Get your calendars out – exhilarating adventures, brunch and culture await.
Another scorching weekend is here, but Dubai’s indoor scene is more than ready to take the heat off. From a milestone pizza celebration to an immersive gastro-theatre evening and a fresh brunch, this weekend’s line-up proves there’s no shortage of ways to stay cool, curious and thoroughly entertained. Whether you’re after a luxe staycation, a MICHELIN-starred tasting menu, or simply a slow Sunday morning, here’s where to be in Dubai this weekend.
Friday 8 August
Check into The Lana for an urban escape
Kick off the weekend with a stylish two-night staycation at The Lana – Dorchester Collection. Overlooking the tranquil waters of Marasi Bay, this architectural landmark pairs sleek contemporary interiors with floor-to-ceiling vistas of Downtown Dubai. Take advantage of the resident staycation offer, featuring room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and dining savings. Spend your afternoon lounging by the rooftop pool at High Society, indulge in charcoal grills at Jara by Martín Berasategui or sun-drenched Mediterranean fare at Riviera, and soak in evening skyline views from your balcony. It is the ultimate city reset designed for those who appreciate understated elegance.
Where: The Lana, Dorchester Collection, Business Bay, Dubai
Contact: www.dorchestercollection.com
Indulge in a 12-course meal at Row on 45
Elevate your Friday night dinner plans with an extraordinary epicurean journey at Row on 45, perched atop Grosvenor House in Dubai Marina. Helmed by acclaimed Chef Jason Atherton, this exclusive 22-guest dining sanctuary delivers a masterfully crafted 12-course tasting menu. Unfolding across three distinct residential-style settings, moving seamlessly from the Champagne Lounge to the Main Dining Room and concluding in the Chef’s Library, it offers an intimate feast. Highlights include standout courses like the delicate Hokkaido scallop and exquisite A5 Saroma Wagyu.
Where: Row on 45, Grosvenor House Dubai, Dubai Marina, Dubai
When: Daily from 6pm
Contact: www.rowon45dubai.com
Marvel at world-class theatre with La Perle
Dive into an evening of captivating visual storytelling with La Perle by Dragone at Al Habtoor City. Masterminded by the late legendary director Franco Dragone, Dubai’s enduring aqua theatre production merges high-octane acrobatics, aerial choreography, and dramatic aquatic displays inside a custom-built 270-degree arena. Watch in awe as world-class performers dive from heights of 25 metres into a central pool filled with 2.7 million litres of water, creating an unmissable indoor spectacle. Enhance your theatre night by pairing your ticket with a curated dinner package at one of Al Habtoor City’s signature fine dining venues. AED 259 per person.
Where: La Perle by Dragone, Al Habtoor City, Business Bay, Dubai
When: Daily at 6.30pm and 9pm
Contact: www.laperle.com
Saturday 9 August
Celebrate a decade of iconic slices at Pitfire Pizza
Mark a milestone moment in Dubai’s dining scene as Pitfire Pizza celebrates 10 years of serving up its famed handcrafted pies. Neither strictly Neapolitan nor purely New York, Pitfire has carved out a cult following for its signature 72-hour slow-fermented crusts. Gather your favourite crowd this Saturday to toast to ten years of dough-tossing excellence. Tuck into iconic menu staples like Bill’s Special, loaded with Italian sausage, mushroom, red onion, and parsley, paired with their irresistible garlic knots and house-made potato chips.
Where: Multiple locations including JLT and JVC
When: Daily from 11am to 12am
Contact: www.pitfirepizzabakers.com
Recharge with a Parisian wellness escape
Slow down mid-weekend with a luxurious summer wellness retreat at Guerlain Spa, hidden within One&Only The Palm. Surrounded by quiet gardens and secluded courtyards, this serene sanctuary pairs traditional Parisian beauty treatments with holistic wellbeing. Indulge in a signature soothing massage or facial, relax in private hammam suites, and enjoy peaceful access to the resort’s private pool. It provides the ultimate, serene Saturday reset far removed from the summer heat.
Where: One&Only The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Daily from 10am to 9pm
Contact: www.oneandonlyresorts.com
Savour the Greek summer at GAIA
Transport your taste buds to the Aegean coastline as GAIA unveils its new seasonal summer menus, Mesimeriano and Deípno. Rooted in Greek traditions of generosity and warmth, these curated dining experiences bring a breezier take on Mediterranean gastronomy in DIFC. Opt for a midday escape featuring crispy calamari scattered with padron peppers, sea bream grilled to a delicate char and finished with lemon oil, and warm loukoumades drizzled in honey and cinnamon, or settle in for an elegant evening dinner with a watermelon salad tossed with feta, mint and almonds, charcoal-grilled beef skewers served alongside tomato and shallots, and a delicate filo mille feuille layered with vanilla cream and pistachio. AED 125 per person for the Mesimeriano menu and AED 260 per person for the Deípno menu.
Where: GAIA, Gate Village 4, DIFC, Dubai
When: Saturday lunch from 12.30pm, and dinner from 6.30pm
Contact: https://gaia-restaurants.com
Sunday 10 August
Savour Spanish flavours at Barrafina
Gather around the table for an authentic taste of Spain at Barrafina in DIFC as they launch their brand-new Paella Sunday Brunch. Designed for relaxed Sunday afternoons, guests can enjoy unlimited sharing tapas including pan con tomate, padron peppers, cecina tostada, and crispy fried whitebait, followed by a choice of signature seafood, chicken, or vegetarian paella. Add free-flowing sangria to complete this vibrant Spanish feast, a welcome departure from Dubai’s usual bottomless-brunch formula. AED 250 per person, with optional free-flow sangria for AED 100 per person.
Where: Barrafina, Gate Village, DIFC, Dubai
When: Sunday from 1pm to 4pm
Contact: www.barrafina.com
Start your morning Chalco’s Cantina
Ease into the weekend’s final morning at Chalco’s Cantina, tucked along Dubai Marina Walk, where Sundays call for a slower pace. Chef Alonso serves up authentic Mexican morning classics, with red or green chilaquiles or cheese or egg enchiladas both served with beans, or a heartier carne asada breakfast with eggs, beans, rice, and tortillas. Every meal includes complimentary coffee, traditional horchata, or jamaica. Elevate your morning with an optional drinks package running until evening, featuring mimosas, micheladas, or Bloody Marys, prosecco, or a bucket of beer. AED 59 for the chilaquiles or enchiladas, AED 69 for the carne asada breakfast, and AED 125 for the drinks package.
Where: Chalco’s Cantina, Marina Walk, Dubai Marina, Dubai
When: Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Drinks package until 5pm
Contact: www.chalcoscantina.ae
Unwind at The Mud House Studio
Escape the Sunday summer heat with a hands-on creative session at The Mud House Studio in Al Quoz. This serene ceramic hub offers weekend pottery workshops where beginners and seasoned creatives can master wheel-throwing or hand-building techniques. Guided by expert instructors, you will shape your own bespoke stoneware mugs or decorative bowls to take home. It is a tactile, mindful Sunday activity designed to spark creativity in an inspiring industrial setting.
Where: The Mud House Studio, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, Dubai
When: Sunday from 10am to 8pm
Contact: www.themudhousestudio.com