The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai

A mere hour from Dublin, this lavish, lovingly-restored, Regency mansion has a pretty insane land-to-guest ratio. While there are only twenty bedrooms (beautifully appointed with four-poster beds, antique furniture, and open fireplaces), they sit on a lush, 600-acre estate replete with rolling fields, lakes, and plenty of Irish wildlife. This will matter to you if you ever opt to leave the house, which is inarguably epic—it boasts an incredible art collection, a well-stocked library, and billiards room, along with one of Ireland’s best organic farm-to-table restaurants with much of the food grown on the estate itself (guests are encouraged to collect their own breakfast eggs). Booze enthusiasts can avail of wine and rare Irish whiskey tastings (also known as “uisce beatha” or the water of life in Gaelic) hosted by the in-house sommelier in the cozy Cellar Bar. Should you want to stretch your legs, there are acres of immaculate gardens, rolling fields, lake fishing, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, archery, falconry, and easy access to golf, not to mention an indoor pool and spa (try the healing Irish seaweed bath, a centuries-old traditional skin remedy). The nearby Slieve Bloom mountains are covered in trails and slopes ideal for hiking, biking, or just soaking up the region's natural beauty.

Come to Atrio Restaurante Hotel (a collaborative effort between Chefs Juan Antonio Pérez and José Polo and architects Emilio Tuñón Álvarez and Luis Moreno Mansilla) for the world-famous dining, and stay for the serene aesthetics. Located in the history-rich town of Cáceres, this castle-turned-hotel is a study in pristine, minimalist luxury. Situated in a stone building that dates all the way back to medieval times, the fourteen guest rooms are sleek yet comfy and most have two-person tubs and enchanting city views. While the two-Michelin-starred restaurant is known for serving some of the most indulgent dinners in all of Spain (to be enjoyed in a stark-white space decked out with original art by the likes of Andy Warhol), the daily breakfasts are not to be missed. For oenophiles, the property’s wine seller—stocked with an impressive assortment of Champagnes and vintages from wineries big and small—is a destination all in itself.

Mother Nature blessed this idyllic little corner of Catalonia with rugged mountain ranges, lush greenery, and plenty of open space for all manner of outdoor activities (bird watching, tennis, hiking, dips in the massive open-air pool). But more than anything, it’s the on-site restaurant—specializing in traditional Catalan cuisine—that has travelers booking return stays upon checkout at this family-owned hotel. (The land has been in the Pallares family since 1763). Though not particularly memorable, the guest rooms are spacious and come with all the modern amenities needed for a comfortable stay. But the truth is, with so much to explore you won’t be spending much awake time indoors.

Melia Bilbao takes up prime real estate in the center of Bilbao, walking distance from the Guggenheim Museum and the breathtaking Doña Casilda park. Its jewel tone-dipped guest rooms are furnished with modern elements and make for the ideal five-star home base from which to explore all that Basque Country has to offer. But even more impressive than the the hotel’s sculptural interiors is its in-house restaurant, Aizian. Chef José Miguel Olazabalaga’s traditional Basque menu has earned him high praise from foodies and a Michelin star. For those seeking a more chill atmosphere, head to Q lounge for tapas and cocktails.

This subtly futuristic hotel and restaurant in Laguiole (yes, the birthplace of the knives) is the home of Michel Bras, and accordingly, it draws legions of foodies every year (it's had three, unwavering Michelin stars since 1999). It's tucked away in a tiny corner of France—in a town with a population that hovers at about 1,000—far away from pretty much everything else. In fact, it's a 10 hour trip from Paris, which is why there's a hotel on-site. Bras is celebrated for sublime, and beautifully complex cooking: One salad for which he's famed has 50 ingredients (though miniscule amounts of each).

This futuristic hotel—designed in 2006 by Frank Gehry—is a rainbow undulation on a Spanish hillside in Basque Country. Inside, it's just as wonderfully theatrical, whether it's the slick rooms (tilted walls, tons of glass and steel, bursts of bright red), or the culinary fireworks. As you look through the cathedral windows at the Rioja vineyards outside, you'll be feasting on red wine caviar and red shrimp carpaccio at the Michelin starred main dining room, presided over by chef Francis Paniego. While it's really about eating and drinking here, there's also a Caudalie spa.

Located in the French Alps, Megeve has all of 4,000 permanent residents though it's booming in the winter (it came into its own in the early 1900s, when the Rothschilds started coming and everyone else followed). It's also home to this culinary hot spot, which has earned three Michelin stars—it justifies the trip, whether you're strapping on skis or not. Helmed by Emmanuel Renaut (The Crillon, Claridges), who earned his first Michelin star in his early '30s, the food here is as gorgeous as it is delicious. The Relais & Chateux accommodations are both modern and modest—besides a handful of suites, there are some small houses for rent, too.

The first reason to pop the bubbly? One hour from Paris, and you're in Champagne, literally. This stately, turn-of-the-20th-century chateau in Reims, France is situated in the namesake region of the good stuff. The second? The timelessly elegant, double-Michelin-starred Brasserie le Jardin has over 600 labels to choose from. Do not pass up the cheese cart.

