Living as an expat in the UAE without your family close by (or even in the same time zone) can be lonely, and that’s why your friends become your family and closest confidants. We suggest that you take this opportunity – it’s International Friendship Day tomorrow! – to salute your besties and high-five their awesomeness with a proper celebration. Here are six ideas to get you started.
Friendship and Brunches Go Hand-in-Hand
CMP Bar & Grill
Treat your bestie to bottomless drinks and an all-American style brunch at CMP Bar & Grill, which serves yummy breakfast dishes from traditional cheddar biscuits to short-rib Benedict coupled with bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas.
CMP Bar & Grill, The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, 04 580 7983, www.cmprestaurants.com, every Friday and Saturday 11am-3pm, from AED 95
Girlfriends are the Wind Beneath Our (Buffalo) Wings
Berri’s Abu Dhabi
If you and your BFF enjoy nothing more than stuffing your faces, we have the perfect way to celebrate your friendship! This weekend, the celeb fave from LA (Gigi Hadid loves the lobster pizza) is giving away a free side of its lip-smacking buffalo wings with every main course. Gigi whizz!
Berri’s Abu Dhabi, Al Muneera Plaza, Abu Dhabi, 02 643 9555, www.berris.ae, free chicken wings from July 29-31, 12pm till late
Your Best Friend Is TEA-riffic!
Yava Dubai
Why not pretend that you and your BFF are on holiday together, courtesy of Yava’s limited-edition afternoon tea? With its playful nod to the Mediterranean, you tuck into teatime treats like pistachio-orange cake and lemon-mint mousse – all coupled with an extensive tea menu, of course. This one’s a tip-top place to toast your girly friendship.
Yava, Wasl 51, AED 150 for 2 people, 055 129 9655, afternoon tea available daily from 3pm-6pm all summer
One for Your BFF, One for You
Halo Halo
What better reason to grab your bestie and get them to ditch all their other plans to hang out with you? Friends who dine at Halo Halo this International Friendship Day will get a buy one, get one free on all mains. You and your bestie can look forward to tucking into Asian delights such as weeping tiger beef rib-eye topped with garlic and scallion sauce, a light and crispy sweet and sour chicken, fresh mixed seafood bag, or panang goong curry with prawn, pineapple and tomatoes. Foodie friends forever!
Halo Halo, Edge Creek Hotel, Dubai, 04 597 6699, www.jannah-hotels.com, open daily 12pm-11pm
Support Local with Your Bestie
There Goes the Neighbourhood Market
This weekend, head to our favorite neighbourhood café and restaurant (fun fact: it is now licensed) and enjoy a weekend of true retail therapy because this is not your average market! There Goes the Neighbourhood will include a spoken word open mic, a sunset groove session, a conscious discussions podcast, and an incredible curated market of over 20 black-owned businesses as well as a tour of African street food.
There Goes the Neighbourhood market, One Life Kitchen & Café, Building 5, d3, 10am-10pm, July 30-31, @tgtnalternativemarket
The Doris Day to My Brigitte Bardot
SAUCE Diner
Whether you and your BFF are early birds or love a sleep-in, the retro-fabulous breakfast menu at SAUCE is the ultimate breakfast date! Expect to dine on hearty and wholesome dishes like Croiffle (a waffle made from homemade croissant dough and topped with honey and cream cheese) and a triple-layered pancake stack topped with strawberries, maple syrup, and whipped cream for sweet-toothed gals. So, wake up little Susie! This one’s worth leaving bed for.
SAUCE, Noora Tower, Al Habtoor City, 056 538 8388, breakfast served daily 8:30am-2pm, @saucedubai
