Shaken not stirred

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With the endless number of venues to choose from when looking for a night out, sometimes it just makes sense to go with a classic. So, what could be better than teaming an evening at one of Dubai’s most long-standing hotels with a ladies night dedicated to 007’s signature drink? Team TMN were only too happy to investigate…

What: Hakkatini Nights

Where: Hakkasan Dubai, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

When: Saturday – Wednesday, 6pm – 2am

The promise: “A relaxed yet elegant experience at Hakkasan Dubai, offering guests a perfect combination of Hakkasan’s beautiful Martinis and delicious small eats”

Did it deliver?  As Team TMN made our way to the outdoor terrace, we were captivated by Hakkasan’s décor, classic in its oriental elegance but achieving a modern feel thanks to the cobalt blue, neon-lit bar that ran the length of the venue. Once outside, we settled into the chilled vibe – incredibly inviting if you’re looking for a relaxed catch up with the girls, as there’s none of the hectic crowds you might find elsewhere.

A great deal if you’re a Martini lover, the ladies night package offered three variations of the classic cocktail, including the signature Hakkatini, the Zesty Martini – which was a particularly intriguing twist on the original – and Lychee Martini, all accompanied by number of small eats.

With regards to the selection available, the food menu – like the drinks offering – definitely caters to an acquired taste. Choosing from a slightly limited menu, we sampled the stir-fry vegetables and pine nut lettuce wrap, the fried soft-shell crab with chilli and curry leaf, the chef’s selection of dim sum basket, the mooli puff, prawn crackers and homemade macaron. While it’s always a good concept to include food where ladies night is concerned, do make a point to remember the ‘small’ in small eats – it’s definitely more of a light-bite over a cocktail than something to hold you over for the evening. Undeterred by this, the peckish TMN team did end up ordering extra plates from the main menu and we spent the rest of the evening partnering great conversation with a cocktail in hand – no better way to spend a ladies night!

The verdict: A stunning venue in an ideal location, Hakkatini Nights is a great concept for those who are partial to James Bond’s signature cocktail. At AED275 per person, it’s not really value for money when comparing to other ladies night offerings, but it certainly seems to be targeting a select crowd. While we would like to see it appeal to a wider audience with a little more choice to the small eats and drinks menu, it still makes for a delightfully relaxed evening.

Asian Persuasion

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As Dubai gears up for spring, it’s unquestionably the best time of year for the UAE’s outdoor-loving residents. So, there couldn’t be a better way for Team TMN to spend the season than with a recently opened restaurant – outdoor of course – in the heart of the city…

What: Zeta Restaurant/Lounge

Where: The Address Downtown, Dubai

When: Daily, 12pm – 12am

The promise: “With spectacular views over Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Fountain, Zeta Restaurant/Lounge is an exquisite new outdoor dining experience in the heart of Downtown Dubai, specialising in Asian fusion cuisine. With an informal and relaxed look and feel, the new dine-in destination is envisaged to elevate the standards of hospitality through its family-style approach.”

Did it deliver? As we stepped out onto the terrace, the first thing that Team TMN were met with was the best of what Downtown Dubai has to offer. Directly overlooking the fountains and the iconic Burj Khalifa, the panoramic views were like experiencing dinner and a show and we couldn’t have asked for better seats if we’d paid for them. The minimalist décor was ideal, with nothing to distract from the restaurant’s main attraction – the view – though it still managed to capture the theme with subtle Asian styling.  While it had a large capacity for diners and bar goers alike – people were still arriving as late as 11pm – an intimate atmosphere was created which was perfect for a sophisticated meal with either friends, guests or for business.

We started off the night with one of Zeta’s signature ‘ubertails’. Extending the ever-popular sharing concept to its drinks menu, we sampled their highly recommended lemongrass & coconut cocktail. Arriving in a large glass server – enough for four – it was a novel concept and deceptively tasty – you definitely don’t need four people to enjoy it!

With Japanese cuisine ranking high on TMN’s flavours of choice, we were delighted to find the menu abundant with unique recipes, though not so many that it became impossible to choose. We began with a signature sushi dish – the Burj Roll – which came with salmon, avocado, chopped lettuce, lightly spiced mayo and tobiko. While some of the Team admittedly weren’t the biggest fans of sushi, the dish successfully won over even our more skeptical members.  Adhering to the sharing concept of the restaurant, everything was brought as made and we enjoyed the shrimp tempura, crispy and generously portioned, as well as the prawn avocado salad, which was delicious enough to make even a non-seafood eater think otherwise.

