Dubai is hotter than ever. And I don't mean just the weather. When you're in the world's highest 360-degree infinity pool, suspended 210 metres above sea level on the 50th floor, gazing out at a poster-worthy view of the Palm Islands with a cocktail in hand, the weather barely matters. And it barely seemed to matter to anybody at Aura Skypool Lounge. But pull up any list—from the best hotels to the World's 50 Best Bars—and you will know what I mean.
Which is why, even in peak summer, when it came to choosing where to head for a break, I defied the sacrosanct rules of seasonality and chose Dubai. Not because it is one of the safest destinations for a solo female traveller, but because if there's any city from where you return feeling like you've been around the world, even in just four days, it is Dubai.
All Stars
Take, for instance, my afternoon spent at Nobu by the Beach. Located in Dubai's most talked about hotel since last year, Atlantis The Royal, the beach club leaves no stone unturned to make you feel like you might just be in the thick of the coolest scene in sunny Los Angeles or Miami. Thrumming with the latest hip-hop tunes on loop, serving up bite-sized Nobu classics and mixing up cocktails that match the turquoise blue of the pool, a day here is exactly what summers were invented for.
But my night was a stark departure. Unlike a sun-drenched day, my evening was meant to be spent under the romantic Athenian sky at the Galaxy Bar. Located in DIFC, the cocktail lounge is a portal to a celestial world—its dim and intimate setting perfect for a dreamy escape.
From the star-studded ceiling to the midnight blue interiors and down to my drink for the night, "Drops of Jupiter" that blended whiskey with saffron bitters and carbonated orchard compote, the inspiration drawn from Greek constellations shone brightly through everything. No wonder that even on a Monday night and even though I was alone, I felt just right surrounded by the carefree laughter of strangers, the hum of soft jazz, and conversations meant to be had under a starry sky.
The New Cool
Even though in just a day, I had gone from enjoying a luxurious poolside afternoon to being serenaded by a celestial world far from my reach, Dubai is not just glitz, gold and skyscrapers.
As you leave behind the palatial houses of Jumeirah and head towards Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz, the city opens up one of its other avatars—that of a hub for emerging art, artists and a culture of cool.
With three rows of grey industrial warehouses, Alserkal Avenue is like a game of mystery rooms, where behind each small, unassuming door hides a surprise that, all put together, makes you feel like you've landed right in New York's trendiest neighbourhood, Greenwich Village.
Spread over 500,000 sq. ft, the avenue was earlier a marble factory before Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal's vision face-lifted it to be Dubai's new "it" address. It now houses over 20 galleries, several pet-friendly cafes, high-street boutiques, and even an independent cinema theatre. Envisioned to be a community space and a revered art venue, Alserkal Avenue is no less than a day's experience. And even then, it doesn't seem enough.
In all the time I had (four hours, to be precise), I went from being awestruck at the best of Indian contemporary art at 1X1 gallery, founded by the eminent Indian gallerist Malini Gulrajani, to dreaming of one day returning to Zerzura Rare Books only to buy the first-ever English copy of Haruki Murakami's "Norwegian Wood," to tasting a never-had-before combination of za'atar and chocolate at Ganache, and to finally watching Scorsese's "Goodfellas" at Cinema Akil—all at one place.
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Hungover from an art-filled day, I sought nothing less for my last meal in the city. Like Dubai's art scene, the culinary scene has been making huge waves. With about 90 restaurants included in the Michelin guide, the city is a hotbed of gastronomical gems, and answering the question "Where to eat?" only takes seconds to answer. But from a never-ending list of "best places to eat," I chose Orfali Bros Bistro in Jumeirah.
Tucked away amongst many other restaurants and cafés, the bistro doesn't scream for attention. And yet, it has scored them all, right from one Michelin star this year to a spot in the World's 50 Best Restaurants list and more. But unlike other Michelin-starred restaurants, the light-filled bistro doesn't demand you dress to the nines. Instead, if you prefer eating with your hands and t-shirts over a well-stitched suit, you're likely to fit in.
Founded by brothers Mohammad, Omar and Wassim Orfali, the easy and inviting charm is an extension of their personalities. However, that does not translate to their creations. In contrast, each dish is masterfully imagined, crafted and plated. But that's just putting it simply.
While their Syrian background features in many of their signature dishes, they merge global flavours inspired by their travels with intricate techniques characteristic of French cuisine and locally sourced ingredients.
Although everything on the menu is exquisite, the umami éclair, the Hokkaido scallop and sea buckthorn, the corn bomb and the Orfali bayildi convinced me that, for all I knew, I could be sitting in a quaint seaside restaurant in Antalya.
Although everything on the menu is exquisite, the umami éclair, the Hokkaido scallop and sea buckthorn, the corn bomb and the Orfali bayildi convinced me that, for all I knew, I could be sitting in a quaint seaside restaurant in Antalya.