Situated in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Val D’Orcia, this centuries-old estate south of Siena is truly incredible: Beyond the fact that you walk amidst remnants of walls from the 1100s, it’s surrounded by Brunello di Montalcino vineyards, there’s a world-class golf course, on-site truffle hunting, and the food is unbelievable. There’s a fancy restaurant, but there’s also a casual pizzeria—and kitchens in the villas where you can feast on bread and incomparably sweet tomatoes. While it's plenty romantic, they have a lot of activities (including cooking classes) for kids.

Spread across 400 bright green, undulating acres of farmland, this country house in rural East Cork looks straight out of central casting. Owned and run by the Allens–the reigning first family of the Irish food scene—Ballymaloe House itself is matriarch Myrtle Allen's former family-residence-turned-hotel. Staying here feels like coming home, the accommodations are supremely comfortable with Irish linen sheets, vintage wallpaper, and fresh vases of wildflowers delivered daily. The on-site restaurant features a menu inspired by the nearby world-renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School, and showcases the best of Irish produce, most of it sourced within a few miles of the house itself. The full Irish breakfast, including warm scones fresh from the oven and traditional delicacies like black pudding and kippers, washed down with several cups of strong tea, is a quintessential Irish experience not to be missed. We recommend booking in during the annual summer Litfest, a week-long food and drinks literary festival with industry speakers that have included Madhur Jaffrey, Alice Waters, and Francis Mallmann among others. Cooking enthusiasts will relish booking into the cookery school for workshops on everything from bread-baking to Asian cuisine, with all the ingredients foraged by the students themselves from the immaculate walled gardens and fields that surround the school and house.

With roots that date all the way back to the 13th century, this country manor-turned-luxury hotel is a prime candidate for weekends away from London. It's just 20 minutes from the coast and steps from the rural beauty of the New Forest, which, in addition to providing guests with eye candy and roaming space, supplies the hotel’s eateries with freshly foraged fare. With chefs Luke Holder and Angela Hartnett at the helm, Hartnett Holder & Co serves up traditional English dishes letting locally-sourced ingredients shine while the health-focused Raw & Cured—as the name suggests, most of the menu is raw or cured. Spanning three floors and overlooking the ground, the spa, Herb House, is hailed as one of the best in the country. It offers a slew of stress-melting treatmentsa and a caldarium. What’s a caldarium? A piping-hot plunge pool inspired by ancient Roman baths.

Having recently undergone extensive renovation, this 1840s neo-Gothic hideaway—just thirty minutes from Shannon airport—sits on 842 acres of manicured gardens, lush rolling fields, and medieval ruins; it's reason alone to travel to Ireland's verdant southwest (although the dozens of nearby historical sites, lively pubs, and quaint villages don't hurt, either). Each individually designed room is palatial in size, decked out with authentic mahogany Georgian-era furniture, sumptuous fabrics, nineteenth-century artwork, and a roaring open fireplace to ward off the inevitable Irish chill. The generously sized marble bathrooms are finished in vintage wallpaper and include deep stand-alone tubs, many of which overlook the grounds. As far as dining goes, there are two solid options on the property, but the Oak Room is hard to beat. The elegantly appointed Drawing Room is the perfect spot for morning coffee or a pre-dinner aperitif by the fire, while the subterranean David Collins–designed, vault-ceilinged Tack Room is the spot for wine and whiskey connoisseurs (Guinness lovers, too) to retreat for a few drinks. Activity-wise, choose from golfing, fishing, archery, and horseback riding, alongside dozens of country hikes and cycle trails. The spa (stocked with 111SKIN) is a tranquil space to indulge and unwind after a long day, accompanied by the comforting scent of autumnal fig that pervades the entire property.

If you're into more of a vacation enclave with a farm-to-table bent then head to Baja California to check into one of the ten charming Culinary Cottages at Flora Farms: a twenty-five-acre organic working farm in the foothills of Sierra de la Laguna Mountains in San Jose del Cabo. Renters and owners can submerge themselves in harvesting the heirloom vegetables–and cooking meals in the fully equipped cottages. Although access to the private beach club, family pond, pool, and spas is exclusive to owners and renters, The Field Kitchen (where the ingredients are often picks minutes before they are served), Farm Bar, and Flora Grocery (which sells sustainably raised meats, handmade breads, and organic vegetables), are open to all, expanding its culinary experience beyond the cottages.

This far-reaching property offers all the trappings one might expect from a Ritz-Carlton resort, plus access to the azure waters and white sands of not one, but two coasts—the North Sound on one side and Seven Mile Beach on the other. While the kids soak it up at the on-site water park or participate in one of many eco-adventure activities (supervised, of course), adults can improve their backswing at the Greg Norman-designed golf course or book a treatment at the La Prairie Spa. There are five restaurants on the property (ranging from casual to swanky), but only one is run by Chef Eric Ripert. The seafood-centric Blue by Eric Ripert has a particularly well-curated tasting menu and is considered by many to be the best dining experience in the Caribbean.

Laurance S. Rockefeller’s dream to create a resort and natural sanctuary in Puerto Rico became a reality in 1958, when he opened his resort at Dorado Beach. Environmental conservation remains a priority at this 1,400-acre property, and outdoor activities range from an eleven-mile hiking trail to two golf courses with views of the surrounding mountains and sea. Rooms come with floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, deep soaking tubs, and outdoor showers, and some have private plunge pools or rooftop terraces. The spa has steam pavilions, warm and cool pools, and a tree house for massages.

