Do you have limited time in Dubai but want to enjoy all the gastronomical delights this city has to offer? Well look no further, I have put together the ultimate eating day in Dubai which will satisfy a range of tastes and budgets. So to make the most of your stopover, put on your stretchy pants and let’s go!
Breakfast – The Sum of Us
6th Street | Burj Al Salam Bldg., Trade Centre 1, Dubai
+971 56 445 7526
Dubai isn’t all about glitz and glamour, and with the cool vibe and unique Western-inspired menu from The Sum of Us, you could mistake this cafe as being straight from Surry Hills.
There is an on-site bakery churning out heavenly smells and a delicious array of breads, pastries and desserts.
The industrial-inspired decor featuring coffee equipment is contrasted with a second level of hanging vines and flowers.
The Sum of Us had the best coffee in Dubai in my opinion – their Aeropress coffee was tasty and the perfect antidote to a long flight.
Highlights of the menu included the fresh seasonal fruits with mango and yoghurt sorbet and a coconut and almond crumble.
Tsou Breakfast Ramen – braised beef chuck with 63 degree poached egg, chuka ramen, shiitake mushroom, daikon, carrots, fresh herbs and sesame seeds.
And last but certainly not least, the french toast with salted caramel sauce, served with mascarpone, fresh banana and candied macadamia nuts. Oh wow!!
Lunch – Shake Shack at The Dubai Mall
If you’ve ever visited the East coast of America, you’ve more than likely eaten and raved about Shake Shack. It’s one of my favourite burger chains in the world (not even joking) and when I heard there was a Shake Shack in the Dubai Mall I knew I had to go. Pronto.
If you’re still a bit full after your amazing breakfast, burn some calories by exploring the Mall. It’s the second biggest mall in the world and is home to the Dubai Aquarium, Sega Republic, Kidzania and pretty much every shop you could imagine. I could easily spend 2 full days here (and a lot of money!)
We ate a ShackBurger (cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce), a SmokeShack (burger topped with hickory smoked veal, Shack cheddar and American cheese sauce), and there’s also a vegetarian burger hiding in the background there – so everyone can enjoy it! And note that Shake Shack has altered their menu slightly to cater for the Muslim setting, using veal instead of bacon.
We washed our burgers down with crinkle cut cheese fries and a peanut butter milkshake. Everything was heavenly.
Afternoon snack – Eden Beach Club
Rixos The Palm, East Crescent, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
+97 155 277 1477
It’s time to unwind and relax at Eden Beach club. Get into your swimmers, grab a juice and float around in the pool on an inflatable food-themed raft.
Or perhaps you’d rather hire your own cabana and enjoy a few cocktails and light snacks?
After floating around in the pool for an hour in an inflatable donut (as you do) I retreated to our cabana and ordered some freshly squeezed green juices. A good way to cleanse your body of all the delicious food we’ve already eaten!
We also ordered a few nibbles including beef carpaccio and sashimi, both were so fresh and light.
And we watched the sun start to set over the water, with the Burj Al Arab in the distance.
Dinner – Qbara
The Fort Complex | Opp. The Raffles Hotel Dubai, Dubai
+971 4 709 2500
We’d worked up an appetite after all that relaxing by the pool, and got ready for dinner. Dinner at Qbara is something special, offering a menu of modern and creative Arabic fusion food in a decadent setting. Service was impeccable and the dinner was honestly one of the best I’ve had in my life.
To start we had root vegetable and chickpea hummus with crispy parsnips and bread.
Next up (clockwise starting top left) was crispy raw vegetables with truffle scented labneh, falafel salad with chargrilled gems, cucumber and tahini, crispy soft shell crab “saj” with garlic and harissa, spicy grilled lamb cutlets with artichoke and fava beans. Everything tasted incredible, but I particularly loved the simplicity of the raw veges with labneh (I’ll be making this at home!) and the lamb cutlets were out of this world.
I was pretty much bursting at the seams by now, but fortunately I have a second dessert stomach. The Manjari chocolate mousse, cherry spiced compote and cherry almond ice cream was the perfect way to finish this dinner.
Evening Drink – 40 Kong
40th Floor, The H Hotel, One Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
+971 04 355 8896
It was a warm and clear evening and there was talk of drinks at an outdoor rooftop cocktail lounge. How could I say no? Located on the 40th floor of H Dubai, it offers stunning views of the city.
We nestled into their comfy lounges to peruse the extensive cocktail menu, with a perfect view of the bar.
My favourite cocktail of the evening was the Jasmin, with lychee liqueur, passionfruit syrup, prosecco, fresh lemon and raspberry caviar. A unique and refreshing drink with a breathtaking view. What more could you want from your last night in Dubai?
I hope I’ve stimulated your tastebuds and helped show you some of the amazing eating experiences has to offer. No matter how short your time is in Dubai, there is something here that will amaze you!
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