Jay, Author at Vaagabond

When in Dubai, a place you most definitely need to see is City Walk. This creative high-end space brings the community together through art, culture, food, shopping, and experiences in a brilliant and unexpected way. You’ve got international retail shops, gourmet dining experiences, stunning residences, and luxurious hotels all melded together with original art in a contemporary and convenient setting. For locals and visitors alike, City Walk has everything you need. Things to Do in City Walk Naturally, you’ll want to do a little shopping while you’re at Dubai’s City Walk. There are high-end international brands for fashion, accessories, and homewares. You’ll see fresh flowers and gifts for everyone you love, no matter their age. And of course, you’re bound to find plenty to gift to yourself. Stop in Boots or Dior for your beauty needs. Choose a stunning new piece of jewelry from Swarovski, or grab delectable chocolates at Slik for a gift you can give anyone. All that shopping will make you hungry, and the restaurants in City Walk will not disappoint. Baku Café Dubai is a sensational oasis for traditional Azerbaijani cuisine. Casual yet immersive, you’ll love the atmosphere, hospitality, and the delicious food. There’s no place like Home either, by McGettigan’s. It’s a bar and restaurant with an upstairs and downstairs space that’s open for breakfast and has plenty of pints for you to enjoy. The terrace is the perfect place to be when it’s cooler outside so you can view the garden. You can also head to Sarabeth’s, famed in NYC and now in Dubai. The contemporary American-style menu has everything from premium Angus steaks and fresh lobster. Don’t miss the bakery either with desserts that are worth the caloric splurge. You can always walk them off while looking at the street art. Craving a zippy hit of spice in a modern setting? Farzi Café won’t disappoint with acclaimed Indian food that joins forces with molecular gastronomy for an unparalleled gourmet experience. The beautiful décor will make you feel like you’re in another world. Berkan Steakhouse is another wonderful option with immaculate ingredients, presentation, and dishes. As the name suggests, you will likely want to order one of the mouth-watering steaks, though there are plenty other options for you if you’d prefer not to feast on red meat. For something a bit different, Boaz features Turkish delights that include both sweet and savory items you’ll love. The location faces the fountain for a splendid view while the intriguing ambience sets the mood. Sit outdoors if you’d like a gorgeous view of the skyline downtown or watch the chefs create your dishes before your eyes in the open kitchen. Street Art in City Walk Speaking of street art, that’s another reason to stop by City Walk. While City Walk opened in 2013, the street art was added in 2016. Now it makes this place an outdoor gallery of sorts, a great place to stroll while sampling all those tasty treats you just bought at those lovely shops. Nick Walker created the “I love Dubai” piece with the recognizable character, Vandal, who always wears a bowler hat. You’ll also see French stencil artist Blek le Rat’s “Rats in Dubai” which showcases a tug of war between a group of kids and a rat. Etam Cru presents “Girl with the Orange” which you’ll find on the side of one of the buildings on the edge of the pedestrian area. Meanwhile, the contrast and color of Eelus’s “Not Everything is so Black & White” is a gorgeous work of art you’ll find beside a café. What makes the street art in City Walk so amazing is that these artists are from all over the world, giving this a more international vibe. As is the case with “Japanese Oiran Gal” by Aiko. Another British urban artist, D*FACE, uses spray art and pop-art style to present two works – “Shop ‘Til You Drop” and “Nothing Lasts Forever.” Brothers and former refugees Icy and Sot created “Let Her Be Free” on two facing walls. Get a close-up look at these because the woman in this work of art is surrounded by tons of birds flying away from her though at a distance, you’ll think she’s wearing a black headscarf. Vhils, a Portuguese artist, presents “Bedouin” that he’s created by chipping pieces away rather than adding something to his wall canvas. The London Police are playful in a different way, with a vibrant design right at the City Walk pedestrian zone entrance. Rone of Australia’s street art scene created “Nadila,” a haunting portrait that is astoundingly beautiful while Beau Stanton, an American artist has contributed a huge classical-style mural. While each of these works is utterly fascinating, it is perhaps Stanton’s “Dubai Lenticular Mural” that will captivate you most of all. The reason? They give off a 3D effect and appear to change as you walk on by. Belgian street artist, ROA, has some highly-recognizable works of animals all around the world. You’ll find his art around a corner turn, so be careful or else you might just miss it. Now you can see why City Walk is a place you need to see when you’re in Dubai. There’s something for everyone in the shops and restaurants. And as for the art, it brings us all together all the more, plus you can’t beat any of these for a superior Instagram background!