With close to 300 guest rooms (the ocean-view suites are well worth the splurge), five restaurants, and one massive mall, Grand Park Otaru is essentially a playground for adults. There’s a great breakfast buffet and fresh-baked pastries for days, but it’s the just-caught seafood offerings you’ll find on neighboring Sushi Street, that deserve the bulk of your attention. And while the accommodations are as five-star as it gets (deep soaking tubs, in-room tea-making stations), the hotel blends into Otaru’s port town quaintness pretty seamlessly. Plus, it's situated 30 minutes from Sapporo and within walking distance to the Otaru Chikko railway station, making it the ideal home base from which to explore Hokkaido.

Tucked in the quaint town of Hoi An (just three hours from Singapore and two from Hong Kong), The Nam Hai Hotel has been a favorite of Asian travelers for years—and its transition to a Four Seasons property has given Americans reason to take fresh notice. Located on the tranquil coastline (something of a rarity in this area), each villa has its own expansive ocean view. There are two world class restaurants on site, though you may like to try the local cuisine and explore the historic fishing village. If you’re feeling luxurious, head to the Heart of the Earth Spa for a body scrub and any massage that involves a tuning fork. There are plenty of water sports and children's play space to keep kiddos occupied. The recent addition of a cooking school is a must, where you’ll harvest herbs from their organic garden and learn to make traditional Vietnamese dishes.

This classic hotel hails from a hospitality family we've loved forever—and its Shanghai outpost offers all the amenities you've come to expect—solid service, clean design, an over-the-top ESPA spa, complimentary Rolls Royce or BMW airport transfers—plus, drop-dead views of the Pudong skyline. It's the first building to be constructed on the historic bund in Shanghai in the last seventy years, a fact that makes it an attraction in its own right. Each of the 235 rooms feature a tranquil neutral-and-blue color scheme, lacquer cabinetry, leather headboard, and, best yet, a walk-in dressing room. For hungry guests, the restaurants Sir Elly's and Yi Long Court are both Michelin-star gems.

Set up on a hill above an endless—and undulating—vista of vineyards, Auberge du Soleil has been maintaining the luxury standard in Napa for thirty years. Though it's since spawned two sister hotels (Solage and Calistoga Ranch), Auberge du Soleil is the reigning patriarch in Napa Valley, particularly when it comes to old-school indulgences and creature comforts (the other two spots are a bit more modern and laid-back). Here, the cottage-like rooms are organized into private little villages (they all feature patios and terraces). With two Michelin stars, Auberge's main, global-inflected restaurant draws a crowd that swells well beyond hotel guests—the Japanese breakfast is particularly dreamy. Don’t miss the spa: While hotel treatments often aren’t that great (particularly for their generally inflated price tags), this was one of the best massages we’ve ever had, particularly because it was followed by a soak in the outdoor bathtub. Meanwhile, Quintessa Winery, one of our favorites, is just across the street.

If Napa is a pilgrimage for foodies and wine-lovers, then Meadowood in St. Helena—officially one of the world's best hotels—is most certainly the mecca. There's no better place to sleep off a day of wine tasting than in one of their cozy rooms by a roaring fire (unless you count the massage table at the seriously idyllic spa).

Buttermilk biscuits with a view. Equal parts luxury hotel, world-class kitchen, and working farm, this 4,200 acre foodie resort in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains is a slice of heaven for those hungry for rest, relaxation, good music, and, of course, incredible Southern cooking. Check their calendar before booking for events that may be of interest like truffle hunts, photography workshops, wellness weekends, and featured celeb chefs like Joanne Weir and Daniel Boulud.

Set within 300 acres of lush green meadows and rolling countryside, Dos Brisas is a Spanish-style ranch offering up a little bit of rural Texas (with plenty of foodie and outdoor activities)—that said, it has all the amenities you’d expect in the city. After trying your hand at cheese making courses, wine tastings, and cooking classes, take a breather at one of the nine Spanish-style Haciendas or Casitas. The on-site restaurant sources organic and seasonal ingredients from Dos Brisas' very own farmland and orchards. It also happens to be the only Forbes five-star in the entire state of Texas.

This sweet, 25-room hacienda-style hotel in Albuquerque offers unfussy elegance among kitchen gardens and dreamy lavender fields (which supply their in-house line of bath and beauty products). Their homey, Rio Grande Valley cuisine is inspired seasonally and sourced locally—so much so that they call their menu field-to-fork. Clean, classic, and comfy rooms make it hard to get out of bed, but one big plate of pork carnitas with fresh tortillas may be all the motivation you need.

Consider this gourmet getaway as American as apple pie, so long as that apple pie pairs nicely with one of the 14,000 bottles of wine in the restaurant's massive cellar. Spend the days exploring Rappahannock County and the Town of Washington, which dates back to 1769, and the nights knocking back Barcat Oyster Slurpees and truffle-stuffed pheasant before retiring to rooms decked out with proper English Country Manor vibes.

Hovering somewhere between a bed and breakfast and organic co-op farm, LA-transplant Calvin Zara’s refurbished four-bedroom Thacher house and its four private cabins is where you want to be for a fully-immersive, get away from it all experience (it accommodates no more than 20 guests at a time). If you stay here, be prepared to share the lush grounds with chickens and a family of goats, in addition to citrus and pomegranate trees and a garden. Needless to say, all the food served at the beautifully appointed dining room is sourced locally or from the Thacher House farm itself. Also on offer: classes in cooking, baking, olive-oil pressing, wine-making, and so much more.

