Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Mall… While visiting Dubai, you can’t miss them. Millions of tourists came here every year to take a selfie with the famous ‘sail’ in the background. What about less popular Dubai attractions? Of course, Dubai has much much more to offer than the most famous tourist spots. I strongly encourage you to spend time in less obvious spots… You will have a chance to feel the vibes of this cosmopolitan city, skilfully flirting with Arabic past. Let us share with you our 7 secret places in Dubai, less popular Dubai attractions, where you will spend fabulous time!
OUR FAVOURITE LESS POPULAR DUBAI ATTRACTIONS
1. BEST DESSERT IN DUBAI
You don’t need to fly to New York to feel like the characters from “Sex and the City ‘ TV series. You may find world-famous Magnolia Bakery in lower ground floor in Dubai Mall, in Bloomingdale’s department store…! Just drop by while visiting this shopping center. Their banana pudding is the best dessert in the world for me and it’s just le-gen-da-ry! Perfect mix of vanilla, cream, bananas and biscuits… You just have to try this New York delicacy in such an unusual place 😉
Infamous banana pudding
ADDRESS: Lower Ground Floor. Dubai Mall, Financial Centre Road, Downtown Dubai
INFO: Magnolia Bakey Dubai Mall
2. BEST RESTAURANT IN DUBAI
Probably you are surprised that I recommend something non-Arabic, but the fact is – award-winning La Petit Maison, which serves French cuisine, is simply the best. It is extremely popular and we had to make a reservation 2-3 weeks in advance. I have to warn you that it isn’t a cheap option, but a meal here is a truly unique experience. If you are going to Dubai to celebrate some important event in your life, dining here is like a cherry on top of your holidays. The atmosphere isn’t snobby, you feel more like visiting someone for dinner in his Paris apartment. I recommend you especially tapenade made of olives, rigatoni with mushrooms, creamy potatoes gratin dauphinois and crème brulee – I can remember those flavors till now! Unfortunately, I was so preoccupied with food, that I didn’t take any photos. I hope I will visit Dubai and this restaurants soon! 🙂
ADDRESS: Gate Village No, 8, Dubai International Financial Center – Dubai
INFO: La Petit Maison
3. BEST CLUB IN DUBAI
Contrary to popular belief, Dubai has plenty of clubs, mainly aimed at wealthy clients. They drip with gold and crystals in Russian style, and table reservation may cost you thousands of euros. You may pay a visit to one of them just out of curiosity… If you are looking for a club with more relaxed atmosphere, I can recommend you Barasti. During the day it’s a restaurant, turning into club in the evening, where hundreds of people party straight on the beach. Barasti often guests best DJs in the world – David Guetta, ATB… The atmosphere is really great and very international thanks to hundreds of expats and tourists, parties here are as intense as in Ibiza. Clubs are definitely less popular Dubai attractions among tourists, but how cool! 🙂
During brunch in Al Qasr!
ADDRESS: Barasti, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina – Dubai
INFO: Barasti Beach Club
4. MOST INTERESTING GARDEN IN DUBAI
Under umbrellas in the Miracle Garden
Perhaps you have heard of it. Nowadays it’s becoming more and more popular (thank you, Instagramers!), so maybe shouldn’t be mentioned as less popular Dubai attractions… Anyway, Dubai Miracle Garden is the largest garden in the world, opened on Valentine’s Day in 2013. It spreads across 72 000 square meters and more than 109 million flowers were planted here. Is it the most beautiful one? Some may discuss. I visited Miracle Garden in the season when temperatures exceeded 40 C degrees already, and unfortunately most of the flowers were dead. For sure, it is a very interesting place, thanks to many extraordinary, sometimes surprising installations. I really liked the colorful umbrellas, which looked spectacular in the rays of the sun, while the big head and halves of Mercedes cars covered with geraniums… Well, make your own opinion. It doesn’t prevent the crowds of newly weds from taking their photo shoot here. A piece of advice – it is located in the outskirts and is hard to get a taxi heading back to Dubai!
Miracle Garden is maybe a little bit odd
ADRES: Al Barsha South 3, Barsha, Dubailand Area – Dubai
INFO: Miracle Garden
5. MOST INTERESTING CULINARY EXPERIENCE IN DUBAI
What slightly jaded expats do when the weekend comes? There is nothing better than a brunch! It’s a giant buffet based on the ‘all you can eat & drink’ principle, hotels and restaurants in Dubai organize it every Friday (weekend in the UAE is on Friday and Saturday). This is an excellent opportunity to catch up with friends, eat, then drink, talk, then drink again and after 4 pm, when the buffet closes, a weekend bar&club-crawling begins… Friday brunches are a kind of tradition among expats and definitely less popular Dubai attractions when it comes to tourists. The first time I participated, I had this image ‘the Roman Empire before the fall’ in my head. Glamour, glamour everywhere…
Dozens of live-cooking stations with sushi, tortilla, seafood, pizzas, Peking duck, curry, shish kebab, pad thai, drinks, hamburgers… Sweets are located in a large separate room. Seriously. It’s a nice option to meet with your friends, especially when alcohol is included in the price so it quickly pays off 🙂 I can especially recommend you the biggest Dubai brunch at Al Qasr hotel, which takes place in my favorite spot – Medinat Jumeirah. This is area full of hotels, which has been maintained in the old Arabic style. You will find here charming canals, with bars and restaurants on the banks, Arabic souk, theater but above all… an excellent view of the Burj Al Arab! At the entrance there is also…
Brunch goodies!
ADDRESS: Al Sufouh Road – Dubai
INFO: Al Qasr brunch
6. BEST PLACE FOR CAR-SPOTTING IN DUBAI
Yes, yes, many people come to Dubai for luxury cars hunting. Frankly speaking, modest white Toyotas are majority of cars here, but that’s true, you can often come across automotive gems as well. What is the easiest way to see them? Let put it that way. Where a guy drives a sport car to impress girls? To the club! haven’t seen so many Ferrari and Lamborghini cars anywhere else as in the evening in front of Pacha Club next to the entrance to Medinat. Some just get carried away with their excitement about cars – I remember girls from Russia, chasing after driver of Ferrari to let them take a picture inside… and then suddenly they completely forgot about it, when Lambo has arrived shortly afterwards 🙂
7. BEST DUBAI SKYLINE
If you wonder where is best spot to see the panorama of skyscrapers in Dubai, I can tell you about one place. You have to go on the famous island The Palm, till its very end. Nearby the well-known ‘hotel with a hole’ Atlantis, there is Nasimi Beach. Very cool place to relax, where you can spend the whole day on the beach, sipping drinks straight from coconut and admiring Dubai’s skyline. Another less popular Dubai attractions to add to your list!
ADDRESS: Atlantis, The Palm – Ground Level, West Beach, Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah – Dubai
INFO: Nasimi Beach
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July 26, 2017 at 17:39[…] The recently inaugurated artificial water canal is an attempt by the Dubai government to further its economy, by creating more tourism and financial hotspots. The canal is 3km long all the way from business bay to the Persian Gulf. Currently the canal has been opened but the development along its banks is yet to begin. The canal is known for the iconic bridge above it offers a great view of the Dubai skyline – but of course don’t forget to check out some of these less popular Dubai attractions! […]