
5 of the best restaurants in Dubai this week: May 12 to 15
Your cheat sheet for where to eat, drink, and vibe this week…
If your week revolves around where to eat, what to try, and where the vibe's at, consider this your cheat sheet to the best restuarants in Dubai right now. From live performances to new menus, these are 5 of the best restaurants in Dubai making midweek feel like the weekend. Send it to the group chat.
Here are 5 of the best restaurants in Dubai this week: May 12 to 15 SUSHISAMBA Dubai
What: For one night only, SUSHISAMBA Dubai presents an exclusive live performance by the Cubache Band, bringing the vibrant rhythms of Cuba to the Palm's highest sky bar and lounge. Expect an evening of hot salsa beats, Afro-Cuban son, and soulful Latin sounds, set against the glittering skyline.
Vibe: Vibrant, and a little wild.
Menu: Alongside the music, guests can enjoy SUSHISAMBA's signature dishes – from the iconic SAMBA Dubai Roll to plates designed for sharing. The new Fruteria do Brasil cocktail menu adds an innovative twist, featuring tropical flavours like Coconut & Pandan and Mango & Yuzu. For something bolder, the Signature Street Art Selection offers playful, vibrant cocktails inspired by Japan, Brazil, and Peru.
When: Wednesday, May 14, from 9pm.
Where: SAMBAROOM, SUSHISAMBA Dubai, The Palm Tower, Palm Jumeirah. To book, contact reservations@sushisambadubai.com. @sushisambadubai North Audley Cantine (NAC)
What: Beloved French bistro NAC is starting the new season with a brand-new breakfast menu and dishes across its brunch, daytime, and evening offerings. From eggs every way to indulgent desserts and a few lighter plates, there's now even more reason to make NAC your go-to, whether you're starting early or staying late.
Vibe: Chic but chilled out, NAC brings its London charm to Al Safa with a buzzy crowd, laid-back beats, and comfort food.
Menu: The new breakfast menu is flavour-packed: shakshuka poached eggs, Turkish eggs, salmon with poached eggs, and a breakfast plate for those who want a little of everything. Sweet tooth? Don't miss the speculoos French toast with raspberries, or the infamous crushed milk chocolate cookies with soft serve. The Brunch menu features hits like rigatoni in pink sauce, wagyu truffle burgers, creamy mushroom risotto, and veal schnitzel. New additions to the all-day line-up include raw sea bass tiradito, conchiglie with wild morels, and a strawberry pistachio pavlova.
When: Breakfast, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 12pm. Brunch, Friday to Sunday, 8am to 5pm. Daytime and evening menus available daily.
Where: H Residence, Al Safa, Dubai. @nacdubai Canary Club
What: Business lunch, but make it West Coast. Canary Club's new Lunch N' Lounge is a fresh take on midday dining, serving signature favourites in a relaxed but polished setting.
Vibe: Effortless and easy, with laid-back lounge energy that makes weekday lunches feel like a little escape.
Menu: Choose two courses (Dhs105) or go for three (Dhs129), with the option to double up on appetisers. Highlights include the Pomelo & Avo Salad, Miso Seabass, and other house favourites designed to hit that sweet spot between light and satisfying. Whether you're breaking up your workday or catching up with friends, it's the kind of lunch your calendar's been waiting for.
When: Weekdays, during lunch hours.
Where: Canary Club, Banyan Tree Residences, JLT, Dubai. @canaryclubdxb Loona Dubai
What: Loona, Downtown's modern Italian favourite, joins Dubai Restaurant Week with two special menus designed to show off its bold, creative side.
Vibe: Chic yet welcoming, with that classic Italian warmth – perfect for a long leisurely lunch or an indulgent dinner.
Menu: At lunch (priced at Dhs125), expect flavour-packed starters like Truffle Carpaccio, a trio of seafood tartares, and Chicken Liver & Foie Gras Pâté, followed by comforting mains like spaghetti, lasagna, or a juicy Lamb Patty – and, of course, dessert. Dinner (priced at Dhs250) takes things up a notch with dishes like slow-braised veal cheek risotto, crab polpetta, and porcini pappardelle, finished with ganache and classic tiramisu.
When: May 9 to May 25, for both lunch and dinner.
Where: Loona, Downtown Dubai. @loona.uae The Underground Pub
What: The Underground Pub at Al Habtoor Grand Resort brings the spirit of a classic English pub to JBR, with hearty bites, refreshing drinks, and weekly specials to keep things lively. Thursdays come with an extra treat — ladies enjoy 50% off food from 7 PM to 11 PM.
Vibe: Warm, energetic, and inviting, with a relaxed atmosphere that's perfect for casual nights out, after-work gatherings, and late-night catch-ups.
Menu: Expect comforting favourites and pub classics made for sharing — from satisfying mains to small plates that pair perfectly with a round of drinks.