After working in some of the world’s most popular restaurants and assisting a well-known chef in NYC, Annemarie Ahearn decided to pack-up, move to the New England countryside, and lend her skills as a culinary teacher. What she ended up creating is a cooking empire of sorts, with a school, café, and a new cookbook, Full Moon Suppers at Salt Water Farm: Recipes from Land and Sea. At her farm on the Maine coast, she takes a hands-on approach to instill resourcefulness in the kitchen, teaching you techniques to cook instinctually with what’s seasonally available. From pasta-making to pickling to bread backing, she teaches one-off courses or week-long workshops, all of which take place in an idyllic barn. A note: While there are no on-site accommodations, the surrounding towns offer an ample selection of B&Bs and hotels.

A stone’s throw from Vancouver, Salt Island is something of a creative enclave for the culinarily inclined. Think impossibly picturesque, rugged setting where you’ll find vintners, cheese makers, and other creative types in residence year-around. It’s just that spirit that inspired Michael Abelman and Jeanne-Marie Herman to open Foxglove Farm, a 121-acre organic farm which holds cooking and gardening classes, plus mushroom-foraging and cheese-making courses. Its location, 1,200 feet above sea level, means they regularly grow everything from peaches, plus, quince, figs, cherries, plus a nourishing mix of veggies and legumes. (As a result their veggies have graced the table at the likes of Chez Panisse and Zuni Cafe, too.)

If you're staying in central Dubai, you'll want to get out to the desert for an excursion at some point, but if you're looking for a full-on desert holiday, there are a number of places you can stay outside of the city, including Al Maha resort and spa. Their suites come with private pools and decks, and vary in size, accommodating couples and up to six people. The Presidential Suite is the largest, with three bedrooms, a private kitchen and courtyard, and an expansive desert, backyard view. This is a comfortable option for families—there are two king-sized beds and one room with twin beds—but note that Al Mah is a ten-year-old-and-up resort.

Part of the world’s tallest building, the unapologetically luxe Armani hotel is the first hospitality project by fashion designer Giorgio Armani. The vibe is masculine and minimal, but somehow warm at the same time, with custom-made furnishings done in neutral browns and sleek grays. Taking the concept of Italian hospitality and running with it, management hooks up each guest with a lifestyle manager to book treatments at the on-site spa, arrange dinners at any of the hotel's seven restaurants (don't leave without sampling the menu at Armani/Ristorante), and organizing Bentleys for airport pickups and drop-offs. Ask for a room overlooking the fountains, you won’t be disappointed.

Before Dubai was Dubai, and before the Burj Khalifa was built, there was the Buj al Arab. One of the world's iconic hotels, it's regularly referred to as the only seven-star hotel (there's no such thing), and known for it's impeccable service, with a manned butler station positioned on every floor. The suites (particularly their specialty versions, like the Presidential and Royal), are over the top in every sense—enormous spaces filled rotating canopy beds (some with gilded mirrors overhead), man-cave-like library rooms, formal dining tables, private cinema spaces, different patterned rugs and pillows everywhere, sweeping grand staircases, gigantic marble columns, dressing rooms bigger than most NYC-sized apartments, tubs bigger than most NYC-sized bathrooms, and gold, gold, and more gold. It's sensory overload to be certain, but the fact that the decor hasn't been brought into this decade is all part of the shtick. Actually staying here will cost you—but plan to see the inside of the Burj Al Arab while you're here in any case, because it's a trip in and of itself. (You won't miss the exterior, which looks like the sail of a ship, visible from touch points throughout the city. Legend has it that British architect Tom Wright said all the world's best known buildings are both interesting but simple enough that a kid could draw them in a few lines—think of the Eiffel Tower. The Burj Al Arab can be drawn in four.)

At the end of 2016, Nikki Beach opened a resort, spa, and a series of fifteen private villas on the Pearl Jumeirah property next to their pool club. In contrast to the overstated luxury that you'll find elsewhere in Dubai, Nikki Beach takes a minimalistic approach that is aesthetically very pleasing. Bright and modern, the expansive spaces are the artwork of Italian designer Gregory Gatserelia of Beirut-based Gatserelia Design. Everything is bright and modern, polished (but not coldly so). The multiple-floor beachside villas, which have their own pools, are hard to beat (shocker), but the resort rooms are lovely overall, and everything is lent an intimate, oasis feel.

This palatial hotel is 100 percent pure Versace, from the bespoke fabrics to custom furnishings all in the inimitable Italian fashion house's signature style. With 215 rooms and suites, more than a hundred residences, eight restaurants and bars (each with an al fresco terrace), three outdoor pools, and unobstructed views of the Dubai Creek and the city skyline, it basically doesn’t get any fancier than this. Consider it a must-see, even if you just stop in for lunch and a stroll through their gorgeously manicured gardens.

This integrated urban resort, part of newish hotel collection in Al Habtoor City on the banks of Dubai Water Canal, the St. Regis Downtown Dubai is truly, outrageously luxurious. Butler service is available to all guests, and the breathtaking décor (complete with a grand staircase) is heavily inspired by the iconic beaux-arts architecture of the original St. Regis New York. There are eight restaurants and bars to choose from here, plus a private helipad, outdoor and rooftop pools, a full-service spa, and a brand-new water theatre right next door—basically, everything you’d ever need in a beautiful waterfront compound.

