Take things slow: Dubai's relaxed things to do and spots to know

Time Out Dubai

07-06-2025

When it comes to the biggest and the best, Dubai always comes out on top.
But what you might not know, is that there's a whole other side to the city that is all about laid-back living.
What seems like a world away from the sky-high restaurants, packed malls and all the glamour, lies everything from chilled beauty spots to foodie hangouts that have lasted the test of time.
If you like this: Your ultimate guide to every Dubai neighbourhood
So if you're searching for the 'other' side of the city for a day of easy-going plans, here's everywhere you need to check out.
Neighbourhoods to check out
Al Quoz
If you don't know the neighbourhood, this is the cool, edgy part of town. It's where the hipsters thrive, the coffee is incredible and the art galleries lurk around every corner.
Al Quoz is all about the art, from its yearly Quoz Arts Fest to the incredible galleries and even free exhibitions you can wander through all year round.
As most of these hip areas are, Al Quoz is known to be a very industrial neck of the woods too and some of the best coffee shops, Pilates studios and quirky shops are tucked up in between warehouses and factories.
There are padel courts galore, from Padel AE to Padel Pro UAE, or you can even rent out a football pitch for a quick game.
Al Satwa
A great spot for authentic Indian and Arabic dishes, you need to make the most of everything this neck of the woods has to offer.
Start by delving into the hummus at Chef Efranjyeh Café, or have a more elegant dinner on the Moonrise rooftop terrace in the shape of a stunning tasting menu.
In the cooler months, make the most of lounging around in Al Satwa Park, which boasts a huge green space for picnics plus a playground for the little ones.
Deira
Deira in the modern era (Credit: Shutterstock)
One of the oldest parts of Dubai, Deira has some serious character to love. This neighbourhood was once the centre of the city, and if you look at a map now, it'll show you just how much things have expanded over the last few decades.
For a slice of history take a wander through Al Seef and visit the Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood, before hopping on a fun (and cheap) abra ride across the creek.
Another iconic quality to Deira is the souks, offering literally everything from spices to gold. If you're thinking of a trip to the souks but aren't sure what to expect, check out our full guide to all of the Dubai souks here.
Karama
Located in the heart of Old Dubai, Karama is an iconic Dubai neighbourhood (and one of our favourites).
It might not be huge, but this little rectangle of Dubai packed with incredible culture, flavours and things to do. It's a must-visit for residents and tourists alike.
There's a treat around every corner in this neighbourhood – whether it's a freshly fried samosa or an Insta-worthy mural.
For a bit of fresh air, take the whole brood to Karama Park for a picnic and a few games on the patch of green space. There are areas to play cricket and badminton, paths for sauntering, lanes of cycling and patches of grass that are perfect for an afternoon nap.
No visit to Al Karama is complete without a stroll up and down 18B Street either, so you can snap a photo or two of the incredible artwork pasted across the buildings.
Activities
Explore the galleries of Alserkal Avenue
A street nestled into Al Quoz, Alserkal Avenue is a hub for all things artistic, and there are heaps of free galleries to wander around. Showcasing work from both local and international artists, you can check out everything from sculptures to portraits.
There's an eclectic mix of stores on these streets too, where you can browse everything from sage to clothing and fresh veggies.
Ready for a day out on the avenue? Dive into our full guide here.
Chill at Kite Beach
Trendy cafés and gourmet food shacks; a skate park, hanging rope obstacle course, human slingshot experience, long swathes of sand, 14km beach-side (for the most part) running track, options to go paddle boarding, water skiing, kayaking and of course kite surfing – consider that list just a taste of things to do at this beach.
Brilliant for adults, kids and everyone in between, Kite Beach may have grown its offerings at pace over the last few years but a real sense of character remains.
Street 5a, behind Jumeirah Beach Road, Umm Suqeim.
Take a class at SEVA
Visiting this vegan eatery, wellness centre and concept store feels like stepping into India's lost city of Hampi.
Plenty of trees, creepers and bushes flank the outdoor tables on either side, while indoors you'll find libraries, stone flooring, linen upholstery and furniture made of actual wooden bark.
There are a selection of classes every day of the week, from sound healing to yin yoga, meditation and even chakra balancing. Once you've finished your session, sit on a cushion on the grass outside and order the gluten free pancakes (trust us on this one).
Open daily 8am-10pm. Jumeirah Beach Road. sevaexperience.com (056 534 2899)
Visit the Shindagha Museum
(Credit: Supplied)
Get a bit of culture in this hotter months and visit the UAE's largest heritage site, where you can learn more about the tales of the first residents of Dubai Creek.
Get a flavour for Emirati life in years gone by, this museum is in a stunning location too looking out over the water.
Dhs20. Open daily 10am-8pm (last entry 7pm). Al Shindagha Museum, Al Shindagha. alshindagha.dubaiculture.gov.ae (800 33 222).
Watch a movie at Cinema Akil
Credit: Cinema Akil
The independent cinema showcases a range of films from around the world. With locations at Alserkal Avenue and the 25hours Hotel Dubai, you can checkout screenings of smaller-scale productions, classic flicks and powerful documentaries.
Grab the popcorn and check the monthly timetable to see what's new.
Timings vary. Alserkal Avenue and 25hours Hotel Dubai. cinemaakil.com.
Beauty spots
Dubai Creek Park
