The insider’s guide to Dubai

This is no doubt a dilemma facing staycationers and recent arrivals in the sultry summer, as well as long-term expats guilty of sticking to the same old places. Dig a little deeper and you could find some hidden gems. Yes, some of these tucked-away treasures may take a little effort, and some may not have the same 24-carat cachet of their more ornamental alternatives, but they are also rich in culture and character.

Tourist treasures

You can also get a traditional Arabic breakfast, but with cool extras, at the nearby Shaikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (www.cultures.ae). Many expats avoid attractions like this, believing they’re already au fait with the local culture. But the breakfast – a Dh60 spread of spiced scrambled eggs with vermicelli noodles and doughnuts drenched in date syrup – amid a no-holds-barred discussion on UAE culture and religion offers great insight, no matter your residency lifespan.

Diamond dining

There are tons of charismatic dining experiences – none of them anywhere near a marble lobby – that are well worth sniffing out. Dubai institutions – Ravi in Satwa for streetwise spice (it dishes up the best butter chicken), The Chalet on Beach Road for post-beach basking (it does the tastiest rotisserie chickens) and Bu Qtair on Beach Road for its straight-from-the-shore seafood – are plentiful, but they also become victims of their own success – destinations well-trodden on the search for something fresh.

So, instead, put your hunger in the hands of a true Dubai foodie, old-timer Arva Ahmad, who can take you on one of her backstreet food strolls of Old Dubai (take an evening tour during Ramadan) to sample its best ethnic eats. Try Yemeni meats on the Arabic tour, green chilli drinks on the Indian tour and spicy Ethiopian curries on the North African tour, all Dh350 for four hours (www.fryingpanadventures.com).

Some oldies but goodies with retro appeal include Dubai’s only revolving restaurant, Al Dawaar, on the rooftop of Hyatt Regency Dubai, which offers incredible views of the Creek and skyline, while the almost-mythical Jebel Ali Social Club – a welcoming time warp of a sports club – has food and drink straight out of the 1970s, with decor and prices to match.

Oh, and the chocolate soufflé at Café Chic (Le Méridien Dubai Airport) and Ali’s Soup – a never-ending bowl of lentil and lamb soup – at any of the More Cafés are still two of the city’s most delicious dishes.

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Shopping secrets

Other shopping secrets? Get at least one bespoke piece of clothing fashioned by Dream Girls tailors in Karama; snap up local art from one of the galleries in Dubai’s art hub, The Courtyard in Al Quoz – Ayyam Gallery holds free monthly auctions of works from local artists – and discover eco-friendly treasures, from paper jewellery to cardboard sofas, at The Change Initiative on SZR.

If you love haggling but can’t handle the heat of Dubai’s old souqs, head to Dragon Mart. It’s hardly a secret – it’s 1km long and built in the shape of a dragon out on the Hatta Road – but most expats just don’t give it a chance. Once you get past the tat you can find some really cool stuff, from crafting materials to wacky wallpapers. Don’t leave without visiting the nearby Plant Souk, which features plenty of foliage at fabulous prices.

Family fun

I find the grass is always greener, though, at one of my favourite Dubai spaces, Mushrif Park. Set in a natural ghaf forest just outside Mirdif, Dubai’s oldest park is a wonderland of wild and wacky offerings including wildlife roaming freely – I’ve spotted peacocks, owls, rabbits and deer – a mini village where you can explore little houses from around the world, and several retro public swimming pools, where you can cool down for an even cooler Dh10.