Moving onto the main courses, the stand out of the night was definitely the spicy wagyu beef tenderloin, which was accompanied with Japanese rice. Literally melting in the mouth, it had an intoxicating flavour which would bring us back again on that reason alone! Additionally, we tried the miso-marinated black cod with pickled ginger and yuzu emulsion – unique in flavour and an absolutely gorgeous recipe for seafood lovers.

Naturally, we had to try our hand at Zeta’s signature desserts. The perfect meringues – whipped and creamy at the centre – of the marinated mango pavlova with a refreshing coconut sorbet and almond crumble, really brought the evening home. For all the size of the portions, there wasn’t a crumb left! All that was left to do was sit back with a few more cocktails and soak up the scenery.

The verdict: It’s definitely more than just the view and the venue that’s the draw at Zeta. With a unique menu for both dinner and drinks, you can see why people continued to arrive throughout the night, as it’s a fantastic place to spend or end an evening. For the quality and portion sizes of the dishes, you definitely get what you pay for; you’d be forgiven for thinking it would be extravagant, but you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Do make sure you book ahead of time though – as the weather continues to get better, we can see this being the top spot of the season!

 

Experiencing the high life

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With all the little stresses of an average week, Team TMN is no stranger to the typically English desire of solving everything with a cup of tea. So, when we heard that a certain hotel was launching a new afternoon tea, we were happy to take our unwinding somewhere slightly more upmarket…

What: The Palace High Tea Buffet

Where: The Palace Downtown Dubai

When: Every Wednesday and Saturday, 2pm – 6pm

The promise: “Guests looking to make the most of their afternoon can savour traditional and contemporary dishes, featuring a delectable selection of hot and cold appetisers, entrees and desserts, as well as pairing their experience from our line-up of over 25 different varieties of premium loose tea and infusions.

Did it deliver? Taking in the elegantly traditional Arabic interior, Team TMN made our way into the lobby of The Palace Downtown Dubai where the high tea was being served. While a fairly sizable venue, the atmosphere created was intimate and relaxed by the variety of comfortable sofas and table settings; definitely somewhere you could settle in for a catch up with friends or afternoon with the family.

After being led to our table, Arnand – The Palace’s charming Tea Sommelier – gave us an informative and frankly fascinating tour of the multitude of teas on offer from the TWG brand – not just your average English breakfast here, he even introduced us to the quaint library where we were able to polish our knowledge on the culture of tea.

Settling for a gorgeous smelling Assam blend, we were served with a refreshing mint mocktail to cleanse the palate while we perused the offerings of the buffet. Although it might seem a slightly unusual concept to have high tea without the accompanying stacked trays, the buffet proved a winning idea as it allowed us to fill our plates with exactly what we wanted – there wasn’t going to be a bite left!

We started with an assortment of cakes and light savoury bites, with the variety of brownies, cheesecakes and éclairs being particular favourites along with the assortment of finger sandwiches. In another twist to traditional high tea, we were served a selection of hot entrees to the table – a sharing concept that ensured the food remained hot and full of flavor. All perfectly cooked, the salmon quiche and seafood puffs were definite winners, cleverly portioned to ensure you could try a little of everything. Naturally, high tea wouldn’t be complete without homemade scones, which were light and fluffy and offered a mixture of plain and cranberry; the only critique we had was the need for more clotted cream!

Finally, there was the Royal Al Bayt Ice Tea presentation. Admittedly, Team TMN had never given ice tea much thought and certainly not at a high tea; yet this proved to be the highlight of the afternoon. Served to the table on an elegant gold tray set, each ice tea was presented in crystal glassware, a thoughtful flourish which created a personal touch. Each recipe has been created in-house, and we sampled the vividly coloured teas ranging from the amerana ruby to the imperial garnet and the intensely blue Al Bayt citrine – but the stand out was the amethyst ice tea, whose blend of passion fruit, vanilla and purple flower syrups in chamomile tea, made for a deliciously unique beverage. An experience unlike anything else we’ve seen on offer, this concept was a perfect way to round off the afternoon.

