Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with the Locals

So, there is definitely more to Dubai then just family adventures and amazing hotels. We wanted to give you just a little "flavor" of the wonderful restaurants and the local hot spots. We recently got the chance to enjoy an afternoon dessert at The Circle Café, located in the center of town on Sheikh Zayed Road and overlooking Jumeirah Beach Park. We had heard that this was a truly unique cafe...they have all of their bagels shipped directly from the famous bakeries of New York and their desserts are family recipes. With scrumptious bagels and baked goods, friendly service, and a sophisticated yet warm atmosphere, The Circle Café is sure to be a Breakfast and Lunch staple while in the heart of Dubai. Don't miss the lemon meringue pie! I was also happy to find out that they cater as well...good to know!

Our local hot spot pick for dinner is Zuma. The award-winning London favorite for Japanese cuisine, was brought to Dubai just this past summer, and is sure to please any palette. It is located right in the center of the Dubai financial district, alongside a promenade of luxury boutiques. The architecture of the building alone is outstanding. This two-story restaurant was designed by the famed Japanese designer Noriyoshi Muramatsu, and is elegant, exclusive and welcoming. However, the true highlight of this restaurant is their unbelievable food, wine (try Isabel!) and sake selection. We enjoyed a wonderful, yet leisurely meal as we chatted with our local friends. Be sure to build in some extra time to walk around the shops and art galleries and take in the massive architecture in this area. Also, make note that the standard dinner hour here in Dubai is around 8-8:30pm and reservations are suggested, if not required.