What's On Dubai - February 2024

UAE DHS15

ALSO INSIDE: UNTOLD FESTIVAL, DINING GUIDE TO THE LINK AND MORE

CONTENTS

29 GREAT DATES THAT AREN’T JUST DINNER P17 25 LET’S GET LOUD Untold music festival makes its Middle Eastern debut

62 SERENE IN THE CITY

25

A complete Dubai wellness guide

62 Page 31 Meet The Link: Your new Dubai dining destination

4 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

Cover and illustration:

Sheila Deocareza

Stay in touch

66 REGULARS

WhatsOn.ae Our stunning website is packed with news, restaurants, culture, shopping, sport and spas. It’s your online destination for stuff to do in the UAE. Get clicking.

Page 74

10 YALLA! The best things to do in Dubai this month

15 THROWBACK TO...

We deep dive into the archives to look at some of What’s On’s biggest celeb scoops

40

74 STAYCATION SPOTLIGHT Three new addresses to check-in to around the emirates

57

ACTIVE

35

CONSUME New location, same epic celebration of foodie fun

40 BEACH Why Dubai Harbour is the place to beach this month

44 REVIEW We taste test top chef Dani García’s Dubai debut, Leña

58 LEAPS AND BOUNDS

52 47

CULTURE

Jump into some alternative active fun this leap year

Find us on social

65

TRAVEL 66 SEYCHELLES

52 FUTURE FILM

Family fun on the most idyllic of isles

A look at the big screen’s upcoming blockbusters

68 LONDON How to do the British capital like a local

Photo credit: Getty Images, Unsplash and supplied

38 TASTE OF DUBAI

What’s On Digital Your essential guide to what’s happening in Dubai is also available on the App Store.

WhatsOnDubai

WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 5

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Obaid Humaid Al Tayer MANAGING PARTNER & GROUP EDITOR Ian Fairservice CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER Anthony Milne

EDITORIAL

COMMERCIAL

GROUP EDITOR – WHAT’S ON Alice Holtham

PUBLISHER David Burke

alice.holtham@motivate.ae

davidb@motivate.ae

DEPUTY EDITOR, DUBAI Miles Buckeridge

GROUP SALES MANAGER Varsha Bhatia

miles.buckeridge@motivate.ae

varsha@motivate.ae

DEPUTY EDITOR, ABU DHABI Dinesh Ramanathan

GROUP SALES MANAGER Violeta Popescu

dinesh.ramanathan@motivate.ae

violeta.popescu@motivate.ae

ONLINE REPORTER Aarti Saundalkar

REGIONAL MANAGER – ABU DHABI Taran Singh taran.singh@motivate.ae

ONLINE REPORTER Jumira Hancock ONLINE REPORTER Tamara Wright JUNIOR REPORTER Shelby Gee JUNIOR REPORTER Afrah Bari JUNIOR REPORTER Manaal Fatimah

DESIGN ART DIRECTOR Sheila Deocareza

CONTRIBUTOR Laura Coughlin

PRODUCTION GENERAL MANAGER – PRODUCTION Sunil Kumar PRODUCTION MANAGER Binu Purandaran PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Venita Pinto WEB DEVELOPER Firoz Kaladi

CREATIVE STUDIO CONTENT PRODUCTION MANAGER Surajit Dutta CREATIVE CONTENT ARTIST Mark Mathew CREATIVE CONTENT ARTIST Ahmed Abdelwahab

WHATSON.AE | WHATSONSAUDIARABIA.COM | WHATSONSAUDIARABIA.COM/AR

Annual Subscription UAE Dhs180 • GCC and International US$130 (inclusive of postal charges) Head Office: Media One Tower, Dubai Media City, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE, Tel +971 4 427 3000 Dubai Media City: SD 2-94, 2nd Floor, Building 2, Dubai, UAE, Tel: +971 4 390 3550 Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, UAE, Tel: +971 2 677 2005, E-mail: editor-wo@motivate.ae Saudi Arabia: Regus Offices No. 455 - 456, 4th Floor, Hamad Tower, King Fahad Road, Al Olaya, Riyadh, KSA, Tel: +966 11 834 3595 / +966 11 834 3596, Email: motivate@motivate.ae London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK, Email: motivateuk@motivate.ae

6 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

A sanctuary in the heart of the city Open daily from 12pm

Fo r b o o k i n g s c a l l 0 4 37 9 8 9 6 3 book@eugeneeugene.ae

EDITOR’S LETTER

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR 20-YEAROLD SELF?

For me, I’d let her know that the next decade will look nothing like the one she so carefully mapped out in those late teenage years. I’ve been reflecting a lot on the last 10 years as I turn 30 this month. And one thing is for sure; my twenties were not how I imagined – and I’m rather thankful for it. I’ve had my horizons expanded to lengths greater than I ever could have envisioned. I’ve said yes to things that have catapulted me out of my comfort zone, both metaphorically and physically (the latter, with thanks to a human slingshot that popped up on Kite Beach in my days as a junior reporter at What’s On). And one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you are responsible for your own happiness, so the best thing you can do is build a life that brings you joy.

Which is exactly what I hope this issue does for you. We’ve filled it with 29 date ideas – one for every day of this leap year month. This February, we’re declaring dinner-and-drinks out, and doing something out-of-the-box in. Because even if you don’t make it to date two, an evening spent making your own fragrance, learning to salsa, or axe throwing makes for a far more interesting group chat debrief than a meal a deux. And if love blooms, it’ll be a great story to tell the grandkids.

Enjoy the issue,

EDITOR’S PICKS

Jondal Sarong, Second Summer Dhs450, secondsummerlabel.me

Slogan plates, Yvonne Ellen Dhs256.50, littlebirdygroup.com

Lapis Blue Mascara,

By Mina Al Sheikhly Dhs79, ounass.ae

Leather laptop sleeve, Nappa Dori Dhs500, nappadori.ae

Calm essential oil, Nourish London Dhs134, nourishlondon.ae

8 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

WHAT’S ON Discovering new gems in Dar Wasl like… Berenjak London-born Berenjak is a new opening at Dar Wasl. The unlicensed Persian eatery is a beautiful space of emerald velvets, dark woods and twinkling chandeliers, where you can dine on flavourful hummus, tender lamb kebabs and outrageous amounts of still-warm bread. @berenjakuae – Alice Holtham, Group Editor

Watching in awe at the new circus show… Pluma Here at What’s On, we get to enjoy a number of perks, like being first to see or try out different things. I was among the first to watch the new circus show, Pluma, that’s landed at Festival City - and I must say it’s truly jaw dropping. There were so many moments where I had my heart in my throat. @pluma.show – Aarti Saundalkar, Online Reporter

Picking out matching permanent jewellery with my bestie at… Aglaiia My best friend arranged a late Christmas present for us, which was an appointment at Aglaiia, a permanent jeweller in Al Quoz. You choose from a range of gold or silver chains, test out the sizing and zap; a piece of welded jewellery is now attached to you for (hopefully) forever. @aglaiia.aglaiia – Shelby Gee, Junior Reporter

Feeling all cool and mysterious at... Moonshine

Enjoying season two of Reacher on… Prime Video A streaming service that doesn’t seem to get the props it deserves is Amazon’s Prime Video. My latest pick for downloading and watching on the treadmill from it is Reacher. It’s Jason Bourne with sarcastic quips. Peak popcorn TV. @primevideomena – Miles Buckeridge, Deputy Editor, What’s On Dubai

Bathing my fried treats in… Nando’s perinaise I tend to be one of those folks that want to take back a piece of the restaurant with them, and at Nando’s that means a bottle of their peri-peri mayonnaise, a.k.a. the Perinaise. Just the right amount of famously hot Nando’s spice, calmed down with a subtle blend of mayo, it’s the perfect pairing to a weekend of fried food indulgence. @nandosuae – Dinesh Ramanathan, Deputy Editor, What’s On Abu Dhabi

Taking in the stunning views at… Cloud 22 I have a personal list of places I hope to make it to someday, and one I recently ticked off my wishlist was Cloud 22 at Atlantis The Royal. The combination of views, impeccable food, service, and attention to detail is pretty hard to beat. @cloud22dubai – Tamara Wright, Online Reporter

I’m firmly a going-out-rather-than-staying-in kind of person and when I got the chance to pay a visit to DIFC’s new speakeasy Moonshine, I took it. It’s home to creative drinks, delicious bites, and an inside-club kind of vibe that completes the package – go ASAP. @moonshinedubai – Manaal Fatimah, Junior Reporter WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 9

CHECK OUT A BRAND-NEW ITERATION OF ASIA ASIA

When: Throughout February If, like us, you’re a big fan of Asia Asia, you’ll be excited to learn that the pan-Asian hotspot has expanded onto the Palm. The new location is dressed in the same sultry and glamorous décor as its sister restaurants in Business bay and Dubai Marina, and this time comes with panoramic Palm views from the terrace. @asiaasiauae

YALL A

BRILLIANT THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN FEBRUARY Words: Shelby Gee

GET BENDY IN THE DESERT

When: February 17 Mleiha Archaeological Centre Sharjah, is hosting its next yoga camp on February 17.

Choose between sunset yoga (Dhs600) or the overnight yoga (Dhs800), both of which come with a grounding yoga session, stargazing and dinner in the dunes. Overnight yoga also includes a stay and breakfast the next morning. @discovermleiha

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CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON

When: February 9 to 11 Hutong Dubai invites diners to indulge in an elevated Chinese New Year experience. Savour artful creations such as lobster lao he, the intricate Chinese New Year dim sum platter and the famous flaming Peking duck.

Tuck into a brunch featuring DJ beats, dragon shows, and live calligraphy. @hutongdubai

TIME TO GET LIT (FEST)

When: February 1 to 6 Now in its 16th edition, the Emirates Festival of Literature will bring some of the world’s greatest writers, creators and thought leaders to the InterContinental Hotel Festival City this month. Hear from your favourite authors, get inspired at workshops, and see the spotlight shine on the next-generation of authors. @emirateslitfest

MAJOR NOSTALGIA AT REWIND FESTIVAL

GET YOUR STEPS IN WITH THE M1 RUN

When: March 1 and 2 Don your best double denim: the sellout Rewind Festival returns to Bla Bla with an epic lineup of throwback 80s and 90s artists. Expect to sing along to the cheesiest hits from Wet Wet Wet, Chesney Hawkes, ABC, Midge Ure, The Real Thing, and returning for a second time, Heather Small. Tickets start from Dhs399. @rewindfestdxb

TAKE A TRIP TO PARIS AT A CABARET EVENING BRUNCH

When: Tuesdays An evening brunch is the new reason to make reservations at Josette.

The glamorous evening pairs a set menu with free-flowing drinks and live entertainment.

Packages from Dhs450. @josettedubai

When: February 10 Back this month is the M1 Run, a vertical race up 43 floors of Media One Hotel.

The hotel will donate 100 per cent of the profits to Al Jalila Foundation, with entry priced at Dhs150 per person, or Dhs500 for four. hopasports.com

A G(U)ILDED SUNDAY ROAST

ALIVE AND KICKING AT THE COCA-COLA ARENA

When: February 27 Glaswegian rock band Simple Minds will headline the Coca-Cola Arena on February 27. You may remember them from such hits as Alive and Kicking, Belfast Child and of course their biggest hit, Don’t You (Forget About Me), which was used as the opening credit track to the seminal era-defining movie, The Breakfast Club. @cocacolaarena

When: Sundays You can now get your roast dinner fix at DIFC’s stunning brasserie, The Guild, from 12pm to 4pm every Sunday.

We’re talking Yorkshire puds, honey glazed parsnips, cauliflower cheese and your choice of meat. It’s paired with sips from the mimosa and bloody Mary trolley. @theguilddubai

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Through MY EYES

T H E UAE ACCOR D ING TO...

Kat Lebrasse

E

ach month, we ask residents to share a guide to the UAE through their eyes, from their must-try restaurants and standout attractions, to favourite staycations and hidden gems. This month, we chat to Kat Lebrasse (@katlebrasse), Founder & Managing Director of social media marketing agency CO LAB. Here she shares some of her top spots that you need on your radar.

I’m a big fan of Contrast Wellness. They’ve really nailed the wellness experience offering both infra-red and traditional saunas as well as ice baths and IV drips. The rooms are equipped with Netflix capable TVs, so I can switch off and engross myself in an episode of Friends while I rid my body of toxins and relax. @contrastwellness

We recently stayed at Bab Al Nojoum’s Al Mugheirah resort in Abu Dhabi. We opted for an Airstream, which was furnished modernly. The gorgeous pool overlooks the sea and there are multiple dining and outdoor activity options, plus there’s the beauty of having Arabian gazelles wondering around at all hours right on our doorstep. @babalnojoum_almugheirah

Al Faya Retreat in Sharjah is a uniquely peaceful destination. With a view of Mount Alvaah, the five-room retreat embraces its heritage while offering luxe accommodations, a viewing deck, a “hands-free” spa and a chic pool. @alfayaretreat

Chez Wam at St. Regis Gardens on The Palm. It feels a little like a very chic home away from home and serves up a delicious contemporary menu by their lovely French chef. It’s great food, a warm ambience and fun music all rolled into one must visit eatery. @chezwamdubai

Cliché as it may be, an afternoon in the desert is always a winner for our family. We like to head out past Al Qudra with a picnic in tow and spend the afternoon admiring the sand dunes, the ducks in the lake and enjoying the view looking back on the city.

