The countdown is on…

We’re gearing up for the biggest event of the year as we crown the winners of the What’s On Dubai Awards 2018 on Sunday November 11. But before we get there, you’ve spent months casting your votes for the city’s best restaurants, unforgettable events, top leisure activities and most popular food concepts, and it’s time to reveal who’ve you’ve voted for as your shortlist.

Ahead of the ceremony, we’ll be pre-awarding all the winners of the Leisure categories, as well as the categories that fall in Restaurants Under Dhs400. All the other categories will be crowned at our annual awards night, taking place at the Media City Amphitheatre. A further four categories; Indie Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Restaurant of the Year will also be awarded on the night, voted for solely by the expert What’s On team.

Want to be there on the night? Tickets will go live very soon, so stay tuned.

So without further ado, here are the shortlisted nominees… 

LEISURE

Favourite Fitness Club

DEFINE Body & Mind

Fitness First Mirdif City Center

GymNation, Sheikh Zayed Road

NRG Fitness

Warehouse Gym, Al Quoz

Favourite Spa

Heart & Soul Spa, Al Barari

So Spa, Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa Hotel

Swissôtel Spa & Sport, Swissôtel Al Ghurair & Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair

Timeless Spa, Al Maha A Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa

Tips & Toes, Al Barsha

Favourite Nail Bar

NStyle Beauty Lounge, Mall of Emirates

The Nail Spa, Jumeirah Road

Tips & Toes, DFC

Favourite Hair Salon

Marquee Hair Salon, Jumeirah Road

Tips & Toes, Golden Mile, Dubai

Must Dash Gents Salon

NStyle Beauty Lounge, Mall of Emirates

Urban Male Lounge , JLT

RESTAURANTS (BELOW 400)

Favourite British

Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, Atlantis The Palm, Dubai

Copper Dog, DoubleTree by Hilton, Dubai Jumeirah Beach – The Walk

Great British Restaurant, Dukes Dubai

Pots, Pans & Boards, The Beach, JBR

The Croft, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites     

Favourite Brunch

Zero Gravity

Nosh, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers

Spice Island, Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira

Luchador Rooftop Cantina & Lounge, Aloft, The Palm Jumeirah Dubai

LOCAL, TRYP by Wyndham 

Favourite Middle Eastern Restaurant

Leila Restaurant, Downtown

Olea Restaurant, Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates

The Bosporus, Dubai Mall

QD’s, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

Zouzou Restaurant & Café , La Mer

Favourite Chinese Restaurant

Soy Restaurant, Ibn Battuta Mall

Chowking, Al Ghurair Centre

Maiden Shanghai, FIVE Palm Jumeirah

New Shanghai , The Dubai Mall

Zheng He’s, Jumeirah Mina A’ Salam

Favourite French Restaurant

Aubaine, The Dubai Mall

Couqley French Bistro & Bar

Demoiselle By Galvin, City Walk

La Farine Café & Bakery, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

Paul, Dubai Mall         

Favourite Indian Restaurant

Claypot, City Max Bur Dubai

Ente Malabar

Gharana, Holiday Inn Hotel Al Barsha

Khyber, Dukes Dubai

Zafran Indian Bistro, Mirdif City Centre

Favourite International Restaurant

Big Chef, The Beach, JBR

Kitchen6, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

Mitts and Trays Restaurant and Café, City Walk Phase 2

Spice Island, Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira

Tub of Butter 

Favourite Italian Restaurant

Eataly, The Dubai Mall

Da Vinci’s, Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai

Don Corleone, Metropolitan Hotel

Positano, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

Trattoria Toscana, Souk Madinat Jumeirah

Favourite Japanese Restaurant

Benihana, Amwaj Rotana

Izakaya, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

Origami Sushi Fusion, Al Souq Mall

Miyako, Hyatt Regency Dubai

Sumo Sushi & Bento, Jumeirah Town Centre

Favourite Modern European Restaurant

Boardwalk, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

Riva Beach Club

Salero Tapas & Bodega, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates

SeaGrill Bistro, Fairmont The Palm Dubai

Favourite Pan-Asian Restaurant

Asia Kitchen By Mainland China, BurJuman Centre

Bao Wow, City Walk

Max’s Restaurant, Karama

Trader Vic’s, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah

Wok Boyz, Sheikh Zayed Road

Favourite Seafood Restaurant

3 Fils

Al Mashowa, City Walk

Aprons & Hammers, The Beach, JBR

Dampa Seafood Grill

Red Lobster, The Dubai Mall

Favourite The Americas Restaurant

Blaze Burger, The Walk, JBR

Cactus Jacks, Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai

Chamas Churrascaria & Bar, Crowne Plaza Dubai

La Tablita, Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Hotel

Luchador Rooftop Cantina & Lounge, Aloft, The Palm Jumeirah Dubai        

Favourite Thai Restaurant

The Royal Budha, Holiday Inn Dubai, Al Barsha

The Royal Orchid

Tong Thai, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

Wise Kwai, dusitD2 Kenz Hotel

 Favourite Steakhouse

Butcha Steakhouse & Grill, The Beach, JBR

Gürkan Şef, City Walk

Graze Gastro Grill, La Ville Hotel & Suites

Observatory Bar & Grill, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites

