Gone are the days when we would take a flight of fancy every long weekend to visit one of the many amazing destinations around the world. To combat major FOMO (yes, we’ve caught ourselves browsing past vacay photos), we’ve found some fun and budget-friendly things to do around Dubai this Eid.
Puppy Love
Voted one of the most Instagrammable cafés in the world, Tania’s Teahouse is a cosy two-storey haunt where every nook and cranny is covered in quirky art and hilarious quotes. And the food is as fun as it is healthy. Unicorn toast – need we say more? Now, your four-legged friend can enjoy the café as well! There are doggie water bowls for your furry BFF to stay hydrated while you sip on bubble tea (our favourite) and enjoy the last of Dubai’s perfect weather.
Tania’s Teahouse, 779A Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim 2, 9am – 5pm, 04 324 0021, @taniasteahouse
Safe and Sparkly
From 9pm every night for the three days of Eid, Yas Island will be painting the sky of the capital with a stunning array of fireworks! Whilst in-person spectating won’t be permitted, you don’t have to miss out – simply livestream the whole show on Yas Island’s Instagram page. It’s like your very own personal socially distanced fireworks show. If you live in Abu Dhabi, why not head to one of many al fresco restaurants at Yas Island and experience the fireworks IRL?
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 9pm, All three days of Eid, @yasisland
Ready, Set, Drink
The best cocktails in the city? Check. Sunset cocktails? Check. Beach views? Check. MASTI at La Mer knows beverages. Don’t believe us? It has the largest gin collection in Dubai to prove it! Every Sunday to Thursday from 4:30pm – 7pm, enjoy MASTI Hour, which the contemporary Indian restaurant refers to as a “no bull” happy hour. There’s ‘Buy 1, Get 1 Free’ on all drinks (yes, cocktails included), so bring a friend and don’t fret when the bill arrives. We recommend asking for Jeet, the head bartender – his mixology skills will have you questioning everything you ever knew about cocktails!
MASTI, La Mer South, Happy Hour 4:30pm – 7pm, 800 MASTI, @mastidubai
Let the Games Begin
Looking for some late-night fun of the wholesome variety? We are loving this little hidden gem located in the Greens, Hive Board Game Café. From new age-y games to family favourites including Monopoly and Guess Who, the board game haven has it all alongside a fuss-free menu of sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, and freakshakes. There’s also a “game master” to help you out and ensure there’s no cheating involved – trust us, it will stop the fights! The best part? It’s super affordable to hang out and play: AED 15 for an hour, AED 25 for two hours, and AED 35 for unlimited time.
Hive Board Game, Onyx Tower The Greens, 04 323 2113, Sundays to Wednesdays, noon-midnight, Thursdays and Fridays, noon-2am, @hiveboardgamecafe
FOMO No More
You may have seen the newly opened Yava restaurant on your Instagram feed, serving some of the most mouthwatering dishes – but it’s the interiors we’re obsessed with! Between the neutral hues, dried flowers, earthy vases, and everything that screams the Mediterranean, this restaurant is a worth a visit if your wanderlust is through the roof.
Yava Restaurant, Wasl 51, 9am-1am, 04 548 5733, @yavadubai
But First, Coffee
Take a trip down memory lane to Old Dubai, courtesy of The Coffee Museum. With the end of Ramadan, we can now enjoy a much-needed cup of joe in the morning, and what better way to celebrate than learning all about coffee and the rich history it has in Arabic culture. It, of course, serves coffee and sells roasted beans, too – and not the Starbucks variety. We’re talking about fragrant, rich coffee that will have you hooked after just one sip! We’ll take two, thank you.
The Coffee Museum, Al Fahidi District, 9-5pm (not open Fridays), 04 353 8777, @coffeemuseum
New and Now
Call us biased, but we think Dubai has some of the best breakfast offerings in the world, so when homegrown café One Life Kitchen launched an all-new breakfast menu, our Eid plans were set. The new dishes include French toast, stacked pancakes, pulled beef benedict, homemade banana bread, and many more dishes that will have you in a food coma quicker than you can say “cheat day!”
One Life Kitchen, d3, 8am – 6pm, 04 513 4727 @onelifekitchen
The Great Escape
Take advantage of the cooler weather (well, cool for Dubai) before summer strikes, and take a trip to the great outdoors! Whether you have the hots for hiking or want to go one step further in your adventure and head to water pools, Ras Al Khaimah is where it’s at. Homegrown hiking company Adventurati Outdoor will take you and a group of fellow explorers to some of the UAE’s ultimate hidden gems.
You’ll be supplied with a helmet, life jacket, and food as you climb up mountains and down into the wet terrain. It’s a full day of adventure and perfect for anyone with medium fitness levels (if you can do a HITT or spin class, you will rock this challenge). Book fast as spots fill up on this unmissable adventure!
Adventurati Outdoor, @adventuratioutdoor