Newly opened The 305 at Palm West Beach has been a welcome discovery.

It has Miami vibes and highly instragrammable décor. With its selection of healthy juices and smoothies alongside wellness classes hosted by Blended Wellness, it can be a great self-care day or alternatively, a fun sangria-filled day with the girls. @305dubai WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 13

IAN FAIRSERVICE Managing Partner & Group Editor

At the turn of the new millennium, the era of celebrity was at its peak, and the names and faces filling TV screens and Walkmans defined pop culture. Among those at the very top of their game were The Spice Girls: a five-piece British band that embodied girl power. By 2000, five had become four, and each member of one of the world’s biggest groups had begun working on their own material, with solo stardom in their sights. When Mel C, also known as Sporty Spice, made her solo Dubai debut in March 2000 (The Spice Girls had performed as a group back in 1997 at then-hotspot, Cyclone), she spoke exclusively to What’s On in one of her most in-depth interviews as a solo artist. She shut down rumours about a possible Spice Girls split (although the band would later break up in February 2001), opened up about stage nerves, and shared her struggles coping with life in the limelight.

That issue, our 263rd, was particularly star-studded, and also featured an interview with outspoken popstar, Boy George.

Having reformed Culture Club in 1998, his interview was an entertaining reflection on life in the 1980s, his musical influences, and the evolution of his performance style.

But this wasn’t What’s On’s first foray into celebrity exclusives.

Back in 1982, I scored an exclusive interview with boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, when we were one of the Muhammad Ali and myself in 1982 first titles to sadly learn of his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Two years later in 1984, football superstar George Best also spoke exclusively to me during a visit to Dubai. And in

the years that followed, several big names from the sports and music worlds have graced the cover of What’s On, solidifying our position as the region’s number one entertainment magazine.

UB40 frontman Ali Campbell talked all things music in What’s On’s February 1999 edition; we interviewed tennis ace Roger Federer in February 2008 on his love for the city; and in February 2009 we had an audience with that year’s Dubai Jazz Festival headliners, James Blunt and John Legend.

On the subject of festivals, this month Dubai is gearing up to host its first mega festival, Untold Dubai. Turn to p28 for our interview with one of its biggest headliners and renowned international DJ, Hardwell.

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LOVE is SERVED

This Valentine's Day, surrender to the allure of an opulent celebration at Fairmont The Palm, a haven at the heart of Dubai on the Palm Jumeirah. An ambiance steeped in romance, paired with culinary artistry awaits to weave an unforgettable ballad of love and promises to be the perfect backdrop to win over every heart.

@FairmontThePalm | Fairmont.com/palm +971 4 457 3388 or palm.dining@fairmont.com Fairmont The Palm, Palm Jumeirah

2 9 F I R S T D AT E S

February is the month of love, and with this being a leap year, we get a longer window to celebrate it in. So, as an ode to romance XXL, we present to you 29 ways to date like you’ve never dated before.

WORDS: MILES BUCKERIDGE WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 17

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03 02 PORT SIDE

Dubai Hero Odysea

01 HOLDING ON FOR A HERO If it’s a pirate life you seek, Dubai Hero Odysea has something you might well treasure. Their captain-yourown-vessel experience allows you to tour the waterways of Dubai on a 90-minute self-drive, daytime or twilight boat tour reaching speeds up to 50km/h. Lead by a professional guide, you can see a timber-shivering array of iconic Dubai landmarks, such as the Burj Al Arab, Ain Dubai and Atlantis, The Palm, from the water.

Dubai Harbour, Marina Zone 3, from Dhs700 for two people. Tel: (0)4 440 9827. hero-dubai.com

Bar du Port sits on the waterfront of Dubai Harbour and is naturally endowed with big date energy. It’s one of a slew of high-profile Beirut bar imports, and that is a city that knows how to do romance right.

At the Dubai location, you get a rhythmic lullaby of harbour yachts as your backdrop, a menu of mixed modern Mediterranean bites, and a suitably sophisticated drinks menu. The low lighting is forgiving of midweek, post-work meet-ups, and the shipwreck chic gives the whole venue a naughty little nautical vibe.

Dubai Harbour, Dubai Marina, Mon to Fri 5pm to 3pm, Sat and Sun 1pm to 3am. Tel: (0)50 969 9820. @barduportdubai

A SPECIAL PLACE FOR DINNER Everybody wants to feel special. So why not take your potential paramore to iconic local eatery, Al Ustad Special Kabab for your dating debut?

It’s reasonably priced, features enough wall and table art (including pics of celebrity patrons) to keep even the most fragile conversational flow going, and the final feather in the date night chapeau – the food – is outstanding. Also, if he doesn’t want to share his fries, shish, you can do better.

Al Fahidi, Dubai, Sat to Thurs, 11am to 1am, Friday, 5.30pm to 1am. Tel: (0)4 397 1933. @ostadi_1978

Al Ustad Special Kabab

05 MAD FOR HATTA

04

XLine Dubai

THE X FACTOR ‘Online’ dating but give it that Dubai rizz. If your co-datee has expressed a liking for extreme sports, a devil-may-care attitude for heights, or a casual distrust for terra firma – a surprise trip on “the longest urban zipline in the world”, XLine Dubai might be just the tonic for opening your courtship account. For Dhs699 per person, you can book in for tandem (up to 80kph) rides, soaring over Dubai Marina like the pair of love birds you’re so clearly destined to be.

Marina Mall, Dubai Marina, 9am to 5pm daily, Dhs699. xdubai.com

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Bit of a trek for most on a first date, but if you want something active and forever memorable, Hatta hits hard as a daycay with bae. You can get familiar with one another during wadi-hikes, kayaking trips, horse riding, mountain biking, zip-lining, axe-throwing, archery, zorbing, climbing, bodyboarding and a rucksack more alfresco fun.

It’s giving rom-com montage sequence. visithatta.com

Hatta

07 SOUL DATES

06

Cinema Akil

STARS IN THEIR EYES Movie dates may not have the sparkle they once had in yesteryear, but Alserkal’s Cinema Akil is no ordinary picture house. This ode to the golden age of film is a big screen retro vibe hive with plush sofa seating and carefully curated programmes of art-house cinema, indie classics, and politically charged drama. There’s also a new temporary alfresco location at 25Hours Hotel in One Central. Both truly represent the ultimate date for cinephiles.

Alserakal Avenue, Al Quoz, Tue to Fri 4pm to 11pm, Sat and Sun, 2pm to 11pm, from Dhs50. cinemaakil.com

One for the cool kids. Soul Kitchen opened its doors in Business Bay in 2023 and comes from the creative minds of artist collective, The Factory People (AMH, Isolé). So it’s perhaps unsurprising that Soul Kitchen has music strumming in the double-bass pairs of its DNA. What’s cooking in the kitchen? Alongside razor’s edge trend-tripping live performances, you can expect funk-framed art pieces, exciting cocktails, and flavours inspired by the culinary wonders of the Levant and Latin America.

Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai, daily 5pm to 1am. Tel: (0)4 836 0900. soulkitchendxb.com

Soul Kitchen

08 IT TAKES A VILLAGE We can’t be sure that Aladdin was talking about Global Village when he told Princess Jasmine “I can show you the world”, but we can’t rule it out either. It’s affordably priced (from Dhs27); pins together an unfathomably disparate diaspora of classic date activities (mini golf, national pavilions, floating markets, carnival rides, foodie trails); and ends in a fireworks display twice a week. Shining, shimmering, splendid.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road E 311, Mon to Thu 4pm to midnight, Sat to Sun 4pm to 1am, from Dhs27. globalvillage.ae

Dubai Balloon

09

BlackOut Horror

IT’S A SCREAM It’s 2024 and trauma bonding *double checks the internet* is officially a thing.

So, if screaming into a shadowy void sounds like fertile ground for a first date, we present to you the absolutely harrowing BlackOut Horror and Escape Games experience. Want to play a game? The centre offers multiple puzzle quests, each with their own fiendishly conceived mysteries loosely themed around horror movies and a cast of live actors cranking the intensity of the scare lair up to 11.

KML Building, Al Meydan Rd, Al Quoz, 10am to 2am, Dhs220 per person. @blackoutbycave

10 WHAT’S UP We did a poll in the office about whether a hot air Dubai Balloon ride 300 metres above Palm Jumeirah (Dhs275) might be coming on a bit too strong for a first date. The results revealed a resounding win for the ‘yes, obviously it’s too strong’ camp. But it’s been overruled because there are enough sentimental romantics out there who appreciate these grand gestures, mesmeric island views from up there where the air is rare, doing something a bit different and experiencing the Jules Vernian magic of a moored Montgolfier.

Aquaventure, Atlantis, The Palm, Mon to Thur 9am to 11pm, Fri to Sun 9am to midnight. @thedubaiballoon

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2 9 F I R S T D AT E S

12 WAITING ON A MIRACLE

Above Eleven

11 GOING OVER AND ABOVE Above Eleven packs heat when it comes to soirée USPs. These include the truly spectacular views of Dubai Marina, Ain Dubai and the wild horizonchasing blues of the Gulf. Pair that with a vibrant Peruvian-Japanese menu; three distinct spheres of date-nighting (the restaurant, lounge, and sky bar); live entertainment; transportive design themes; an inescapable sensation of sophistication, and you find yourself with one of our top picks for places that show off this city (and your proficiency for ‘knowing a spot’) in the best possible light.

Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Palm West, Sun to Thu, bar: 4pm to 1am, restaurant: 6pm to 11.30pm.

Fri to Sat, bar: 4pm to 2am, restaurant: 6pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (0)4 666 1420. @aboveelevendubai

During the cooler months, Dubai Miracle Garden’s floral fiesta is a blooming marvellous place for an alfresco stroll or a bike ride (there’s a cycle track).

Fun fact, more than 150 million individual flowers go into making up the various botanical statues and displays inside the gardens, including a massive replica of an Emirates A380. With late opening on the weekends (until 11pm), you can even make it an after-dark date.

Dubailand, Mon to Fri 9am to 9pm, Sat and Sun 9am to 11pm, Dhs95.

Tel: (0)4 422 8902. dubaimiraclegarden.com

Oo La Lab

13 MAKE IT MAKE SCENTS Stressing over which perfume to lather on for the big day? Why not go straight to the source with Oo La Lab’s private fragrance design sessions? Here you and boo-in-waiting can partake in olfactory alchemey, conceiving your own signature scents in an expert guided mixology workshop. Test and combine a series of fragrances to develop a smell that best represents you, name it, bottle it and take it home for date number two.

Oo La Lab, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, daily 12pm to 8pm, Dhs320 20ml, Dhs470 50ml. oola-lab.com

Mystic Golf

14 BAE WATCH Coastal picnics, evening strolls on the shoreline, or a breezy Careem Bike ride along Dubai’s extensive beachside track – your date, you decide, but these are just a few of the potential ‘getting to know you’ scenarios offered by your local neighbourhood beach. And if you fancy a dual centre adventure, you could dabble in a little water sport action, a dinner at Kite Beach or splash out on a romantic boat ride. @kitebeachdubai

15 PUTTING TWO TOGETHER

Kite Beach

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Located on Bluewaters, Tr88house is a sprawling 65,000 square foot indoor jungle, with a branching selection of fun leisure activities. Within the complex, prospective love birds can see if they’re able to ‘tee things off ’ over a round of Mystic Golf (from Dhs45), set thematically and dramatically in a glow-in-the-dark tropical rainforest, ensuring an Amazonian tonne of neon-bogey fun.

Bluewaters, Mon to Thu midday-midnight, Fri midday to 12.30am, Sat 11am to 12.30am, Sun 11am to midnight. tr88house.com

16 BEATING ART You never get a second chance to make a good first impressionist painting. So you might want to brush up on your art skills before heading to this alternative arty date night experience at thejamjar, Alserkal Avenue. They offer weekly group adult workshop sessions (from around Dhs149) allowing you to show off your creative side. Or, for something a little more freestyle and private, you can book a DIY session from Dhs105, which includes a canvas, paint-andbrush-use and artwork limited only by your imagination. Also, for those on red flag watch, a blank canvas is basically just a reverse Rorschach test.

Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1, Sat to Thurs 10am to 7pm, Fri 10am to 8pm. Tel: (0)4 341 7303. thejamjardubai.com

19 LUCKY NUMBER 7 777, located at the Radisson Blu Canal View in Business Bay Dubai, is Dubai’s latest retro gaming hub. The venue combines the nostalgia of a vintage arcade with trendy bar vibes – think graffiti-covered walls, neon signage, pinball machines, virtual reality experiences and four lanes of bowling. Just don’t let your competitive streak sabotage it all for you.

Radisson Blu Canal View, Business Bay, daily 4pm to 2am. Tel: (0)56 630 0777. @triple7dubai

Wild Paint House

18 SHOW YOUR WILD SIDE

Arabian Adventures

17 JUST DESERTS If you have a bit of budget to play with and prefer your romantic gestures grand and full of whimsy – do we have the suggestion for you. A private dinner in the desert via Arabian Adventures. For Dhs2,695 – they’ll pick you up from (and drop you home to) anywhere in Dubai, and whizz you out to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve for an enchanting desert safari. There’s a sunset stop, dune drive and dinner with unlimited beverages and shisha. Just make sure you choose your partner wisely, it’s a six-hour trip. arabian-adventures.com

Ski Dubai

Immersive Al Quoz creative studio, Wild Paint House offers six arty activities divided into the categories of: splat, spin, swing, pour, neon and graffiti.

All the options within this glorious mess fest allow you and your partner to collaborate on, lets hope, an auspiciously stunning masterpiece. Prices start from Dhs160 and not only is it a dizzying frenzy of fun, but it also comes with the added bonus of a date night souvenir. Let the custody battle commence.

Al Quoz Industrial Area 1, 2pm to 8pm Weds to Fri, 10am to 10pm Sat and Sun, prices from Dhs160. Tel: (0)56 145 9689. wildpainthouse.com

20 POLES APART When it comes to breaking the ice on a date, Ski Dubai is almost in polar position. And you don’t necessarily have to hit the slopes, there are packages that let you share a chilled walk around the Snow Park, cheers a hot chocolate topped with fluffy marshmallows, hit the slides and even take a chairlift ride over the whole frosty affair. Snow-capped peak date energy.

Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, Mon to Thu 10am to 11pm, Fri 10am to midnight, Sat and Sun 9am to midnight, from Dhs220. Tel: (800) 386. skidxb.com

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22 HONEY TO THE BEE The bar area of on-trend sweet spot, Honeycomb Hi-Fi is hidden behind the secret door of a record store in the Pullman Hotel Downtown.

Inside, you’ll find izakaya-style dining, an itinerary of exactly the sort of fringe-skating DJ talent you’d expect from a vinyl shop-blocked speakeasy, and a top-tier list of craft mixed tipples.

Pullman Hotel Downtown, 7.30pm to 2am Tues to Thu and Sun, 7.30pm to 2am Fri and Sat. Tel: (0)4 412 6666. @honeycombhifi Salsa

21 NACHO TYPE OF SALSA

It famously takes two to tango, it also takes a minimum of two to salsa properly and what better way than dance to see if you can find your groove with a prospective partner? Latin Crazy Tribe holds events across the city throughout the week, offering musical backing to salsa, bachata and kizomba dance styles. Hit up their socials to find out where you can next Step Up. @latincrazytribe

Honeycomb Hi-Fi

25 EITHER OAR

24 SO FONDUE YOU

EKart

23 KARTESIAN DUALISM Not a fan of small talk, but still want to make sure your date stays on track? Habibi, come to eKart. Located on the roof of Dubai Mall’s Zabeel extension, this race-based electric go-Kart F1esta invites guests to duel it out against a Burj Khaifa backdrop. Just don’t take it too seriously, you wouldn’t want to be oVerstappen the mark.

The Dubai Mall Zabeel, Al Khail, Downtown Dubai, open daily 10am to 10pm, from Dhs95. Tel: (800) 38224 6255. ekartzabeel.ae 22 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

Can’t believe he dropped a cheesy joke as an icebreaker. Like, how dairy?

Of all the love languages, cheese (more specifically Steven Gerrard’s favourite sort “melted cheese”) is up there with the best (and most pungent) of them.

And on Thursday nights at Publique you can tour amour alongside unlimited fromage and chocolate fondue. with two hours of free flowing wine.

Unit 27, Souk Madinat, Thursdays Dhs270 per person. Tel: (0)4 430 8550. @publiquedubai

Tandem kayaking provides a great analogy for relationships. It works best when you’re both putting in the same effort, if you’re not synchronised there’s a danger of capsizing, and take your eyes off what’s happeining for too long and you might find yourself up the Creek without a paddle. Crystal Clear Watersports makes metaphor manifest with twilight trips in perspex, neon-lit, two-seater kayaks from the Dubai Fishing Harbour.

Canoe-dling optional.

Dubai Fishing Harbour 1, from Dhs249 for two. Tel: (0)56 473 8459. @cc.watersports

Tandem kayaking

26 TODAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART The Theatre of Digital Art (TODA) is best characterised as somewhere in between a gallery and a cinema, displaying specially curated digital moving art collages onto the walls and ceiling of the event space. It offers a clever mix of themed shows, is often accompanied by music or live performances and puts you right in the centre of a panoramic extravaganza.

Souk Madinat, Jumeirah, Dubai, timings based on production, Dhs120. Tel: (0)4 277 4044. toda.ae

Jais Adventure Parks

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TWO-BOGGAN

CELL MATES Prison Island is a new adventure experience based in Sharjah’s City Center Al Zahia Mall and a great place for a round of ‘ick bingo’. Set over a labyrinthal expanse, this is no escape room — it’s a network of 25 individual ‘cells’ featuring tasks each more fiendishly conundrous (shhh, that’s a word) than the last. There’s also the opportunity to get involved in a friendly date shootout, with the Laser Island attraction in the same facility.

City Center Al Zahia Mall, Sharjah, Mon to Wed 10am to 10pm, Thur to Sun 10am to midnight, from Dhs129. @prisonisland.ae

The Theatre of Digital Art (TODA)

For something with a decent quota of outdoorsy ‘arrrgh’ vibes, try Jais Adventure Parks. There you’ll find the Jais Sledder – a whiteknuckle, 1,840m mountainside toboggan ride, that squeaks through the peaks of the Hajar range at up to 40kph. After, we recommend recalibrating at 1484 By Puro. At one and a half kilometres above sea level, it’s the UAE’s highest restaurant, they do a banging Thai beef salad, and the views aren’t half bad either. visitjebeljais.com

The Smash Room

29 SMASHING COMPANY

Prison Island

Take a blunt instrument to those pre-date nerves with a rage therapy session at The Smash Room. Choose your weapon and set about collectively dismantling an army of paraphernalia – plates, old TVs, DVD players, printers – there’s so much to choose from. This way you can observe your companion at their worst. Are they in control (arguably a red flag)? Are they weirdly obsessed with printers? It’s always best to find out early.

Umm Suqeim st, Al Quoz, Mon to Thur 12.30pm to 10pm, Fri to Sun 12.30pm to 11pm, packages from Dhs69. Tel: (0)4 339 7810. thesmashroom.com

WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 23

It's time to explore this trendy destination and join Twiggy by La Cantine +971 4 602 1105 | www.twiggy.ae Park Hyatt Dubai

U N TO L D D U B A I

From Romania, with love and lasers WORDS: MANAAL FATIMAH

WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 25

U N TO L D D U B A I

Welcoming a who’s who of some of the biggest names in electronic music land, UNTOLD Music Festival is the certified crown jewel of every festival fiend’s bucket list. A Romanian export going international for the first time ever, UNTOLD Dubai marks the brand’s first foray into the Middle East. They promise four days of mega music madness, epic visuals and unforgettable moments.

Welcome to UNTOLD – it’s going to be a party and a half.

B

ig things have happened in Dubai. Huge, even. But in the city’s modern timeline, nothing is set to compare to what’s being dubbed Dubai’s first mega music festival, UNTOLD. Taking place at Expo City Dubai from February 15 to 18, it’s poised to become one of the most coveted music festivals to ever grace the grass of this region.

Why is it such a big deal? Let us explain…

UNTOLD was born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania’s second most populous city and a seat of culture, academia, industry, business and music festivals.

Since its conception in 2015, eight chapters of the festival have entertained crowds from far and wide, techno and electronic music fans for whom the melting pot of DJs, producers and performers is too exciting to miss.

Just to give you an idea of the scale, globally renowned house music icons like David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Kygo, Afrojack, Tiesto and Armin Van Buuren have all formed part of previous line-ups.

26 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

YOUR UNTOLD FESTIVAL CHECKIST Partying, but make it practical…

While the core of the genre is very much the bass-in-the-back-of-your-head beats, the festival has ventured into other territories, bringing in artists from across the musical board. A celebration of all music, if you will, because that is what a festival is. More than 300,000 seekers of a good time have shown up to Cluj-Napoca year to year, and Dubai is looking to be no different.

UNTOLD Dubai, taking place at Expo City, is all set to ignite the cityscape for four days of crazy, quirky, elaborate stage design; lights, lasers, mind-blowing visuals, your heartbeat in your ears and all of your senses on the most epic type of overdrive possible. More than 70,000 souls are expected to join the chorus every day.

No room for footwear fiascos: Wear the most comfortable pair of shoes you have.

Stay hydrated: Make sure to stock up on your preferred choice of hydration.

Be the man with a plan: Plan ahead – logistics, timings and group management.

Keep the devices fed: Make sure to pack power banks to keep the devices running.

Leave out the valuables: Expensive, sentimental or rare – leave them at home.

Live in the moment: You don’t have to be everywhere and do everything at once.

Some of the biggest names, for your consideration…

MERCHANTS OF THE MUSIC

Tiesto Genre: EDM UNTOLD notoriety: A bit of a veteran Tiesto finds his way back to the UNTOLD stage time and time again, not that we’re complaining.

The Dutch DJ has firmly established himself as one of the very best spinners of techno, with listeners across generations and a discography etched in the tops of charts around the globe.

Ellie Goulding Genre: Electropop, Synth-pop, Folktronica UNTOLD notoriety: Not her first rodeo British songstress Ellie Goulding has made her mark on the international music scene with a spate of hits that only gets longer. Straying away from the EDM for a second, she dabbles with pop, electropop and is known for her unique voice that’s behind hits like Burn, Lights and Still Falling For You.

G-Eazy Genre: Rap UNTOLD notoriety: Newbie status Blending 1950’s culture with modern rap, G-Eazy represents the musical chameleon. His numerous (note: very successful) collaborations with a variety of artists are the evidence of that: be sure to listen to Me, Myself & I with fellow UNTOLD headliner Bebe Rexha and No Limit with ASAP Rocky and Cardi B. The American rapper has also made waves in record producing, so he’s the whole package.

Armin Van Buuren Genre: EDM UNTOLD notoriety: Graduated with honours Armin Van Buuren is an UNTOLD regular that lights up any festival stage. An UNTOLD legend, he’s at the helm of an interesting domination of European talent in dance, techno and electronic music.

Bebe Rexha

Bebe Rexha Genre: Pop, R&B UNTOLD notoriety: Not her first rodeo Bebe Rexha is a pop princess that wears many a crown. She does all kinds of genre bending and dabbling, which leaves us with a list of incredibly infectious collaborations with Martin Garrix, G-Eazy, David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and more.

Her performances are spectacles of their own, so the UNTOLD stage is just the thing for her.

Major Lazer Genre: EDM, Reggae UNTOLD notoriety: Alumni status The Jamaican-American trio, made up of renowned artists Diplo, Walshy Fire, and Ape Drums, has been in the game for 15 years, and headlined at UNTOLD many times. They have four LPs to their collective name, which feature artists like Camila Cabello, Quavo, Travis Scott, and J Balvin.

PSY

Armin Van Buuren

Genre: K-Pop UNTOLD notoriety: Newbie status Another wildcard of the wildest variety on the UNTOLD line-up is K-Pop legend, PSY. Who could forget when he blew up the internet with Gangnam Style? The man is a solid performer, so expect to see a high-octane set that will have you dancing all night.

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U N TO L D D U B A I

MORE THAN JUST MUSIC Take a look at what else is happening around the festival…

Five minutes with…

HARDWELL

The Dutch DJ and producer is returning to the UNTOLD stage to a crowd he knows well.

How does performing in Dubai compare to audiences in other cities?

Dubai is always a crazy place to play and has really shaped its own identity. This time around, it’s going to be something unlike anything Dubai’s experienced before. So, I’m excited to experience the debut of UNTOLD in the Middle East!

For your beverage fix: Budweiser and Corona will have two dedicated bars on site. Absolut will have a brand activation near the Alchemy Stage, with a VIP platform, a dedicated bar on top of the structure, and a secret rave party below the structure.

UNTOLD Dubai will be a little different from your usual festival experience, with state-of-the-art facilities and services to cater to all party people. Besides the Dubai comforts, there will also be a number of exciting activations you can get stuck into over the four-day period. And of course no festival is complete without food trucks, of which you’ll have 40 to feed your appetite.

