: World Trade Centre. cirquelesoir.com/dubai
Icons of Art
Opera Gallery Dubai unveils an ‘Icons of Art’ exhibition this weekend. The retrospective exhibition marks the gallery’s first display solely dedicated to contemporary masters who dramatically influenced 20th century art including Picasso and Andy Warhol.
January 14 to February 4
Opera Gallery Dubai, Gate Village Building 3, DIFC, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3230909, operagallery.com/ang/middle-east/dubai-difc.html
Dubai Polo Gold Cup
Park up your car and picnic as the pros play polo.
Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club, Arabian Ranches, Dubai, Dhs100. Tel: (050) 2569791. Taxi: Opposite Arabian Ranches. dubaipolo goldcup.com
Doc Scott D&B night
When it comes to drum ‘n’ bass, Doc Scott has been there and done that. You can form part of that journey when he touches down in Dubai for GlobalFunk at The Basement.
GlobalFunk, The Basement, Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom; 10pm to 3am, Dhs100. Taxi: Boutique 7 Hotel. facebook.com/GlobalFunkDXB
SATURDAY
yApparel FLASH sale
Feel like some yoga retail therapy? Dubai’s only dedicated boutique yoga clothing and equipment store is having an end of season sale at the Yoga Room in JLT. Get up to 40% off on some of the biggest yoga brands in the world including Tonic, Liquido, Yogasmoga and Wellicious. Get your new year wardrobe up to speed with some serious bargains.
January 24 to 25
The Yoga Room, Cluster Y, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, Sat 2pm to 7pm and Sun noon to 5pm. Tel: (050) 6417164. yapparel.com
Market OTB – LAST CHANCE
One of the coolest elements of the Dubai Shopping Festival rolls out this weekend in Downtown Dubai. Running from January 15 to 24, the second edition of Market OTB is held at South Ridge Park and is an ‘out of the box approach to shopping, dining and entertainment’. Featuring around 60 of the region’s trendiest boutique shops, cafes and art galleries, including the likes of Clinton St, Little Majlis, Studio Manhattan, Jam Jar, West LA, Urban Yogi and The Hipster, the pop-up spot is a collection of shipping containers and other temporary spaces forged to make a glorious urban hangout.
January 15 to 24
Downtown Dubai, Southridge Park, free. mydsf.ae
Hot new lunch spot
Pret To Go hasn’t taken long to become a popular eatery in DIFC, thanks to its quick and healthy breakfast and lunch options. If you’re passing through the area over the weekend, pop in and find chia and raspberry breakfast pot, or strawberry quinoa parfait. Juices use anything from apple to cucumber and parsley to spinach. They also have gluten free pizzas and feel-good takes on traditional dishes like hot chicken wrap and BBQ meats.
Pret to Go, Marble Walk, DIFC; 8am to 8pm. Tel: 800-7738. Taxi: DIFC. Metro: Financial Centre
Basque food
Tolosa, a new bistro in Souk Al Bahar, takes its cue from French cuisine with influences from Spain’s Basque region.
Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, Wed to Sat noon to 2am, Sun to Tue 5pm to 2am. Tel: (04) 4539220. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. tolosabodega.com
Karak house
A reboot of Arabic and Indian cuisine is promised at this new Downtown restaurant that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Look at those Emirati chebab pancakes.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, Sun to Wed 9am to 11pm, Thur to Sat 9am to midnight. Tel: (04) 5516852. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall