15 things to do in Dubai this weekend
Extended happy hours, free food, and a music festival…
The weekend is here, and we’ve declared that it’s finally time to head outside.
Four soul music legends are taking to the stage at The Irish Village, while pool parties, happy hours, and brunches have all gone al fresco, plus, you can dine around 14 of Jumeirah’s most loved restaurants for Dhs395.
Here are 15 things to do in Dubai this weekend…
Thursday October 5
1. Get your soul fix at a one-off music festival
The Irish Village is bringing four massive artists in soul music together on stage in Dubai for the first time. Headlining the night is American R&B and soul legend Alexander O’Neal, who will be joined by Mica Paris, Brit soul man Omar and 80s soul diva Jaki Graham.
The Irish Village, Garhoud, Thursday, 9pm to 2am, Dhs175. Tel:(04) 239 5000. More info on website
2. Pay for a drink with a book at Copper Dog
To celebrate World Teachers’ Day, Scottish watering hole Copper Dog is inviting you to pay with paper today. Bring in an old and interesting book, and in return, you can get a signature Apple Dog drink on the house. There will also be 30 per cent off for teachers all evening with a valid ID.
Doubletree by Hilton, JBR, Thursday 12pm to 11pm. Tel: (04) 5595 355. More info on website
3. Have a big bite out
Jumeriah Restaurant Week returns this weekend, with eight days of feasting from signature menus across 40 of Jumeirah’s most loved restaurants. To kick off the week, tonight sees Madinat Jumeriah’s Big Bite Out, a mammoth dine-around event taking over the resort where, for Dhs395, you can eat and drink at 14 different bars and restaurants from 7pm to 11pm – all culminating in an after-party at Shimmers, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam.
Madinat Jumeirah, Thursday 7pm to 11pm, Dhs395. Tel: (04) 432 3232. More info on website.
4. See a gallery full of gold
There’s a new contemporary art exhibition in DIFC’s Opera Gallery. Made up of a carefully curated selection of works from more than 25 internationally renowned artists, ‘Gold’ exposes viewers to the precious metal in many different forms. Works by Salvador Dali and Roy Lichtenstein will both feature.
Opera Gallery, Gate Village 3, DIFC, Oct 5 to Oct 19. Tel: (04) 323 0909. More info on website
5. Treat yourself to a gourmet meal
Armani Hotel Dubai – yes, the flash one in the Burj Khalifa – is hosting a gourmet dining experience at four of its stylish restaurants for a surprisingly non-gourmet price. For Dhs350, you can enjoy a four-course set menu from Armani/Amal, Armani/Hashi, Armani/Ristorante, or Armani/Deli. We went along to check out Japanese restaurant Armani/Hashi, and it’s safe to say we were blown away by the quality of each dish – think melt-in-your-mouth fresh fish, delicious fried duck and foie gras, and even a ‘chocolate wasabi delight’ for dessert (trust us, it tasted way better than it sounds). Book a table on the terrace overlooking the Dubai Fountain, and that’s date night sorted.
Armani/Amal, Armani/Hashi, Armani/Ristorante and Armani/Deli, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai. Sun Oct 1 to Tues Oct 10, 7pm to 11pm. Dhs350 per person, set menu only. Tel: (04) 888 3666. More info on website
6. Head to a hip-hop cardio class
Newly launched in Dubai, Hip Hop Cardio offers dance lovers the perfect way to keep their fitness levels at top performance. The high energy hip-hop cardio class helps to increase overall flexibility and aerobic capacity while burning around 500 calories per class.
Train SF, Al Quoz, 8pm, Dhs100. Tel: (052) 777 6957. More info on website
Friday October 6
7. Feast on an international buffet brunch
Enjoy an extravagant selection of dishes from the far corners of the world at the Brasserie 2.0 brunch. There’s a garden terrace area with an outdoor grill, more than 10 live cooking stations packed to the rafters with dishes from around the world, a live band, and a refreshing juice and smoothie bar.
8. Spend a day on the greens
The Els Club in Sports City is hosting an open day bash to celebrate the start of the new season. It will be a full day of fun and festivities for the whole family, with live food stations from restaurants Big Easy and 261, drinks promotions, and golf experiences with the Butch Harmon School of Golf.
The Els Club, Dubai Sports City, Dubai. Friday midday to 9pm. Free entry. Tel: (04) 425 1000. More info on website
9. Head to a new music festival at Zero Gravity
There’s a new Friday event launching at Zero Gravity this weekend. Ritual, a weekly music festival, advertises that it will ‘awaken the senses’. Expect the beach club to be transformed with exciting decor, production and entertainment. International DJ MK headlines this Friday.
Sky Dive Dubai, 8am to late, door policy applies. Tel: (04) 399 0009. More info on website
10. Groove on the Grass
Groove on the Grass is back for a sixth season this weekend at Emirates Golf Club. For opening night, this popular party is back on at the lawn with a live set from Chilean producer and DJ Nicolas Jaar, EDM star DJ Tennis, Brit-born Nightmares on Wax and Canadian DJ Jacques Greene.
Emirates Golf Club, Sheikh Zayed Road, Fri 5pm to 3am, Dhs195 to Dhs240. Tel: (04) 380 1234. More info on website
9. Enjoy an extended happy hour at this sundowner spot
To celebrate the reopening of folly’s terraces, today the Souk Madinat spot is going to be offering their sundowner menu from noon until 9pm. That means a full nine hours of their signature ‘prosecco pop’ for Dhs35.
folly by Nick and Scott, Madinat Jumeirah, 12pm to 7pm, from Dhs25. Tel: (04) 430 8535. More info on website
Saturday October 7
11. Get breakfast delivered to your door
What’s On Award winner Salt has launched a new breakfast menu available to order to your door everyday from 9am to noon. Choose between the Sunny Slider (Dhs35), which comes with cheese and turkey bacon, topped with organic egg, and a hashbrown, or the Scrambled Slider (Dhs40), drizzled in cheese sauce, with turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, honey mustard, and a hashbrown. Both options come with a bottle of OJ. Best of all, be the first to order each morning, and you’ll get your breakfast free.
Salt, Tel: (055) 72583777. More info on Facebook
12. Jam out at a reggae pool party
There’s a new reggae pool party, Jamdown, happening tonight at the iKandy lounge at Shangri-La. It’s free entry for everyone, plus there will be complimentary sangria cocktails for ladies from 4pm to 7pm, and a 30 per cent discount for Face card.
iKandy, Shangri-La, Sheikh Zayed Road 4pm to 2am, free entry. Tel: (04) 405 2703. More info on Facebook
13. Get free s’mores at City Walk
Throughout the month of October, Eggspectation at City Walk is giving away free s’mores (that’s a brioche, stuffed with Nutella and marshmallows, with maple syrup and chocolate sauce for those not in the know). Head to their social media page, take a snap of the ad and present it at the City Walk branch to claim your free s’mores.
City Walk Boulevard, City Walk, daily 8am to midnight. Tel: (04) 240 6877. More info on website.
15. Have a laugh at Senara
Senara and The Laughter Factory are joining forces for the first time this weekend as part of the ‘We Are Going To Hell’ October series. Senara’s Laughter Factory line up includes comedy superstars Markus Birdman, Carey Marx and Andrew Ryan.
Senara, Palm Views East, 8pm to 10pm, Dhs140. Tel:(04) 355 1862. More info on website
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