That not-so-magical (and not-at-all-awaited) time when walking outdoors feels like being slow-roasted in an oven and our entire personality is just… sweat is upon us. But hold your heatstroke, peeps – because the UAE’s food scene has decided to bless us with a lineup of summer menus so fabulous, even the sun’s gonna wanna come down here for a quick bite. Here’s your ultimate guide to the juiciest, iciest and mouth-watering seasonal bites across summer menus in the city. Prepare your appetite cuz things are about to get deliciously dramatic!
Also read: Labubu Fans Of UAE, Don’t Miss These Labubu Themed Workshops & Parties
Forget diamonds – mangoes are a girl’s best friend this season. Artisan Bakers is leaning into the mango madness with a dessert spread that’ll make your inner child scream. We’re talking dreamy mango mousse cake that’s smoother than your last situationship, and a cheeky little surprise called Mango Mimo, a delightful dessert-meets-cocktail hybrid that nobody asked for but now we absolutely need.
There’s something in their summer menu for each of you – even if you “don’t do sweet things” (liar, liar, pants on fire!)
Not a mango fan? Why worry? Riviera by Jean Imbert, perched on the fourth floor of The Lana, Dorchester Collection, is here with the South-of-France dinner vibes you didn’t know you needed. From burrata with confit capsicums to grilled octopus and veal tonnato, this summer set menu is basically a holiday in Cannes, minus the delayed flights and sunburn. Want to get extra fancy? Add a glass of grape for AED 55 and live your best bougie life. Dessert? Of course. Pick from a 100% chocolate bowl, a vanilla crème brûlée, or a fruity pistachio verrine that tastes like summer in a spoon.
Also read: 7 Nol Card Benefits You Had No Idea Existed
And we’re back to mangoes, because who can resist? Bhukkad Café has officially entered its tropical era and the result? A full-blown mango takeover. Their Summer Mango Menu is so fresh, I can’t even tell you how much. Highlights of their summer menu include:
Basically, it’s like a holiday in Goa… but for your tastebuds!
Al Nahda’s favourite tapas-and-shisha spot Mahi Café is running a summer deal so good, it should come with a warning label. From June 16 to August 31, you can get: 1 bold fusion starter (hello, Butter Chicken Fatayer), 1 drink (maybe a tandoori chai?) and 1 single-flavour shisha. All for AED 55. No no, I didn’t miss a zero. It’s just your new evening plan. You’re welcome.
Hold my chuski, because this summer menu is pure, unfiltered 90s kid joy. Dhaba Lane is throwing a Gola Festival all summer long, and it’s everything you loved as a kid but with the prettiest plating! Expect icy throwbacks like Kala Khatta, Kaccha Aam, Rose, Blue Curacao, and more (AED 25). You’ll also be thrilled to discover funky fusion flavours like Pan Pasand, Melody Chocolate, and Mango Mastani Bite (AED 30). Each gola is handcrafted, syrup-drenched, and designed to take you back to summer holidays when your biggest problem was dripping gola juice on your shirt. As Chef Harangad Singh puts it: “It’s the childhood joy of baraf ka gola… with a grown-up remix.”
If you thought Dave’s Hot Chicken couldn’t get any hotter (or cooler in this context), think again! Because they’ve gone and dropped a lineup of colour-popping, fruit-packed slushers across all their GCC locations, and we are not okay. These icy legends come in fab flavours like: Blue Raspberry Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Watermelon Lemonade and Orange Lemonade Each one is basically a tongue-tickling ice bath for your soul, the kind you desperately need after biting into their “Reaper”-level slider (may the odds be ever in your favour). And if you’re more of a sweet-tooth kinda girlie or guy, don’t worry, their top-loaded shakes are here to save your summer meltdown. Pick from crushed Oreos or crunchy M&M’s and just go to town.
These summer menus are too good to miss and let’s be real – no one wants salad when it’s 45 degrees out. Whether you’re craving something light and refreshing or rich and nostalgic, this is your ultimate checklist for eating your way through summer like the queen you are meant to be!
You may also like: Everything’s Under AED 10 At This Summer Only Menu In Dubai
A foodie pal pinged me the other day asking if I’ve had Donne Biryani in… Read More
We’ve all had those days. You get home after a long day at work, too… Read More
Summer in Dubai has one rule - if it's not indoors, it's not happening. But… Read More
If you've never heard of Phygital Football before, now’s the perfect time to get familiar,… Read More
If you missed UNTOLD Dubai’s jaw-dropping debut in 2024, and spent the whole weekend drowning… Read More
If you grew up celebrating Dashama Vrat or have only just started observing it as… Read More