Dubai Mall

Downtown Dubai / 362 7500 / daily from 10am / thedubaimall.com

Grab a compass and head for the largest mall in the world. Take the fun-for-the-fam showpiece Aquarium / G/F G7 / 448 5200 / thedubaiaquarium.com / with walk-through tunnel and underwater zoo; Dubai Ice Rink / C5; Galeries Lafayette / GF C8-9 / 339 9933; and Bloomingdale’s / G/F K9 / 350 5333 / as orientation points as you meander around the mind-boggling number of shops and cafés. Ditch the kids at KidZania (a munchkin sized mini city) / 2F A3 / 448 5222, then take refuge at Carluccio’s / LG/F H2 / (see Rest./Relaxed) or Wafi Gourmet (see Lunch). Next, head to Fashion Avenue to shop brands like Tom Ford and cutting edge designer den Symphony / 330 8050 / symphony.ae. If that doesn’t whet your whistle, dive feet first into Level Shoe District for wall-to-wall designer clobber plus podiatry heaven Sole Lounge by Margaret Dabbs / 501 6688 / and the Vogue Café / levelshoedistrict.com. Other standout stores include Candylicious / G/F F6 / 330 8700, a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-like experience for grown-ups and little ’uns; Book World (see V. Useful); and Marami / GF F3 / 434 3536 / for int’l jewellery and bag brands.