Hectic schedules are an inevitable part of the fashion world. As we head into the Middle East’s biggest 4 days of fashion with FFWD, it's important to know just the right places that offer a unique combination of healthy essentials, fine cuisine and great ambience to ensure energy levels are up to the challenge of non-stop shows.
By Dmitri Ruwan
1. Caffeinate in style with The Sum of Us. This homely-boho establishment located on 6th Street, Trade Center boasts a café, roastery and bakery in one cosy-chic space. Open from 8am until 5pm, the café is known to serve the best homeground coffee in the region, and is the perfect pick-me-up to start the day with friends before your itinerary kicks in.
2. Fraiche Café & Bistro is located at Jumeirah Lake Towers, twenty minutes from Madinat Jumeirah and boasts some of the city's best lemonade and fresh juices along with delectable treats such as banana bread caramel French toast for those with a sweet-tooth and quality soul food such as poutine. The perfect venue for those attending fashion shows late morning.
3. One of the most luxurious brunches in town, Al Qasr hotel, Madinat Jumeirah opens its gilded doors every Friday to serve a feast of delicacies from three of its finest restaurants, including a two-piece band and live cooking stations. Late show goers can also rejoice in the fact that Al Qasr is located mere minutes away from the show venue, and provides the perfect atmosphere for pre-show selfies across the manicured grounds.
4. As fashion is art, so is the artistry of a fine culinary experience. La Cantine du Faubourg in Emirates Towers Hotel continues to prove its quality with a combination of contemporary European cuisine and thrilling showcases by photographers, painters, sculptors and musicians . The perfect venue to end the day, or simply mingle with like-minded individuals in a dynamic urban environment.
5. Combining whimsical fashion with a touch of fantasy, VII, located in the confines of the Conrad Hotel is a getaway from the norm. A lounge bar environment canopied by a ceiling of ivy and mirrored walls takes you into a world of industry insiders, fashion elite and a transcendent ambience, making VII an after-show essential.
6. Move away from the throngs of photographers and fashion people by heading out to this months latest offering in fine Asian dining; Novikov, located at the Sheraton Grand on Sheikh Zayed Road, boasts an opulent décor of mahogany seating and ivory Phalaenopsis orchids that adorn the interior. A luxurious option to a lounge-bar environment providing light desserts such as green tea Brulee and home made sorbets.