The verdict: The Palace High Tea Buffet certainly isn’t one of your run-of-the-mill afternoon teas. Having really stepped it up with the focus on tea as well as the food, they have gone beyond a simple high tea to really stand out in creating a leisurely afternoon experience. Full of delightful surprises and with the price set at just AED 180 per person, it’s an afternoon worth every penny!

Simply SensAsianal

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Ladies night has become a staple in the Dubai nightlife scene, with Team TMN always on the look out for the next hot venue in town. So when we discovered that a certain spa had jumped on the bandwagon, curiosity got the better of us…

What: Ladies Night @ SensAsia Urban Spa

Where: SensAsia Urban Spa, Souk Al Manzil, Dowtown, Dubai

When: Monday, 6pm – 10pm

The promise: “The Thai-meets-NYC day spa invites the city’s stylish females to come as a pair for great savings and a very special experience… we’ve got a feeling you’ll never moan about Monday again.”

Did it deliver? After a decidedly busy day at TMN Towers, we were eager to unwind with a ladies night – and with SensAsia’s novel approach to this Dubai tradition, our expectations were high. Upon discovering the spa tucked away in the heart of Souk Al Manzil, we felt our tension ebbing away as we swapped our shoes for slippers and sunk into chairs with a refreshing elderflower mocktail.

After a warm welcome by our therapists, we were led through to our private changing room, where we donned fluffy white dressing gowns and committed to the surprisingly comfortable (and optional) disposable underwear – no paper pants here! Aside from the luxurious Asian-inspired interiors, what stood out to Team TMN was the intoxicating aroma throughout the spa – a gorgeous blend of scents creating a tangibly calming effect that went beyond the actual massage – the entire ambience was relaxing.

Offering four of their renowned signature massages, the ‘menu’ for SensAsia’s ladies night caters with a well-rounded selection of treatments; with the choice of a stress-busting Thai Yoga Stretch massage, Bali Chic massage, a Pillow Talk massage (said to be ultra calming and includes hot cocoa) or a Knead-It massage.

Opting for the Bali Chic, we relaxed onto the heated massage table – a unique way of warming the muscles we hadn’t yet experienced – while our skilled therapist, Pin, started with a light peppermint foot rub. The Bali Chic offers a slight twist on the traditional Balinese massage; the 90-minute treatment literally flew by as we settled into a state of blissful tranquility with a much-needed Thai yoga-style stretch for tense muscles, followed by SensAsia’s renowned full body massage accompanied by oils that were heavenly on the skin – we were still feeling the moisturising effects days later! With minute attention to detail, even the background music was enjoyable – no stop and start CD changes – yet another aspect that helped to fully immerse us into the experience.

Feeling utterly rejuvenated, we were then led into the relaxation area (if relaxing any further would even be possible at this point) and snuggled onto the lounge beds with a heat pack round our shoulders, a blanket round our feet and a cup of fresh ginger tea, with a side of cucumber and carrot sticks to munch on. By the time we reluctantly set aside the blankets and headed back to the changing rooms, it was nearly 10pm – later than we had anticipated, it makes for quite a long evening if you’ve come straight from the office, but worth every moment.

The verdict: A perfect way to get over those Monday blues, the whole experience makes for a novel and relaxing evening; even at AED460 per treatment, with the second person going free it works out at a bargain price of AED230 for a 90-minute treatment. A perfect night out with the girls, the one downside is that the offer is only available at their Downtown venue, so you do need to book in advance to ensure a place at a convenient time – we’ve already booked in for next week!

A taste of Polynesian paradise

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For Team TMN, a great night out starts with a good meal and with the abundance of dining options in Dubai, we’re normally completely spoiled for choice. Luckily, when one of our favourite haunts announced the launch of an exciting new menu, our decision was easy…

What: Island Grill Menu 

Where: Mahiki Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

When: Monday – Friday, 7pm – 10pm

The promise: “There’s never a boring night at Mahiki restaurant. You’ll discover a fun and vibrant Polynesian theme running through every aspect of the Polynesian bar in Dubai – from the easygoing yet chic surroundings, to the tropical grill food menu.”

Did it deliver? Team TMN rocked up to Jumeirah Beach Hotel, dressed to impress and ready to start our evening at Mahiki Dubai. As ever, the venue boasts a Polynesian vibe, creating a fantastic illusion of somewhere far more exotic as you descend the staircase. With our table booked for 8.30pm, it was fairly quiet – not a surprise if like us, you rarely come here before 11pm – though we quickly realised that, without the intense dance music in the background, it was the perfect opportunity for a good catch up while sampling Mahiki’s famed cocktails and new light-bite menu without the crowd.