When: Open daily. Thursday nights, 7 PM to 11 PM, ladies enjoy 50% off food.
Where: The Underground Pub, Al Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection, JBR.
Images: Supplied/Instagram
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Today
9 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Swiatek sweeps aside Svitolina to set up semis showdown with Sabalenka
Four-times champion Iga Swiatek of Poland swept aside Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-1 7-5 on a windy day at the French Open on Tuesday to earn a semi-final spot and stay in the hunt for a record-breaking victory in Paris. The 24-year-old, who accepted a one-month doping ban late last year, is looking to become the first woman in the professional era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris. Although she failed to win a title going into the French Open this season, she looks to have rediscovered her remarkable claycourt form in Paris. She will next play world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a mouth-watering semi-final after the Belarusian beat China's Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. 'I should have had better intensity in the beginning of the second set,' Swiatek said in a post-match interview. 'When I saw my intensity go low I got it high again. I am happy I did it at the end of the set. 'Against Aryna it is always a challenge. She has a game for every surface. I have to do the work, be brave with my shots and go for it. She is having a great season.' 'I will not lie. It will be a tough match but am happy for the challenge,' she said. The Pole is now on a 26-match winning streak at the French Open, following her title three-peat between 2022-24 to add to her 2020 crown. Swiatek, playing in an initially sparsely filled Philipp Chatrier stadium, broke the Ukrainian, in her fifth quarter-final appearance in Paris, early and kept her on the back foot with her heavy top-spin forehand and rapid changes in pace and direction. Svitolina desperately tried to hang on but she could not match her opponent's power in rallies, sending a forehand into the net to hand her another break as Swiatek bagged the set on her serve in the next game. With her husband, French tennis player Gael Monfils, watching from the stands, Svitolina ignited hope among the crowd when she moved 5-4 up in the second set. Three unforced forehand errors in the next game, however, proved too many and Swiatek raced through the next three games to seal victory, firing three aces in the final game including one on match point. Earlier, reigning US Open champion Sabalenka defied the windy conditions and Zheng to avenge her recent loss to the Chinese star in Rome. 'The last tournament I was pretty exhausted,' said Sabalenka. 'Today I was more fresh I was ready to battle.' Sabalenka once again got the upper hand on Zheng, who had been on a winning streak of 10 matches on the Paris clay after her run to Olympic gold last year. Zheng broke and led 4-2 in the first set. But numerous unforced errors — 31 in total — allowed the Belarusian to come back. The second set was also tight before Sabalenka broke back to lead 4-3, taking advantage of her opponent's errors. 'I gave her the chance, so easy,' said Zheng, who has lost seven times in eight meetings to Sabalenka, including in last year's Australian Open final. Madrid Open champion Sabalenka feels she is ready to go all the way in Paris, where her previous best performance was reaching the semi-finals two years ago. 'It's high-level matches. I'm super excited to go out there and to fight and to do everything I need to get the win,' said Sabalenka of her tie against Swiatek. Meanwhile, Italian craftsman Lorenzo Musetti used his full palette of shots to decorate Court Philippe Chatrier with blistering baseline winners, beating American Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-2 to reach the French Open semi-finals for the first time on Tuesday. Musetti, who said he put some order in his mind and game, did not let frustration take the best of him after losing the second set and once he found his groove, there was no stopping him as 15th seed Tiafoe gradually lost the plot, twice arguing with the chair umpire over line calls. He bowed out with yet another routine shot into the net, his 'Big Foe' neck chain dripping with sweat as a testimony of the battle just fought. 'Definitely Frances did not start the way he wanted but today was really complicated, it was so windy and difficult to mange to properly hit the ball,' said Musetti. Agencies


Sharjah 24
a day ago
- Sharjah 24
Ball game from Myanmar fights for survival in nation under turmoil
The essence of Chinlone "Once you get into playing the game, you forget everything," says 74-year-old Win Tint. "You concentrate only on your touch and your style." Chinlone, Myanmar's national game, dates back centuries. Branded a blend of sport and art, it is often played to music and practiced differently by men and women. The styles of play Male teams in skimpy shorts stand in a circle, using stylized strokes of their feet, knees, and heads to pass the ball in a game of "keepy-uppy," with a scoring system impenetrable to outsiders. Women, on the other hand, play solo like circus performers—kicking the ball tens of thousands of times per session while walking tightropes, twirling umbrellas, and perching on chairs balanced atop beer bottles. The dedication of young players Teen prodigy Phyu Sin Phyo hones her skills at the court in Yangon, toe-bouncing a flaming ball while spinning