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

These are our favourite things in the UAE right now…

Sunday lunching in style at… The Guild

Dubai’s best roast dinner is a hotly contested subject, and while I recognise it’s somewhat subjective, I think The Guild’s is a seriously strong contender. There’s something gloriously glamorous about The Salon – The Guild’s main dining room where crisp white table clothed tables are neatly arranged around an impressive show kitchen, which serves up cooked-to-order meats with fluffy roasties, glazed root vegetables, tasty Yorkshire puds and bowls of seasonal vegetables to share. Just be sure to save room for the gold-sprinkled chocolate mousse. – Alice Holtham-Pargin, Group Editor

@theguilddubai

Getting ready for a summer holiday with… Chic Le Frique

Linen sets have become my summer wardrobe staple, and one of my favourite places to get them from is homegrown brand, Chic Le Frique. When I moved to Dubai almost a decade ago, there was such limited choice of where to buy clothes from, especially online and if you wanted to avoid the chain stores. But in recent years the homegrown fashion scene has flourished, and Chic Le Frique is really at the forefront of that for trendy but timeless pieces that you’ll wear season after season. While I love their two-piece sets for beach days in Dubai, I’m also excited to pack them for my upcoming Euro trip. – Alice Holtham-Pargin, Group Editor

@chiclefrique_official

Cycling in the best ‘frames’ of mind with… Bose Audio Sunglasses

I love a little weekend cycle, leisurely, mountain bike-bound and with a complete absence of paint-on lycra. But one bit of equipment, that I have fallen in love with – is the Bose Frames. Cycling with a big pair of bins on just feels a bit negligencey. And the benefit of the audio playing sunglasses, is that there’s no noise cancelling – your ear canals remain unblocked, and in addition to an audiobook, banger packed playlist or podcast, you can hear everything going on around you (squeals of pedestrians, shouts of “stay in your lane” from other, gruffer, actively lycra-clad peloton fiends). I’m just not prepared to Google what witchcraft is at play that makes them function so well. Some sorts of physics are better left unknown. – Miles Buckeridge, Deputy Editor, What’s On Dubai

@bose

Enjoying a bougie lunch at… Nobu by the Beach

On brand for the unyielding grandeur of Atlantis The Royal, Nobu By The Beach is a leisure lab experiment to fuse the indulgent lounging of a luxurious beach club with the culinary fire of world-renowned cheffing icon, Nobuyuki ‘Nobu’ Matsuhisa. And despite the fact that outside temperatures are at that ‘let’s do a TikTok using the sun to cook an egg’ levels at the moment, doesn’t mean the venue is off limits for a cheeky working lunch visit. I went with a friend this week, and there’s a bright and suave little indoor restaurant on the site. We dined out on some of the Nobu classics – nigiri tacos, yellowtail jalapeño sashimi, shiitake salad goma salad, and rock shrimp tempura. Great food, Riviera vibes, Nobu never misses. – Miles Buckeridge, Deputy Editor, What’s On Dubai

@nobubythebeach

Waiting to celebrate sport with…The Olympic Games

While I’m almost always watching one sport or the other, it isn’t often you get to witness those such as pole vaulting, synchronised swimming, sailing and taekwondo. I wait eagerly for four years to elapse so we’re back at an Olympic summer, and watching some of the world’s elite athletes leave it all out there for national glory is inspiring, to say the least. Less than a month away now, and I can’t wait for it all. Also, make sure to catch the opening and closing ceremonies. – Dinesh Ramanathan, Deputy Editor, What’s On Abu Dhabi

@olympics

Trying to understand the misunderstood…with Milton Waddams

“Who?” I hear you hoot. Mike Judge, also the mind behind King of the Hill, Silicon Valley, and other iconic productions, wrote and directed an incredibly funny movie called Office Space back in 1999. Milton Waddams, played by Stephen Root, is the office’s misunderstood voice – a shy, introverted employee that is almost never heard and not allowed to keep his favourite stapler, among other things. In between laughs, you get the message. Bonus: if you’re ever in the What’s On offices, come hang out where my colleague Miles and I sit – chances are you’ll hear us impersonate our boy Milton. – Dinesh Ramanathan, Deputy Editor, What’s On Abu Dhabi

Watch it on @disneyplusmena

Catching up with a close friend over breakfast at… Brunch & Cake

I love a good breakfast. There’s plenty to try at the Instagrammable café, but since I was craving an eggs benedict (possibly one of my favourite breakfast meals) I didn’t spend (too) much time pouring over the menu. I ordered my eggs medium and yes, it was just perfect when I cut into it, with turkey bacon and mushrooms on the side. A little unconventional, but the hummus garnish on the side was delicious, too. I will definitely be making another visit soon just for their desserts. – Aarti Saundalkar, Online Reporter

@brunchandcake

Taking a swing at this paint-and-play art workshop with… FoscART

Paint and grape classes are super fun, but I tend to ignore the sips and bites and focus on painting. Which is why this paint and play workshop is perfect for me. You get to enjoy painting for two hours before you move on to the next activity, which in this case was a game of golf at Topgolf Dubai for one hour. The best news? This three-hour workshop is just Dhs125 per person. The team do other activities including an art breakfast, a sculpt and sip workshop and more. And I can’t wait to try them out. It was a fun day out and one your friends will definitely enjoy. – Aarti Saundalkar, Online Reporter

@fosc.art

Heading for some after-school fun to Dubai’s chic new soft play… Ribambelle

As a mum, I feel guilty to admit that I do not enjoy going to soft play areas. At all. It’s completely selfish of course. They’re sweaty, loud, and not at all relaxing for the parents so no matter whether you get your laptop out and attempt to send an email, it’s just not happening. But it’s summer in Dubai and other than stay at home and stare at screens all days, indoor play areas are one of the best ways to keep the little ones entertained. Enter: Ribambelle. Located on Bluewaters, Ribambelle is a brand new (licensed) restaurant with an adorable jungle-inspired play area and daily workshops from baking to arts and crafts. And while the parents enjoy the extensive food menu and a drink or two upstairs, there’s whimsical entertainers to keep the little ones busy with games, hide and seek, and more. If you’re looking for an indoor activity that both the grown-ups and little ones will enjoy this summer, head to Ribambelle and you might just get a minute to yourself.  – Tamara Wright, Online Reporter 

@ribambelle.dubai

Trying out Dubai’s new ‘Transformer’ pilates studio… KARVE

London’s renowned ‘Transformer’ Pilates studio, KARVE, has finally opened in Dubai, and I was super excited to be one of the first to try their unique (hardcore) workouts during the soft launch last week. Unlike any Pilates class I’ve done before, the intense low-impact, high-intensity sessions feature dimmed lights, loud music, and focus on strength training and driving the metabolism through slow, resistance-based movements on the custom-designed reformer machines. Not for the faint-hearted, this was a TOUGH workout but well-worth a try if you’re looking to switch up your current routine and reap the results in no time. Oh and don’t forget a post-workout matcha latte, you deserve it. – Tamara Wright, Online Reporter 

@karve.dubai