Member of The Guild of Food Writers
Member of The Guild of Food Writers

Any plans for New Year’s Eve?

Madinat Jumeirah

New Year’s eve at Madinat Jumeirah

If you’re a lastminute.com kind of character when it comes to social arrangements like I am, and you’re at a loose end on New Year’s eve, here’s a round-up of restaurants serving à la carte in Dubai – and all with a view of this town’s extravagant fireworks. You can order what you like without any astronomically priced set menus or buffet spreads weighing you down. This selection was part of a post with a bit of a rant that I submitted for the global Expat Blog Awards competition, which, thanks to your votes, won gold in the UAE for the second consecutive year! Merci beaucoup FooDiva Friends :).

  • Iris Dubai  a Beirut concept, the sexy new rooftop bar-cum-lounge atop the Oberoi Dubai is offering à la carte, and many a reasonably priced cocktail. Best bit is you have a direct view across the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa and its cascading midnight fireworks. 6pm onwards. T; +971 56 9511442.
  • La Serre – no surprise, à la carte once again here too from 7pm onwards. Try and bag a window table will full view of the Burj Khalifa fireworks at midnight. T; +971 4 4286969. E; reservations@laserre.ae
  • Madinat Jumeirah – this one should actually have multiple listings with four restaurants in one of Dubai’s most popular dining destinations serving à la carte. Pai Thai and Italian, Segreto with a minimum spend of 500 dirhams (US$137) per person. And another Italian, Toscana on the souk waterway, plus The Agency wine bar with 300 dirhams (US$82) minimum spend. 7pm onwards. All have direct views across Burj Al Arab so you’ll soak up the shoreline’s fireworks at midnight. T; +971 4 3666730, E; mjrestaurants@jumeirah.com 
  • Toko – this Sydney-based modern Japanese restaurant just open at Vida Downtown next to La Serre, is you guessed it serving à la carte. 6pm onwards. T; +971 52 9859449, E; reservations@toko-dubai.com
  • Watatsumi – another Japanese restaurant, this spot at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi is a little more intimate. Serving à la carte from 8.30pm onwards. Bag terrace seating – perfect viewpoint across Palm Jumeirah island and Atlantis for what is destined to be the world’s largest fireworks display. Yes Dubai is hoping to break Kuwait’s Guinness world record. T; +971 4 3993373, E; reservation@watatsumi.ae 

All are licensed restaurants so you can enjoy a tipple or two, but otherwise if you’re teetotal most cafes in Dubai are serving à la carte. Needless to say advanced reservations are required for all venues. If you would prefer to stay at home but not be a slave to your stove, here’s a round-up of caterers. Would love to hear what you’re up to. Have a fabulous food-filled 2014!

A bientôt.

FooDiva. x

  • Posted under
    Dubai, Foodie Happenings, Hotels, Licensed, New Year's Eve, Restaurants

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4 Responses to “Any plans for New Year’s Eve?”

  1. Johann Z December 29, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    Thanks for the reminder, as I have now sent it to a few friends who are thinking of where to go on NYE – I had seen it originally in your entry for the Expats Awards – by the way, well done on getting GOLD – it was very informative and I know several people who made their choices for Christmas based on your round-up and they were not disappointed. Keep up the good work in 2014.

    • FooDiva January 2, 2014 at 12:44 pm

      Happy new year Johann! Great to hear, hope you celebrated in bubbly style 🙂

  2. IshitaUnblogged December 30, 2013 at 9:25 am

    Well done on the Gold FooDIva! Wishing you a very Happy New Year much in advance, before the tipple. Food, friends and drinks for us at any friend’s pad who would welcome our kids plus 5 house guests of ours! Love 🙂

    • FooDiva January 2, 2014 at 12:46 pm

      Thank you Ishita and a happy, bubbly new year to you and your brood 🙂

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