While the previous menu offered a traditional dining experience, the new Island Grill Menu promotes a sharing concept, with Mahiki championing what is fast becoming the hot new way to dine in the region. Variety is the spice of life – or so they say – and we were only too happy to sample from the mouthwatering array of dishes.

Typical with a sharing concept, each dish was served when ready and we started with edamame beans with sea salt, a grilled wagyu flank salad with pineapple, snow peas and baby gem leaves and a plate of fish finger sandwiches – so good they disappeared in a bite. Stand out dishes included the Wagyu sliders with aged cheddar and truffle mayo, macaroni and cheese bites – which we couldn’t get enough of – buttermilk popcorn chicken pieces that were perfectly crispy and served with truffle mayo and the triple-cooked chips, accompanied by ‘posh ketchup’ which was homemade with a spicy kick.

While perhaps not the most sophisticated of menus, it was the type of food you crave to indulge on, and each portion was cooked to perfection. A particular favourite was the seared wagyu sirloin with béarnaise sauce and asparagus, which along with the seared salmon, was the closest we tried to a main course in terms of portion size. With little room left we tried the Canadian lobster rolls, enjoying each delicious nibble.

Naturally, we managed to save extra room for dessert, diving into the sticky toffee pudding with vanilla bean ice cream, pavlova with fresh mango, churros with a warmed, tangy chocolate orange sauce and the restaurant’s signature dish – the Mahiki coconut – a fantastic looking ‘coconut’ with a hard chocolate exterior filled with an ice cream centre and topped with a variety of tropical fruits.

With the restaurant closing at 11pm to make way for the club vibe, it was just the right amount of time to comfortably let our meal digest before we danced the night away – a perfect transition! 

The verdict: Should you ever need to get in the mood for a night out, dinner at Mahiki is ideal. With the obviously convenient location and a menu that boasts light yet substantial bites at a reasonable price, you effectively have your night fixed up with minimal effort. The Island Grill Menu is definitely one to be shared with friends, and if you’re planning to continue your evening at Mahiki, ensure you go down on either their ladies night or the weekend to guarantee the best turn out – we’ll see you there!

A taste of Polynesian paradise

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For Team TMN, a great night out starts with a good meal and with the abundance of dining options in Dubai, we’re normally completely spoiled for choice. Luckily, when one of our favourite haunts announced the launch of an exciting new menu, our decision was easy…

What: Island Grill Menu 

Where: Mahiki Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

When: Monday – Friday, 7pm – 10pm

The promise: “There’s never a boring night at Mahiki restaurant. You’ll discover a fun and vibrant Polynesian theme running through every aspect of the Polynesian bar in Dubai – from the easygoing yet chic surroundings, to the tropical grill food menu.”

Did it deliver? Team TMN rocked up to Jumeirah Beach Hotel, dressed to impress and ready to start our evening at Mahiki Dubai. As ever, the venue boasts a Polynesian vibe, creating a fantastic illusion of somewhere far more exotic as you descend the staircase. With our table booked for 8.30pm, it was fairly quiet – not a surprise if like us, you rarely come here before 11pm – though we quickly realised that, without the intense dance music in the background, it was the perfect opportunity for a good catch up while sampling Mahiki’s famed cocktails and new light-bite menu without the crowd.

While the previous menu offered a traditional dining experience, the new Island Grill Menu promotes a sharing concept, with Mahiki championing what is fast becoming the hot new way to dine in the region. Variety is the spice of life – or so they say – and we were only too happy to sample from the mouthwatering array of dishes.

Typical with a sharing concept, each dish was served when ready and we started with edamame beans with sea salt, a grilled wagyu flank salad with pineapple, snow peas and baby gem leaves and a plate of fish finger sandwiches – so good they disappeared in a bite. Stand out dishes included the Wagyu sliders with aged cheddar and truffle mayo, macaroni and cheese bites – which we couldn’t get enough of – buttermilk popcorn chicken pieces that were perfectly crispy and served with truffle mayo and the triple-cooked chips, accompanied by ‘posh ketchup’ which was homemade with a spicy kick.

