Only a few more hours to go people! From burger challenges to bodybuilding competitions, and food truck hangars to fancy new restaurants – here’s how to spend your Dubai weekend.

Thursday 11

1. Tuck into some Italian fare from a DIFC newcomer

The Artisan is the first Dubai venture from incredibly iconic Tuscan restaurant Enoteca Pinchiorri. Tucked away in the Burj Daman building in DIFC, it’s got a La Petite Maison vibe, but with Italian flavours. The food is simple yet delicious and the environment refined – we can recommend everything from the slow cooked octopus to the pasta and the hazelnut cream dessert. It’s a fancy night out, yes, but not too stuffy.

The Artisan by Enoteca Pinchiorri, Level P5, Burj Daman Building, DIFC, Dubai, Mon to Thurs 12pm to 3pm and 7pm to 11.30pm, Fri to Sun 7pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (04) 338 8133. Metro: Emirates Towers. theartisan.ae.

2. Try altitude cycling

Talise Fitness in the Madinat Jumeirah has just introduced altitude cycling classes (because spinning’s not hard enough already?). The state-of-the-art studio lowers the level of oxygen in the room, simulating altitude, and this works your body harder. It’s definitely a no pain, no gain kind of workout. Experts say a 45-minute altitude session is the equivalent of a normal 90-minute class. There are 13 altitude classes a week, and there’s one at 6.30pm tonight at ‘1600 metres’.

Talise Fitness, Madinat Jumeirah. Dhs60 for members, Dhs120 for non members. Tel: (04) 366 6821. More info on website. 

3. Go to a new, underground Dubai venue

Word from our sister mag Hype – if you haven’t done so already you need to check out Dubai’s recently opened underground venue Cymatics. In the basement of the H Hotel it has low ceilings and an LED wall, and Thursday nights there belong to Sequences, a night dedicated to underground house music. Beirut’s Ziad Ghosn is in charge of the decks tonight.

Here’s what you can expect:

H Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, World Trade Centre Roundabout, Dubai. 11pm to 3am, free. Metro: World Trade Centre. Tel: (056) 1043727. 

Friday 12

4. Eat food truck grub (indoors)

The excellently named Hangry Hangar is a concept at Al Quoz’s Warehouse Four, where six food trucks will be serving up a range of dishes for a limited time – and all from the comfort of indoors. It’s open over the weekend from 8am to midnight. Two of the trucks you’ll find parked up are Yumtingz (pictured) and Onion Caramel, which offer a mixture of tender beef sliders, jam-packed burgers, and staples with a twist (like truffle fries, yum). Read more about it here.

Warehouse 4, Al Quoz (exact location here). 8am to midnight on weekends. More info on Instagram.

5. Boost your bodybuilding skills

This weekend, over Friday and Saturday, Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre is hosting The Muscle Camp seminar training camp with famous American bodybuilders Shawn Ray and Chris Cornier. It’s not cheap at Dhs750 a person, but it’s basically for those who take fitness very seriously. The sessions will focus on getting optimal results for different body areas.

Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre, Deira. Buy tickets at contact@fitnessexpo.ae. More info on website.

6. Workout with Barbie (yes, actually)

She definitely looks like she does Pilates, and now you can workout with Barbie in Dubai. Barbie – The Athlete is a DSS event for kids running at Dragon Mart 2 from this weekend (until August 20). There will be live shows and Barbie games for the little ones – including gymnastics, track, swimming and cycling. The live shows will be at 5.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm, 8.45pm and 9.45pm daily, while the workshop runs from 1pm until 10pm daily.

Dragonmart 2, Al Awir Road, Dubai. Free, until August 20. Tel: (04) 390 9999. More info on Facebook. 

7. Sample Portuguese seafood

Now in its third week, Pierchic’s annual seafood festival Shellebration celebrates a different European seafood each week. This week it’s all about the Portuguese Feast of St Anthony. Finishing on Saturday, the special dish this week is grilled Portuguese sardines topped with roasted fennel, citrus, almonds and gremolata, served with handmade saffron pasta. Next week will be all about posh fish and chips.

Pierchic, Madinat Jumeirah. 6.30pm to midnight, until August 13. Tel: (04) 366 5866. More info on website. 

8. Dance ’til you sweat

Tech-house DJ Robert Dietz hits Dubai this weekend – and in his own words he can be “gentle and a tease” but he can also “burn down the house”. As Hype says, it’s “pure sweat-inducing dancing music”. He’ll be playing at ON42, should be a good’un.

ON42, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City. From Dhs85, 10pm to 3am. More info on Facebook.

Saturday 13

9. Live in DSO? Check out a new cafe

Circle Cafe has been serving up bagels and salads (oh, and very good cakes) for over a decade in Dubai, and they’ve just opened a new branch in Dubai Silicon Oasis. A perfect new weekend breakfast option for those of you on that side of town. We recommend the big breakfast (pictured, Dhs58). It’s certainly big, comes with a delicious smoked beef, grilled halloumi, a lot of avo’ and a huge mushroom. Oh, and a free coffee.

Park Avenue Building, Silicon Oasis. 8am to 11pm, daily. Tel: (04) 333 5337. More info on website. 

10. Watch summer-inspired short films

Local arts and culture bod Hind Mezaina has curated a selection of short films that deal with the crueller aspects of summer, from loneliness to heartbreak. Entry’s free, and there will be ice cream and summer drinks to keep you cool. There are 10 films being shown, all of which were made in the past 10 years. Here’s the song that’s inspired the collection:

thejamjar, Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz. 7.30pm, free entry. More info on website.

11. Take on a burger challenge

Feeling extra peckish? Well fear not as there’s a burger challenge at McGettigan’s JLT, DWTC and Abu Dhabi this month. Order the 32 oz steak burger until August 21 and if you finish the whole mammoth meal (plus fries and coleslaw) in 32 minutes you won’t have to pay for it. If you fail the challenge it’ll be Dhs199. (Keep in mind that the average burger is just six ounces.)

McGettigan’s, various locations including Cluster J, Jumeirah Lakes Towers. Until August 21. Tel: (04) 378 0800. More info on website. 

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