Dubai has been on our bucket list for a long time, and next month we finally have the opportunity to go! We found great flights: short (5 hours) and affordable ($500 for two people, roundtrip). Also, it is low tourist season in Dubai (because of the heat) so we can get fantastic deals on hotels and restaurants. We have seen rooms from luxury brands such as Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, St. Regis, and Sofitel selling for less than $200/night! Below are some of our plans for our dream trip to Dubai.
Part One: The Hotels
Sometimes we like to splurge on fancy accommodations, and Dubai is certainly the place to do so!
Our first hotel will be the Palace Downtown. It combines traditional arabesque architecture with sleek, modern elements. The hotel’s location cannot be beat. It is on Burj Khalifa Lake, so it has incredible views of The Dubai Fountain and the imposing skyscraper beyond. You can also walk to Dubai Mall, which is one of the largest shopping malls in the world.
Next, we plan to stay in a gorgeous Beaux-Arts-inspired castle on the banks of the Dubai Water Canal. Al Habtoor Palace is a magnificent structure with luxurious interiors. Guests will gape at the grand staircase, sparkling chandeliers, marble pillars, and plush furniture. The hotel has seven dining venues, a spa, a gym, and a swimming pool. Its comfortable rooms have perks such as deep soaking bathtubs, minibars, robes/slippers, and pillow menus.
Finally, we will head to Raffles The Palm Dubai. Given the extreme heat, it does not make sense to stay at a beach resort. But, we will get to see this impressive hotel by enjoying afternoon tea in its lobby bar, Blüthner Hall. We will nibble on finger sandwiches while we sit on red velvet sofas and gaze up at the dazzling gold-leaf-covered ceiling. We will also enjoy listening to classical music wafting from the hotel’s bespoke Blüthner Louis XIV grand piano.
Part Two: The Landmarks
Dubai has some iconic skyscrapers and landmarks. During our stay at the Palace Downtown hotel, we should be able to take some fantastic photos of the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Opera, Museum of The Future, and the Dubai Frame.
To capture the sail-inspired Burj Al Arab, we will grab a cocktail at Floor 24. This chic rooftop bar at the Jumeirah Beach hotel is known for its lovely views and tasty drinks.
When it comes to photographing the Palm Jumeirah, you want to get as high up as possible. One of the best places to snap pics of the archipelago of artificial islands is the Aura Skypool. You can book sunrise, morning, afternoon, or evening sessions at the fabulous infinity pool. While you swim, you can strike a pose at the trunk of the palm tree. If we have time, and are feeling adventurous, we may try to see Palm Jumeirah from the sky. You can book a tandem skydive with Skydive Dubai and your parachute will float directly over the islands.
Another fun activity in Dubai is visiting local markets. We plan to stop by the Dubai Spice Souk and Dubai Gold Souk. We can learn about local herbs/spices and then buy some (tax-free) gold bullion or jewelry.
Part Three: The Food
We have been based in Montenegro for a while — which is a country with no chain restaurants. As such, our trip to Dubai will involve a combination of fine dining, local cuisine, and chain eateries we miss from home such as Wendy’s, P.F. Chang’s, Texas Roadhouse, Pizza Hut, and The Cheesecake Factory.
When it comes to high-end restaurants, we always try to find a great steakhouse. Dubai has lots of options for meat eaters, but some of the top-rated places are Bull & Bear, Hunter & Barrel, and Rare. They all feature fine cuts of meat from around the world. Connoisseurs will appreciate that many of the menus note a steak’s marble score and feature deluxe varieties such as Kiwami Wagyu, Black Opal Wagyu, and Full Blood Wagyu.
One of the quirkiest menu items we found on our steakhouse search is actually a burger. The Meat Co. sells an Insta-worthy “100 Dollar Burger.” It consists of a full-blood Wagyu beef patty, caviar, shaved truffle, and a brioche bun covered in edible gold-leaf.
While we had steak on the brain, we decided to see if any restaurants in Dubai served entrecôte with Café de Paris sauce. Steak frites covered in a silky, butter and herb sauce is one of our favorite dishes in France. Fortunately, you can find the dish at Entrecôte Café de Paris in Dubai Mall.
Another favorite food item we have been missing is Nashville hot chicken. If you like your fried chicken to have that fiery flavor, you will be spoiled for choice in Dubai. Dave’s Hot Chicken, Nash Hot Chicken, Jailbird, and Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings are just a few of the options.
Smash burgers and lobster rolls are two of our favorite things. As luck would have it Dubai has a restaurant that serves both! According to its Instagram page, Double Like Burger & Lobster serves Dubai’s #1 rated Lobster Roll. You can choose from the Classic Lobster Roll with a creamy lemon butter sauce, the Truffle Lobster Roll, or the Spicy Sriracha Lobster Roll. You can fill your lobster roll with 60g, 80g, or 100g of Canadian lobster meat depending on how hungry you are. If you are still craving seafood, you should check out Wicked Crab. It offers shrimp and lobster rolls.
The burgers at Double Like Burger & Lobster look equally delicious. They make thinly smashed double Wagyu beef patties and you can choose from toppings such as bacon, pickles, truffle mushroom jam, jalapeños, and Japanese mayo. The restaurant is also known for its braised short rib burger.
Finally, we will not leave Dubai without trying some local Emirati cuisine. Perhaps even a camel burger? We are particularly excited to sample some Luqaimat: hot dumplings that resemble doughnut holes. They are typically topped with a sticky date sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. We love sticky toffee pudding in the UK, so we suspect the sticky date sauce will go down a treat!
We have done some initial planning, but would love to hear if you have any recommendations of things to do (or eat) in Dubai. Feel free to put suggestions in the comments.
If you are planning a vacation and want travel tips for other cities, we recommend reading our articles 24 Hours In Brussels: The Ultimate Guide, How To Eat Your Way Through Paris, and How To Spend 48 Hours In Barcelona, Spain.