While perhaps not the most sophisticated of menus, it was the type of food you crave to indulge on, and each portion was cooked to perfection. A particular favourite was the seared wagyu sirloin with béarnaise sauce and asparagus, which along with the seared salmon, was the closest we tried to a main course in terms of portion size. With little room left we tried the Canadian lobster rolls, enjoying each delicious nibble.

Naturally, we managed to save extra room for dessert, diving into the sticky toffee pudding with vanilla bean ice cream, pavlova with fresh mango, churros with a warmed, tangy chocolate orange sauce and the restaurant’s signature dish – the Mahiki coconut – a fantastic looking ‘coconut’ with a hard chocolate exterior filled with an ice cream centre and topped with a variety of tropical fruits.

With the restaurant closing at 11pm to make way for the club vibe, it was just the right amount of time to comfortably let our meal digest before we danced the night away – a perfect transition! 

The verdict: Should you ever need to get in the mood for a night out, dinner at Mahiki is ideal. With the obviously convenient location and a menu that boasts light yet substantial bites at a reasonable price, you effectively have your night fixed up with minimal effort. The Island Grill Menu is definitely one to be shared with friends, and if you’re planning to continue your evening at Mahiki, ensure you go down on either their ladies night or the weekend to guarantee the best turn out – we’ll see you there!

Smartphone, smart price

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Team TMN are always on the hunt when it comes to value for money, but like most, we aren’t ones to compromise on quality. Upon hearing that a certain brand had released its first mid-range smartphone, we were curious to see what all the fuss was about…

What: BlackBerry Z3 smartphone

Where: Available from major electronic dealers across the UAE

When: Launched July 2014 (in the UAE)

The promise: ‘Get the best, now for less – the latest BlackBerry 10 experience at an attractive price. Stay connected, share what you value, stay on top of what’s important and be more productive.”

Did it deliver? Naturally, the first thing Team TMN noticed about the BlackBerry Z3 was its sleek design. While a slightly odd size (think somewhere between an IPhone 5S and a Samsung Galaxy Note 3), it certainly didn’t look like a budget phone, dynamically square in shape and relatively light for its size. Another pleasing feature we found on first sight – BlackBerry have finally decided to put its charging doc at the bottom, which is great as it opens up room for a wide range of accessories.

As BlackBerry’s first mid-range handset to run the BlackBerry 10 platform, we were excited to see what the browser could offer. We knew the phone uses OS version 10.2.1 and supports around 90 percent of android apps, but first thing’s first; we had to actually be able to use the phone. Not to say that we aren’t tech savvy at TMN Towers, but with no navigation button, it took us a little while to figure out how to get back to the home screen from an open application (tip – you swipe upwards from the BlackBerry logo at the bottom). Once familiar though, a pretty cool feature about this was being able to swipe upwards to wake up the phone, making it very accessible.

Back to the BlackBerry 10 browser – it’s everything you would expect in a smartphone, fast, easy to navigate and offers great WIFI reception. The one limitation for us was only being allowed four active frames at a time, not including the BlackBerry Hub and headless apps; not a problem, you just have to remember that the first frame closes automatically when you open up a fifth.

The BlackBerry Hub was a particular favourite for Team TMN, as having all of your notifications, messages and updates available on one ‘app’ was hugely convenient – we loved being able to view a tagged photo on Facebook and answer an email in one go!

A notable feature about the phone is that it sports a slightly unexpected 1.5GB RAM, which no other phone in this mid-range sector can claim to match, and hosts a decent 8GB of internal memory. The long battery life of up to 15 hours was also a bonus, as for one thing, it allowed us to spend more time with the 5MP camera – while the capability was slightly disappointing, it did offer the Geo Tagging Facility, always desired by social sharing addicts and with an extra long battery life, we were able to spend hours discovering hidden depths of the phone without the oh-so-familiar worry that it was going to die on us at any moment.

The verdict: The bar has definitely been raised for budget phones with the BlackBerry Z3. It offers everything we’ve come to expect from a smartphone, and while there wasn’t anything particularly outstanding that stood out to Team TMN, it’s important to compare like for like in the budget stakes – at AED 899, the features are impressive and the price is definitely the icing on the cake!

 

 

 

Not your average SUV

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It’s no secret that living in Dubai comes with aspirations, and having a flash car, whatever your preference, is definitely part of the dream. So when Team TMN were offered the chance to briefly live life in the fast lane, how could we refuse?

