ABU DHABI
Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE
Cheeky, beachy, just a little bit freaky — famed entertainment hotspot Blue Marlin in Abu Dhabi (pictured above) returns whatever you throw at it in spades. Whether you book a beach bed on the shore, a couch to catch the entertainment, or a shaded restaurant table with a view of all the goings-on, you can enjoy a sweet escape with your very own tribe. There’s food, drinks, shisha and more.
Details Saturdays from 1pm onwards. From Dh340. Call 056 113 3400
Viaggio in Italia Saturday Brunch
You may not be sitting in the shadow of Milan’s famous Duomo, but you can certainly channel the dolce vita over brunch at the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi’s Café Milano. Expect the classics but with a focus on a different region of Italy each week, you can enjoy a Mediterranean escape that leaves you recharged for the week ahead.
Details Saturdays, 12pm to 4pm. From Dh200++; Call 02 333 2630
Saturday Brunch at Dino’s Bistro Italiano
So much that’s good about Italy revolves around the family, which is presumably why the new Pearl Rotana Abu Dhabi has put the focus of its weekend brunch at Dino’s Bistro Italiano on la famiglia. With a selection of signature antipasti, freshly made pasta and wood-fired pizzas plus unlimited beverages and signature mixes, you’re in for a treat at this new brunch, come March.
Details Every Saturday from 12pm to 4pm, with a top price of Dh215 for the Planet of the Grapes package, which includes bubbly. Call 02 307 5555
DUBAI
Candypants Ladies Day Pool Party
Oh yes, it’s Ladies’ Day! Who cares if the song doesn’t quite work, we’ll take any excuse to hang by the pool and eat, drink, dance and dip while taking in a sun-soaked skyline! As if that isn’t enough, the team behind the awesome Candypants brings a Catwalk in the Sky to its newest weekend party at the Five Palm Jumeirah.
Details Saturdays 12 noon to 5pm. Prices for ladies range from Dh149 (drinks only) to Dh349 (including priority seating, Italian bubbles and a food platter), while gents must spend a minimum of Dh249. Call 04 455 9999
BBQ Nights at QD’s
What can you do with a piece of meat? The answer depends on where you come from. Happily, you won’t have to travel the world as six different cuisines are served right here in Dubai at QD’s, over at the Dubai Creek Resort, complete with a view of the city’s skyline.
Details Every Saturday from 5pm onwards. Dh135 per plate. Call 04 295 6000
Latitude’s Authentically American Saturday Brunch
The USA’s politics may well be divisive, but thankfully, its food finds favour with people all over the world. With smoked sliders, sweet potato chips, chicken wings, stuffed jalapeños, beef brisket and of course the classic hamburgers, you could do a lot worse than take your mates to this Jumeirah Beach Hotel hotspot, where the beverages are unlimited. Just don’t talk politics.
Details Latitude, Saturdays from 1pm. From Dh275. Call 04 432 3232
Paella and Tapas Lunch
Reams have been written about the glorious ways proteins and carbohydrates marry well together, but the Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina’s El Sur restaurant believe paella tops the charts. The Valencian classic forms the centrepiece of a meal of Spanish gastronomy that includes a jug of gazpacho and tapas such as a selection of Iberian charcuterie, padrón peppers, wrinkly potatoes and croquettes.
Details Saturdays, 12.30 to3.30pm, from Dh265. Call 04 399 7700