An oldie but a goodie. No roundup of the best parks in Dubai would be complete without mention of the grassy stalwart that is Dubai Creek Park. We love it for its pleasingly old-school feel, botanical gardens and fabulous views out over the water.
Kids adore exploring the various mini playgrounds, scooting, cycling or running through the acres of green space, and it's also a lush spot to bring a picnic blanket and chill out with a good book.
Open Sun-Wed 8am-10pm, Thu-Sat 8am-11pm. Um Hurair 2 (04 336 7633).
Hatta Dam
Outside of the city, the Hatta Dam is a well-known local trail for hiking and running, the perfect brief oasis of nature not far from home. Easily one of the most Instagrammed spots outside of the city, Hatta Dam truly is stunning.
There are plenty of hiking trails through the mountains, including up to the iconic Hatta sign (Hollywood, eat your heart out), or you can head out on the water in a boat.
If the views aren't enough for you, you can also visit Hatta Wadi Hub for water slides and other fun activities. This one is best to leave off the list if the weather is too hot, as shade may be hard to come by. Be sure to check before you head out.
Dubai. GPS: 24.784690498854793, 56.11380634772314.
Love Lakes
Another man-made attraction, the Love Lakes in Al Qudra has no doubt made it onto your Instagram feed plenty of times in the past.
The interlocked heart-shaped lakes even have trees next to them that spell out 'love', and were unveiled by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai in 2018.
There are jogging tracks here for those looking to stay active, or you can load up the car with all your favourite snacks and enjoy a good old barbecue here in the winter months.
Al Qudra, Dubai. GPS: 24.838759235141953, 55.40506148363732.
Mushrif Park
When we say Mushrif Park is big, we mean big. Covering some five sq km and encompassing a lush Ghaf-tree-lined forest teaming with wildlife, this place is a nature-loving, bird spotters dream.
That's not to say there isn't something for everyone though; we're talking an equestrian centre, running tracks and a really rather epic mountain bike track that opened late last year.
Dhs10 per car, Dhs3 per person. Open Sun-Wed, 8am-10pm, Thu-Sat, 8am-11pm.
Zabeel Park
Sprawling Zabeel Park has so much going for it that it runs the risk of putting Dubai's other parks in the (metaphorical) shade. As well as being home to all the usual park amenities – vast areas of grass, picnic and barbecue areas, a running track, playgrounds, restaurants and a boating lake.
Bring a picnic and laze around for an afternoon, or get a good game of frisbee going with the Dubai Frame as your backdrop.
Dhs5 entry. Open Mon-Thu 8am-10pm; Fri -Sun 8am-11pm. Zabeel District.
Restaurants
Al Ustad Special Kabab
The oldest restaurants in Dubai. Al Ustad Special Kabab. Credit: Twitter.com/SultanAlQassemi
Al Ustad Special Kebab, a renowned Iranian kebab house on Mankhool Street in Bur Dubai, has been a local favourite since its opening in 1978. Celebrated for its yoghurt-marinated chicken and mutton kebabs, it is one of Dubai's oldest restaurants and continues to impress with its flavourful skewers.
The family-run eatery, led by three brothers, is also known for its very funky interiors, featuring over 8,000 photos and memorabilia of celebrities and Dubai royalty. A highlight is the 'Special Kebab', marinated for hours and served with Iranian-style rice. Al Ustad offers authentic Iranian kebabs at affordable prices, making it a must-visit 46 years on.
Open Sat-Thu 11am-1pm, Fri 5.30pm-1am. Al Mussallah Road, Deira alustadspecialkabab.has.restaurant (04 397 1933).
Café Isan
Credit: Café Isan
One of the coolest spots in town and one of the best casual dining restaurants in Dubai, Café Isan is a top choice whenever you're in the mood for deliciously authentic Thai food. Dig into street food classics like spring rolls and chicken wings, as well as steaming, fragrant curries and flavour-packed stir-fries.
The vibes are super-chill, especially in winter when you can sit on the terrace and take in the sights of the surrounding JLT skyscrapers. The service is warm and friendly, while the drinks are affordable and the poptastic tunes add to the laid-back atmosphere.
Open Sun-Thu noon-midnight; Fri-Sat noon-2am. Armada Avenue Hotel JLT, Cluster P, JLT, cafeisan.co (058 529 1003).
Kokoro
In Dubai, there's nowhere doing handroll sushi at a more reasonable price than Kokoro. With its laid-back, quirky charm and rows of costumed rubber ducks dotted all over the venue.
A tiny restaurant squeezed into Alserkal Avenue, you can opt for a table or seat at the bar, where you can watch the fish being sliced and prepared to become your dinner.
If you're dining at the effortlessly cool street that is Alserkal Avenue, check out all out top suggestions here.
Open Sun-Wed noon-11.30pm,Thu-Sat noon-midnight. Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, eatkokoro.xyz
LahKee
A newer addition to Al Safa, walk-in and grab a window seat at the newly-opened pan-Asian restaurant, where you can tuck into classics (with a twist).
From gnocchi burrata in tteokbokki sauce to noodles with beef short ribs and caramelised toast with teriyaki sauce, make sure you go hungry.
Open daily noon-10pm. Park Complex, Al Safa, @lahkee8 (04 575 6183).
Ravi
The oldest restaurants in Dubai. Credit: Ravi Restaurant.
This Pakistani restaurant is definitely a Dubai institution. The unassuming eatery, which has been open for 46 years now, may lack the glamour of newer dining destinations in this city, but here you will find excellent food that will transport your taste buds from the middle of Satwa to the dusty streets of Lahore.
Thanks to its rich and flavour-packed affordable curries, dhals, biryanis and much more, Ravi has been right at the top of the Dubai food chain since 1978. Long may it reign.
Open daily from 5am-2am. Satwa, Dubai (055 334 5481).
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