Hip hangouts: Gaucho and more

Gaucho

Whilst we’ve known for a while that there’s no hotter place for a steak in the city than this new Latin eatery, we’ve only recently discovered how good Gaucho is for a few drinks and nibbles – new favourite! First things first, the decor, as well as the crowd, are striking and just plain glam – think slick monochrome furniture and striking shocks of cowhide.

Then we have the food – while downstairs is all about hearty portions of protein – the upstairs lounge menu serves up more petite portions. The live flatbread oven produces delectable flat breads – we loved the piquant goat’s cheese option, while South American ceviches (citrus-infused raw fish dishes) are perfect small bites for the health conscious among us.

And finally, there are the drinks – the cocktails and mocktails are delicious, and the blush-inducingly handsome waiters will even give you a mixology masterclass, where you can learn to make – and then drink – your own cocktails (Dh200). We made the San Lucas – a cinnamon-infused mojito. Yum! See you there on Thursday!

When 11.30am-11.30pm, Monday-Sunday
Where DIFC Gate Village
Call 04 422 7898
Visit www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk

Cherry Blossom Festival At Minato

Visit traditional Japanese eatery Minato before the end of the month and celebrate the arrival of Spring with a set menu from Chef Nagawaka. The delectable dishes ring true to Japan in the spring, a beautiful time of year that’s marked by the outburst of cherry blossoms. For starters you’ll try Sushi balls, Smoked salmon salad, Japanese clear soup with seaweed and bamboo shoots; while mains include Prawn tempura and Japanese wagyu hamburger with daikon and a Grilled scallop with sakura sauce.

Cost Dh190
When 12pm-3pm and 7pm-11pm, until April 30
Where Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek
Call 04 205 7333

Al Gharbia Watersports Festival

In its fourth year, this celebration of all-things water at the gorgeous white sand public beach in Al Gharbia in Mirfa is just two hours from Dubai and 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi city.

This weekend is the culmination of it all, on Thursday night there’s a cooking competition for BBQ lovers, and every night there’s a traditional souq and playground for the little ones. On Friday and Saturday there are surf-ski kayak demos, the finals of the kitesurfing championship, beach football and volleyball contests and traditional dhow races (watching these wooden boats speed by is quite a sight). Plus, every day from 4pm-7pm you’ll be able to get involved with free games of beach football, beach volleyball and parasailing. Life’s a beach!

Cost Free to visit 
When  9am-11pm, until April 21 
Where Al Mirfa
Visit www.algharbiafestivals.com

Raffles Spa

This gorgeous colonial-chic spa and health club has had a menu revamp for Spring, and the new treatments revolve around the lotus flower, and are divided into bud (body), blossom (beauty) and bloom (full experiences). Team Scene visited to test out the new spa last week, and our 60-minute hot stone massage (Dh479) was one of the best we’d ever had. The Aromatherapy Associates oils scented our whole room and the Egyptian masseuse was full of tips on how to keep our back and shoulders healthy. In fact, their specialist sports recovery masseuse is rumoured to be a miracle worker, so book one of these if you have any particular aches and pains.

Next time, however, we’re keen to try the Raffles enchanting garden ceremony (Dh699), a somewhat “surprise” 90-minute treatment that takes place in a secret little cabin in the middle of the hotel’s botanical gardens, so there’s no cheesy spa music required as the birds provide their own serene symphony.

Other new treatments include the 90-minute Lotus transformation (Dh679) – a wrap, steam shower and then a massage with a detoxifying crème. The best bit in our opinion, however, is that you get to use the hotel’s beautiful pool, which has a Roman vibe and even a swim-up pool bar (go along with your girlfriends, and make a day of it!)

When Treatments from 9am-9pm, pool from 8am-9pm, daily
Where Raffles Dubai, Out Metha
Call 04 314 9869