What: 2015 Cadillac Escalade

Where: A range of Middle East showrooms

When: Arrived across the Middle East mid-July 2014

The promise: “A sophisticated luxury SUV designed to establish new benchmarks for hand-tailored craftsmanship and technology.”

Did it deliver? Jaws dropped a little as Team TMN spotted the fourth generation Cadillac Escalade pulling up in our office car park. Although it may boast an entirely new design, it exuded the same dominant presence we have come to associate with the iconic Cadillac brand – the height of sophistication with the power to match. We were immediately drawn by the sleek exterior detail, evident from the vertically stacked ‘jewellery’ lighting with full LED – to create a new take on the Cadillac’s signature vertical light – to the LED-illuminated door handles and illuminating wreath-and-crest insignia.

The automatic step down appeared from nowhere as the doors opened, allowing us to step on board with the same feeling one might have on entering a luxury private jet. The interior, crafted with wood finishing and accented suede created an air of extravagance, and we melted into the sculpted soft-leather seats. Including three rows of seating, it’s a sizable car by any standards, but without a hint of minivan quality.

Opulence and technology were clearly integral to creating the epitome of elegance and driving ease. Unsurprisingly, the seats presented us with far more than just somewhere to park ourselves. Reclining options in the first two rows, as well as heating and cooling in the front seats and a heating option in the second row, offered choices we never knew we wanted. But the stand out feature for us was the patented Safety Alert Seat – offering directional vibrations that alert the driver about potential crash threats – a definite bonus if you regularly navigate the Sheikh Zayed Road.

Certainly one of the most intuitive and tech savvy vehicles Team TMN have driven, the centre screen has voice recognition (which we unfortunately didn’t get a chance to master) and the same tap and swipe capabilities of any smart phone, with a high-res dashboard which presents all of the driver information digitally. An amazing aspect of this was how it reflects the information onto your windshield, allowing access without having to take your eyes off the road. The Escalade also contains new safety features including a Driver Awareness package, as well as the standard CUE (Cadillac’s system for connectivity and control), so not only do you feel safe, the Escalade makes you feel as though you’re driving in partner with the car.

A standard among most SUV’s these days; the Cadillac Escalade also came with an in-built rear entertainment system. But, as to be expected, the system offered was top of the range, with a 9-inch roof-mounted screen, Blue-Ray DVD system and even different power outlets to ensure you never fall off the digital radar.

While it might feel like you’re in a private jet, it certainly didn’t drive like one. With a 4WD drivetrain, a new 6.2L V8 engine and 420 horsepower, the Escalade had every aspect you could want in a luxury vehicle – boasting the power of a muscle car, yet with the driving ease of a coupe. While we honestly could find no fault in the drive, we had to remind ourselves that the Escalade is a deceptively heavy car, and though it may drive like a sports model, the brakes are still that of an SUV. Driving around was more of an experience than anything, as with 623 Nm of torque (which in layman terms – the greater the torque, the more enhanced the feeling of power on demand) and Bose having been brought in with its Active Noise Cancellation technology to add peace without compromising on the power, we were more than happy to cruise the city from dawn to dusk.

The verdict: The 2015 Cadillac Escalade achieves the perfect balance of boldness and elegance, and Team TMN could not think of a more fitting car to stay safe while battling through Dubai’s notorious traffic zones. One word of warning – try not to fall too much in love unless you have a minimum of AED 302,000 to play with. It’s easy to get hooked after just one drive!

 

Ramadan relaxation

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 With Ramadan firmly underway, what could be better than the opportunity to experience a spa treatment specifically designed for the Holy month?

What: Signature Luxury Hammam treatment

Where: Dalouk Spa, Sharjah Ladies Club, Sharjah

When: Sunday – Thursday, 9am – 9pm; Friday, 3pm – 9pm

The promise: “An intensely detoxifying body treatment, designed to draw deep impurities out of your face and body. It will leave your skin illuminated and hydrated and boost collagen production in the luxury of a private treatment room.”

Did it deliver? Met with a subtle wave of incense, a warm welcome from the staff and a fresh lemon-mint juice, it was clear that Team TMN were going to experience luxury as we arrived at the Dalouk Spa, set in the cornice of Sharjah Ladies Club. In keeping with its coastal surroundings, the interior attained a sense of tranquility you’d expect of somewhere far off and exotic, and we automatically felt removed from the hustle of the city.