Only in Dubai could an archipelago in the shape of a palm tree be a thing. Located on Palm Jumeirah island, the Waldorf Astoria is a good option if the idea of being removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, and spending relatively more time relaxing by the pool/beach appeals to you. (There's only one road on and off the island—via the "trunk" of the palm tree—so it adds a bit of time to touring around.) It's family-friendly (one pool is adults only and the other for all ages), so a good option if you have kids in tow, as there are a handful of outdoor activities they can get into right on the property. The seaside rooms have balconies seemingly made for enjoying coffee with a view in the AM (the buffet breakfast downstairs is solid, too, though). Probably most notable about the suites are their oversized glass-and-marble bathrooms, with luxurious waterfall shower heads and soaking tubs. Also on Palm Jumeirah: There's a path for walking/running/biking, which you can pick up right outside the Waldorf Astoria. About two and a half miles along the path, toward the center of the island, you'll hit a fun, little food truck area near the Atlantis.

Although Abd El Wahab is technically located inside shopping mall Souk Al Bahar, don’t expect it to be a typical mall-dining experience—with a large terrace and views of the surrounding city and man-made lake, having a meal there is actually quite relaxed. They serve excellent iterations of the classics in a wide-ranging menu: think perfect tabbouleh, hummus, grilled meats, and vegetables served in myriad ways with ample fresh, warm bread.

As strong as Dubai's mocktail game is, the city also has a vibrant club scene. Since liquor licenses mostly reside with the hotels in Dubai, so do the clubs (as well as many restaurants/bars). For a dressed-up night out, there's Giorgio Armani's club, located on the lobby level of the brand's hotel, within the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world). Inside Armani/Privé, it's sleek, modern decor set to a mix of local and international DJ's, from 10pm to 3am.

A French bistro (with a Mediterranean-leaning menu) that gets progressively livelier as the night goes on, Bagatelle serves dinner until around 11 pm, and functions as a nightclub going into the am. The extensive wine list is a major draw.

The Ritz Carlton is one of the only hotels in this neighborhood that's not a skyscraper, so the inviting gardens and terraces on ground level are reason enough to check it out. Chef Ta Van's menu features dishes inspired by his Vietnamese grandmother’s recipes, weaving in flavors from Thailand, Singapore, Japan, and China (and complemented by a ridiculously good sake). Ask for a table with an ocean view, on the terrace.

We could wax poetic for a while about the food—which is an incredible offering of elevated Italian food that includes everything you’d hope for, from super-fresh salads and seafood dishes to homemade fresh pasta—but the real draw here is the restaurant itself, which is a beautiful multi-level space with beach views. It’s somehow both laid-back and upscale at once; the more family-friendly option is to opt for a table upstairs on the terrace, where you can order wood-fired pizza. Downstairs, you’ll find both a main dining room and a large, tree-adorned patio space where you can order from the full menu.

In Gate Village, between art galleries, jewelers, and other fine-dining restaurants (Zuma is here, as is La Petite Maison), Gaia is swish and comfortable and serves incredible Grecian food. Start with sea bream carpaccio and baked feta, and take advantage of their very good cocktail menu. (Gaia is one of the only non-hotel restaurants in Dubai that serves alcohol.) Then, go for fish, picked from the “ice market” and prepared how you like it—in thin raw slices, maybe, or grilled with lemon, or baked a la spetsiota.

A spinoff of the London La Petite Maison—a restaurant by Arjun Waney (the investor behind Zuma) based on the restaurant of the same name in Nice—the food here has a distinctly southern French soul. Plates come small and to share, so you can theoretically sample it all. The salads and carpaccios from the starter menu shouldn't be missed, and for the main course, the fish is always excellent. The real star of the show is the black-leg-roasted chicken, though. Order it right when you sit down; It takes about an hour and twenty minutes, but it justifies the wait.

This bar and grill, which operates out of a hotel garage, is run by Montreal native Joey Ghazal, who's attempting to create a casual, laid-back vibe that's unlike anything else you can find in Dubai. Unsurprisingly, Dubai’s younger crowd are on-board with the concept—you'll routinely find them bellied up to the extra long bar sipping on cocktails. The family-style menu features all the brasserie standards, including a three-tier seafood tower, and there's a pages-long cigar menu, too.

Some people will tell you that Dubai is akin to the Miami of the Middle East—like most comparisons, it's neither spot-on nor completely wrong. But if that's the vibe you're looking for, you'll find a version of it at Nikki Beach on Pearl Jumeirah island. The beachside pool is surrounded by lounge beds and private cabanas, outfitted in chic, all-white decor, with a gorgeous view of bright ocean just beyond it. As a bonus, the food at the indoor-outdoor on-site restaurant is good in its own right—particularly the sushi. Adjacent to the beach club is Nikki Beach's newly debuted resort and spa.

Founded by the same owners of the successful café Salt on Kite Beach, Parker's began as a social media-fueled pop-up concept that quickly gained traction around town. Once you're in, the menu really caters to a sweet tooth; particular attention is paid to inventive desserts while other menu specials include things like a crispy chicken potato sandwich with fries inside.

