Dubai

Dubai’s known for its gigantic ambition, bling and megaphone glamour, and the sheer scale of this city can be hard to comprehend. It has the world’s biggest shopping mall, the world’s tallest building, and the world’s first seven-star hotel; even without the fine print, we know that this takes luxury and dips it in 24-carat gold. Most people go to Dubai to live it up – to see the supersize sights, eat at fine dining restaurants with spectacular views, sun themselves on the pristine beaches, and shop until they well and truly drop.

But Dubai does have a softer side for those looking for low-key hangouts. On the peaceful shores of Umm Suqeim’s Fishing Harbor 2 you’ll find a spate of new restaurants, where you can find trendy pizza joints, oyster bars and casual supper clubs. Or discover Bur Dubai, one of the oldest parts of the city, for charming cafés and vendors selling streetside sugar-cane juice and karak tea, to sip while you wander and admire the gorgeous mid-century architecture.