For the adrenaline junkies: The Redbull Tandem Skydive will happen once on Thursday, February 15 about 15 minutes before the festival gates open. One winner from the pool of festival goers who reach the Mainstage will be chosen to receive an exclusive skydiving experience with a Redbull athlete. Also, if you need an F1 throwback, Redbull will have their event car and a few mobile vendors at the spot.

For your beauty fix: Only in Dubai, but a Chalk hair salon will be on site so you can get in your mid-festival pamper. Because who will fix your make-up or give you that fresh-from-the-salon blow dry ready for the headline set better than the experts?

For your shopping and post-festival blues fix: Vinyl Souk will have a marketplace for vinyl records, so you can do a bit of shopping for some sound bite souvenirs to take home with you.

TICKETS Tickets are still on sale, with singleday passes available as well as a four-day access pass. General access passes start at Dhs300 per person and go up to VIP passes at Dhs2,000 per person.

UNTOLD Dubai, Expo City, Feb 15 to 18. untold.ae

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Give us three things to expect from your set at Untold Dubai?

Expect lots of energy and plenty of new music. I’ve been locked in the studio a lot these last few weeks, so I’ve got tons of new music to share.

What’s the top song on your personal playlist right now?

Right now, it has to be my current single, Oldskool Sound. My sound has shifted a lot these in more recent history, but my Big Room roots are still there.

What’s one pre-performance ritual you never miss doing?

Sharing a moment with my tour team. We all put a lot of energy into making these shows the best we possibly can, so I always get everyone together for a quick preshow ritual huddle.

What quintessential Dubai experience are you most excited about during your return to the city?

I’ve heard that skydiving over The Palm is an amazing way to see Dubai. I’m not saying it will happen on this trip, but to see that view from way up in the sky would be epic.

RESTAURANT OPEN DAILY 12PM-1AM

BEACH OPEN DAILY 10AM - SUNSET

+971 4 832 6620

THE LINK

The world’s longest cantilever, a 226-metrelong, 100-metre-high sky bridge wedged between two skyscrapers, is set to become Dubai’s newest destination du jour for gourmands. Forks at the ready…

WORDS: ALICE HOLTHAM

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Qabu

La Dame De Pic

In pursuit of more haute culinary scenes, chef Paco Morales left southern Andalucía aged just 17, but returned to his hometown of Cordoba in 2016 to open his now 2 Michelin Star restaurant, Noor. Tracing the region’s fascinating history, it’s an ode to the Moorish rule – and the ingredients available at that time – that stretched from the 8th Century to the end of the 15th Century. A similar celebration of Cordoba’s culinary history, reinterpreted with a modern feel, will be presented at Qabu, the chef’s debut Dubai restaurant. In a setting of grown-up pastels and rich textures reminiscent of southern Spain, it’s a unique love letter to Andalusia. @qabudubai

The descendent of a long line of Michelin-calibre chefs, Frenchborn Anne-Sophie Pic grew up surrounded by foodie wizardry.

As such, she’s created a culinary style driven by emotion, using her own memories and associations of scents and flavours to constantly innovate. The result is an empire of Star-showered, restaurants around the globe. Among the most prominent is La Dame De Pic, located in London, Megeve, Paris, Singapore – and now Dubai. Its cuisine is best described as modern French, but that doesn’t truly do the creativity poured into each plate at this gastronomic experience justice. It’s a true experiential flavour flight, in a setting of feminine soft pastel hues. @ladamedepicdubai

2 Tapasake The crowning feature of this dazzling culinary showcase is Tapasake, a sun-drenched alfresco destination that runs across the top of The Link. A dual experience of luxurious and refined poolside relaxation and inventive Nikkei dining, its star feature is the UAE’s longest infinity pool. Guests can snap up plush loungers or cabanas for days spent drinking in the plucked-froma-postcard city vistas, delight in refreshing serves at the swim up bar, and graze on a dedicated menu of poolside Nikkei eats. The restaurant, a space that fuses from indoor to outdoors, offers a more formal dining experience by night, pairing Japanese and Peruvian flavours with beats from the resident DJ. @tapasakedubai

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4 Sagetsu Australian-based chef Tetsuya Wakuda fuses his classical French training with his Japanese roots to create a signature culinary style of old-meets-new. That’s exactly what diners can expect at his first Middle Eastern restaurant, Sagetsu.

Seasonal ingredients will play a starring role in the menu, which promises to innovate and inspire through perfectly plated Japanese dishes. The creativity spills off the plate into the décor, with marble and wood woven into an aesthetic that’s soft and sophisticated. @sagetsudubai

THE LINK

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Arrazuna

Sphere

Bringing something a little different to The Link is Arrazuna, a new concept from one of Istanbul’s most famous foodie faces, Mehmet Gürs. The Finnish chef has injected his signature flair into a high-end food hall and market. Across eight open kitchens and a gourmet retail area, Gurs’ new Dubai restaurant will serve up the vibrant cuisines from across the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula, with an elevated edge. @arrazunadubai

Where does one head once dining is done and your dancing feet are looking to carry on the party? The final piece in The Link’s puzzle is Sphere. A sophisticated and sultry cocktail bar with lofty ceilings, dark and decadent hues, and panoramic views, this is The Link’s gilded drinking destination. At this home of all things master mixology, creative cocktails, an extensive menu of fine wines, and top-tier spirits awaits.

It’s all paired with scintillating entertainment to match, including a roster of live musicians and jaw-dropping dance and acrobatic shows. @spheredubai

ONE TO TRY AT THE GARDEN AT ONE&ONLY ONE ZA’ABEEL…

StreetXO

6 DuangDy A top attraction on the culinary trail in Bangkok, Bo.lan’s success could be due to several things. The restaurant’s eco-touch without compromising on the quality of its Thai flavours. The string of TV show appearances, including Netflix’s Chef’s Table. But it’s more likely to be attributed to the dynamic husband and wife duo behind the restaurant, Dylan Jones and Bo Songvisava. After more than a decade of Bo.lan, they closed the restaurant in its original form in 2021, returning shortly afterwards with the same charming and inviting feel and traditional approach to Thai food, but this time with a zero-waste bar, grocery store and chef’s table. For DuangDy, expect the same charisma from the team, and sustainably driven Thai flavours in the menu. @duangdydubai

Chef Dabiz Muñoz, known for his avant-garde and experimental approach to cuisine, has been recognised as the Best Chef in the World for three consecutive years by Best Chef Awards. At One&Only, the daring culinary master presents StreetXO. From the same team as Madrid’s 3 Michelin Star DiverXO, StreetXO will serve up “very powerful cuisine full of flavour,” the chef told What’s On. In an informal and relaxed setting, it puts a haute edge on globallyinspired street food. To match the experimental menu, the venue will be an avant garde space that will feel dramatic and highimpact. Perch up at the bar for cool tunes and master mixology, share plates and sips in the lounge, or drink in the views on the chic terrace. “I like to say at StreetXO, more is more,” explains chef Dabiz. @streetxo.dubai

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THE REGION’S FAVOURITE RESTAURANT, LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS

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EAT | DRINK | SHOP

PA G E 40

Life’s a (Be) Beach Your next daycation, sorted

TASTE OF DUBAI p38 INSIDE MOONSHINE p43 LEÑA REVIEWED p44

B R U N C H

1 0 5

Every Saturday from 12pm-5pm E : bo o k@ lac a n t i ne. a e T : + 97 1 4 3 5 2 7 1 0 5 J ume irah E mirates Towe rs H ote l Du b a i UAE

EAT // REVIEW Words: Laura Coughlin

REVIEW:

BORDO MAVI

Sustainable, fresh, and backed by the 3Fils crew – could Dubai’s new seafood spot soon have you hooked?

“S

ince 1995”. That is what’s inscribed on Bordo Mavi’s logo in between the illustration of a young fishmonger cradling his catch. The man in the picture is Ersan Yılmaz, a legendary Turkish fishmonger in his homeland, despite only being in his early forties.

Bordo Mavi Dubai is his first international outpost, and the latest addition to The Lab Holding’s restaurant portfolio, which includes big names such as 3Fils, BRIX, and SLRP Ramen. It’s not surprising then that Bordo Mavi occupies a prime spot in Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, right next to BRIX Café, BRIX Desserts and 3Fils.

At this point, the area might as well be renamed The Lab’s Fishing Harbour.

Walls within the precinct have been knocked through to make space for Bordo Mavi. It’s now a huge, stripped-back,

light-drenched, openplan restaurant. There are bare brick walls, Bali-style lampshades, and huge wooden tables meant for group dining. There are flourishes of greenery in between the dedicated bakery, charcoal oven area and massive seafood display. But the veranda, overlooking the quaint harbour’s tranquil waters, is the spot to aim for.

We’ve decided against the classic route of picking a fish and getting it grilled or pan-seared (there’s sea bass, sea bream, turbot, Dover sole, pomfret, scorpion fish, lobster and more), in favour of dishes with flavours and flair from Turkey.

There are no.3 Gillardeau oysters (Dhs44 per piece), huge briny morsels flamed-coated in a creamy wagyu butter that gives a richer taste than any we’ve tried before. There’s a creamy soya marinated, sustainably-sourced sea bass (Dhs175), and we enjoy the satisfying way the flesh slips from the skewers. But a potential contender for Dish of the Month comes in the form of a shallow terracotta pot,

filled with six expertly pan seared prawns (Dhs63). The prawns are plump and so fresh they squeak and bounce between the teeth. They sit in a bubbling pond of rich Black Sea butter, garlic and chilli powder – a 250-year-old recipe, we’re told – just begging for a bread intervention.

Get a couple of their very good salads to accompany your seafood lunch – the fresh rocca, tomatoes, Black Sea cheese and pomegranate molasses (Dhs49), and the tomato with red onion and basil leaves (Dhs36) both hit the spot.

Desserts fall by the wayside. Neither the dense rice pudding or the thymeflavoured ice cream could come close to the immensely delicious appetisers or main courses. But as you can guess, we let the desserts disappointment slide, WHAT’S ON because Bordo Mavi – VERDICT and everyone working Worth a visit within it – has a warm, just to drink beating heart, just the Black Sea hoping to be loved. butter liquid And loved it is. gold. The Bordo Mavi, Jumeirah wonderful Fishing Harbour, seaside harbour Dubai, daily noon to location is a 11.30pm. Tel: (0)4 341 fabulous bonus.

3844. @bordomavi.ae WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 37

EAT // TASTE OF DUBAI Words: Tamara Wright

A TASTE FOR THE FINER THINGS Foodie festival Taste of Dubai returns with a brand new staging venue this month

O

ne of the highlights of our winter calendar, Taste of Dubai returns from Friday, February 23 to Sunday, February 25. Taking over Skydive Dubai in Dubai Marina, the food festival will be bringing together an expected 25,000 foodies across its three days.

As always there will be a jam-packed itinerary, including some of the region’s best chefs and restaurants, delicious drinks, interactive masterclasses, live music, family-friendly entertainment, and more.

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The food…

Visitors can eat their way around a delicious lineup of Dubai’s top restaurants including Jason Atherton’s City Social, Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia, Maya by chef Richard Sandoval, Sumosan, Bushra by Buddha Bar, Rhodes W1, Indya by Vineet, Jun’s, Hutong, Akira Back, Torno Subito, Osteria Funkcoolio, and Tan Cha. Stop for drinks at one of the nine bars around the festival while enjoying live entertainment from DJs to acoustic sets.

The experiences…

There’s an exciting lineup of celebrity chefs and local tastemakers who are set to host hands-on workshops cooking up a storm. Top names include Jenny Morris, Ritu Dalmia, Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston, George Calombaris, Kelvin Cheung, and Hattem Mattar.

Keen to improve your cooking skills?

Book lessons at the Philips Cook School where you can get cooking advice and feedback from the pros as well as learn how to perfect a fun and flavourful chefguided recipe before tucking into your creations.

You’ll also get to channel your inner chef with the Kibsons mystery box challenge where guests can take part in a cook-off to win exciting prizes.

For the budding young chefs, there will be kids’ cooking classes, a bouncy castle, fun rides, and plenty of childfriendly dishes to fuel up on.

The tickets…

Chef Kelvin Cheung

Tickets are on sale now priced from Dhs55 for general admission, which includes access to exclusive Taste workshops; Dhs165 for the taster package, which gives you two food and two drink vouchers as well as access to the workshops; and Dhs250 for VIP with access to the VIP lounge, three food and drink vouchers, and workshops. Children under 12 years old go free.