Pars Iranian Restaurant is a great casual eatery to stop in for a meal if you're shopping nearby. Expect excellent Iranian food, served in large portions—think tender meats, lots of rice, tomatoes, pickles, and mint leaves. It's a great spot for groups and littles; there are several outposts throughout the city.

Built directly onto a private wooden pier with a stunning glassed-in terrace and bay views, this is the ideal place for a romantic evening. While not particularly glitzy, the ambiance is undeniably elevated, as is the seafood-centric menu: the caviar, lobster, and fresh fish are offered in every imaginable incarnation. Dinner is always a sure thing, though the locals like to flock here for the boozy brunch, which can't be overstated: Brunch is huge in Dubai—really the thing to do on Fridays (which is the UAE's Saturday).

While distance doesn't make it an easy trip to plan for those coming from the Americas and around, as a city, Dubai is well-suited for a girls trip. For starters, it's extremely safe, and more so than other popular celebratory destinations (say, Miami or Vegas), which is refreshing if all you want to do is get some quality time with your girl gang. Plus, there are some fun ladies-only activities, one of them being a trip to the Dubai Ladies Club. Located on the beach, the club offers membership and day rates, for access to the pool, tennis and squash courts, spa, fitness classes, and so on. (There are also options for kiddos, too.) For a peek into the club life, come for breakfast or lunch at Remaliya—the pretty cafe (which also has an outdoor terrace for not-scorching days) makes some of the most refreshing smoothies and juices in the city. (Note that Remaliya is open to men on Mondays until 2pm.)

Heinz Beck, of three-Michelin-star La Pergola in Rome, serves an elegant Italian menu at Social, his white-tablecloth restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria on Palm Jumeirah. Leave room to share a few desserts, and also note that Wednesday is ladies night, with a three-course menu (plus a couple of drinks) at a reasonable set price.

This sleek rooftop lounge is decorated with tons of foliage and string lights, the only nod to the kitschy name in the form of several sculptures of monkeys holding telephones. The bar has incredible views of the city and directly faces the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa. Food-wise, there's a nice selection of Mediterranean share plates, a surprisingly good burger, and an array of trendy cocktails involving vapor and smoke.

A few years ago, it felt like nobody could stop talking about Zuma. Sometimes too much hype can turn you off a restaurant, but that’s not the case here. More than ten years after the original London opening, with locations in what seems like every major city, it's still one of the best meals anywhere. Tokyo-based interior designer Noriyoshi Muramatsu (who's done several Zumas) differentiates Zuma Dubai, which sits within the Dubai International Financial Centre, with a massive bamboo sculpture suspended from 450 delicate wires.

An open group working hub, this loft space in Alserkal Avenue has a cafe, collective library, screening room, and lots of good vibes. A4 plays host to rotating exhibitions, pop-up shops, and a range of creative events.

Originated in Sydney in 1996, Jones the Grocer's gourmet cafés are now in over seven countries (four cafes residing in Dubai alone), making it an easy-to-find standby for a solid meal and great host/hostess gifts in the form of gourmet chocolates, cheeses, jams, and other kitchen goodies. The café is a great place to set up with a coffee and sandwich for a few hours of work.

The Dubai OG of concept cafes with a healthy bent, The Lime Tree is a New-Zealand-style eatery that is now three locations strong. The original, opened in 2001, is near the beach, next to Jumeirah Mosque; meant to feel like a villa, with an upstairs balcony and courtyard garden, it's a popular mom-spot post dropping kids off at school. There's a location on Sheik Zayed Road in Al Quoz, and another in Al Quoz, in walking distance from the shops and galleries of Alserkal Avenue, where you're likely to find people posted up on laptops in one of Lime Tree's nooks or at the long picnic-style tables. Lime Tree serves organic coffee and teas, organic free-range egg scrambles, quiches, and salads, plenty of gluten-free bakery items. Everything is made in house.

This sweet little gourmet market and café has a location in Business Bay. There's a great market with gourmet cheeses and other deli items (all of which can be ordered for delivery), plus a lengthy to-go menu full of salads, grain bowls, and soups. It's also a decidedly solid option for morning coffee.

This modern chocolate shop is actually housed inside the chocolate brand’s manufacturing facility—meaning, in one visit, you can see every step of the chocolate-making process by peering into glass-walled pods. In addition to chocolate tasting workshops, Mirzam is known for creating exceptional bars with just three ingredients (cocoa beans, unrefined cane sugar, and small amounts of cocoa butter), but that actually does a disservice to the chocolate you’ll sample there; they’re also known for the variety of spices they incorporate into their bars. (The name “Mirzam” is borrowed from a star of the same name that ancient spice traders used to navigate maritime routes). Limited-edition bars have included single-origin dark chocolate with roasted pumpkin seeds and sea salt wrapped in a hand-painted design by a local UAE artist, and a white chocolate offering infused with a chai spice blend of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves.

Started by two women, Amal Al Marri and Deem Albassam, Salt began as a temporary food truck at Kite Beach. (This sounds like a familiar story in many cities but food trucks weren't a thing in Dubai when they tried it, and they still aren't at the level of what you'll find in LA, NYC, London, etc.) While a lot of Dubai's eating and entertainment happens indoors (mall culture is huge here), Marri and Albassam wanted to create a fun spot for locals to hang outdoors. Salt now has a permanent spot at Kite Beach, and it's wildly popular. The menu—sliders, fries, softies—is indulgently good beach food. If you're feeling adventurous, the cereal latte is a bestseller. (There's also a Cheetos-fried chicken sandwich option...)

