Wednesday 1
Have a ladies night out: Have girlfriends in town and want a fun night out? Well get dressed up and head to the Yacht Club where ladies can get a free flow of bubbly from 7pm-1am. The Yacht Club offers beautiful views of the marina, so take advantage of sitting outside while the weather is nice.
The Yacht Club, InterContinental Hotel (02 666 6888)
Take Cantonese on the terrace: Hakkasan have recently opened a snazzy new terrace, and they also launched a new menu to go with it in late December. We hear that head chef Lee Kok Hua has put together eleven new dishes to enjoy while you’re enjoying their new view. And since it’s all seasonally relevant, you’ll want to have some before winter’s over.
Hakkasan, Emirates Palace (02 690 7999)
Get arty: The Yas Viceroy and Swiss Art Gate present ‘Diversified Union’, an exhibition which brings together the works of eight Emirati artists who share the common theme of delivering the message of their heritage through oil, acrylic, sculptures and mixed-media.
Crossroads –Diversified Union at the Bridge Gallers and Marina Wing Lobby of Yas Viceroy until March 25 (02 656 0000)
Head to the pub: If you want a good old pub experience then The Tavern at Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort is the perfect place. Ladies get unlimited free grape beverages on a Wednesday night from 8pm-midnight.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Al Markaziyah (02 677 3333)
Thursday 2
Enjoy some beats: Fans of R&B music should head on out to Rush Bar at The Yas Viceroy tonight to listen to some cool R&B tunes from the DJ. Rush Bar is a super-snazzy venue with great views and a lively atmosphere. Perfect to relax in for an evening after a stressful week at work.
Rush Bar, Yas Viceroy (02 656 0000)
Dine on fine Italian fare: In the mood for some beautiful Italian food in sophisticated surroundings? Book a table at Bice at the Hilton Hotel and you will not be disappointed. Bice offers tasty Italian dishes and a wide variety of fresh seafood as well.
Bice, Hilton Hotel, West Corniche Rd (02 681 1900)
Give your nails a dose of chocolate: With Valentine’s Day coming up, February is full of Valentine’s treats – and here’s one for your nails. Nail Lounge want you to indulge your fingers and toes in an organic, strawberry-choco spa. The manicure costs Dhs120 and the pedicure Dhs140.
Nail Lounge Marina Mall (02 681 6333), Al Nahyan Mall (02 658 4341)
Volunteer: We know that you’re probably itching to do a good deed, and the opportunity is just a mouse-click away. Sign up with Volunteer in Abu Dhabi on Facebook and connect with some do-gooders who’ll point you in the right direction to help out around the city.
www.volunteerinabudhabi.com
Friday 3
Have a Belgian brew: If you are a fan of a Belgian brew then try the Belgian Café where there are plenty of different European draughts on the menu as well as some seriously tasty dishes. Try the mussels, chunky fries and the very yummy meatballs.
Belgian Café, InterContinental Hotel (02 666 6888)
Get a perfect complexion: To sort out tired and lacklustre skin, indulge in Guerlain’s new anti-ageing mask Orchidee Imperiale. This luxurious mask will have your skin replenished in no time. It will set you back a pretty sum but the results are worth it.
Dhs1,640, available from Paris Gallery, Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 4858)
Buy a Valentine’s gift: Zayna Spa’s February promotion is a two and a half hour spa experience which includes luxury caviar face treatments, full body exfoliations, yogurt wraps, moor mud foot rituals and Swedish full-body massages galore. The treatments vary depending on whether you’re buying the ‘for him’ or ‘for her’ package. Both packages are Dhs1,220.
Zayna Spa, Grand Millenium Al Wahda (02 495 3822)
Do brunch at 18 Degrees: Abu Dhabi’s new architectural marvel, the Hyatt Capital Gate has launched its 18 Degrees Friday brunch. And because the hotel’s structure and interior is so mind blowing, they’ve kept the food sweet and simple. There are three brunch packages starting from Dhs350 for the ‘Classical’ to Dhs550 for the ‘Sky Brunch.’
18°, Hyatt Capital Gate (02 596 1440)
Saturday 4
Get a taste of the Maghreb: Head over to Marakesh for a Maghrebian experience – with tagines and couscous that have given it a reputation.
