Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter 52/w41

Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 41, Edition 52

So here is this week’s digest of the ‘Dubai news worth knowing’, all in 10 minutes or less of your time.

👇 A few things worth knowing about Dubai this week 👇

👨‍💻 Not all ‘Dine Around’ deals are deals.

🍾 A drunch after brunch.

🏨 Delano Dubai opens.

💰 Palazzo Versace auction, again.

🏠 Hilton opens 2 new hotels.

❌ Emirates bans pagers, walkie-talkies.

🎲 Wynn granted gaming licence.

🗞 Tittle-tattle: Dubai night beaches. Thiptara Two for One. Best Indians. DIFC bars.

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EAT

Be Wary of ‘Dine Around’ Half Board Dining Packages

Words and phrases in Dubai sometimes get hijacked by Marketers and PRs. Exactly what makes a concept ‘artisan’ for instance?

The latest example of this is when hotels describe their dining packages or Half Board deals as ‘Dine Around’.

My take on this is; if you can’t leave the property to dine, it’s not a ‘true’ Dine Around deal. The two prominent ‘Dine Around’ deals in Dubai are Jumeirah Flavours at (at Jumeirah hotels), or More Cravings by Marriott Bonvoy (at Marriott hotels).

Read more about More Cravings in our feature back in edition 46.

Some rascals in Dubai hotels are now calling a ‘normal’ Half Board package a ‘Dine Around’ and justifying it by saying, ‘well, you can ‘dine around’ at different restaurants within the hotel’. Which frankly, is a bit rubbish, isn’t it?

So to help, here is how I’d break down the three ‘levels’ of ‘Dine Around’ in Dubai hotels.

Usually, there are three broad 'buckets' of HB that may be called 'dine around'.

1. Top is Dine Around by More Cravings by Marriott Bonvoy - as it's 'set in stone' and easy to check the details of the offer, plus it allows true dining around at some 120 restaurants across many Dubai hotels. Jumeirah Flavours offers 40 different restaurants across Jumeirah hotels.

2. Middle would be, a 'local' dine around, such as offered between a few close hotels or a cluster, such as Grosvenor House and Le Royal Meridien (which are ‘sister’ hotels).

3. Lowest would be an 'on-site' dine around ie dining at different restaurants on-site.

So if you see an offer claiming it’s a ‘Dine Around’, be sure to check the details and specifics of which type of dine around it may be. Clearly there is a difference in ‘value proposition’ from some 120 restaurants around Dubai to a few on-site ones.

Plus, the advantage of having documented information on the appropriate websites (ie Jumeirah or Marriott Bonvoys) means there is clarity on the level of offer, ie set menu or dining credit, along with any restrictions, supplements etc.

🔗 Dine Around by More Cravings by Marriott Bonvoy (official site)

🔗 Jumeirah Flavours

🔗 Read all about More Cravings, Edition 46

DRINK

Brunch After-Parties, or ‘Drunches’

If, by some miracle, you still haven’t had your fill after a brunch and still feel you can a bit further, why not try a ‘drunch’? Basically, an after-party for a brunch, often with a few more hours of drinks offers.

Here are six suggestions according to Time Out. From that list, be sure to check out CandyPants at SoBe, at W Dubai - The Palm if you like lively and lovely.

HOTEL NEWS

Delano Dubai Is Now Open

Delano Dubai is now open, as of Mon 07 Oct 24 (as reported last week 😉).

The hotel is located at Bluewaters, and was formerly The Caesars Resort Dubai. It has 251 keys, including 84 suites, and the followin F&B outlets:-

• The Rose Bar

• The Blue Door Restaurant (scheduled to open in Nov 24)

• Gohan

• Tutto Passa Restaurant and Beach Club.

• Maison Revka (scheduled to open in Nov 24)

• La Cantine Beach

🔗 Delano Dubai

Hilton Opens Two New Hotels in Business Bay

Hilton have added to their portfolio in Dubai by opening two new Business Bay hotels, located on Marasi Drive, i.e. across Dubai Canal from Downtown.