Taste of Dubai, Skydive Dubai, Dubai Marina. Friday, February 23 to Sunday, February 25, doors open from 12pm. Tickets from Dhs55. dubai.platinumlist.net WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 39

EAT // REVIEW Words: Alice Holtham

REVIEW:

BE BEACH A laidback-luxe pool experience putting Dubai Harbour on the daycation map…

E

very few years, a trend sweeps through Dubai’s culinary scene, encouraging the city’s hospitality heavyweights to hop onboard with gusto. It’s been Peruvian restaurants, Greek eateries, and right now – it’s beach clubs. For the latest addition to the Marina side of town, two of Dubai’s biggest nightlife names, Addmind (of White, Babylon and Clap fame) and Sekoya Management (Soho Garden’s creators) join forces for Be Beach.

Although it’s probably worth noting now, Be Beach isn’t actually on a beach. At the tip of Dubai Harbour, pass the strip of supersized cruise ships and keep going until the very end, where the sandstone-looking walls of Be Beach greet you. They’ve recreated the beach club experience with sugary imported sand, which covers the floor of the lounge in the middle and scatters the floor around a neat row of cabanas that each come with

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a private jacuzzi. But the best seats in the house are found on the raised pool deck behind the lounge and DJ booth, where a stretching infinity pool appears to drop seamlessly into the sea beyond. Plump white loungers, shaded by rows of macrame parasols, line the edge in single and double options, all facing towards the water.

The unobstructed views of JBR, Dubai Marina and Bluewaters are nothing short of picturesque and we struggle to think of anywhere with such enviable vistas as we settle onto our lounger. With the strong nightlife background of both operators, you might expect thudding beats and a rowdy crowd, but there’s something rather serene about Be Beach. Be it the warm and rustic design, the attentive service, the chilled beats, or a combination of all three, we’re surprised by how relaxing it all feels.

Sure, as the day progresses so does the volume of the music, but the DJ is clearly well-versed in reading a crowd, and so even as the ambience builds, it doesn’t leave you shouting to be heard.

This is the kind of spot for relaxing glasses of rosé than sparkler-filled bottle service, with a refined feel to the whole experience. As guests sip drinks, we order a few crowd-pleasing poolside eats,

like nicely al dente edamame (Dhs40) flaked with not quite enough sea salt, and a portion of rock shrimp tempura (Dhs80), that we dunk in a punchy spicy mayo. From the salad selection, the watermelon feta salad (Dhs70) is a tasty fusion of sweet and salty, the textures from a pomegranate dressing and flakes of toasted almonds enhancing each mouthful. The crab salad (Dhs120) is another lovely light option, with generous heaps of crab meat encased in baby gem lettuce cups, topped with a zesty white balsamic that’s delicate and subtle. We opt for a duo of rolls from the sushi section, and much prefer the salmon and avocado maki (Dhs74) over the more forgettable veggie maki (Dhs65), which have a filling of grilled asparagus and mushroom.

We linger on our loungers long after lunch, marveling at the sorbet hues that colour the sky as the final rays of light dip behind the horizon. As our day ends, for many it’s just beginning, as a new crowd roll into Be Beach for the WHAT’S ON Saturday DJ set that VERDICT goes until the early With its hours. relaxed vibe Be Beach, Dubai and stunning Harbour, off Dubai setting, this Marina, 10am to 8pm might just be Mon to Fri, 10am to our favourite 12am Sat and Sun. new beach day Tel: (0)54 751 1119. in Dubai. @bebeachdxb

www.ninive.ae book@ninive.ae +971 43 266 105 Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel

EAT // BAR OF THE MONTH Words: Manaal Fatimah

BAR OF THE MONTH:

MOONSHINE, DIFC’S NEW BEST-KEPT SECRET After hours has a new address at this glossy speakeasy...

B

ut is it here to stay? That is the question echoing in my mind as I walk up to the suspiciously-placed 1950s baby blue fridge door within well-loved DIFC sandwich shop, Wise Guys.

If not for the smiling bouncer clad all-in-black stood next to said fridge door, no one would suspect there to be anything behind it that actually requires a bouncer. That is the beauty of Moonshine, the mystery of a blue door that could be anything but the entrance to a speakeasy, behind which lies a futuristic metallic passageway - a portal that marries the past and the present.

The allure of speakeasies and hidden bars never really fades away, because despite being known to the world, they are still well-kept whispers, holes in the wall where one can revel in the fashionable secrecy of the concept. This one, a tribute

to the prohibition era, is the latest addition to a not-very-long list of discreet establishments in the city and perhaps fewer still rendered in such a theatrical fashion, vintage fridge door and all.

The speakeasy is a small, compact space.

The ceiling is low, the lights are dim, spraying red glow like angry halos, and inside the walls, there’s space for no more than 40. That’s what makes this special: how cosy and inside-club everything feels. While the root of speakeasies is in yesteryear, the interiors here are modern and minimal, with aerodynamic lines everywhere.

The menu, while not elaborate, has a laundry list of fancy ingredients that starts with caviar but doesn’t finish at truffle.

This is, after all, sophistication in the shadows. The soul of the spot is of course the cocktails. My companion starts with whiskey-based drinks and concludes that while the Old Fashioned is strong, the Whiskey Sour hits just the spot.

Fruit leads the signature cocktails, as my companion points out from the kojikaze – vodka, pear, palo santo amazake

and yuzu (Dhs85) – and the blue Hawaii – rum, blood orange, elderflower soda, frankincense and pineapple espuma (Dhs85). She nods in approval.

The food arrives and we nibble as we chat our time away. The ostera caviar (Dhs550) makes for a good bite, but is not particularly remarkable. The MB5 wagyu tataki (Dhs185) is a myriad of fresh flavours – garlic, radish and botanicals. It tastes green but juicy. The hokkaido scallop ceviche (Dhs185) is all citrus, with passion fruit and lime and has a fruity kick that pairs perfectly with the crunchy Peruvian corn. The gambas roja carpaccio (Dhs185) is our favourite salty, spicy and slick with olive oil. As the night unfolds, a DJ takes to the booth and we have some music to match the vibe.

Moonshine is a worthy entrant to Dubai’s nightlife society and will likely stay that way – less for the fare and more for the enthralling rush of its novelty.

WHAT’S ON Moonshine, Gate VERDICT Avenue, DIFC, Moonlighting Mon to Wed, 6pm to at Moonshine 12am, Thurs to Sat, should be your 6pm to 3am. new after-hours Tel: (0)52 450 7795. plan. @moonshinedubai WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 43

EAT // REVIEW Words: Miles Buckeridge

REVIEW:

LEÑA

BY DANI GARCIA A rare affair at St Regis Gardens

D

ubai feels like it’s teetering on the charred edge of its steakhouse era. Mark my words, purveyors of premium cuts will become a lot less rare in the city over the next few months.

These theoretical ‘steak holders’ will have their work cut out for them though.

They’ll be going head-to-head with new grill house, Leña, a concept from Andalusian culinary master, Dani García.

This is the man who, just weeks after earning his third Michelin Star, shut his restaurant to concentrate on a noble dream: “making Spanish cuisine an overall more casual affair”.

Leña resides within the increasingly A-List culinary community of St. Regis Gardens (essentially the alfresco penthouse of Palm Jumeirah’s Nakheel Mall). And with its sister, Leña Marbella, winning a Most Beautiful Restaurant in

44 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

the World Award in 2021 – it really is no surprise that the Dubai sibling has turned out to be somewhat of a self-aware stunner itself.

It’s a song of wood and fire – a low-lit cuisine cave with oaky-toned panels and curving lines of magma glowing overhead. The grills here are powered by aromatic blends of charocal, an essential component to the Chef García flavour experience.

It’s an art medium that comes with challenges though.

It’s not uncommon for the back of house to trigger a smoke alarm – forcing the serving staff to rotate on reassuring errands, informing guests that it’s all part of the fiery theatre.

From the entrees, we order a grilled avocado (Dhs70), almost entirely because my dining partner and I are contrarians and, hitherto, were firm believers that to cook this fleshy, fatty fruit is to dabble in the dark arts. We were wrong. Something alluringly arcane is unlocked in the sear – an evolved flavour, enlivened by the coriander pesto and feta cheese salpicon daubed on top.

The Andalusian bluefin tuna tartar (Dhs145) is a sage choice, too. You get

a blend of raw akami and otoro cuts, caringly tossed with olive oil, caper berries and pickles. A harmony that rises higher than the notes of its parts. It’s a Spanish dish, but there are hints of a gap year in Japan.

Your choice of cut runs to picaña, Angus tenderloin and ribeye, as well as some premium Kiwami options too. And then you’re invited to customise with an extensive offering of traditional steakhouse sauces and sides to suit your own taste. We took the picaña (Dhs130, seriously, just Dhs130) and the Angus tenderloin (Dhs250).

Great meat is great meat, and it’s easy enough to find in Dubai. The margins emerge from what’s done with it. Whatever happened to these steaks beyond the smokey, charcoal bath we know they took – is a little piece of poetry.

The picaña might just offer the best dirhamWHAT’S ON to-delish steak dish VERDICT ratio in Dubai.

There’s no Leña, The St Regis smoke without Gardens, Palm fire, and Leña Jumeirah, daily 6pm deploys both to 2am. to devastating Tel: (0)4 453 7523. effect. @lenadubai.dg

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Get inspired as Art Dubai returns PHANTOM OF THE OPERA p49 FILMS TO LOOK FORWARD TO p52 WHATSON.AE | MONTH 2022 47

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CULTURE // THEATRE Words: Laura Coughlin

AN INTERVIEW WITH

THE PHANTOM

Ahead of The Phantom of the Opera’s 17-day run at Dubai Opera, What’s On caught up with the man behind the mask, British-Lebanese actor Nadim Naaman, to find out how he feels about this complex character…

You’ve been part of the Phantom family since 2010 – playing both Raoul and the Phantom. What is it about this musical that keeps bringing you back?

It is certainly the show that has shaped my career and my life more than any other. The material itself is just exquisite; Phantom is so well structured and composed. I was just 25 years old when this journey with Phantom began, and I’ll turn 39 this year, so it’s been quite the experience – it’s like meeting up with a dear old friend.

How would you describe the Phantom?

He’s too complex and fragile to be labelled a villain, but there is no defending many of his actions and choices. Ultimately, he is a man who commits many crimes and who emotionally manipulates others to get what he wants. But what makes things interesting is the extent to which his deformity, his backstory and his talent enable the audience to look past the crimes to feel genuine emotion for him. This is the power of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score – we can watch a man do many awful things, but when he sings the final scene of the show, our heart truly breaks for him. Ultimately, the word ‘tragic’ I think is the right one.

How special is it for you that this production is coming to the Middle East?

It was the perfect opportunity for me to play my dream role and connect with my Middle Eastern heritage; representing Lebanon on stage in this region, and working in Dubai again, a city which has been like a second home since childhood (my parents lived here in the ‘70s and ‘80s).

Do you remember the first time you performed as the Phantom?

Absolutely! It was a very special night. My main memory of that day was that I spent large chunks of it being nervous. I had been waiting for the opportunity to play this role for many years, and there we were, opening the tour in Saudi Arabia, a country which has never hosted Phantom before.

Thankfully, all went smoothly and the audience stood up enthusiastically at the end of the night. I remember bowing and feeling the relief.

What is your favourite part of the show?

The final scene. It is perfectly written and constructed. It’s the three main characters, alone in the Phantom’s Lair, leaving everything on the table. Each character gets to pour their heart and soul out on stage. Combine that with some of the most powerful music scores and you get one of the greatest final scenes ever created for a musical.

Do you prefer singing with a mask on or without it?

It’s definitely easier to sing without it.

It’s not just the mask, it’s the fact that under the mask you have a prosthetic glued to your face and a wig, all of it held together very cleverly by magnets.

So, it’s fairly bulky. Having said all of that, I wouldn’t change a thing, because it all helps you become the character.

What’s your dream role?

Until recently, I always said The Phantom! I think that I am excited about where playing this role might lead. For over a decade, I played a certain kind of youthful, romantic role fairly consistently, but now it feels like that chapter is behind me and I am at the beginning of a new batch of roles which are older, more complex, troubled characters. If The Phantom marks the beginning of that stage of my career, I would just like to continue exploring roles in that mould.

Characters like Javert in Les Misérables, Sweeney Todd or Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady – these spring to mind.

February 22 to March 10 Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, from Dhs275, various timings.

Tel: (0)4 440 8888. dubaiopera.com WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 49

CULTURE // ART DUBAI Words: Shelby Gee

In the spirit of reflecting on the last 45 years of What’s On, take a look at some of our past magazine covers that featured Art Dubai…

STATE OF THE ART

Painting the city in a kaleidoscope of colours, Art Dubai is back…

Issue 504, March 2020 Art Director: Sheila Deocareza Dia al-Azzawi (1939), Figures in Red, 1968. Copyright the artist, courtesy of Meem Gallery

T

his year marks the 17th edition of Art Dubai, taking place between March 1 and 3 at Madinat Jumeirah. The 2024 fair, the largest to date, will feature more than 100 presentations in contemporary, modern and digital art from more than 40 countries in the MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region. Here’s our guide to What’s On in the galleries…

Mak2, Home Sweet Home, Baptismal Reverie 2, 2023. Courtesy of the artist and Peres Project

Art Dubai Contemporary A showcase of galleries from around the world – from Beirut to Brussels – the contemporary exhibition is an opportunity to explore works from both established and emerging global art scenes. The curation of pieces are handpicked to represent global perspectives that are new and unique, while cultivating a culture of discovery.

