Whoever complains that there’s not enough to do in Dubai…please give them a knock on our behalf! Forget all the extreme sports that you can try out or the beaches, markets and malls that you can you can visit; dining (or drinking) at all these spots is a bucket list in itself. Why so? It’s the unusual experience they provide. Be it their dipping temperatures, ultra-quirky interiors or not-so-typical locations.

10. Dhow Cruise

Touted as one of the best ways to witness the charm of old Dubai, this experience is available by many tour operators form Deira and Bur Dubai Creek. Expect a night of dining on calm waters in these Arabian boats. The itinerary generally includes a BBQ dinner, music and a Tanura dance show. Witness the hustle and bustle of the city in the distance, as well as the old buildings constructed close to each other.

(Foodies, This Jumeirah Spot Is Doing Desserts Unlike Anywhere Else In Dubai And You Need To Try Them)

Dhow Cruise Dubai (04 458 6664)

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9. One Cafe

This cute café is a part of well-being centre Life’nOne in Jumeirah. The venue boasts a stunning garden with Zashiki-style seating. Enjoy a meal that’s guilt-free because its organic menu includes gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free options. This is where you’d get to try desserts such as raw lemon cheesecake, raw caramel pie and vegan Banoffe without a worry!

Life’nOne (04 343 6676)

8. XVA Café

Hidden in the arty XVA Hotel (located in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood), this café is a little gem. The courtyard venue offers diners a Middle Eastern menu with tons of vegetarian options. What do we love most about this place? Beautiful art pieces adorn the walls and they truly represent the culture of the region.

XVA Hotel (04 353 5383)

7. Al Dawaar at Hyatt Regency Dubai

This is not your ordinary dining spot. It’s perhaps the only place in the city that offers 360⁰ views without you having to move from your seat. The rooftop restaurant revolves instead. Along with an extensive buffet daily and a Friday brunch (which usually has us fixed on the dessert counter), the restaurant also serves brilliant views of the Creek, Deira and Dubai skyline in the distance.

Hyatt Regency Dubai (04 209 1234)

6. Avalanche Café

Forgive yourself for thinking you’re in a little cosy café in a ski resort. Located at mid station, Avalanche offers skiers and snowboarders at Ski Dubai a break from all their adventure. Stop by for a beverage – nothing quite beats a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows in those temperatures – or quick bite. Think the comfort of a melted cheese sandwich or turkey and Emmental cheese crepe.

Ski Dubai (800 386)

5. Music Hall

If music runs through your veins, you’d better be booking your table at this Lebanese import. Open on Thursdays and Fridays, the concept is pretty simple: dinner combined with dancing. Note: it’s not your typical club night experience, but a theatre venue that puts up as many as ten live acts through the evening – it could be Jazz, Middle Eastern or even Gypsy. Watch these artists put up a brilliant show, while your indulge in dishes such as risotto, sea bass, mini burgers or even the sharing platters that include wontons, satays and spring rolls.

(In the mood for Vietnamese Food? This Sunny JLT Spot Is Where You Should Cure Your Next Craving)

Jumeirah Zabeel Saray (04 447 6646)

4. Special Ostadi Restaurant

The images might make it come across as clutter, but it’s actually cool. Very cool! Walls plastered with photographs, currencies of practically every country placed under table tops and displays of everything ranging from caps to antique phones and even clocks are just some of the things you see here. Known to regulars as ‘Ostadi’, this family-owned restaurant (that’s been around since 1978) serves the best Iranian kebabs (on a bed of rice, topped with butter) in town. The one thing that hasn’t changed at this institution: the male members of the family will always be around, at any point during the day, happily serving customers.

Bur Dubai (04 397 1933)

3. Al Mahara

You’re sitting in the lap of luxury (Burj Al Arab) surrounded by a floor to ceiling aquarium. Is there anything to complain about? We don’t think so. With a name that means ‘the oyster shell’, Al Mahara serves seafood (not fished from its tanks) dishes such as Alaskan king crab and foie gras ravioli, poached Tsarkaya oysters in cucumber and apple broth and line-caught sea bass with jus Piperade, all prepared by award-winning chefs.

Burj Al Arab (04 301 7600)

2. BBQ Donut

‘Sailing the ocean, bobbing up and down like this’ – that’s probably what you’d be singing when you spend an afternoon on these donut-shaped boats. With a maximum capacity of eight people, you can float (by which we mean navigate your way) along the Creek while enjoying pre-packed salads, mains (which you can grill) of chicken breast and beef burger or salmon, hammour and prawns. End the meal with an array of mini French pastries.

Boardwalk (04 295 6000)

1. Atmosphere

There are two kinds of people: one that take photos of Burj Khalifa and one that take photos inside Burj Khalifa. And if you belong to the second category, there’s no greater place to get those killer Instagram shots than at Atmosphere. On level 122 of the tallest building in the world, you get a bird’s eye view of the city (Downtown Dubai, Jumeirah and even Burj Al Arab and Dubai Marina on a clear day) while dining on a fancy seven-course menu or nibbling smaller bites such as lobster tacos, pop shrimps and truffle fries in the lounge.

Burj Khalifa (04 888 3828)