Marakesh, Millenium Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Markaziyah (02 614 6000)
Buy something new: If you’re in the market for some new undergarments, La Senza at Al Wahda Mall is offering 25 to 60 per cent off selected items until February 8, so head over now to take advantage of the discounted prices.
La Senza, Al Wahda Mall, (02 443 7070)
Do brunch on Saturday: Does missing Friday brunch leave you feeling a bit brunchless? Not to worry because the Holiday Inn have a Saturday brunch at the Thirty 1st Bar. They’ll let you get creative with your salads or you can just dig into the cold cuts and cheese platters, all for Dhs85, Dhs135 including beverages.
From 12pm onwards, Thirty 1st Bar, Holiday Inn (02 657 4865)
Play some golf: If your kids have been inspired by the recent Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in the capital then take them out to Abu Dhabi Golf Club where they can get into all the fairway action. Call to check all the latest kidtastic offers.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Sas Al Nakhl (02 558 8990)
Sunday 5
Paddle hard: If you are looking for a different way to get fit and tone up quickly then you should give stand up paddle boarding a try. This gentle but effective water sport is great fun and lets you enjoy the outdoors.
Contact Jen Scully. www.abudhabisup.com (050 905 9743)
Make friends: Women who are new to Abu Dhabi and are keen to meet other women in the capital could do a lot worse than joining Abu Dhabi Woman. It is an online forum that will connect you to ladies around town who’ll be happy to show you the ropes.
www.abudhabiwoman.com
Update your home: Dwell at Al Wahda Mall are offering 25 to 60 per cent off selected items until February 8. Dwell offers a great range of items for your bed, bath and table.
Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7270).
Grill it Arab style: Fill your belly with mixed Arabic delights from the BBQ at Park Rotana’s Ginger restaurant. They have now declared every night a theme night and they’ve got all cuisines covered. Sunday nights are when the grills are on fire – it’s Dhs140 per person, which is fair for five-star hotel dining. And if the weather’s nice, you can take your supper outside.
Ginger, Park Rotana (02 657 3333)
Monday 6
Run!: Abu Dhabi Striders meet every week and arrange annual races too, perfect for those who want to get fit and improve their running skills.
www.abudhabistriders.com (050 109 2346)
Sport a berry lip: Mac is known for its large array of colours that are always bang on trend. A berry lip suits both light and dark complexions and is very fashionable right now, don’t you know. Pair with a dark berry coloured nail.
Mac Cosmetics, Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 4858)
Have afternoon tea: If you feel like taking your lady out for a truly stylish high tea, the Drawing Room is the place to go. With 23 different kinds of tea including their signature blends, tea-savvy waiters that’ll serve it with ceremony and some great snacks you really can’t ask for more.
The Drawing Room, St Regis, Saadiyat Island (02 498 8888)
Pick up a book: The joys of browsing through the musty shelves of a library in search of a good book should not die with the rise of the Kindle. If you agree (and you should) head down to the National Library and pick up an actual book (with actual pages that smell of book) and read it.
The National Library (02 657 6034)
Tuesday 7
Sip creative blends: Chameleon Bar at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel is super-stylish with incredible snacks. The bartenders are top notch and will whip you up a creative blend.
Open daily 6pm-1am. Fairmont Bab Al Bahr (02 654 4777)
Treat yourself to Espa: The celebratory package Espa launched last year for it’s birthday proved so popular they’ve just relaunched it. They’re offering a spectacular package at Dhs650 per person, which isn’t cheap, but you will be saving over Dhs200 from the normal asking price.
Espa, Yas Viceroy (02 656 0862)
Soak up the breeze: If you are looking for somewhere truly glam tthen Breeze Lounge at Emirates Palace will not disappoint. Sip a drink while admiring the private beach and listening to chilled out beats. While the weather is still lovely and pleasant, why not sit outside and enjoy it!
Open daily 7pm-11pm, Emirates Palace (02 690 7920)
Give a dog a home: ADFH animal shelter have hundreds of homeless pets that are waiting for a new family. If you have a space to fill in your heart and household for something cute and furry, don’t be tempted by pet shops, pay ADFH a visit instead.
ADFH Animal Shelter, Al Mafraq (02 575 5155)