50 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

Dia al-Azzawi (1939), Figures in Red, 1968. Copyright the artist, courtesy of Meem Gallery

Art Dubai Modern Curated by Dr. Christianna Bonin, Art Dubai Modern will focus on leading artists from the region who participated in cultural exchanges with the Soviet Union after the 1960s.

Expect to see pieces from local galleries including the Leila Heller Gallery, Efie Gallery and Meem Gallery.

Art Dubai Digital

Bawwaba Meaning gateway in Arabic, Bawwaba will present 10 solo presentations of artworks created within the last year. Focusing on themes of healing and art as a catalyst for change, the artists use a variety of mediums that encourage visitors to reflect on their own experiences.

Issue 443, March 2015

Senior Art Director: Sara Raffaghello

DON’T MISS Art Dubai’s flagship summit, Global Art Forum, will explore the relationship between extreme weather and extreme change.

Curated by Shumon Basar and Nadine El-Khoury, the extensive programme will feature a host of Modern and Collector talks.

Issue 431, March 2014

Senior Art Director: Sara Raffaghello

Heart Space by Krista Kim for Julius Baer at Art Dubai 2024

In the digital art space, Art Dubai will premiere ‘Heart Space’ a significant new commission by digital artist Krista Kim. Heart Space is an immersive experience that allows viewers to connect personally with the artwork. How? In real-time, each visitor’s unique heart rhythm will be cast through hypnotic pattern and shapes displayed across an LED canvas, shifting with each person’s energy.

Issue 407, March 2012

Senior Art Director: Olga Petroff

Art Dubai, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Mar 1 to 3, Dhs100. artdubai.ae

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For re s e r vat i o n & i nfo r m at i o n , please call +971 46 665 999

CULTURE // FILM Words: Miles Buckeridge

FILM 2024 New year, new watch list...

Mickey 17

W

e had some huge box office bangers in 2023. And with the extended writer’s and actor’s strikes, that stretched over a decent chunk of the year’s creative window, it’s natural to assume 2024’s flick pickings would be slim by comparison.

Fortunately for film fans, there’s a twist...

52 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

Argylle Expected: February Before Kingsman (2014), ‘comedy-action spy drama’ wasn’t really a distinct genre (do not Johnny English me), but then Matthew Vaughn came along and changed all that with a ‘manner of filmmaking that maketh big bucks’ at the box office. His latest work, Argylle, has an obnoxiously talented cast – Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Dua Lipa (yep, that Doo-la-pee), John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson. It’s the story of an espionage novelist (Howard) whose work seems to eerily parallel the activities of a nefarious organised crime network. Now in the crosshairs of the cabal, an IRL spy (Rockwell) is sent to protect her. And her cat. There’s an obvious Bond reference there, but I’m going to let you do the footwork.

Expected: March It’s been four long years since we last saw directorial work from Oscarwinning Bong Joon-ho and this next notch on his filmography (starring Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, Steven Yeun) belt already feels destined for celluloidal immortality. It’s the adaptation of a highly praised 2022 sci-fi book, Mickey7 – which syncs its cybernetic teeth into the subject of uploaded consciousness. Mickey is on a one-way trip to colonise a distant ice world, a mission fraught with inter-planetary peril. But it’s ok, each time he dies, a new clone is spawned complete with the prior incarnation’s memories. Synthesised immortality in purgatory, sweet.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Dune: Part 2 Expected: March Postponed from its October 2023 scheduled release, the majority of the exterior shots of this second part of this saga based on the Frank Herbert novel, and directed by visionary helmsman Denis Villeneuve, was filmed right here in the Liwa desert. And the end of part one left us on a pretty precarious Arrakian ridge — with betrayal, subterfuge and ambush leading to the decimation of House Atreides. The sole surviving heir, Paul Atreides (played

by Timothée Chalamet) had to escape to the barren wastelands of the desert planet under protective escort of its resident eco warriors, The Fremen (one of whom, Chani played by Zendaya, has caught Paul’s cyanosising eye). Will he be able to evade capture and restore glory to the House Atreides name? Will there be an alternate route to glory? You’ll have to wait until at least next month to find out. Or you could read the book, but we’ve heard it contains spoilers.

The Fall Guy Expected: May There’s a place for complicated, cerebral, abstract, arthouse concepts in cinema.

There’s also a place for handing former stuntman David ‘John Wick’ Leitch a ton of cash and saying “do some Jason Bourne stuff ”. This movie (based on a 1980s TV series) is firmly of the latter designation, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.

It’s about a stuntman (Gosling, and presumably vicariously Leitch – see, action can have art too) who’s tasked with diving into the criminal underworld to track down the movie star he’s been taking falls for. There’s a little romance in there, some comedy, a dog (obviously), and a whole lotta Wick-esque violent schtick.

Expected: May A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road and the fifth film in the extended Mad Max-verse (Millerverse?), Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is the origin story to Fury Road’s femme fatale. Life isn’t great in a post-apocalyptic hellscape, where gangs of ruthless bikers form the basis of the dominant political hierarchies (make your own mind up on where that sits), and people who are prepared commit atrocities over the most trivial quantities of resources. The Miller formula will likely mean we get to see Imperator Furiosa (this time played

by Anya Taylor-Joy) making her way through a bold and beautifully bleak world, taking scalps, getting temporarily captured and possibly even meeting Max for the first time.

If Expected: May Written, directed, and co-produced by Jim from The Office (John Krasinski) this partlive action, part-animated movie explores the world of ‘imaginary friends’. Where the ‘I’ and the ‘F’ of IF is for the ‘I’ and the ‘F’ of ‘Imaginary Friends’ and the what ‘if ’ they were real? The story lifts off when a young girl, who is able to see these ‘IFs’, notices that her neighbour, The Man Upstairs (Ryan Reynolds) is also able to interact with them.

The pair embark on a mission to bring the IFs back into the lives of the children they once were so bonded to. In addition to the wonderful prospect of a Dunder Mifflin creative reunion, we’re also expecting to see that Peter Pan-genre reverence for the imagination of children.

WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 53

CULTURE // FILM The Bikeriders Expected: June Inspired by true events, and based around a 1967 photo-book, The Bikeriders stars Jodie ‘Villanelle’ Comer, Austin ‘still sounds like Elvis’ Butler, Tom ‘born in the dark’ Hardy, Michael ‘Zod’ Shannon, and Norman ‘the crossbow’ Reedus.

The story shines a light on “the golden age of bikeriders”. A rideor-die family of chopper throttling ne’er-do-wells that operate criminal rackets with a famously bloodsoaked moral code. Directed by Jeff ‘Mud’ Nichols we’re expecting to see themes of loyalty, brotherhood, and what happens to those who try to break the code and quit the gang.

Deadpool 3

Inside Out 2 Expected: June Pixar’s first Inside Out was an incredibly complex movie asking big questions about the compartmentalisation of emotions, the nature of identity and the pursuit of happiness. It was also a vastly enjoyable quest movie, with tender moments, hilarious charcaterisations and an odd ethereal sense of nostalgia. Just another pearl on the string of zero miss, core Pixar memories then. The sequel will follow the same format with a now slightly older puberty-age Riley, enjoying some timely new additions to her cast of internal monologuing emotions (including Anxiety and Disgust). We’re certain it’ll tackle yet more deeply complicated developmental, adolescent urges, thoughts and dilemmas with the same trademark Disney heart, love and humour.

54 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

Expected: July This third installment of the Ryan Reynold’s driven anti-hero vehicle, will be the first time the titular character appears under the official MCU umbrella. But Disney seem to be quite happy to let much of what led to the success of the two previous movies remain. It will likely retain its R-Rating (making it the first MCU film with that classification) and so too, the humour and violence that necessitate that; the writers have been kept on, as has Reynolds (which is only right, there is no ‘merc with a mouth’, without that particular ‘mouth’); and the return of Rob Delaney as fan favourite, Peter. We also know that Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine (which if leaked photos aren’t a deliberate misdirection, will appear in yellow and blue suited homage to the classic animated X-Men series) has been unretired, leading to the prospect of an on-screen bromance of truly adamantine proportions. And if you’re hung up on the fact he *spoiler* died at the end of Logan, you’ve not been paying attention to Marvel’s timeline/multiverse jiggery-pokery.

Gladiator 2

Beetlejuice 2 Expected: Unknown Of course Jenna Ortega was going to join the cast of the sequel to 1988 horror-comedy, Beetlejuice – she just screams Tim Burton. And Beetlejuice (at least three times). We wouldn’t be surprised if Burton muse Johnny Depp also gets an off-cast-list call up too. But that’s purely in the realm of conspiracy theory at this time. Michael Keaton’s back as the eponymous pin-stripe, netherworld ‘bio-exorcist’; Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara also return, and there are new spots for Justin Theroux, Monica Belluci and Willem Dafoe. It’s showtime.

Joker: Folie a Deux Expected: October When I first heard that the follow-up to Todd Phillips’s Batman villain origin story, so brilliantly given depth by a sparkling Joaquin Phoenix, was going to be a musical starring Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, I thought it was an internet wind-up. An Arthur Fleck-calibre joke. But the more you think about it, the more sense it makes. Where else should you take the story of a tortured, ridiculed incel whose descent into psychopathy is counterbalanced only by his heightening obsession with performance ‘entertainment’. Surreal and macabre song and dance numbers, revelry in the pantomime of chaos – this could quite easily end up as something uniquely wonderful.

Expected: November There was once a dream that was Gladiator 2. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish... it was so fragile. And I fear that, because it’s taken more than two decades to happen, we should treat the scheduled release date with some self-preserving skepticism. Be warned that whatever comes out of those gates, whenever they open, is going to be a very different cinematic beast. Returning director Ridley Scott is now 86, and crucially there’s no Maximus – Russell Crowe told journalists at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival (reported in Variety) “I don’t know anything about the cast, I don’t know anything about the plot. I am dead”. The scant information we do have, is that the plot centres around a now-grown Lucius Verus (son of Commodus). Will he find himself in the Colosseum (the title certainly suggests that)?

Will he discover he’s actually the illegitimate son of Maximus (the first movie certainly hinted at that)? Until it arrives, you’ll have to just “hold the line”.

Nosferatu Expected: December Ok, who had a remake of a 1920s silent vampire movie on their 2024 blockbuster Bingo card? Anybody? No? If anyone can make it work, and maybe add more meat to the pallid bones of this oft-cited ‘masterpiece’ of early cinema – Robert Eggers is the man. Despite a relatively short directorial career, he’s on a rare zero-miss, three-from-three spree (The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman). This 2024 project will focus on our titular blood-sucker (Bill Skarsgård) falling for the charms of a young woman (Lily-Rose Depp). Team Jacob all the way.

WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 55

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Take the leap Jump into new activities TRIED AND TESTED p61 WELLNESS GUIDE p62 WHATSON.AE | OCTOBER 2022 57

SPORT // JUMP XXXXXXXX IN Words: Miles Buckeridge

LEAPS AND BOUNDS Taking the leap year literally

The sky’s the limit

O

nce every four years we have to cook the books on the earth’s orbit of the sun, fudging a cosmic average to keep our calendars honest. The upside is – we get an extra 24 hours in February to do with as we please, the con is that, it’s a little longer until March’s payday. This year we’ve decided to embrace the leap, put a spring in our step and hop into an exhilerating genre of exercise. This is the jump-off...

Cliff notes The recently expanded Aquaventure waterpark now offers a truly astounding collection of “105 slides, attractions and experiences”. Within that theatre of thrill, you’ll find Immortal Falls – a place where you can (legally and safely) cliff dive, from an elevated plunge pad into the churning water below.

Atlantis, The Palm, daily 9.15am to 6pm, from Dhs245 (resident). Tel: (0)4 426 0000. atlantis.com 58 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

The boss of UAE leaping can be found at Skydive Dubai where, for a reassuringly healthy price tag of Dhs2,499, you can take part in a tandem tumble from 13,000 feet above Dubai’s shoreline (there’s also a desert descent too). That price is inclusive of a one-way airfare, limitless bragging rights and allyou-can-burn trips to the adrenaline buffet.

Al Seyahi St, Dubai Marina, daily 8.30am to 2.30pm, from Dhs2,499.

