Nancy Muennig
One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
When my friends are in town, I take them for a drink at… Pier 7. It’s in the heart of the Dubai Marina, with wonderful water views. There are seven floors and each has a different restaurant and lounge; I like O Cacti – it’s Mexican, and enjoying a sangria in its outdoor area is one of my favourite experiences. I also like Asia Asia for its beautiful ambience and drinks. The restaurant that best shows off Dubai is… At.mosphere, on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building. It has astonishing views of the Dubai Fountain and pretty much everything else. For a business meeting, I book a table at… La Petite Maison, in the heart of the Dubai International Financial Centre. It’s ideal for lunch or dinner and is quite popular with the corporate crowd due to its central location. The service is attentive. And a place that’s really popular with locals is… Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe, in Dubai Festival City, with its authentic Emirati dishes and Bedouin interiors. You can dine in a private tent with floor seating, which is very traditional. The naghar nashef, a cuttlefish dish, is a must-try. If you want a nightclub experience, go to… Cavalli Club, which is set over three levels and is one of the hottest nightclubs in Dubai. The interiors are as glamorous as its designer, Roberto Cavalli, and entertainment is provided by the best DJs in the business. And for the best coffee, I go to… Tom & Serg, with its industrial interior, casual atmosphere and specialty brews. One of the owners, Tom Arnel, is a chef from Melbourne so Australians would love the flat whites. For designer fashion, visit… The Dubai Mall. It’s home to just about every major fashion brand in the world. And for vintage shopping, the place to go is… The Odd Piece, a two-level gallery with a striking collection of decorative interior pieces, on Al Serkal Avenue. Also visit Garderobe, which is housed in a villa on Jumeirah Road, for a great selection of preloved clothes and accessories. For a romantic experience, couples should book… a treatment at Guerlain Spa at One&Only The Palm. It’s quite popular with locals who want to escape city life, particularly on the weekends. The best daytrip is… Abu Dhabi, an hourand-a-half’s drive away. Explore the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Mosque then ride the world’s fastest roller-coaster at the Ferrari World theme park. Make sure you visit the Emirates Palace hotel – I love their Arabic high tea. If you want a desert experience… there are lots of options. You could go for a camel ride or have dinner in the middle of the desert. But my favourite is riding a quad bike up and down the dunes. At some point you’ll probably fall off but it’s a lot of fun.