There’s no denying the summer heat has hit, and you might have thought the days of picnics were long gone.
And (technically) you might be right — you won’t be sitting in the park nibbling finger sandwiches in 40-degree heat.
But what you can do is head to some incredible spots in Dubai that will make you feel as if you’re back outdoors. With the help of some leafy greenery, glass air-conditioned terraces and summer-filled menus, an indoor picnic can be just as lovely.
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Plus, with these options you don’t even have to pack your own picnic basket. That’s a win-win in our book.
Delizie Caffè Gourmet
Just because it’s not picnic weather, it doesn’t mean you can’t feast on picnic food. Take your picnic wherever you like, whether it be at home, in the car, or even out on a boat by picking up a pre-made selection from Delizie Caffè Gourmet. The Dubai Harbour eatery is making everything you would want to enjoy in your basket, from fresh burrata to home-made gelato and pastries.
Daily 8am-8pm. Dubai Harbour Yacht Club. deliziecaffegourmet.com (058 514 0400).
Dibba Bay
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This picnic just got fancy. Enjoy fresh local oysters at Dibba Bay’s two air-conditioned terraces around Dubai, and soak up those beautiful sea views. Or if you want a picnic from the comfort of your own home, you can now order a crate of the oysters straight to your front door, and picnic from the sofa.
Open daily, varying timings. Fishing Harbour 2, Umm Suqeim 1 & Sheraton JBR. dibbabay.com (054 438 8537).
Eugène Eugène
The main part of a picnic is being surrounded by nature and eating great food, right? Luckily that’s exactly what you can do at Eugène Eugène, where the entire venue is covered in plants and greenery.
Tucked away next to Mall of the Emirates, step inside the air-conditioned greenhouse and get someone else to prepare the picnic for you. Graze away on Gillardeu oysters and burrata, or try the grilled beef tenderloin for something a bit more filling.
Open daily noon-11.30am. Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Eugeneeugene.ae (04 379 8963).
La Maison Ani
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Picnic on the French coast with a cool breeze at La Maison Ani — well, close enough. The brasserie in Dubai Mall has enclosed and air-conditioned half of its terrace overlooking the Dubai Fountain, allowing for some cooler al fresco dining. Nibble on a selection of picnic-style dishes, from the grilled harissa prawns to the croque monsieur sandwich, and finish off with something from the patisserie — très chic.
Daily, 9.30am-11.30am. Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, lamaisonanibychefizu.com (04 456 1989).
Garden on 8
Now covered over for summer, Garden on 8’s outdoor terrace has both picnic tables and artificial grass, so it’s pretty close to the real thing. Head over for lunch and order some picky dishes from the grazing menu to get some proper picnic bites — we’re thinking halloumi fries, nachos and some popcorn chicken will do nicely.
Sun-Thurs noon-1am. Fri-Sat noon-2am. Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City, mediaonehotel.com (052 144 7438).
Reform Social & Grill
This summer, you can indulge in a seaside picnic at Reform for the new Beside The Seaside Brunch. The restaurant’s outdoor area has been transformed into a giant air-conditioned beach hut for the hotter months, and will be serving up classic British seaside snacks. Snap a pic next to the stripey beach huts and nibble on hot dogs before heading to the dessert buffet.
Dhs99 (kids), Dhs225 (soft), house and mixed drinks sold separately. Saturday 1-4pm. Reform Social & Grill. reformsocialgrill.ae (04 454 2638).
Looking for things to do this summer?
5 cool road trips that take 2 hours (or less) from Dubai
See more of the country from the car
The 50 best things to do indoors in Dubai
Your ultimate guide to beat the heat
New restaurants in Dubai that you need to visit right now
From casual eats to fine dining, there’s bound to be a new venue you’ll want to try