Tel: (0)4 377 8888. skydivedubai.ae

Bear with us

X-ert yourself Located just a few hops, kick-flips and jumps away from Kite Beach – XPark has long been a half-pipe haven for the UAE’s skatewardly mobile. But they’ve recently expanded their offering to cater to parkour life. Traceurs can explore the Path of Discovery, challenging themselves on the parkour loop, scaling new heights at the 20-foot climbing tower, or conquering the bouldering area safely with soft-fall.

Kite Beach, Mon to Fri 2.30pm to 9.30pm, Sat and Sun 8am to 9.30pm, Dhs75. xdubai.com

The Bear Grylls Explorers Camp in Ras Al Khaimah, like the TV show hosted by its namesake, pits man (and woman) against wild. Here in the jagged foothills of Jebel Jais, the UAE’s tallest peak, aspiring pioneers can take on a variety of extended survival challenges and bushcraft workshops, or opt for single-activity adventures such as rock climbing or abseiling (from Dhs65). And there are few more life-affirming leaps than the ones made rappelling off a craggy, overhanging rock face with only a rope for safety and ‘a long way down’ for company.

Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah. Tel: (0)4 815 7333. beargryllscamp.ae

Your biggest fan February blues got you wanting to leap into the emptiness of the void? iFly offers whistle-stop tours of its indoor skydiving tunnel (from Dhs149 for two ‘flights’) – which via the magic of an industrial fan allows you to float on a cushion of air, replicating the experience of leaving a plane through the emergency exit. To gaslight your nervous system yet further, you can also now hook up to a wireless VR unit which will project an immersive simulated freefall directly into your retinas.

City Centre Mirdif - level 1, Mirdif, Mon to Thu midday to 9pm, Fri to Sun midday to 11pm, from Dhs149. iflyme.com

Bouncing off the walls The self-declared ‘world’s first freestyle terrain park’, Bounce X is a 5,000 sqm attraction that takes the best bits from existing Bounce parks in Dubai, and connects them with other exciting elements. Inside you can stretch, flex, leap and clamber across floating obstacles, slacklines, balance beams, circular trampolines, and sky-high stepping stones with one-hour packages from Dhs90.

Festival City Mall, Sun to Thu 10am to 10pm, Fri and Sat 10am to midnight. Tel: (0)4 304 9333. bounce.ae

WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 59

WELLBEING // TRIED AND TESTED Words: Alice Holtham

Tried + Tested

Dubai’s first CBD oil massage, OTO Amplify massage at REFIVE, FIVE Palm Jumeirah

F

IVE Palm Jumeirah has cemented itself on the Dubai hospitality scene as the ultimate home of hedonism.

But on a hazy Saturday morning, there’s a calmness to the Instagram-fodder glass lobby that might surprise those used to seeing it filled with the usual throng of party people. But we’re not here for one of those now legendary beach soirees or party brunches, instead we’re making our way to the spa. REFIVE, the hotel’s wellness space, is arguably its best kept secret: it’s

bright and breezy and adorned in warm lighting and neutral shades that feel instantly calming.

Always keen to add to their roster of city firsts, the hotel has linked up with London-born OTO to offer Dubai’s first array of CBD-based massages and facials.

The oils were developed by OTO’s founder Gemma to aid with everything from sleep and muscle relaxation to restoring a sense of calm or focus. When it comes to the offering at REFIVE, it’s all about easing muscle tension and inviting guests to envelope in 90 minutes of pure, deep relaxation. But does it work?

It helps that the setting – our double heighted ceiling couples’ spa suite – is stunning. With a jacuzzi for guests to use after their treatment, a private terrace, and a relaxation area just for you afterwards, it makes you instantly want to zen out. We can choose from

either ‘Amplify’ or ‘Balance’ oils, opting for the former, and whether we’d like to enhance the pressure with the bamboo roller (in the name of journalistic research, we nod nervously, knowing our pain tolerance resembles that of a young child). Then we robe up, lie down on the massage bed, and get ready for an hour and a half of relaxation.

It doesn’t take long for us to reach a state of near sleep, with the melodic classical music, dim lighting, and the ideal level of rhythmic pressure from our masseuse. There’s a subtle herbal fragrance to the Amplify oil with lingering botanical notes, but it’s not overpowering and to begin with, we don’t notice it at all. Later, notes of bergamot and bitter orange give a citrusy essence that adds to the relaxation. Through the massage, the combination of firm pressure from the bamboo roller and the OTO oil, we find any built-up tension melting away, particularly in those areas at the top of the back that usually collect knots and kinks.

But with the use of the bamboo roller, they glide out in just a few movements.

As we emerge from our state of relaxation to enjoy a fruit tea, we’re feeling blissfully (and rather smugly) like a weight has been lifted. With pampered skin and muscles successfully limbered, its mission accomplished.

REFIVE, FIVE Palm Jumeirah, 10am to 10pm Mon to Fri, 10am to 12am Sat and Sun, Dhs855 for 90 minutes.

Tel: (0)4 455 9964. palmjumeirah.fivehotelsandresorts.com WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 61

WELLBEING // WELLNESS Words: Tamara Wright

EAT HERE

A wellness lover’s guide to Dubai

Beyond the soaring skyscrapers, there’s an ever-growing focus on holistic health in the city. Here’s where to find your own slice of mindful paradise…

SEVA

SEVA Serving nature-inspired plant-based deliciousness, this vegan café and concept store is a hidden sanctuary in the heart of Jumeirah 1. A home away from home, you can take your shoes off and sit on the ground in the magical garden, explore the library, or take part in one of the wellness sessions from sound healing to Reiki. You won’t want to leave. @sevatable

The Matcha Club

WORKOUT HERE The Matcha Club This wellness-driven lifestyle hub and boutique padel club can be found in two locations across Dubai: Meydan and Al Quoz. From yoga and meditation classes to hip restaurants and cold-water pools, it is the place to be for padel pros, yogis, and digital nomads. @matchadxb

LOWE

LOWE

Summersalt Beach Club

Summersalt Beach Club Hit the pause button at Jumeirah Al Naseem’s Summersalt Beach Club with a yoga session delivered to the serene rhythm of the rolling waves. The one-hour session takes place every Wednesday morning, after which you can enjoy a nourishing breakfast. Once you’ve fueled up, you can retreat to further relax at the pool or beach. @summersaltbeachclub 62 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

Sustainability is at the heart of this dining concept, with delicious food that’s good for you and the planet. The stylish restaurant, located in Wadi Al Safa 3, is part of the wave of radical Dubai restaurants helping the industry make major steps towards being greener, while still producing incredible food. @lowedxb

RELAX HERE

WEEKEND HERE Al Barari Playground Nestled in the serene surroundings of Al Barari, this is the ideal spot for an adventure-filled pool day. There’s a sandy play area where mini adventurers can build sandcastles, a splash pad with thrilling slides, a toddler oasis with mini slides, and, on dry land, magical treehouses, ziplines, swings, and more. @albarariplayground

Al Barari Playground

Maison Nefertari

Emirates Bio Farm Spend a wholesome day in nature at Emirates Bio Farm, around a 45-minute drive from Dubai. Hop on a tractor ride, walk the sunflower fields, feed friendly goats and chickens, pick up seasonal fruits and veggies, and enjoy a hearty farm-totable breakfast at The Farmer’s Table. @emiratesbiofarm

Emirates Bio Farm

Samadhi Wellness

Nikki Beach Dubai

Maison Nefertari De-stress and rejuvenate at this stunning Ancient Egyptian templeinspired beauty sanctuary that fuses ancient remedies with luxury bespoke treatments. From sound healing to Shirodhara, there’s plenty of treatments and rituals that have been specially curated to harmonise your body, mind, and spirit. @maisonnefertari

ESCAPE THE CITY HERE Nikki Beach Resort and Spa Dubai The epitome of luxury, this beautiful beach resort is tucked away on the secluded Pearl Jumeira Island and feels a million miles away from Dubai. Take part in the weekly poolside SUP yoga session, disconnect with a luxury spa day, and be sure to save time for a cocktail at the beachfront bar.

Pure bliss. @nikkibeachdubai

Hatta

Hatta High up Dubai’s Hajar mountains, Hatta is a great place to visit if you want to swap skyline views for nature.

Come for the day and experience wadi-hikes, kayaking trips, horse riding, mountain biking, zip-lining, axe-throwing, archery, zorbing, climbing, waterslides, a honeybee farm, and more alfresco fun. @visit.hatta

Samadhi Wellness Jumeirah’s zen wellness space features two types of yoga studios, Reflect, with infrared heaters, and Connect, which extends into the garden; as well as a sauna, stunning pool, ice bath, hair therapy rooms, sanctuary garden, wholesome café, and a shop. @samadhimywellness

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Rohini offers an unforgettable gastronomic adventure. The only licensed Indian dining destination in JLT, and sister to the Michelin-reputed Little Miss India, redefines the dining experience with its edgy aesthetics and delicious cuisine, appealing to those seeking a bold taste of India's rich culinary heritage.

BUSINESS LUNCH

Monday to Friday | 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm AED 85 for 2-course menu AED 99 for 3-course menu

CHILL OUT HOUR

Everyday | 3 pm - 8 pm & 11 pm - 2 am Buy One Get One on select beverages

LOCATED IN JLT, CLUSTER A +97144380064

hotel.jumeirahlakestowers@movenpick.com

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DESTINATIONS | STAYCATIONS

PA G E 66

Idyllic isles

Why Seychelles should be top of your castaway hit list LONDON LIKE A LOCAL p68 STAR STAYCATIONS p74 WHATSON.AE | OCTOBER 2022 65

TRAVEL // SEYCHELLES Words: Miles Buckeridge

Sey less Why there’s more to a stay in the Seychelles

I

f you’re looking for a luxury island getaway in the Indian Ocean there are probably three potential destinations for your castaway hit list. What follows is the case for you to Sey yes, to the Seychelles.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we submit to you that this African archipelago offers the best of both worlds. It enjoys the diverse multiisland allure traditionally sought in the Maldives, but anchors the experience with a compelling historic, cultural hub of the sort seen on Mauritius. It doesn’t peacock with manufactured feathers, there’s no pretense or pomposity – Seychelles is an authentic brand of paradise, made purer by its rough, rustic edges.

It’s not just for honeymooners and destination weddings. At only a four-hour flight, Seychelles is within longweekend range for UAE holiday-makers, and There’s an isle for everyone. Out of its collection of 155 islands, Mahé once there you can head straight for the familiar is undeniably the granddaddy. Despite being just 25kms long, it’s the five-star luxury of a beachfront resort, or choose largest of the archipelago, contains the capital (Victoria) and the airport something a bit more rugged and adventurous. you’ll likely fly into. Car rental is affordably priced and provides a Take the high road for jungle-bound exploration convenient way to stitch together touristic mainland gems (though the of the verdant Jurassic Park peaks, whose serpentine routes up and down the green mountainous interior often contours come complete with giant reptiles require some of that steely SZR grit). There are coral reefs on the east (though these ones, Aldabra tortoises, are on coast that make for great snorkelling; rum distilleries; fantastic fish chilli a strictly vegan diet). Or opt for the low road, at Leo’s Burger Bus at Beau Vallon; markets; coco de mer plantations; tracing crystal coastlines by kayak or mask-andand spice gardens. About an hour’s ferry ride off Mahé, visitors to flipper.

Praslin praise its network of beaches and nature reserves. Meanwhile La Digue offers scenic bike rides, and more opportunities to flex your PADI license; and then there’s Silhouette Island...

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Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa If family-friendly, eco-conscious, seclusion is amongst your wildest wander-list whims, Hilton’s Labriz on Silhouette Island will cast a pointed shadow over your internal compass. Like a row of emerald talons rising up from the ocean, the tropical island’s interior – dense, steep and mysterious – limits development to the extent that, around it, you’ll only find two resorts, a village of Seychellois locals and a complete absence of cars. Labriz’s charms are partly found in that microcosm of sedate island life, created by the geographic restrictions, but also in its low-impact construction; beach villas that are a grain-top trot from azure seas; a torqued-up kid’s club; seductive spa; eight bars and restaurants, including Grann Kaz – a converted 1800s dwelling that doubles as a heritage museum and serves killer creole curries; and a marine expedition centre that caters to all levels – Jasmine, who lead our snorkelling safari, pointed out sea turtles, sharks, scissor tails and a bashful unicorn fish.

Rates from around Dhs1,452 per night. hilton.com

FACTFILE Money: Though the official currency is the Seychellois Rupee, both Euros and US Dollars are commonly accepted by most businesses.

When to go: The transition months of March to May and October to November are peak season. But truly, there is no bad time to visit.

Language: English is widely spoken, along with French and Seychellois Creole (a French-based local language).

Getting there: direct flights are available with Emirates and Etihad.

