Dubai food courts

Hello all, this may seem like a stupid question.We are going on a cruise that leaves from Dubai in 7 weeks time. We have a few days in Dubai before the cruise. We know that the food courts have many different types of food on offer. I am very adventurous when it comes to trying different foods but my partner is not. Is there a central eating area in the food court where for example i could order typical emirate food and my partner could order American food but we could both eat at the same table within the food court area? Thanks in advance for any help.

Do you mean at the airport or the Dubai mall? Either way it's a variety of fast food, I don't believe you will get anything very authentic. If you are spending time in Dubai before make sure you go on a desert safari - super fun with great food, variety for all palates plus belly dancing and camel rides, sand dune surfing - as adventurous as you want!

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Hello all, this may seem like a stupid question.We are going on a cruise that leaves from Dubai in 7 weeks time. We have a few days in Dubai before the cruise. We know that the food courts have many different types of food on offer. I am very adventurous when it comes to trying different foods but my partner is not. Is there a central eating area in the food court where for example i could order typical emirate food and my partner could order American food but we could both eat at the same table within the food court area? Thanks in advance for any help.

The food courts serve many different foods but for a really authentic emirate food experience you may need to seek out the restaurants but these also cater for western tastebuds. Several of the hotels have Eat As Much As You Like buffets where you will find all kinds of different foods. If you go to the Atlantis on the Palm the Kaleidescope restaurant this is excellent. You can get a day pass which will give you access to the water park and the hotel amenities.

In Dubai I would recommend the Burj Khalifa - do book in advance on line as it is cheaper this way and ensures you will get in - turning up on the day is a bit risky. If you time your visit for around 4pm you can then go on to the Dancing Fountains which are awesome.

My other recommendations would be Ski Dubai and the Aquarium, a boat trip on the Dubai Creek, Dhow Dinner Cruise, Desert Safari and of course the malls themselves are amazing. A visit to the Gold Souk is worthwhile (can recommend Safari Gems if you are after some really reasonable priced jewellery - the items I bought there were valued back home at over double what I paid!) Dubai Airport is MASSIVE so do allow plenty of time there on your return especially if you want to spend time in the duty free which is huge.

Taxis are very reasonable and the metro system excellent. There is a HOHO bus but the congestion on the roads can make it difficult to get around and it takes a long while to complete the route.

Do you have your sightseeing plans organised for Dubai. I am lucky to have my son and his family based in Dubai and I have done the cruise from Dubai three times already (son and family joined me on the last one and they loved it so much we have booked for MSC Fantasia on 17th Dec)

You may be interested in the reviews I have written on the Dubai cruises

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=217006

(RCI Serenade of the Seas)

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=253499

(MSC Lirica)

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=273028

(MSC Orchestra)

Good Luck with everything. You will have a great time in the UAE.

Suzanne (Bristol, UK)

Hello 2calgary and Suzanne. Thank you both very much for your responses and suggestions, it is greatly appreciated.

I was referring to the mall food courts, we are staying at a hotel that is 2 minutes walk from the mall of the emirates post cruise for 4 nights we have a half board arrangement for 2 nights at the hotel.

We have been to Dubai before but only a 1 day visit as part of a cruise and we did the desert safari then.

We are doing this same itinerary again next March and have added the week cruise before, so all the suggestions you made (thank you) will be spread between the 3 cruises.

I just really wanted to know if you could order the food from one of the many places on offer in the malls and eat together in a centralised area within the mall?. maybe as a lunch snack in the afternoon.

We are really looking forward to this cruise experience, had to cancel a cruise in January due to a series of mini strokes but now although i'm still not a 100% better,the specialist has given me the all clear to travel, Yaaaaaaaaay.

On top of that, the cruise company have upgraded us to a Suite (our first ever upgrade and suite) so i'll post my thoughts on here.

Once again, thank you both so much for your advice, and Suzanne, thanks for your reviews, so pleased that on the whole your experiences were positive. :)

Hello 2calgary and Suzanne. Thank you both very much for your responses and suggestions, it is greatly appreciated.

 

I was referring to the mall food courts, we are staying at a hotel that is 2 minutes walk from the mall of the emirates post cruise for 4 nights we have a half board arrangement for 2 nights at the hotel.

 

We have been to Dubai before but only a 1 day visit as part of a cruise and we did the desert safari then.

 

We are doing this same itinerary again next March and have added the week cruise before, so all the suggestions you made (thank you) will be spread between the 3 cruises.

 

I just really wanted to know if you could order the food from one of the many places on offer in the malls and eat together in a centralised area within the mall?. maybe as a lunch snack in the afternoon.

 

We are really looking forward to this cruise experience, had to cancel a cruise in January due to a series of mini strokes but now although i'm still not a 100% better,the specialist has given me the all clear to travel, Yaaaaaaaaay.

On top of that, the cruise company have upgraded us to a Suite (our first ever upgrade and suite) so i'll post my thoughts on here.

 

Once again, thank you both so much for your advice, and Suzanne, thanks for your reviews, so pleased that on the whole your experiences were positive. :)

Glad you found the info useful and so pleased to know that you have recovered well enough from your illness and are fit to travel. Great news too about the upgrade. Enjoy your cruise.

Suzanne

To answer your question re food in the malls food court. Yes, you can order from all western food outlets Burger King, Cheesecake factory, 5 Guys, etc. and all the food is eaten just like the US food courts in a central area.

For Canadians Tim Hortons is even there. at the Dubai Mall.

The food courts in the malls or at the airport have lots of restaurant choices and yes you can both eat different food sitting together. You will be amazed at 9pm how busy the food courts are in the malls.

Enjoy Dubai it is a great city to visit.

Sue

To answer your question re food in the malls food court. Yes, you can order from all western food outlets Burger King, Cheesecake factory, 5 Guys, etc. and all the food is eaten just like the US food courts in a central area.

For Canadians Tim Hortons is even there. at the Dubai Mall.

 

The food courts in the malls or at the airport have lots of restaurant choices and yes you can both eat different food sitting together. You will be amazed at 9pm how busy the food courts are in the malls.

 

Enjoy Dubai it is a great city to visit.

 

Sue

Thank you so much for replying Sue, This is what we were hoping. :)