Getting out of the city isn’t always an option, but there are plenty of green oasis in Dubai. Improve your date night by exploring one of these lush outdoor locations.
FIYA
In a nutshell: Al Keturah Reserve’s warm and live-fire cooking.
From beloved pitmaster Hattem Mattar, FIYA – located in Nad Al Sheba’s new Al Keturah Reserve – features fire-licked wagyu steaks, fateer (a flaky Egyptian layered doughnuts, here served with pastrami), smoked brisket, mac ‘n’ cheese, and an outstanding double smash hamburgers that are all perfect for enjoying in the restaurant’s fully outdoors location. Come at sunset, snuggle up with your date on one of the outdoor sofas, and enjoy the peace and quiet while flanked by olive trees, natural vegetation and nothing but the faint sound of a fire crackling away at the slick central kitchen.
FIYA, Al Keturah Reserve, Wadi Al Sheba, 5pm to 10.30pm Tuesday thru Friday, Sat 2pm to 10.30pm, Sun noon to 10.30pm (Mon closed).
Eugene Eugene
A green safety during a shopping mall? In Dubai, only the Rikas Group could pull off something like that. Eugene Eugene is the first of a number of new cafe launches in the city this season from the minds behind some of the city’s top restaurants, including Tagomago, Twiggy, and Mimi Kakushi. Eugène Eugène, inspired by lush country greenhouses, is a veritable garden in the heart of the city, crammed to the glass ceiling with palm and olive trees, laurels, sage, and herbs both indoors and out on the terrace. The licenced brasserie is a hidden treasure in the Mall of the Emirates, showing classic French’souvenir’ meals, each softly cooked with a contemporary touch.
Every day at the Kempinski Mall of the Emirates.
Amazonico
Amazonico, a three-story Latin American restaurant and bar, is designed to make you feel like you’re in the middle of a jungle, and that bright style extends to its rooftop. The elegant rooftop is covered with Copacabana tiled surfaces, yellow awnings, leafy trellises, and palm-leafed plants, so that when weekends go off – as they often do with the resident DJs beating electro-pical patterns – you’ll feel like you’re dancing in the jungle. Order the Save The Jungle drink (Dhs60), made with Brazilian rum, lime, tamarillo, and anise, and one tree gets planted in the Amazon jungle for each transaction.
Amazonico rooftop, DIFC Pavilion, open every day from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Mythos City Walk
Alex and Fay Economides’ popular Greek restaurant Mythos in JLT has been a popular dining destination since it first opened. But the restaurant’s newest City Walk location is more than simply bringing beautiful souvlaki, saganaki, and spanakopita to the north; its beautiful courtyard is a new worthy outdoor option to add to your date night arsenal. The style is deeply rooted in natural materials, earthy hues, and raw, unfinished textures on the inside, while the vast courtyard is covered in plants that flank the restaurant’s perimeter. A wonderful spot for a variety of Greek faves and a Greek-inspired G&T. The Ancient (Dhs65) is a surprise, with cinnamon, cloves, anise, and cardamom.
High At The Towers
The only animals that wandered the flawless lawns of Jumeirah Emirates Towers until native burger restaurant High Joint took up part of patio space were the resident peacocks. As the weather begins to chill, foodies are expected to come to Premium At The Towers, a self-proclaimed hidden heaven, for an amazing picnic in the park operated by High Joint and friends. Aside from traditional High Joint burgers, you’ll now find a variety of delicious breakfast options, like Turkish eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches, and avo on toast. In addition, keep an eye on their Instagram page for exclusive weeknight dinners that promise to elevate High Joint food to gourmet level.
Monkey Bar
This eye-catching idea, a Berlin-imported drinking spot and self-proclaimed rooftop jungle, is located on the sixth story of the ultra-cool 25hours Hotel and has a limited Latin American-leaning food menu and drinks with a tiki twist. Empanadas, chicken bao, and cheesy beef sliders are standout hot dishes, while the the pandan colada and gin basil highball are must-order cocktails. The promising lush-looking bar, swathed in a palette of deep greens, oak, coral and mustard, is an Instagram picture op waiting to happen, and the terrace, with its amazing views of the Museum of the Future and gorgeous latticed wooden domes, is no exception.
Ninive
Ninive is a safe pick for beautiful DIFC vistas and a romantic atmosphere. The Middle Eastern restaurant’s stylish Bedouin style is built as a modern urban majlis between a garden and a caravanserai, overlooking the historic gate framework and offering panoramic skyline views. Ninive is entirely outside, with a series of canvas tents structured around a central open-air courtyard filled with carpets and lit candles low tables and cosy sofas. Chef Gilles Bosquet’s menu of traditional cocktails and amazing Turkish and Middle Eastern delights make it an area and visitor favourite.
Ninive, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Sun-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat 6pm-3am.
Lucia’s
Bluefin crudo and linguine vongole are served with panoramic views of the Burj Khalifa at this full Capri-inspired restaurant in Address Sky View. The décor is amazing, especially on the patio, which is dressed out in vines, olive branches, and lemon trees, with yellow booths and blue and white seats. Dinner and breakfast are noisy events, with servers waving giant Italian flags to the beats of Bella Ciao. What more do you need? Drinks? They have those. Lucia’s has’special moment’ written all over it, rather it’s a Capri gimlet or a glass of trademarks Prosecco.
Lucia’s, Address Sky View, 7pm-3am daily, Sat 1pm-3am.
Tiki’s Canary Club
With its plant-strewn, open-air rooftop patio, supporters of The Lobster guy Joey Ghazal’s Palm Springs-meets-Acapulco hotspot live for alfresco season. This hidden gem on the second floor of JLT’s Canary Club promises a haven of lush tropical flora with city views. Tiki’s Canary Club is a great location for well-heeled sundowners, with its own drinks menu with 12 special cocktails and a variety of sushi sharing plates. It almost shouts “perfect date night.”
Seva Table
With its delightful carpeting, tree stump tables, and colourful flora hidden behind rising walls, Seva’s garden feels like Alice in Wonderland meets a zen garden. With an outdoor space dedicated to fitness classes, a comprehensive vegan and gluten-free food menu, and regular reiki and chakra healing workshops, well-being a vacation may be a perfect romantic avoid for happy, healthy, hippie types.