After a quick consultation, we were led through to change, passing the therapeutic thermal pool which the spa offers as a pre-treatment relaxer – a seriously tempting feature to take advantage of should you want to submerge yourself into total relaxation – just ensure you come in ahead of your appointment time.

Robed up and ready to go, the private candle-lit treatment rooms were complete with soft lighting and mood music to achieve a Zen-like ambience. Our Red Flower Hammam treatment began with a coffee blossom and olive stone scrub, followed by a full-body clay mask. A thin layer of rhassoul clay felt light on the skin, a pleasant surprise as it was nothing like the product-heavy treatments we’d occasionally experienced. While comfortably cocooned for 15 minutes, we received a cleansing facial massage from our therapist Gilda, who used an illuminating rose essential oil to help boost collagen.

With a quick shower and feeling thoroughly detoxed, we returned to finish the treatment with a warming deep-tissue massage. A refreshing orange quince steam mist sprayed over the table soothed the senses, and cardamom amber oil was used as Gilda’s skills as a masseuse were demonstrated. Once the treatment was completed, we were instructed to leave the oil on for two hours to ensure the maximum benefits and we left feeling rejuvenated from head-to-toe.

The verdict: An intensely therapeutic experience, the 90-minute treatment is a perfect fix from the stresses of city life, and a great way to keep yourself relaxed during the day if you’re fasting. While it might be more of a trek for those living in other Emirates, the quality of both the spa and the treatment will prove it’s worth the AED 550 price tag – we certainly won’t be waiting until next Ramadan to return!

Let’s BOUNCE

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 With summer set to be a scorcher, Team TMN were anxious to find a way to shake up our fitness routines before cabin fever takes hold.  First on our list, the highly anticipated free-jumping sensation just over from Australia…

What: BOUNCE Free-Jumping Revolution Dubai

Where: 32, 4B Street Al Quoz, Dubai (behind Ace Hardware on the Sheikh Zayed Road)

When: Saturday – Wednesday, 10am – 10pm; Thursday, 10am-12am; Friday, 9am – 12am

The promise: “BOUNCE offers the thrill of high-octane adrenaline sport to anyone who feels like jumping around. It’s like a giant skate park made out of trampolines. Stunt grade airbags and circus grade padding – think Parkour made easy, or gymnastics gone freestyle in an environment where anyone can do it!”

Did it deliver? Surprisingly easy to find and just off the Sheikh Zayed Road, Team TMN made it to BOUNCE just in time for our 5pm slot – we’d planned ahead and booked online, which is vital if you want to secure a spot as the session was already fully booked – a sure sign of its burgeoning popularity.

The converted warehouse was a perfect fit for the urban street vibe created by BOUNCE, with the whole venue coordinated in the blue, yellow and pink colours of the brand. We quickly signed-in, picked up our complimentary grip socks and headed upstairs, placing our bags and shoes in the locker area (a quick note – there are no locks available on any of the lockers, so ensuring your valuables are safe is a bit tricky). On our way back down we passed the café which overlooks the 80-interconnected trampolines – great if you want to grab a drink, catch your breath or do a spot of people watching.

We were amazed at the number of activities available, and it soon became clear that an hour was all that was needed to feel the full effects of a trampoline workout. The dodge ball court was a Team TMN favourite, perfect for a bit of healthy competition amongst a group of friends or colleagues, and the giant air bag was another novelty which won us over; proof that none of the activities were geared exclusively for kids or adrenaline junkies!

While it was pretty busy – BOUNCE has a capacity for 115 individuals at any one time – it was a smooth running operation by the staff who were helpful and involved, from refereeing the dodge ball matches and lending a hand with trampoline techniques, to ensuring that queues for the activities went quickly and everyone abided by the one-person-per-trampoline rule.

Tiring quite quickly but unwilling to accept defeat just yet, we spent the rest of our time taking part in some good old-fashioned bouncing, trying out a few tricks to some Top 40 hits and finally wondering exactly how many calories we’d worked off without noticing.

The verdict: BOUNCE has opened just in time for the summer months, and at a rate of AED 80 for an hour, it’s the same price you’d pay for an average gym session but unquestionably more fun. While it’s great for kids and adults alike, we would avoid the danger of being overrun by the after-school crowd by booking later in the evening. A new gem in the Dubai activities arena, there really isn’t a better way to spend an hour or two – and you even get to call it exercise!