Our picks of the hottest happenings in the city this weekend.
The weekend is calling, and Dubai is serving up plenty of reasons to leave the house. From the 20th anniversary edition of Art Dubai at Madinat Jumeirah to Dubai Restaurant Week’s citywide dining deals, there’s no shortage of culture and cuisine to explore. Elsewhere, Al Mamzar Beach reopens with a refreshed waterfront experience, HANU brings Korean feasting to Palm Jumeirah, and FACT’s limited-edition matcha menu with HOOF enters its final weekend.
Friday 15 May
Have lunch at 25 Jump Street
Le Trottoir de Paloma is making lunch worth leaving the desk for. Located at 25 Jump Street in One Central, the French-inspired bistro offers a weekday business lunch featuring one appetiser, one salad and one main course, with dessert available for an additional charge. Highlights include Salmon Tataki, Beef Carpaccio, Crunchy Shrimp, Caesar Salad, Miso Scottish Salmon, Black Angus Fillet, Risotto Limone and Penne Arrabbiata. With a leafy terrace, intimate interiors and relaxed neighbourhood feel, Paloma is ideal for client catch-ups, team lunches or a stylish midday pause.
Where: Le Trottoir de Paloma, 25 Jump Street, Trade Centre, Dubai
When: Open Monday to Friday from 12:30pm to 4pm
Price: AED 125 (one appetiser, one salad and one main course) or AED 135 with dessert
Contact: @trottoirdepalomadxb
Partner Listing: Enjoy a sky-high afternoon tea
Spend the afternoon at S Bar with delicate pastries, savoury bites and sweeping views across Dubai’s skyline. Served high above the city, Afternoon Tea brings together beautifully presented creations and an effortlessly elegant atmosphere, making it ideal for catch-ups, celebrations or a stylish midweek pause. The venue’s dramatic Art Deco interiors give the afternoon ritual a glamorous edge, making it a strong choice for those who want their scones served with a side of skyline views.
Where: S Bar, SLS Dubai, Hotel & Residences, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai
When: Available daily from 3pm to 7pm
Price: AED 299 per stand
Contact: https://slshotels.com
Visit Art Dubai
Art Dubai returns to Madinat Jumeirah from 15 to 17 May 2026, with a preview day on 14 May, for a special edition marking 20 years of the fair. This year’s programme reflects on the event’s role in shaping the region’s cultural landscape while looking firmly ahead, bringing together leading local, regional and international galleries across modern, contemporary and digital art. Visitors can also explore artist commissions, institutional collaborations, talks and educational programmes. Highlights include Moving Forward, a Dubai Collection exhibition featuring works drawn from more than 20 private collections. Entry to the fair is free.
Where: Art Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, Al Sufouh, Dubai
When: 15 to 17 May 2026
Contact: www.artdubai.ae
Saturday 16 May
Hit the sand at Al Mamzar
Al Mamzar Beach has reopened following a major redevelopment, bringing a refreshed waterfront experience to one of Dubai’s most-loved coastal spots. Part of the wider AED 3 billion Dubai Beaches Development plan, the upgraded destination features an expanded swimming shoreline, a 300-metre night beach, water sports facilities, fitness areas, play zones and more than 5.5 kilometres of walking, running and cycling tracks. A key highlight is the region’s first floating walkway, designed to enhance access to the water and create a new focal point for the shoreline.
Where: Al Mamzar Beach Street, Al Mamzar, Dubai
When: Open daily from 8am to 10pm
Contact: https://dubaipublicparks.ae
Feast at Dubai Restaurant Week
Diet plans can wait because Dubai Restaurant Week returns, bringing 17 days of dining deals, culinary events and chef-led experiences to the city. More than 100 restaurants will take part, offering exclusive set menus priced at AED 125 for two courses and AED 250 for three courses. This year’s line-up includes several FACT award-winning venues, such as Akira Back, Bâoli, CÉ LA VI, GAIA, High Society, Il Gattopardo, Jun’s, La Petite Maison, OPA, REIF Japanese Kushiyaki, Sexy Fish and Zuma. Other recommended reservations include Amazónico, Goldfish Sushi & Yakitori, Mimi Kakushi and Nobu by the Beach.
Where: Across Dubai
When: 1 to 31 May 2026
Price: AED 125 (two courses) and AED 250 (three courses)
Contact: www.dubaifoodfestival.com
Partner Listing: Stay at Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort
Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort is setting the scene for romance with an exclusive dinner and stay experience. The offer includes a five-course dinner served at a private beach table, framed by uninterrupted views of the Dubai skyline. Once dessert is over, guests can continue the evening with a complimentary overnight stay in a Deluxe Room, complete with sea views. Designed for couples, the experience combines beachfront dining, skyline vistas and a memorable stay on Palm Jumeirah.
Where: Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort, West Crescent, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Price: AED 788
Contact: https://widget.servmeco.com
Sunday 17 May
Partner Listing: Sip on the FACT x HOOF matcha
FACT has joined forces with Emirati-owned, equestrian-inspired speciality café HOOF for a limited-edition Matcha Menu. Created to mark World Matcha Day, the collaboration features four eye-catching drinks that go beyond the classic latte. Highlights include the Berry Coconut Breeze Matcha with strawberry and toasted coconut, the Blue Tropical Cooler with blue matcha and vanilla, and the floral Pink Blush Cooler finished with edible flowers. For a deeper, roasted flavour, the Toasted Coconut Hojicha blends nutty notes with cacao. The menu is available at HOOF in Dubai Mall, Misk Sharjah and Grove Village in Ras Al Khaimah.
Where: HOOF, Fashion Avenue, Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai
When: Available daily from 8am to midnight until 17 May 2026
Contact: @hoof.cafe
Seek out a new ramen restaurant
Ramen Hisa brings a focused ramen experience to Dubai Opera, from the team behind the FACT Award-winning TakaHisa. The intimate concept places Japanese comfort food at the centre of the table, with bowls built around depth, balance and precision. Expect rich broths, springy noodles and carefully selected toppings that showcase the same ingredient-led approach that made TakaHisa one of Dubai’s most acclaimed Japanese restaurants. Rather than overcomplicating the experience, Ramen Hisa keeps things refreshingly direct, offering expertly made ramen, premium produce, and a setting designed for a quick lunch, a pre-show dinner, or a late-night slurp in Downtown Dubai.
Where: Ramen Hisa, Dubai Opera, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai
When: Open daily from 12pm to 11pm
Contact: @ramenhisa
Beat the heat at China Tang
China Tang Dubai is keeping things cool this May with a limited-time 21% discount inspired by its 21°C air-conditioning setting. Part of the playful “Dubai Sets the Price” temperature discount series, the offer invites diners to escape the heat and settle into the restaurant’s elegant interiors for Cantonese classics and refined service. Guests can enjoy 21% off the total bill while dining on signature dishes such as Golden Shrimp Har Kau, Alaskan Crab Dumplings, Crispy Prawn Cheung Fun and Beijing Duck Pancakes.
Where: China Tang, The Lana Promenade, Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai
When: Available Sunday to Thursday
Contact: https://chinatang.com