HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR WEEKEND AND LONG, LANGUID EID AL-FITR HOLIDAY...
It's a beautiful time of year - gorgeous sunny days made for lazy days on the beach and balmy nights made for al fresco Iftars under the stars. But what else is on the horizon? Here's what to do, see and try for this weekend and beyond...
Few places on earth scream the spirit of summer quite like Capri, the resort island in Italy's Bay of Naples, loved by Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and today's jet-set crowd. This weekend, while you're lounging by the pool, flick through this Capri Style: Dolce Vita, dedicated to this beautiful Mediterranean destination and let it arouse wanderlust perfectly in time for summer holiday bookings. Think the purest of Caprese salads, Vespa rides through the island's iconic cobbled streets and hopping on board a speedboat to view the Faraglioni rocks up close and personal. Shall we see you there?
While it only opened a few months ago, the new Dior Fragrance & Beauty Boutique in Mall of the Emirates, has fast become one of our favourite places to recharge our batteries. Fully stocked with Dior's beauty and fragrance lines, it's the Prestige La Suite treatments that we've fallen for. Choose the 45-minute Dior Prestige Grand Facial if you're after some post-Ramadan rejuvenation - it is intensely nourishing and will leave your skin feeling smooth and salved. Or, if you want to give yourself a beauty boost, the Youth & Density Treatment promotes the revitalisation of stem cells, correcting the signs of ageing and helping your face regain ideal lift. Treat yourself...
Bodrum is having quite the moment. While not a new destination, it is an under-the-radar haven for those-in-the-know, and it's slowly winning itself Ibiza/Mykonos levels of cult followers. Every month, it seems, there's a new hotel, bar, resort opening in a bid to lure the jet-set crowd, and this month it's the turn of the legendary Buddha Bar Beach. Opening at Caresse, a luxury resort and spa, it is the brand's debut on Turkey shores, and it promises all the signatures we've come to know and love from Buddha Bar. A chic coastal spot in one of Bodrum's most idyllic marinas, chilled beats on the sand, Bohemia vibes, and sumptuous Asian Fusion cuisine, all creating the perfect day-to-night setting for your summer vacation.
As iconic as it was when it opened in 1999, Burj Al Arab and its 'seven-star' indulgence still promises some of the most luxurious - and exclusive - experiences in the city. However, to try something new at one of the world's most talked-about hotels, the beautiful new early brunch at Al Muntaha is truly exquisite. Plumped pretty on the 29th floor, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the restaurant has arguably the best skyline views in the city, and the 'Le Grand Petit Dejeuner' brunch, which starts at 10am, celebrates the art of Europe's famed grand breakfasts. There are pastries and quail egg Florentine for breakfast fans; oysters, Alaskan king crab and razor clams for the seafood brunch lover; followed by turbot with caviar; and finally the quintessential French cheese board for dessert. As a way to while away a Friday, this is rather superb.
If you're staying close to home for Eid Al-Fitr, there are myriad choices to celebrate the holiday. One of the most iconic, however, will be watching the fireworks from Cipriani Yas Island. Reopening just in time for the holiday, you can dine in truly sublime style - Bellini in hand, Carpaccio alla Cipriani on order - with a front-row seat to three nights of sparkling fireworks lighting up the sky above Yas Island Marina. As evenings go, we promise this will be spectacular.
One of the region's most respected art venues, Gallery Isabelle Van Eynde has ceased to operate as a gallery until September, with a view to unsettle the dictatorial art system, whilst reconnecting with the fundamental process of art making. What this means for IVDE culture lovers, is that the space will be handed over to three artists, Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian, to act as a living, breathing cellular domain, with the gallery's We Are Open For Installation event. This really is a unique concept that draws attention back to the beauty of the craft, and art lovers won't want to miss the opportunity to witness such a fresh new twist on culture and creativity.
With five days of Eid Al-Fitr to look forward to, embrace the now and escape for your own Eid adventure. The best place to do a little RnR is at Jumeirah Al Wathba Resort & Spa in Abu Dhabi. Surrounded by the Arabian desert, it's just the kind of nature-hit you'll never know you needed, with uninterrupted views of rolling dunes from your shaded daybed. The labyrinthine resort has 90 rooms, but bag one of the desert-view villas for ultimate privacy. By day, be a lounge lizard by the pool or in The Talise Spa, and by night, stargaze from the terrace of Terra Secca, whilst eating home-made pasta and oven-fired pizza. Good food, peace and pure relaxation abound, this is a truly exquisite escape.
