15 great things to do in Abu Dhabi this week

Try the new breakfast menu at Sanderson’s

If you’re looking for some exciting new breakfast options then there’s one place you should add to your must-visit list. Sanderson’s has launched a host of new breakfast options to give you more choice how to start the day. A total of 11 new items have been added to the new-look menu, including sweet and savoury options. New options include three cheese khachapuri, baba ghanouj pizza, dukkah scrambled eggs, the Sanderson’s Royale (that’s the house-style eggs Benedict), tahini avocado toast, sweet potato breakfast pizza and more. There’s a lot of options and all dishes are prepared to be healthy, made with fresh ingredients and cooked to order. To be honest we’re quite keen to try them all.

Sanderson’s, The Walk at Al Seef Resort & Spa by Andalus, Khalifa Park area (02 222 1142)

Sing your heart out at Velocity

From Monday January 6, Velocity will host a Karaoke night where you can belt out your best effort in front of a live crowd. Taking place every week from 7pm to 11pm, the sports will take a back seat as aspiring singers perform renditions of their favourite tunes. Plus with happy hour deals you can also enjoy discounted drinks as you make your song choice. We love a bit of karaoke, but if you’ve ever heard us doing it you’ll know that karaoke doesn’t love us back. Just remember to pick a good song and get practising.

Free. Mon, 7pm-11pm. Velocity, Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (02 304 7777)

Get cheesy on Yas Island

Filini Garden is relaunching its brilliant cheese nights. The Cheese Me nights at the venue include unlimited cheese, cold cuts and unlimited grape. Also, there will be live entertainment from the singer Jasmine as you get stuck into all the nibbles. The three-hour evening promotion costs Dhs260 per couple and you can keep ordering drinks and more cheese to the table during that time. An amazing outdoor terrace and unlimited cheese? We’re not sure it gets much better.

Dhs260 per couple. Every Wednesday from Jan 22, 7pm-10pm. Filini Garden, Radisson Blu Yas Island (02 656 2000)

Get popular dishes for Dhs20 at McGettigan’s
Fun-loving Irish pub McGettigan’s is offering 20 of its most popular dishes and drinks for just Dhs20 each. That’s 20 meals for Dhs20, to mark the start of 2020. See what they did there? Items on the menu include classic plates of pub grub like sticky Asian chicken wings, buffalo popcorn chicken, crispy battered sausages and parmesan and garlic fries. You can also wash them down with selected beverages too for the same price of Dhs20. Great bar food and a bargain too? That sounds like the ideal way to start the New Year to us. The diet can start in February, right?
From Dhs20. Until Jan 23. Al Raha Beach Hotel & Resort, Channel Street (02 652 4333).

The couples’ steak deal
at The Forge
Until February 1, couples can order a massive 1.2kg tomahawk steak to tackle between them at The Forge. The huge steak is served alongside garlic mashed potato, mixed green vegetables and there’s even a deconstructed lemon pie on offer for a sweet end to the meal. Think you can handle it? We’ll definitely give it a go but it might not fit in with our attempt at a January cleanse.
Dhs600. Until Feb1, 7pm-11pm. The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, Khor Al Maqta (02 818 82 82).

Check out one of the city’s longest happy hours

Appaloosa, located in Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi, has launched a new bumper happy hour. From Saturday to Wednesday every week, the sports bar will host a 12-hour happy hour where a selection of house beverages will be half price between noon and midnight. So if you’re in the area, want to watch a match or just want a great deal, add Appaloosa to your list.

Sun-Wed, noon-midnight. Appaloosa, Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi (02 201 4000)

Check out the largest mural in the region

More and more, amazing artwork is being commissioned across the UAE. Located at Marsha Al Bateen, Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra has created a stunning new mural that celebrates diversity, tolerance and respect. The bold public artwork features the faces of people from different nationalities and backgrounds in front of bright colours and shapes in a kaleidoscopic theme. This is the first in a range of public artworks planned for the city to be undertaken in the next few years by local and international artists. We think its amazing and can’t wait to see more art dotted around the city

Party at Pearls Rooftop

Pearls Rooftop at the Shangri-La Hotel, Abu Dhabi is back with two cool weekly events, and we can’t wait to go and check them out. On Monday it is hosting The Pearl ladies’ night, featuring free drinks for girls and tunes from DJ Slim and DJ Kaboo. Or if you’re after a wild weekend party then the Fuego event on Fridays features the best Afrobeat mixes, this time from DJ Slim and DJ Shock. Each night runs from 9pm all the way through until 3am, and it’s guaranteed to be buzzing every time.

Free. Mon & Fri 9pm-3am. The Shangri-La Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Qaryat Al Beri, Khor Al Maqta (02 509 8555)

Take on a food challenge at Hoi An

Hoi An is no stranger to epic food challenges. Now the Vietnamese restaurant, located at Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, has a new event up their sleeve and it’s suitably jaw dropping. This time, the challenge is to wrap and eat a total of 50 beef rice rolls. Yes, fifty.If you can eat all 50 of the rice rolls on your own, without help from friends, you won’t have to pay anything for the food. Fail to complete the platter and you’ll have to pay Dhs189. It’s running until the end of February so there’s plenty of time to try it yourself of encourage a hungry friend. Up for it? Time to put your mouth where your money is.

Dhs189 (or free if you complete the challenge). Until Feb 29. Daily 6pm-11pm. Hoi An, Shangri La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri (02 509 8888).

Enjoy some grape and nibbles with a view

Heading out this week? You can now unlimited grape deal at rooftop lounge AT25. Happening three evenings a week from Sunday to Tuesday, you can get two hours of free-flowing grape plus a plate of charcuterie for Dhs120 per person. It seems like a pretty good deal to us, and the views over Downtown from this cool venue are always tremendous.

Dhs120. Sun-Tue 6pm onwards. Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (02 304 7777)

Check out our list of 100 things to do for under Dhs100

Life can be expensive here in Abu Dhabi but it doesn’t always have to be. Sure, we love visiting high end restaurants, booking luxury hotel stays and treating ourselves to the finer things in life, but our bank balance doesn’t always thank us for it. Want to enjoy the best of Abu Dhabi without breaking the bank? We hear you. Here are 100 things you can do in Abu Dhabi for under Dhs100 to try throughout the year

Go vegan at Black Tap

Black Tap has announced that it will be launching the country’s first-ever Impossible Burger – made using the world-famous plant-based meat-replacement. Famed for being almost indeterminable from meat, the burger uses common proteins – including soya – to recreate the “meatiness” of meat, like the flavour and texture. The burger comes in vegan and vegetarian options. For vegans, the already vegan patty comes with a special sauce and vegan bun, while the veggie option comes with cheese and Black Tap’s signature mayo. It will set you back Dhs105 in Dubai, and Dhs100 in Abu Dhabi.

Dhs100. Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi (02 446 5128).

Chinese New Year at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
The huge theme park is going all out for the special occasion. You can watch a special Chinese New Year-themed show and tuck into some seasonal delights. Even the characters are dressed up to get into the spirit of things.
From Dhs295. From Jan 17 to Feb 1 10am-8pm. Yas Island, www.wbworldabudhabi.com.

Try the spicy wing challenge

Until the end of the month, the spicy wings challenge is being held at Cooper’s Bar and Restaurant. If you eat 24 spicy wings with blue cheese dip in just 24 minutes you’ll get them all free. That’s an average of one wing per minute and if you fail, you’ll have to pay Dhs124. Good luck.

Free (if you finish), Dhs124 (if you don’t). Until Jan 31. Cooper’s Bar and Restaurant, Park Rotana (02 657 3325).