BREW PIT STOPS

House of Joud

With six Joud Coffee’s around town, the new House of Joud in Yas Mall is now its flagship. The chic, homegrown café is known for speciality coffees, big breakfast options, authentic Neapolitan pizza and dainty pastries.

@houseofjoud

Joe & The Juice

Juice and caffeine addicts are pouring into trendy Scandinavian import Joe & The Juice for its super-fresh fruit and veggie juices, shakes, and salad bowls. WI-FI is free and fast so if you’re looking to get some work done this is the place. Cosy armchairs and communal tables fill the bare-bones space, where residents and locals can be seen noshing on the menu’s decent selection of light sandwiches and sipping on juices like the Stress Down with strawberry, apple, and ginger.

@joeandthejuiceuae

% Arabica

Similar to other % Arabica locations across the world, the Yas Mall location is decked out with the shop’s signature clean, white aesthetic, a glowing white neon sign, counter seating and a stylish espresso machine. Founder Kenneth Shoji, who embarked on a coffee career in Kyoto a decade ago after purchasing a coffee farm in Hawaii, strives to share quality-minded espresso-based drinks and Chemex drip coffees.

@arabica.uae

Marks & Spencer Café

For a pot of English breakfast tea and a slice of lemon drizzle cake, the M&S café comes up trumps. Located opposite Pottery Barn almost immediately at the entrance, it’s a simple, bright and airy space, and at 1,500 square-feet, it’s easily one of the biggest M&S eateries in the UAE.

@marksandspencerme

Forever Rose Café

A comic book-inspired aesthetic, with chairs and tables that have been covered in white paint and outlined with bold black accents, is the gimmick here at Forever Rose Café, which serves breakfast, lunch, and speciality afternoon tea with 20 sweet and savoury bites, scones and coffee or tea for Dhs300 for two.

@foreverrosecafe

Adrenark Adventure, Abu Dhabi’s newest entertainment hub, is now open at Al Qana

WORDS: MILES BUCKERIDGE

Along its waterfront promenades, Abu Dhabi leisure mega-project Al Qana can already list some amazing inhabitants. There are the award-winning dining concepts; bougie cafes; a giant integrated wellness hub and gym – The Bridge; a massive deluxe movieplex –CinemaCity; The National Aquarium; and futuristic gaming, VR and eSports hub Pixoul. But the latest attraction, Adrenark Adventure, is amongst its most impressive attractions. After swinging open its doors last month, it’s now in full, adrenal gland sapping, operation.

The chief deliverables of Adrenark are entertaining kids, heart rate-spiking thrill experiences, and a wild three-level e-karting track, all with packages starting from Dhs99.

It features an incredible 20 different activities and whilst many of them are just the ticket for adults, they also do a stand-up job of siphoning off some that *screams, covered in slime and acrylic paint* young person energy.

You’ll find the mammoth 54,000 sq ft (making it the region’s largest indoor adventure park) wow-opolis right next to Pixoul Gaming.

There are activities such as potholing (that’s cave exploration for those that weren’t in the Girl Guides or Cub Scouts) and it is deifinitely not for the claustrophobic. Plus, a rooftop zipline called Roll Glider that twists and turns and allows you to control your own speed; cheek-puffing oof rides; a series of slides; bravery-testing stunt bag jumps; an elevated rope course; Through The Roof - a theme park-style drop ride that gives your insides the John Cena treatment; softplay; multiple climbing walls and much more.

Their star attraction though is the multi-level e-karting track that climbs three floors inside the building. This unmissable attraction will test even the strongest of friendships to the limit when competitive streaks are unleashed on the track. And, in case of any future court case, let us state clearly for the record that we are absolutely not planning to recreate the iconic ending of Thelma and Louise from the top tier.

Talking about the launch, Paul Hamilton, General Manager of Adrenark Adventure said: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of Adrenark Adventure, the region’s largest indoor adventure park, offering a diverse range of thrilling activities for visitors of all ages.”

“From our multi-level e-karting track to our climbing walls to the treasure caves, each activity offered by Adrenark Adventure confirms our commitment to providing visitors with a fun, interactive, and immersive experience. We are confident that Adrenark will become a must for thrill seeking families.”

How much does it cost?

The Discovery Pass is Dhs135 and gets you on six different experiences. The toddler pass is Dhs78 and unlocks activities for younger adventurers. The eight-attraction strong Adventure Pass is Dhs179 and the Get Tired Playing, which nets you unlimited access to the park’s full collection of adrenalin thrills, is Dhs299.

@adrenarkuae

What else is new at Al Qana?

There’s a brand new smokehouse – Meat Moot, serving up premium meat dishes and non-limp brisket. There’s a new Neapolitan-style pizzeria, Graffiti Pizzeria & Trattoria that’s opened up in Abu Dhabi’s largest movie theatre, Cinemacity Al Qana, creating an opportunity for ‘dinner and a show’ date night greatness. There’s also Trax. Inspired by flavours from the east coast of the USA, this refined diner is bringing Philly cheese steaks and messy sliders to the picnic ensemble of Al Qana. Off Record Café is an eatery with its own DJ. La Vena Café is a cute little coworking space and then there’s the brand new Terra...

Terra Firm Fave

Terra is a concept from the culinarily creative mind of Rashed Al Tayer, founder and CEO of Outset. You may remember them from such hospitality portfolio inclusions as the Dubai outlet of Terra, and then there’s Boston Lane, Neighbors, and CMPLX.

But with the already considerable assembly of EU restaurants already taking up residence on the breezy waterfront of Al Qana, why should we instead head to this house of Med? What’s quintessential about this ambassador of continental?

The Euro-feasts of Terra Eatery’s menu feature an “open and humble approach to gastronomy and culinary processes”. We’re hoping that translates into honest, uncontrived flavours from carefully selected ingredients. You’ll also find distinctive earthy (as the name suggests) aesthetics, strong botanical hemming, and an open ‘show’ kitchen.