This spot has all of the makings of the perfect indie coffee shop. The pastries are excellent, the bright, high-ceilinged space is a great place to perch and work, and the coffee is some of the best in Dubai. All blends are 100 percent organic and fair trade, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly.

From chef Tom Arnel and restaurateur Sergio Lopez, the same guys beind the eponymous Tom & Serg, this sleek-yet-charming venture offers the same gold standard service (and coffee). Tucked inside the ground floor of the Burj al Salam Trade Center, the gourmet café pretty much does it all: They bake our own bread (try their yeast-free sourdough), roast their own coffee, and prepare everything from scratch. It's both a great place to grab coffee and work, and casual dining destination in its own right—their extensive menu offers everything from chilled quinoa pudding to pistachio falafels with beetroot tahini to spiced corn and cod risotto. You'll also find a lot of vegan and dairy- and -gluten-free options.

The creative arts hub that has become Alserkal Avenue in Dubai's warehouse Al Quoz district has a disproportionate amount of the city's cool, health-centric cafes and specialty food shops. Wild & the Moon feels like it was lifted out of LA (the other location is actually in Paris). The first floor houses an organic, cold-pressed juice/smoothie/plant milk bar; upstairs, there's additional seating, and an array of hanging greenery (sprawling ivy, potted ferns, mini cacti). It's a beautiful space to visit, but they also take online orders—if you've hit the bottle a little too hard the night before, you can get an entire juice cleanse set delivered.

Bambah, founded by the incredibly charismatic and warm Maha Abdul Rasheed, is a homegrown Dubai shop. A vintage aficionado, Rasheed started the Bambah concept as a vintage shop, grew a loyal following (women fly in from Saudi Arabia specifically to see her), and re-opened in Al Quoz, selling her own line of embellished, flirty formal and cocktail separates. Parents take note: Rasheed just debuted an insanely adorable mini-line for girls.

Amidst a sea of skyscrapers and grand malls, this Parisian concept shop—which is both a healthy café, organic market, home goods, clothes, and jewelry store—is a welcome boho-chic respite right by Jumeirah beach. The café uses ingredients from local organic farms, and the entire menu is sugar- and dairy-free, changing daily to reflect the day’s harvest; they have a robust juice and smoothie menu, great salads, and standbys like buckwheat pancakes and chia seed pudding. Definitely wander over to their curated shops, where you'll find some unique jewelry, Jérôme Dreyfuss handbags, and craft furniture (plus great hostess gifts) sourced from around the globe.

A trip to the Dubai Mall is on every tourist's list, but the role of malls in local Dubai culture can't be overstated: This is a shopping center city—malls house so much of Dubai's food and family entertainment, particularly in the summer months when the temperature outside can be unbearable. The Dubai Mall is the crowning glory of them all, at 5.9 million square feet—grab a map on your way in, seriously. Geared toward kids, there's an aquarium, indoor theme park, Olympic-sized ice rink, and twenty-two screen movie theater. There are hundreds of places to eat, including the dessert-focused Parker's. As for retail, you can find it all here. The ground/first floor area of the mall called Fashion Avenue has all the big designer and luxury brands you could think of. Also worth seeing: the department store Level Shoes, which is 96,000 square feet itself (i.e. SO many shoes). On the second floor, there's an enormous, impeccable Kinokuniya, which is absolute heaven for bookophiles—there are more than half a million books here, plus thousands of magazines in multiple languages, and all the stationery and accompanying paper goods the heart could desire.

Just across the creek from Al Fahidi/Bur Dubai—you can hop on a boat taxi for a ride—are the old city's souks. Both a quintessential Dubai experience and an incredibly touristy activity that many will say you must do while here, visiting the gold and spice markets can be overwhelming, so if you're going, steel your senses. Sellers are constantly calling out to passerby, trying to entice them to enter their storefront out of all the other nearly indistinguishable adjacent shops. It's standard to haggle—the original price is rarely what a customer pays—and you'll generally get a better deal if you ask for prices in the local AED currency. (Almost all the vendors take credit card, which is convenient.) That said, it's exciting when you find what feels like your treasure among the souks—the gold market is a mecca for gifts to return home with. You'll also see some primarily silver shops mixed in here, plus accessories, shoes and clothing. The spice market is a little quieter, and it can be interesting talking to some of the vendors about the diverse array of spices they have on hand. (Or, you know, you can stock up on chocolate dates for your suitcase.) If you're hungry after shopping, stop at the self-explanatory cafe, Creekside, which doubles as a gallery/cultural event space.

This place is a design junkies dream. Even if you're not in the market for home décor, the sprawling showroom and its endless stock of unique furniture, lighting, and home cinema options is worth a visit. (The sales people are incredibly knowledgeable about the design world.) Ikonhouse also hosts occasional talks with noteworthy architects, technology innovators, furniture designers, and more.

This concept store is a central point of the Design District, where Dubai's creative crowd works and hangs out. The space itself features a little dining area surrounded by a highly curated design space displaying ceramics, glossy coffee table books, and other knick knacks on plexiglass shelves (you can even get Mast chocolate here). The central dining space—which has a menu designed by Dubai-based chef Izu Ani—is always buzzing with lunch meetings.