a hula-hoop—also on fire. "I play even when I am sick," says the 16-year-old. "It is important to be patient to become a good chinlone player." Challenges facing Chinlone However, play has plunged in recent years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 military coup, and the subsequent civil war. Poverty rates are soaring, and craftsmen face difficulties sourcing materials to make the balls. Finding respite in the game Despite these challenges, the rising and falling rhythm of the game offers its practitioners a respite. "When you hear the sound of kicking the ball, it's like music," Win Tint, vice-chairman of the Myanmar Chinlone Federation, told AFP. "So when you play chinlone, you feel like dancing." Variations across Southeast Asia Different versions of the hands-free sport known as "caneball" are widely played across Southeast Asia. Regional variants In Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, players kick and head the ball over a net in the volleyball-style "sepak takraw." In Laos, it is known as "kataw," while Filipinos play "sipa," meaning kick. In China, people kicking around weighted shuttlecocks in parks is a common sight. Historical roots Myanmar's iteration of chinlone dates back 1,500 years, according to popular belief. Some cite a French archaeologist's discovery of a replica silver chinlone ball at a pagoda built during the Pyu era, which lasted from 200 BC to 900 AD. Initially, it was a casual pastime, a fitness activity, and a source of royal entertainment. Modernisation of the game In 1953, the game was formalized with rules and a scoring system as part of an effort to codify Myanmar's national culture after independence from Britain. "No one else will preserve Myanmar's traditional heritage unless the Myanmar people do it," said player Min Naing, 42. The spirit of Chinlone Despite ongoing conflict, players still gather under motorway overpasses, around street lamps blighted by wartime blackouts, and on dedicated chinlone courts—often ramshackle open-sided metal sheds with concrete floors. The joy of playing "For a chinlone man, the day he plays is always a happy day. I am happy, and I sleep well at night," says Min Naing. "On the days I don't play, I feel I am missing something." Concerns for the future Win Tint is worried about the declining participation rates. "I worry about this sport disappearing," says master chinlone ball maker Pe Thein, toiling in a sweltering workshop in Hinthada, 110 kilometers (70 miles) northwest of Yangon. "That's the reason we are passing it on through our handiwork." Craftsmanship and quality Cross-legged men shave cane into strips, curve them with a hand crank, and deftly weave them into a melon-sized ball with pentagonal holes, boiled in a vat of water to seal its strength. "We check our chinlone's quality as if we're checking diamonds or gemstones," adds the 64-year-old Pe Thein. "As we respect the chinlone, it respects us back." The struggles of ball makers Each ball takes around two hours to make and earns business-owner Maung Kaw $2.40 apiece. However, supplies of the best-quality rattan he covets from nearby Rakhine are dwindling due to fierce fighting in the state between the military and opposition groups. Farmers are too fearful to venture into the jungle battleground to cut cane, endangering his profession. "It should not be that we have players but no chinlone makers," says the 72-year-old. "I want to work as well as I can for as long as I can."


Web Release
a day ago
- Web Release
Chef Jitin Joshi x Chef Hadrien Villedieu: Exclusive One-Night Only Pop-Up at Revolver
Revolver's chef pop-up series continues this June with a collaboration between two acclaimed culinary talents. Chef Hadrien Villedieu of Chez Wam joins Chef Jitin Joshi of Revolver to present a bold French-Indian menu where poetic ingredients meet spice, and precision comes together with fearless flavour. Priced at AED 395 per guest, the one-night only experience unfolds over eight sharing courses and four signature snacks, each dish crafted as a dialogue between two distinct culinary identities. Revolver, led by Chef Jitin Joshi, is a modern Indian grill known for its open-fire kitchen and contemporary approach to spice. With over 27 years of experience across Michelin-starred restaurants in London and landmark venues in Dubai, Jitin reinterprets Indian flavours with precision and depth. Joining him is Chef Hadrien Villedieu, the mastermind behind Chez Wam, recently featured on 50 Best Discovery. Based at St. Regis Gardens, Chez Wam is a Dubai dining destination where French technique meets global curiosity, all anchored by Hadrien's sharp eye for detail and signature unpretentious flair. The collaboration menu features standout creations like the Foie Gras Papadum, where French parfait meets spice-laced chutney and loomi yoghurt; the Tandoori Lamb Chop with coriander chimichurri and reduced lamb jus; and the Chai Masala Crème Caramel, a dessert that marries French structure with the nostalgia of Indian spice and a Parle G crumble. Shaped by intention, this pop-up sees Chef Jitin and Chef Hadrien explore the intersections of French and Indian technique with clarity and purpose, as each dish is thoughtfully developed to reflect their distinct yet complementary perspectives. When: Wednesday, June 11th 2025 Offer and Price: AED 395 per person for a set menu led by Chef Jitin Joshi and Chef Hadrien Villedieu. Limited seating. *For reservations, please email [email protected], call +9714 2579334, or WhatsApp +971 56 522 0195