Drift Beach, Provence cuisine.
Although I’ve heard from numerous friends that Drift Beach is a dynamic location for a sophisticated beach day, I hadn’t had the fortune of visiting the venue until recently. Hubs and I don’t have regular access to a pool, which doesn’t usually bother me — mostly because not doing anything for hours is literally torture, and there are only a few days in a year I want to spend time by the pool. Furthermore, we’ve stayed previously at the One & Only Royal Mirage (spoiler alert: it did not live up to expectations), but Drift was not in operation at that time. On arrival, I’m quickly shown to a waiting golf cart, and really, ‘being whisked around by golf carts’ lifestyle that I am always aspiring towards. The entrance to Drift is tucked at the very bottom of the property, in the shadow of the ongoing work on the Palm. Oh well, not…
The London Project, Bluewaters Dubai.
After some delays (damn you, cold), I finally managed to make it to The London Project, a newly opened endeavor at Bluewaters Dubai, the man-made island (where the Caesars Palace is located). To start, my Careem driver and I were a bit unsure of where exactly the drop off was for the restaurant and spoiler alert — there are no real indicators. As of now, the signage/wayfinding (at least near the London Project) leave something to be desired. I mention this because customers finding the restaurant is more or less the base level of the start of the experience… Anyway, in the shadow of the absolutely giant (and not functional) Dubai Ain, sits a series of food and beverage outlets, including The London Project. With its just opened sister restaurant, The London Slide (serving up burgers), I finally walked around to the marina side of the area to where the entrance…
Seafood Kitchen, To the Pointe.
After striking out at no less than three other venues, I think luck was on my side when Seafood Kitchen (who recently opened their second location at the Pointe, Palm Jumeirah) agreed to host Hubs and me for lunch last Friday. As we arrived to the Pointe for the first time, we both wondered how the area would fare in the dead of summer, but overall, the design of the retail space is lovely, with plenty of places to sit, eat, and for kids to run around. At the end of the East podium sits Seafood Kitchen, spread over two floors, and looks back directly onto the Atlantis (no doubt, a place to impress your out of town guests). Because it was a spectacularly beautiful day, we take one of the seats outside, which has plenty of shade. While the material and layout of the menu reads a bit downmarket…
Mama Zonia, lush life in Pier 7.
Lots to explore in Dubai this time of year, right? A recent Saturday night found us at the newly launched Mama Zonia. I’m going to admit, that my visits to Pier 7 have significantly dropped off, mostly because of (what else?) traffic to and from the location. I never had a chance to visit Cacti (the former version of Mama Zonia), so, really, I have nothing to compare the venue to (except the other restaurants I’ve visited located in Pier 7). Upon arrival, the interior is done in lush greens and bright jewel tones. There is a large bar/lounge area, which opens onto an exterior terrace (perfect for these temperate Dubai winter days). The interior is similar in style to Hotel Cartegena, and I imagine this will be a popular ladies night destination in a short amount of time. After reviewing the extensive cocktails menu, I’m happy with my selection,…
Villamore, Mediterranean vibes on the Palm.
Another day, another trip to the Palm — this time to Villamore. As Hubs and I stayed in town for the holidays, I responded to my invite by confirming a lunch reservation — perfect for the late December weather. Walking down through the OTT lobby of the Emerald Palace Kempinski (and even more ridiculously outfitted all-day dining venue), we step outside to the pristine grounds at the resort. Given the hotel is in early days, there is no one by the pool, and we easily spot Villamore, which is located in a separate building. Do I think there should be more of an effort made to determine the entrance to the restaurant? Yes. My suggestion would be large planters, or some other landscaping feature, however, once inside the venue, guests will feel immediately transported to the Mediterranean. Done in blues, whites, natural stone and materials, and tiled surfaces, the restaurant…
Andes, contemporary Latin perfection at WTC.
Andes has been on my list for some months now. I’d been trying to find time to make my way near the Trade Center — which was finally made possible by a lunch reservation in late December. With everyone out of Dubai (holidays are the best), parking (underground, although valet is available) was easy, and with perfect mid-winter temperatures, I was happy to avail a seat on the outside terrace. South American is a cuisine I (admittedly) do not have as much experience with, but have (of course) enjoyed some of the previous offers in Dubai — Lima, and the spate of Peruvian restaurants we had two years ago (RIP Totora and Mayta, among many others). Although Andes is not licensed (a fact I think is a rather large misstep for reasons I’ll get into below), the plating of the food and overall ambiance place diners in an upscale dining…
Matagi, Pan-Asian fusion on the Palm.
In Dubai, as is often the case, the launch of a new hotel arrives with a host of new F&B outlets. In the case of Emerald Palace Kempinski (the long-awaited resort on the Palm Jumeirah), with a fair number of keys, there are plenty of outlets to keep guests and visitors happy. I’ll be visiting a few in the following weeks and was excited to start with Matagi. Billed as Asian fusion, the restaurant is done in dark wood with an open plan, and the menu has a bit of everything ranging from robata grill to sushi. After being shown to our table, Hubs and I are happy to jump into the cocktail menu, where there are plenty of unique choices. I start and enjoy the Way of the Shinobi (rum and a slight amount of cilantro are the star flavors here, which shouldn’t work, but completely does). At AED75, the…
What to Expect When You Go on the Bateaux Dubai Dinner Cruise.
I love hearing different perspectives, and today we welcome Thomas and his guest post about Bateaux Dubai! Enjoy, C. Tired of the usual Dubai package tour program that everyone you know seems to have gone on? Perhaps it’s now time to see and experience Dubai from a different perspective. Stand on the decks of the Bateaux Dubai Dinner Cruise and fill your senses with all the mesmerizing sights, sounds and aromas emanating from the city and the nearby souks. Some may argue that what the Bateaux offers is nothing new as there are plenty of other hotels and travel agencies providing travelers with a tour of the historical Dubai Creek. However, no other tour compares to the level of luxury the Bateaux provides. A gem among the rocks Stand anywhere along the river and you will notice a plethora of traditional dhows and sailing vessels of varying designs, sizes and…
Tresind Studio, an elevated fine dining experience.
Having visited the ‘old’ Tresind and recently dined at the revamped version (and having tested brunch and dinner Carnival by Tresind), I was delighted to be invited to the newly launched Tresind Studio. Due to a hectic schedule this month, I was relatively late to the mix, and, having seen other foodie friends visit, had been looking forward to our meal for weeks. Located in Nassima Tower, guests of Tresind Studio enter through the Tresind restaurant. Knowing the team at the bar (led by award-winning cocktail artist Sherine John) have an excellent selection to choose from, Hubs and I stopped first to enjoy a quick drink first. Now, before I go any further in this review, in my push to see Dubai recognized among the other top global dining destinations, my take on Tresind Studio is going to be more critical than I would with other restaurants in the UAE. I feel the…