Mango House Seychelles LXR On the southern stiletto tip of Mahé sits a special 41-room, luxury hotel converted from the former home of Italian photographer, Gian Paolo Barbieri. Mango House overlooks the Assouline-worthy Anse a la Mouche Bay, a Lake Como of the tropics, with a structural embrace that leads from hillside to pristine beach. The hotel’s design pays homage to both Barbieri’s keen eye for chic organic framing and the island’s heritage, and packages it with grandstand architecture in glass and stone that blends with its stunning surroundings. It has a pair of privately accessed plages, naturally hemmed by boulder mounds; a watersports hub you’d be well advised to borrow a kayak from; a restaurant lineup that includes the inspirational Italian, Muse, slicing some of the best Neopolitan pizza on the island; Azido – an all-star sushi spot, and the celebration of local creole cuisine that is Moutya. Its strongest sales pitch though, comes from its indefatigable views, available from literally every angle, but best enjoyed from the balcony of your own sea view chambre.

Rates from around Dhs1,875 per night. hilton.com WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 67

TRAVEL // LONDON Words: Alice Holtham

LONDON LIKE A LOCAL:

MAKE FOR

Away from the big-hitting attractions, there are enclaves in the British capital that are typically reserved for those in the know. Marylebone, is one such treasure, with its picturesque high street and rich history, it offers a slower side to the city that feels worlds away from the typical tourist traps. Here’s how to do it right …

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Third Space

STAY

Entrance Cocktail Bar

Style-packed and oh-so-charming, The Marylebone Hotel is a gorgeous London address for when you’re looking for a boutique feel with five-star hospitality. The whole aesthetic – think warm colours, clashing prints and fashionable design touches – makes you feel as though you’ve stepped into the home of a rich, avantgarde uncle as much as a fashionable hotel in the heart of W1.

Amongst the array of guest room categories, the top-tier suites are worth splashing out on for their spacious living areas, bay windows that gaze down onto the cobbled streets below, and pleasant colour palettes of burnt orange and teal blue. Marble bathrooms, with underfloor heating that feels like a foot hug and stocked with Malin+Goetz amenities, get another big thumbs up.

There’s lots of lovely extra touches too, like a Nespresso machine in the mini bar, a mirror that doubles up as a smart TV, and 108 Brasserie retro radios that add to the style as much as the substance.

The Cocktail Bar off the lobby downstairs, where drinks draw The facilities on-site are impressive, inspiration from the nostalgic feelings that come with the and it’s easy to while away an entire changing seasons. There’s even a verdant covered terrace, which afternoon in a snug corner of jewelwe gaze at enviably during a chilly winter afternoon, willing to hued and well-stocked drinking den return in the balmy British summer.

Hotel guests also benefit from access to stylish Third Space, a state-of-the-art fitness facility on-site, where you’ll find an 18-metre lap pool, sauna and gym offering unrestricted use.

What sets this address, part of the well-regarded Doyle Collection, apart is the thoughtful hospitality demonstrated by every member of the team. From the in-the-know concierge, onhand to snag reservations and direct you to the best boutiques on the nearby high street; to the guest relations team, who arranged a gin and tonic turn down upon learning it was our favourite tipple, special touches ensure every guest has a personalised stay.

Rates start from Dhs2,307 for a one-night stay with breakfast. doylecollection.com/the-marylebone-hotel Deluxe Room

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TRAVEL // LONDON

DINE The Orrery Serving up classic French fare in the heart of Marylebone, The Orrery has turned a converted stable block into a sought-after eatery. The space is made up of a naturally lit and smartly dressed dining room with adjacent bar, and a lovely terrace for guests to enjoy in the warmer months. The menu, overseen by Chef Patron Igor Tymchyshyn is a concise a la carte offering for lunch and dinner, or guests can enjoy a six-course menu, which changes seasonally, for Dhs580. @the_orrery

The Orrery

Carlotta From personality-packed Big Mamma Group, behind some of London’s most Instagrammable eateries comes Carlotta. One of the newer additions to the brand’s ever-impressive portfolio of restaurants, which already includes Gloria, Ave Mario and Circolo Poplare, their Marylebone iteration is an intimate Italian trattoria.

Home to a menu of Neapolitan and Sicilian classics that have been given an Americano twist, the splashy and rich interiors are matched by a menu of decadent eats, like the truffle fettuccine, made to order for two. @bigmamma.uk

Lavo London

Carlotta

108 Brasserie

108 Brasserie

Lavo London

At the meetings of Marylebone and Soho, Lavo London is an ode to the charming Italian coast in the heart of the British capital. From TAO Group, behind Dubai venues Hakkasan and Ling Ling, Lavo is a dual culinary experience: a sophisticated first floor eatery flooded with natural light complete with fireside terrace, and a more sultry and intimate downstairs dining room adorned with stylish art. Both serve up a menu of signature dishes that include a zesty lemon-infused tagliatelle with sweet butter and caviar, a showstopping meatball dish adorned with whipped ricotta, and a don’t-countthe-calories 20-layer chocolate cake. @lavolondon 70 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

Opening from the cobbles of Marylebone Lane, 108 Brasserie is a chic eatery that shouldn’t be missed on a trip to this corner of the city. Warm and inviting, it’s smartly adorned in crimson leather and velvets, a textural space with antique mirrors and interesting artworks that are kitsch and cool. By day, it’s a relaxed spot where business meetings go on over freshly baked pastries and plates of cooked-to-order eggs, while afternoons that turn to evenings by the bar are fuelled by creatively concocted cocktails. For dinner, global cuisines that showcase the freshest local ingredients form the basis of an all-pleasing menu. @108marylebonelane

DO

The Wallace Collection

Daunt Books Leisurely strolls dipping in and out of the myriad boutiques and independent stores that dot Marylebone High Street is an essential part of any Marylebone itinerary.

And an essential stop should be Daunt Books, an Edwardian bookshop that specialises in travel books.

Get lost in the rows of long oak galleries filled with books designed to inspire you to traverse every corner of the globe – even if it’s just through their vivid narratives. @dauntbooks

The Wallace Collection

Wigmore Hall Venice by Richard Parkes Bonington

Daunt Books

Marylebone Farmers Market

Wigmore Hall

On Sundays, St Vincent Street comes alive with the bustle of market traders all haggling for the best price on their homegrown produce. A flagship farmers market in the capital, there’s always something new to discover, with seasonal fruit and vegetables the main form of currency. In the winter months, that typically means root vegetables and wild garlic, but you’ll also be able to pick up fish direct from British fishermen and meat from local butchers. @londonfarmersmarkets

With a history dating back to 1901, this Victorian concert hall is grand and historic, but still feels intimate and cosy. With seating for 550, it specialises as a chamber music venue, but the diverse programming of some 500 annual events also now features everything from Renaissance to contemporary jazz and commissions from some of modern music’s most exciting composers. This February, highlights include Leipzig 300: Marking the 300th Anniversary of Bach’s Appointment in Leipzig on February 9, and The African Concert Series on February 17. @wigmore_hall

Fine and decorative arts take centre stage at this grand national museum. Built over the 18th and 19th centuries, the storied building is as much a part of the experience as the impressive collection of permanent and visiting exhibitions. Dazzling sculptures, paintings and decorative artworks from the 14th right through to the 19th century can all be enjoyed here, with pieces by by artists such as Titian, Velázquez, Rubens and Van Dyck all on display.

Until April, The Wallace Collection welcomes Turner and Bonington: Watercolours from the Wallace Collection, a oneroom odyssey of ten works from J.M.W Turner (1775 – 1851) and Richard Parkes Bonington (1802 – 1828) that take you from the rolling Yorskhire Dales to the grand canals of Venice. @wallacemuseum

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WIN!

A DHS1,500 VOUCHER FOR PAMPERING AT LUXE AESTHETICS MEDICAL CLINIC From fully body lymphatic massages to hydracool facials, February is the month to look after you and Luxe Aesthetics Medical Clinic is making it all possible with the chance to win a Dhs1,500 voucher. There are a range of treatments to choose from when booking in your pamper session at this luxe clinic at The Galleria in Jumeirah, like skin resurfacing, facials and even hair treatments. The sessions will be fully supported by medical doctors, ensuring your safety and satisfaction throughout the process. The clinic provides a range of cosmetic, aesthetic, and reconstructive treatments, offering small procedures that promise big results. T&Cs Apply

For your chance to win, go to whatson.ae/win

WIN!

DELIGHTFUL DINNERS AT VIETNAMESE FOODIES You decide how you spend Dhs1,500 of vouchers for perennially popular Vietnamese Foodies. Thinking of taking a big group of your best mates to Vietnamese Foodies for some pho? Or maybe you’re after a few intimate dinners with that special someone. February

is the perfect time to do so. Valued at Dhs1,500 you’re invited to enjoy multiple visits or one big blow out – the choice is yours. There are a range of branches to choose from so pick your location and be sure to order the chicken pho.

T&Cs Apply

For your chance to win, go to whatson.ae/win 72 FEBRUARY 2024 | WHATSON.AE

WIN!

A BOTTOMLESS DIM SUM BRUNCH AT TÀN CHÁ FOR YOU AND SEVEN FRIENDS Sundays are always more fun when you have unlimited dim sum on your foodie agenda. Featured in the Michelin Guide, this Chinese restaurant at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai is offering you and seven friends the chance to experience an array of delightful dim sum at their unlimited Sunday soirée. Featuring great tunes, and endless fun for everyone who could say no to three hours of incredible flavours? T&Cs Apply

For your chance to win, go to whatson.ae/win

WIN!

ONE OF THREE VOUCHERS FOR ORGANIC FOODS AND CAFÉ VALUED AT DHS500 Here to help you keep on track with your healthy eating habits, Organic Foods and Café are offering 3x Dhs500 vouchers to use on their handpicked produce. From fresh fruit and vegetables to meats and dairy products, and of course organic treats and eats as well, this is your invitation to keep the cupboards stocked without spending a Dirham.

Spend your voucher in the supermarket and make the most of a keeping up with the new year, better health mantra. T&Cs Apply

For your chance to win, go to whatson.ae/win WHATSON.AE | FEBRUARY 2024 73

TRAVEL // STAYCATION SPOTLIGHT Words: Alice Holtham

DUBAI:

THE LANA For its 10th property worldwide, Dorchester Collection debuts the long-awaited The Lana in Business Bay this month. The striking 30-storey tower houses 225 ultra-luxury guest rooms – 125 of them suites – which ooze contemporary-chic with triple height ceilings, plush furnishings in gold, beige and olive and deep-soaking bathtubs. The Lana will be a foodie playground with eight dining concepts to tuck into. These include Michelin-lauded chef Martín Berasategui’s debut Middle Eastern restaurant, Jara, which promises a bold menu of the finest Basque recipes; and acclaimed French chef Jean Imbert’s dazzling Mediterranean restaurant, Riviera. Hotel guests will also be able to take a short and scenic boat ride from the Business Bay Marina to One at Palm Jumeirah, also operated by Dorchester Collection, where they can access the soon-to-open LAVITA beach club.

Rates from Dhs3,900. dorchestercollection.com

Getaway goals From Fujairah’s sun-drenched coastline to a luxe address in Business Bay, there’s a trio of stunning addresses opening in the UAE this February…

ABU DHABI:

ANANTARA SANTORINI Nestled on the unassuming waterfront between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a former royal home has been transformed into a paradisiacal Grecian-inspired retreat in Ghantoot. Welcoming guests from the middle of February, this gorgeous beachfront property is a boutique resort of just 22 keys. Retreat from the towering skylines of the city to a low-lying resort that features secluded suites with an oceanic aesthetic and sun-drenched terraces, its own stretch of sand, an outdoor pool and around-the-clock butler service. Get pampered at the Anantara Spa, catch a film at the private cinema, or dine on the shorefront with picture-perfect sea views. Bliss.

Rates from Dhs2,610. anantara.com

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FUJAIRAH:

NAÄMA BEACH VILLAS & SPA Unrolling against the backdrop of the Hajar mountains and west coast of the Indian Ocean on Fujairah’s East coast, Naäma Beach Villas & Spa is a stunning new staycation spot opening this month.

Just up the road from Dubai’s beloved Sandy Beach Resort, it comes with picture-perfect views of Snoopy Island, ensuring this will no doubt become a treasured spot for snorkelling and diving enthusiasts. Ideal for romantic retreats for two as well as big group getaways, the villas are finished in calming shades of caramel and cream, and will range in size from single to multi-bedroom, and all come with private pools. To cater to guests’ every whim, dedicated butler service will ensure every stay is five star.

Rates TBC. naamavillas.com

STAYCATION TO PERFECTION AT KEMPINSKI HOTEL MALL OF THE EMIRATES Book your stay at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates and take advantage of the exclusive residents staycation offer

SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION

+971 4 341 0000 | reservations.malloftheemirates@kempinski.com

SOUP SEASON IS HERE! Warm your soul with our steaming Pho noodle soup of 14 hour shimmering bone broth for gut health and immunity this winter season.

Award winning Asian restaurant offering Vietnamese cuisine at different locations in Dubai.