Monica Bonalto arrived in Dubai in 2017 with a background in hospitality journalism and quickly became one of the most trusted voices in the UAE's dining and nightlife space. Over seven years on the ground, she has reviewed more than 400 venues across all seven emirates — from the sun-baked beach clubs of JBR and the rooftop terraces of DIFC, to the understated local gems that rarely make it onto tourist lists. Before joining What's Hot in UAE as Nightlife & Dining Editor, Monica contributed to Time Out Dubai, Abu Dhabi Food Festival coverage, and several regional hospitality publications. She has attended every major restaurant opening in Dubai since 2019 and maintains direct relationships with PRs and venue operators across the city — which means the information you read in her guides is always verified, never recycled from a press release. Her specialities are happy hours (she has personally verified every deal on our lists), Friday brunches, and the Northern Emirates' emerging food scene. She is based in DIFC and eats out five times a week. When she says a place is worth your money, it is. Follow Monica's work on Muck Rack , Substack , Vocal , and Medium .
Dubai has spent the last few years quietly building one of the strongest Chinese dining scenes outside China itself, and most round-ups here still treat it as a five-star hotel exercise. That undersells it. Yes, the city has a Michelin-starred Cantonese room inside Atlantis. But it also has a Sichuan hot pot house with face-changing…
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A year is a meaningful milestone in Abu Dhabi’s dining scene, where high-profile openings can fade almost as quickly as they arrive. Novikov Abu Dhabi, settled into The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, has not only survived its first year — it’s consolidated its position as one of the capital’s most consistently impressive Italian-Mediterranean restaurants.…
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If you follow Dubai’s underground electronic music scene, Indira Paganotto at Hive needs no introduction. The Spanish DJ and producer has become a fixture at Soho Garden Meydan’s underground room, and her sets consistently rank among the best electronic music experiences the city offers. Tickets start from Dhs150 — one of the better value propositions…
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Palazzo Versace Dubai isn’t shy about design, so it’s a small surprise that its signature Italian restaurant plays things relatively straight. Vanitas sits on the ground floor of the hotel’s East Wing, looking out over Dubai Creek, and it has built a reputation as one of the more reliable fine-dining Italians in the city rather…
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This 4 July, The Penthouse at FIVE Palm Jumeirah — DJ Mag’s number one club in the Middle East — has something worth planning your Saturday around. BADBOX, the London-based DJ and producer with Cypriot roots and a sound rooted in afro house and afro tech, headlines Skyline Saturdays for what should be one of…
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The complete Dubai ladies night guide for 2026 — where to get free drinks on every night of the week, from Sunday through Friday. Every venue, price and timing across Marina, DIFC, Palm and Downtown.
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The complete guide to the best brunches in Dubai in 2026 — 50+ venues broken down by area and price, from DIFC fine dining to Palm Jumeirah beach clubs and Marina party brunches.
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Camelicious is opening its farm to the public for the first time on World Camel Day (22 June 2026) — a unique look behind one of the UAE’s most iconic agricultural success stories.
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Dubai in summer is a different beast — 40°C heat, blazing sunshine, and a city that refuses to slow down. The solution? Pool bars. Dubai’s hotel and beach club scene has turned the concept of a pool bar into an art form: stunning infinity pools, swim-up bars, day-pass systems, DJ sets from noon to sunset,…
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The 2026 Reality: How the Iran War Changed Everything Before diving into the growth data, there is a critical context that any honest 2026 analysis must address. Most statistics largely reflect data from 2023, 2024, and 2025 — years of record-breaking growth. In early 2026, the escalation of the US-Iran-Israel conflict fundamentally altered conditions on…
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Discover tashas’ two new cafés now open in Al Ain & Sharjah! Enjoy all-day dining, generous portions & unique designs across 8 UAE locations. Plan your visit!
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Ajman is the UAE’s smallest emirate, but it punches above its weight for residents who want to escape Dubai without travelling far. It sits between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain, takes about 40 minutes to reach from central Dubai, and has the feel of a city that hasn’t been completely polished for Instagram. That’s not…
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