Date Nights With A Difference
We’re all for fancy shmancy restaurants and gazing into each other’s eyes, but there are plenty of other ways to keep the romance alive, mamas! From the sublime to the ridiculous (in a good way), here are 10 ways to enjoy a date night (or day) with a difference. Oh, and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner…
What if we tell you that non-hotel guests can pay to enjoy the terrace of the “World’s most luxurious hotel” for the day? If a relaxing, luxurious (and seriously cool) Valentine’s Day with the hubby is what you’re after, then look no further than the new all-in-one terrace at the Burj Al Arab that features a freshwater pool, saltwater infinity pool, air-conditioned cabanas, Jacuzzis and swim-up bars. Sound good? Well there are dedicated butlers for each poolside cabana too. There’s your Valentine’s Day (and Instagram feed) sorted – you’re welcome.
From AED 2,000 per day
www.jumeirah.com
First thing’s first, Bateaux Dubai is NOT an old rickety dhow serving up buffet style food (those do exist and might have their charm but this is Valentine’s Day…). We’re talking an elegant floating restaurant with a gorgeous air-conditioned interior and an al fresco deck from which to soak up the sights along Dubai Creek. Oh and this beautiful boat has a glass top so you can stargaze while you munch on 5 star food (think lobster, foie gras, truffle and desserts that are worth a visit alone) and sail up and down for a blissful 2 ½ hours. AND…if you’re partial to a glass or two of something bubbly, Bateaux Dubai is full licensed so you can raise a toast to the good life. We love.
Psst… boarding starts at 7.45 and Bateaux Dubai cruises from 8.30pm – 11pm – don’t be late because they won’t wait!
Special Promotion – valid until Tuesday, 28 February 2017:
AED 395 Unlimited Soft Drink Package
AED 495 Unlimited House Beverage Package.
Bateaux Dubai is moored on the Deira side of the creek, opposite the ENBD Head Office.
www.jaresortshotels.com
Do Valentine’s Day old-school style with an afternoon of lounging and picnicking! Chez Charles (yup, the online gourmet deli and super duper catering company) have put together a picnic hamper with a difference – a gorgeous wicker basket complete with everything from smoked salmon to grilled asparagus, canapés to gourmet cheese and bread plus desserts-to-die for (the chocolate fondant? OMG!). Order your basket online then find the perfect picnic spot (on the beach, in the desert, in your back garden, a candle-lit kitchen – anything goes!). All you need is for hubby to serenade you with a few tunes and BOOM – the love-o-meter will be off the scale.
AED 650 for 2 people (deposit of AED 800 required for the picnic basket)
Order before 5pm, Saturday, 11 February, 2017.
Want to take your love to new heights, mama? Well, how about having dinner (or breakfast, lunch and high tea – literally) suspended on a platform at 50 meters off ground level?! Dinner In The Sky is a worldwide dining experience that’s now available here in our desert city, well, in Dubai Marina at the Dubai International Marine Club to be precise.
The concept? Getting strapped into a jump-seat style chair around a huge table, before being hoisted up in the air by crane and then being served a delicious menu, freshly prepared by chefs right in front of you. A-MA-ZING! Definitely not one for vertigo sufferers but beats all those boring tables-for-two and bound to get your heart racing…
From AED 499 per person
www.dinnerinthesky.ae
Team up with the hubby this Valentine’s Day for an evening of puzzle solving! HintHunt is a new simple and fun live escape game, designed for small groups of 3-5 people (perfect double date idea). You get 60 minutes to climb a mountain of puzzles and mysteries in a tiny room. The goal is simple yet challenging: get out in time…or be trapped inside forever! (sounds quite romantic!?). Show off your smarts = the real #couplegoals.
From AED 110 per person
Times Square Center, 1/F, Shop F13, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
www.hinthunt.ae
An early start may not sound tempting mamas but we can guarantee that this is one of those experiences EVERYONE should have on their Dubai bucket list (and it’s super romantic to boot). Picture this: Transfer to the desert by Land Rover and a Land Rover branded balloon flight across the dunes as the sun rises – magical.
This isn’t a private experience (although we’re sure that can be arranged if your wallet allows – this is Dubai after all) as you’ll be sharing the basket with fellow adventurers – and with one very special passenger in particular. ‘Bomber’, a 2 year old falcon will show off her stuff, flying around your balloon at 1km above earth, expertly handled by her trainer and available for photos galore. This is ballooning on another level, mamas! And it doesn’t end there. After an hour-long flight, you’ll be driven in an open top vintage 1950’s Land Rover to a luxury private desert conservation reserve where a gourmet brekkie of caviar, smoked salmon, eggs benedict and other treats await. Sound good? It is! Book it now (the hubster will be over the moon..or desert..).
From AED 1,100 per person
Available September – May (weather permitting)
Book via: www.platinum-heritage.com/hot-air-balloon
There are many Valentine’s Day dining options around the desert city but nothing can quite compare to a romantic lunch with captivating views across the Arabian Gulf at Pierchic – we vote it Dubai’s most romantic restaurants. Love oysters? They have plenty, plus seafood galore and a dessert that involves hot chocolate being poured over more chocolate. This is stunning ‘over-the-water’ dining that makes you feel like you’ve jetted off to the Maldives! And the little rickshaw to and from the restaurant is a big hit too.
Al Qasr Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah
www.pierchic.com
A movie date might be good enough but this is the ultimate movie treat! A luxury upgrade on Vox’s existing Gold class cinema experience, with a menu created by British Michelin-starred chef, Gary Rhodes – you can expect a cinema experience like no other. It’s not just a burger or a sandwich, but a gorgeous menu that tailor made for its cinema going purpose (if your movie is set in Italy then expect an Italian feast) and dishes that involve hours of intricate home-made steps. We can’t think of a better way to enjoy a feel good Valentine’s Day movie and meal.
Available exclusively at VOX Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates, Yas Mall and Nation Towers (Abu Dhabi)
www.facebook.com/voxcinemas
Time to wish upon a star, mamas! Take the hubby out on a private tour evening Safari with Platinum Heritage for an adventurous night in the desert. Enjoy the dark, fresh, quiet (QUIET!) desert air as a contrast to the bright lights, heat and noise of the city (and your home!). After your nature drive, relax at an opened aired camp and watch the blanket of stars above you. We love the dinner at an exclusive camp inside the desert retreat of the local Royal family. Oh and there’s an overnight option too…yes please!
From AED 895 per person
www.platinum-heritage.com
Courtyards, art galleries, Abra rides – meandering through winding cobbled streets hand-in-hand – bliss! Take a break from the fast lane and head to the Al Fahidi Cultural District and a glimpse of life as it was before the malls and busy streets. Soak up the smells and colours of the spice souk, eye-up the bling in the gold souk and pick up a few cute trinkets in some of the tiny little stores flecked around the area. And then? Head to the XVA Art Hotel, a former home turned boutique hotel offering only 14 individually designed rooms and an award winning restaurant and café plus a beautiful art gallery and design shop that’s just perfect for picking up a gift or two.
