Best of Dubai
Dubai is Vegas on steroids. The biggest, flashiest and finest is what they specialize in. And while I wasn’t able to obtain ALL of my goals: meet a prince who owns a pet cheetah wearing a diamond-encrusted collar, I WAS able to do errrrrything else. Here is my list of the best of the best in uh-mazing DUBAI.
Favorite bar/lunch/pool situation: CÉ LA VI
I’m OBSESSED with this place. If you have jet lag (which you will), book yourself a cabana and lounge the day away here. It’s in a skyscraper that looks like a ship (OBVIOUSLY) and has an infinity pool overlooking the Burj Khalifa. Also, the skybar/lunch spot has the most delicious kale salad I’ve ever eaten IN MY LIFE. I dream of this salad: rocket arugula, petite carrot, beetroot, peanut, Thai lime vinaigrette. They flash fry some of the kale to make it crispy. I can’t express how delicious this is. Order two. Don’t share. Then stare at all the attractive people in the pool who have to be hired models. ARE THEY? Maybe. Dubai is that extra.
Desperately Seeking Souks:
This is just a good time. Be prepared to answer to: “Shakira, Lady Gaga and Maria” at every turn and haggle like it’s your job. This is the “Price is Right”, Dubai edition. Have Dirham on you (it makes things easier) and start at the Old Souk (I recommend taking a car service or cab here—it’s pretty far away from everything). You can have some fun photo opps around Al Seef Hotel then walk through the Old Souk and Textile Souk and take an abra across the water (they’re wooden boats that transport people across the creek for a few Dirham) to the Spice Souk. Here you can buy some cute/inexpensive souvenirs: bags, shawls, slippers and abayas (the long flowing dresses for desert photo opps), or even get some knock-off Gucci and Fendi stuff like sunglasses, shoes, bathing suits, etc. They’re also building the soon-to-be-taller-than-the-Burj-Khalifa-by-100m skyscraper here, so check out the Dubai Creek Tower.
Dubai Derby Days:
Camels are cute. But did you also know, they’re FAST? Camel Racing is one of the oldest sports in the UAE and happens in winter: October-March. Other things I learned: female camels are the fastest (they’re the ones who race). If you race camels, the government will give you a free SUV (naturally). They ditched real jockeys and replaced them with TINY ROBOTS IN JOCKEY OUTFITS. The trainers race around the track in their new SUVs, encouraging their camels through speakers on the robot jockeys. They also have tiny remote-controlled whips (for the final stretch). They fly falcons in between the camel races. You can also walk down to where the camels hang out after the race and take pics and meet some of the handlers. It’s like NASCAR with more fur and less Dr. Pepper. It’s so weird and perfect. Just have your hotel check on times (since the website is a little iffy). The racetrack is also close to the Camel Market if you want to over-index on camel cuteness. Did I make us “Dubai Derby Hats”? You betcha.
Desert Safari:
THERE. ARE. SO. MANY. OPTIONS. We went with Platinum Heritage because it’s a sustainable safari and a portion of your $$ goes to the conservation reserve and the cute desert critters that live there. We did the vintage Land Rover tour, but I DEEPLY regret not doing the camel ride to the Bedouin camp (which is an option). The Land Rovers are cool, but you don’t get to ride the camels till after it’s dark and then your photos are just “meh”. I loooooved all the people, loved drinking Arabian tea and watching the falcon show, smoking hookahs, eating meza, sampling camel milk and camel meat (honestly, not bad) and getting henna tattoos (that very quickly looked like a skin condition but were supes cute for three to five days).
Mall-Walking:
Dubai LOVES to shop. Part of the reason, (I thiiiiiiink), is because it’s so hot, it gives people a much-needed activity in-of-doors. Dubai Mall is the biggest.
Go at night and check out the largest dancing fountain in the world (and the light show that accompanies it on the side of the Burj Khalifa). It happens every 30 minutes. The mall is the size of over 50 football fields, so have a plan if you lose your friends (it’s surprisingly easy). You can check out a 4D movie, ice skate or even visit an “Underwater Zoo”.
The Burj Khalifa:
You have to do it. You have to go to the tallest building in the world. I think if I had to do it again, I may have gone to just the bar or the restaurant (the Burj Khalifa Sky Lounge is on the 148th Floor—the observation deck is the 125th). I feel like you could avoid the crazy crowds, still say you went to the tallest skyscraper in the world, and the views would still be spectacular.
The Burj Al Arab:
This building and the beach next to it are legitimately beautiful. This was my fave Dubai architectural wonder BY FAR. The problem is, you have to be staying in one of the hotels OR have a reservation to something in the area to get access to it. We had lunch at Summer Salt.
We did a whole photo shoot on the beach (DO IT FOR THE ‘GRAM), then took a golf cart (they’re milling around and can take you to and fro) to the Burj Al Arab for a 14k gold cappuccino (which is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever ingested). The only 7-star hotel in the world feels a little outdated inside to meeeee (a judgmental know-nothing), but you have to check out the beach and this iconic building. It’s what most people say put Dubai “on the map”. They also have sunset yoga on the beach which would have been incredible. So make that rez and namaste a while. (<—apologies)
Abu Dhabi:
This is a fun little day trip. You must stop at The Last Exit for breakfast.
It’s Mad Max Thunderdome meets hipster food trucks. It’s the perfect place for a pit stop en route to the capital city. The two must-do’s in Abu Dhabi are the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre.
You’ll want to hit the Mosque first since it’s hard to capture its splendor at night—plus, like everything in Dubai, it’s enormous and takes a while to get through. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is the next must-see. It’s an exquisite building and has a nice café inside (if you need a little nosh before hitting the road).
Friday Brunch:
Fridays are a big deal in Dubai (work week is Monday through Thursday) so hit one of their epic boozy brunches. We went to bed at 4 a.m. every night (hi, jet lag) so we completely missed this, but here are a few I’ve heard are amazing: Polo Brunch (I read somewhere you can play camel polo there, which I think would be ridiculous and amazing.) Saffron or Nobu at the Atlantis Palm, Bulgari Yacht Club (because YACHT CLUBS). I’d also hit at least one of Dubai’s insane night clubs. We went to BASE and saw Flo Rida. They always have big-ish name artists on tap AND be sure to check for ladies/men’s nights (where will get you free admission AND a few drinks). Worth it.
PSA: Dubai is a Muslim country so drinking is not a big part of the culture. But the city is full of ex-pats so you can def drink, HOWEVER COMMA, it will be $$$$. Like crazy-expensive. I highly recommend getting some booze at Duty-Free when you land. We got a bunch of champagne and Aperol + club soda and made “Desert Sunsets”. It was the perfect pre-game bevvy. Cheers, Dubai!