The Butcher Shop & Grill, Mall of the Emirates

ENTERTAINMENT 

Favourite Bar

Dukes Bar, Dukes Dubai

Roberto’s Restaurant & Lounge

The Irish Village

The Tap House

Tree House, Taj Dubai

Favourite Day Out

Duchess Day, Dukes Dubai Pool Bar

Riva Beach Club

The Ripe Market

Wild Wadi Waterpark

Zero Gravity

Favourite Concert

Marti Pellow of WET WET concert, The Irish Village

Rag’n’Bone Man, Dubai Opera

Steps, Dubai Opera

The Definitive Rat Pack, Dubai Opera            

Favourite Ladies’ Night

Grapeskin, La Ville Hotel & Suites

INDIE DIFC

The Penthouse, FIVE Palm Jumeirah

Toy Room Dubai

Waka Restaurant and Bar, The Oberoi Dubai            

Favourite Festival

ANTS, Soho Beach Dubai

Elrow, Soho Beach Dubai

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

Party in the Park

Zero Gravity

Favourite Nightclub

BASE Dubai

Cavalli Club Restaurant & Lounge, Dubai

The Penthouse, FIVE Palm Jumeirah

Toy Room Dubai

Zero Gravity

Favourite Sporting Event

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens

Omega Dubai Desert Classic

The Color Run Dubai

The Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge

Favourite Show

Aida, Dubai Opera

Backstreet Boys Live, White Dubai

Evita, Dubai Opera

Just Like That’ by Tall Tales Productions

La Perle by Dragone

SPONSORED CATEGORY

The Stella Artois Perfect Serve

Belgian Beer Cafe, Grand Millennium

Nezesaussi

Nelsons, Media Rotana

Bridgewater Tavern

The Original Belgian Cafe, Dubai Festival City

FOOD CONCEPT

Favourite Business Lunch

Biz Lunch, Qwerty, Media One Hotel

Brothaus Backery – Bistro, Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay

LOCAL, TRYP by Wyndham

Roberto’s Restaurant & Lounge

The Sum of Us

Favourite Café

Craft Café

Culinary Boutique

Jones the Grocer, Emirates Golf Club

Paul, The Dubai Mall

Walnut Grove, Dubai

Favourite Healthy Eating Restaurant

Comptoir 102

Counter Culture Café, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites

Flow, Jumeirah Emirates Towers

Govinda’s Restaurant, Karama

The Farm Restaurant, Al Barari

Favourite Pub Grub

Brunswick Eatery Bar Terrace, Sheraton Hotel, Mall of the Emirates

McGettigan’s JBR, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah

The Eloquent Elephant, Taj Dubai

The Irish Village

The Tap House

Favourite Food Truck & Pop-Ups

Burger Pit, The Outlet Village

Media One Fan Zone for World Cup 2018

Ramadan Nights by Dish

Vida Food Truck

RESTAURANTS ABOVE 400

Favourite French Restaurant

Carine, Emirates Golf Club

Celebrities, One&Only Royal Mirage

Galvin Bistrot & Bar, City Walk

La Cantine du Faubourg, Jumeirah Emirates Towers

Favourite Indian Restaurant

Ananta, The Oberoi Dubai

Bombay Brasserie, Taj Dubai

Indigo by Vineet, Grosvenor House

Masti – Cocktails & Cuisine, La Mer

Rang Mahal, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai      

Favourite International Restaurant

Huqqa The Market, The Dubai Mall

The Beach House, Anantara Resort & Spa, The Palm Dubai

The Restaurant, The Address Boulevard

Toro + Ko, City Walk

Scape Restaurant & Lounge, Burj Al Arab     

Favourite Italian Restaurant

Al Grissino Restaurant and Lounge, Emirates Financial Towers

Il Borro Tuscan Bistro Dubai

MATTO, The Oberoi Dubai

Roberto’s Restaurant & Lounge

Quattro Passi, FIVE Palm Jumeirah

Favourite Japanese Restaurant

Hibachi, Roda Al Bustan

Kohantei, Dubai Opera House

Nobu, Atlantis The Palm

Novikov, Sheraton Grand Hotel

Ramusake, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel

Favourite Middle Eastern Restaurant

Al Nafoorah, Jumeirah Emirates Towers

Bahar Persian Cuisine

Ninive Dubai, Jumeirah Emirates Towers

Rüya, Grosvenor House

Tagine, One&Only Royal Mirage

Favourite Modern European Restaurant

Atelier M

BOCA, DIFC

INDIE DIFC

Folly by Nick & Scott

Mina Brasserie, Four Seasons Hotel DIFC

Favourite Pan-Asian Restaurant

Eauzone, One&Only Royal Mirage

Mekong, Anantara Resort & Spa, The Palm Dubai

White Orchid, JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort, Dubai

Zengo, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa

Favourite Seafood Restaurant

BiCE MARE, Souk Al Bahar

Crab Market

Pierchic, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah

The Beach Bar & Grill, One&Only Royal Mirage

The MAINE Oyster Bar & Grill            

Favourite Steakhouse

Bushman’s Restaurant & Bar, Anantara Resort & Spa, The Palm Dubai

Günaydın, Souk Al Bahar

Porterhouse Steaks & Grills, Sofitel Dubai The Palm

Prime68, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

West 14th, Dukes Hotel

Favourite Thai Restaurant

Bambooda, Roda Al Bustan Hotel

Benjarong, Dusit Thani

Pai Thai, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah

Thiptara, Palace Downtown   

Favourite The Americas Restaurant

Gaucho Dubai

Hotel Cartagena, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai

Lima Dubai, City Walk

Soul Restaurant & Bar, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach

Waka Restaurant and Bar, The Oberoi Dubai

Favourite British Restaurant

Geales, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa

Rhodes W1, Grosvenor House Dubai

The Eloquent Elephant, Taj Dubai

Favourite Brunch

Crescendo, Anantara Resort & Spa, The Palm Dubai

Great British Restaurant

Lucky Voice

Waka Restaurant and Bar, The Oberoi Dubai

Wanderlust at Garden, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

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