This is the first Embassy Suites by Hilton in region and Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Business Bay is situated next door.

🔗 Embassy Suites by HIlton Dubai Business Bay

🔗 Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Business Bay

Palazzo Versace Listed for Auction - Again

First it was, then it wasn’t, then it was, and now it’s listed again. I’ve lost track of what the story appears be, but it’s reported that Palazzo Versace is once again listed for auction.

It’s been in previous editions on at least a couple of occasions, such as this and this.

Let’s hope for a positive conclusion for all involved this time. Is it third time lucky, or not?

EMIRATES

Emirates Ban Pagers and Walkie-Talkies

Just in case you’re still living in 1992, Emirates have issued an update forbidding the carriage of pages and walkie-talkies on their flights.

The Independent’s view on ‘is it safe to travel to Dubai right now?’

TL;DR: Yes.

CASINO WATCH

Wynn Receives ‘Commercial Gaming Facility Operator’ Licence

Wynn Resorts have been granted the first ‘Commercial Gaming Facility Operator' Licence from General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). However, there isn’t much more from Wynn or anyone what this actually entails.

These ‘Casino Watch’ updates are really just drips of information, rather than real progress, and whilst it may seem that’s not really newsworthy, the twists and turns are. For instance, it’s still far from clear which emirate is in pole position or likely to be the first to open. And if they do open, at what operational level.

I tipped a while back that if pushed, I’d go for Abu Dhabi to be first and MGM have applied for their licence last month. Wynn nabbed the MD of Atlantis Resort to become their COO for Al Marjan Island, which seems to be RAK’s ‘best bet’.

Skift have rounded up the timeline of progress, such as it as, here if you fancy a deeper dive.

HOTEL OFFERS

Grand Hyatt Dubai: 2 Nights From £239 Inc BF, Drinks, Spa Credit

Luxury Escapes have launched another ‘Limited Time LUX Exclusive’, this time for Grand Hyatt Dubai*, with savings up to 59% (apparently).

Offer includes:-

• Daily breakfast at The Collective

• Nightly free-flow drinks (for one hour)

• 150 AED spa credit

• 20% dining discount at select on-site venues

• Guaranteed 24-hour check-in and checkout

If you don’t fancy Grand Hyatt Dubai, the recent offers for Raffles The Palm Dubai, ME Dubai by Melia and Oaks Ibn Battuta are still running.

🔗 Luxury Escapes: Limited Time LUX Exclusive Grand Hyatt Dubai*

🔗 Luxury Escapes: Dubai*

DUBAI NEWS/TITTLE-TATTLE

Try Dubai Beaches - at Night!

If the heat is too hot for you, why not try a Dubai beach at nighttime?

It’s all the rage, you know.

🔗 Dubai Night Beaches

Thiptara - Tip-Top Thai Tucker, Fountain Views and 2 for 1 Deals

Here’s a nice review of Thiptara, a terrific Thai restaurant located at The Palace Downtown. Not only do they have fabulous food offers and stunning views over the fountains, but it’s also on Entertainer for ‘two for one’.

Here are the current Entertainer ‘two for one’ deals at Thipthara:-

• Dubai Monthly Offers - Reusable - Saturday Taste of Thai Brunch (2 vouchers for 4 people)

• Dubai 2024 - Main Course (3 vouchers for 6 people, or 2 people for 3 visits)

Don’t forget, promo code EDSD24* gives 10% discount on all Entertainer products purchased by 31 Oct 24.

🔗 Thiptara Dubai

🔗 Entertainer Promo Code EDSD24 for 10% discount

12 brilliant bars in DIFC, and what to order.

It may not seem an obvious drinking or nightlife spot, but DIFC has plenty of cool bars, lounges and restaurants to hang out in.

Best spots for an Indian Takeaway in Dubai, according to Whats On.

Pleased to see Ravis on there, but what about Brick Lane Dubai?

Too early to read about Christmas Grottos at Dubai Ice Rink?