September in Dubai is shaping up to be a busy one. There's a beachfront reopening, a battle of the bands reaching its finale, afternoon tea with a view from 442 metres up, and enough new menus and weekly rituals to fill a month of plans. Here's where to go.
Tattu, Ciel Dubai Marina
Tattu has reopened at Ciel Dubai Marina after a spell closed. The contemporary Asian restaurant returns across two floors near the top of the world's tallest hotel. Level 74 holds the main restaurant and bar, home to Tattu's suspended cherry blossom tree, along with the Black Dragon dining room and the White Dragon Sunset bar. A floor up, on Level 81, the Sky Lounge & Terrace is back too, with views stretching across the Marina and out to the Palm. The comeback brings a couple of new fixtures to the calendar, a weekday business lunch and a daily sunset offering at the Sky Lounge, with afternoon tea, brunches and DJ sessions promised later in the year.
Sobremesa, Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai
One night only, on 9 September, Sobremesa hands its kitchen over to a proper collaboration. Executive Chef Marco Ferreyra teams up with Chef Robin Höfer – whose background includes MICHELIN-starred kitchens across Europe, a stint at Disfrutar in Barcelona and time at Core by Clare Smyth in London – for a six-course menu that plays with big flavour combinations. Expect baby corn with mole and dashi, wagyu beef with avocado and leche de tigre, and langoustine with seaweed and jalapeño. Dinner is AED 350 per person, with an optional AED 150 cocktail and agave pairing for those who want to go all in. Seats are limited, so don't sit on this one.
The Tent by Bla Bla, JBR, Dubai
Four heats down, one night left. On 9 September, the Jack Daniel's Battle of the Bands reaches its grand finale, bringing together the winners from each round, Lunic, BRIO Band DXB, Sweet Chilli Jam and Electric Bloom, for one last head-to-head. Doors open at 8pm, with the competition running to midnight and an afterparty with a resident DJ taking it through to 3am. The winner walks away with a trip to Tennessee, including a visit to the Jack Daniel Distillery and a recording session in a Nashville studio. It's 21+ only, with table bookings available on request.
At.mosphere Lounge, Burj Khalifa
Few afternoon teas come with a view like this one. At.mosphere Lounge serves the ritual 442 metres up, on Level 122 of the Burj Khalifa, with mini sandwiches, freshly baked scones and a spread of cakes and pastries to match the scenery. There are three ways to do it. La Gourmandise, at AED 350 per person, gets you the full spread with unlimited hot and cold drinks. Sparkling High Tea steps it up with two glasses of Prosecco each, at AED 550. And for something more celebratory, Luxurious High Tea includes a bottle of champagne for two and a main course alongside the full selection, at AED 850. Served daily from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.
Belgian Beer Cafe, Grand Millennium Dubai, Barsha
Sunday roast just got a serious glow-up. Chef Sree has taken the weekend classic and stuffed it with a rich mushroom and cheese filling, wrapped in beef tenderloin. It arrives with all the trimmings you'd want: roasted carrots and potatoes, beans, fried cauliflower, braised red cabbage and Yorkshire pudding, plus a peppercorn sauce to tie it together. At AED 99 with a pint of Belgian beer or a glass of house wine included, it's an easy sell for a long, unhurried Sunday. Running every week throughout September, from noon until 1am.
Uptown Social, Uptown Tower, JLT
That midweek slump after work has an easy fix. From Monday to Thursday, starting at 5pm, two mains and two drinks come to just AED 119, a low-key way to turn a regular evening into something worth showing up for. The pet-friendly café also has plenty going on beyond that, from a free dessert when you dine with your dog to an afternoon coffee and cake break and a weekday Business Lunch, so there's more than one reason to make it a regular stop.
Zenon, Kempinski Central Avenue, Downtown Dubai
Negroni Week lands at Zenon from 21 to 27 September, and the bar team hasn't held back. Five reinterpretations of the classic are on the menu, each pushing the bitter-sweet formula somewhere unexpected. Try Tropical, built on kumquat-infused gin and pineapple, at AED 75. Or go bolder with Spiced Mango, made with Thai chilli-infused gin, at AED 80. Matcha brings an earthy, distinctly Japanese edge, also AED 80. Berry & Basil leans botanical, with lemongrass gin and fresh basil, AED 80. And for something smokier, Smoked Coffee combines mezcal with coffee-infused vermouth, at AED 90. Each is designed to sit comfortably alongside Zenon's Mediterranean-Asian menu.
Lucky Voice, Dubai
No partner, no experience, no excuse. Every Thursday, Lucky Voice throws open its floor for free Salsa and Bachata lessons from 7pm to 9pm, taught by Project Baila, one of Dubai's go-to Latin dance communities. Once the lesson wraps, the night doesn't stop there, it rolls straight into social dancing, so you can put your new moves to work before the night's out.
Cove Beach, La Vie, JBR
Cove Beach is back, and the setting hasn't lost any of its shine, with Ain Dubai and Bluewaters as the backdrop. Sunbeds start from AED 100 on weekdays and AED 150 on weekends, and the full amount comes back to you in food and drink credit. Valet parking is free every day, and weekends bring live DJs into the mix. Open daily from noon to 9pm, it's built for lingering.
Address Creek Harbour, Dubai Creek Harbour
Sunset comes with a view here. Luma Pool Lounge's Happy Hour runs daily from 3pm to 7pm, with drinks starting at AED 30, an easy way to ease into the evening against the backdrop of Dubai Creek Harbour. The hotel has a few other September offers running too, including a weekday Business Lunch and a new TWG Tea afternoon tea, for anyone looking to make a full day of it.