Arwa Hafiz, a Saudi entrepreneur and the woman behind The Odd Piece, clearly has an eye for vintage and modern finds alike. An expansive loft space in Alserkal Avenue, The Odd Piece is a haven for collectors, with gorgeous mid-century furniture placed among antique desk chairs, contemporary lamps, and all manner of home accessories, sourced from all over the globe. The Odd Piece shares their showroom with The Rug Company's handcrafted-in-Nepal, art-worthy floor decor.

The capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is about ninety miles from Dubai, an hour and a half or so by car. If you have extra time in Dubai and you haven't explored the UAE before, it's worth the trip out; every emirate in the UAE is remarkably differently (also see Sharja/Aman). There aren't many mosques that non-Muslims can enter in Dubai (or the region), but the most stunning one, which happens to be open to visitors, is in Abu Dhabi—Sheikh Zayed Mosque, named after the original president of the UAE. An enormous, majestic place of prayer—built with more than 100,000 tons of white marble, to fit 40,000 worshippers—Sheikh Zayed Mosque has eighty-two domes, one thousand pillars, and four crowning minarets. The architecture and design borrows from diverse Islamic styles and includes subtle floral shapes cut with semi-precious stones and sharp, geometric details, that as a whole feel strikingly modern. Visitors can go inside the mosque as long as prayer isn't in session, where you can see the world's largest hand-knotted carpet (5,700 square meters that are said to be the work of 1,2000 craftsmen and took over a year to make).

Sure, there's a lot of hype around going to the top of the world's tallest building—but when in Dubai...provided you aren't deathly afraid of heights, just do it. The view is knock-the-breath-out-of-you crazy. Built by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, excavation began in 2004, and the building, a series of rising, helix-shaped spires, officially debuted six years later, in 2010. It's 160 stories, or 2,716.5 feet (828 meters) tall. To put that into perspective: Shanghai Tower is 2,073 feet; One World Trade Center is 1,776 feet; and the Eiffel Tower is 984 feet. (Because it's Dubai, where more is frequently seen as more, an ever taller structure is in the works.) There are a few observation decks—stop at level 124, 125, 148—where you can look down at what appears to be an imaginative, sprawling paper city from that high up. At level 122, you can do high tea at At.Mosphere (it's about the view and the experience, not the food). Book in advance—even just to get up to the observation decks. While you're here: You can easily couple your tour of the Burj Khalifa with the adjacent Dubai Mall.

The desert surrounding the city of Dubai is a preferred escape for many locals/expats, who will rent quads and trek out to walk around the dunes, picnic, and hang, or ride bikes around the Al Qudra tracks. For a more organized journey into the desert, check out the touring group Platinum Heritage. You can arrange to be collected from where you're staying (or from a convenient group pick-up spot), and a knowledgeable guide will drive you the hour or so out into the desert, which is incredibly majestic—rolling bronze dunes as far as the eye can see in every direction. There are two main tour options: with the Platinum, you ride in a luxury Range Rover, and in Heritage, it's vintage Land Rovers with more of an emphasis on learning about desert life. (If you get carsick easily, the Platinum is probably the safer bet, although many will take something to help prevent nausea before the trip.) You can do both around sunset, which adds to the magic. They also allow for camel rides if that's of interest, but you're likely to see some wandering wildlife, too—like the Arabian oryx, a white antelope with unicorn-like, long, doubled, curved horns, which had gone extinct in the wild in the 1960's/70's but has since been reintroduced. You'll also be able to eat a traditional Bedouin meal served around one of Platinum Heritage's desert campsites.

As a young city, Dubai is still building its cultural scene. Toward that goal, and the delight of many locals, the Dubai Opera house, which was under construction for a few years, opened at the end of 2016, a 5,800-square-foot marine-style, dhow-shaped building in the heart of downtown. The venue is the performance arts hub of the city, putting on a wide array of ballets, operas, plays, musicals, comedy shows, and concerts.

The village surrounding the DIFC's Arc de Triomphe lookalike, the gate, is also home to some of the city's best galleries. You'll find the classic upscale operations here (Christie's, for example, has their office in this area) as well as some local galleries that are more than worth touring, like Ayyam Gallery (they also have a location in Beirut). You can cover all the art spaces an hour or so, but check the calendar for their art nights, which bring live music and performance to the space in the evenings.

Best known for its prime kitesurfing conditions, hence the name, this busy beach has something for everyone: Try your hand at the water sports (rentals available on the spot) or simply relax and take in the beautiful views of the Burj Al Arab. In addition, there's a dedicated kids area with trampolines, a climbing gym, and a skate park—plus favorite food joint, Salt. And if your phone is running low on juice, there are charging stations right on the beach.

A relative veteran by Dubai standards, Lawrie Shabibi's gallery has existed for more than five years, showing on the international circuit, throwing weight behind some important rising artists in the region. While you're in the neighborhood, it's also worth visiting the Green Art Gallery and The Third Line, both of which also operate on the international fair circuit and showcase some incredible Middle Eastern talent.

Dubai's Marina has become one of the city's most desirable neighborhoods—a lot of young expats live here—in part because the area, including the adjacent JBR, is so walkable, in a city that has typically revolved around drivers. To orient yourself: The Marina is the section that hugs the main Sheikh Zayed Road on one side and the interior waterway on the other. There are a few footbridges that connect the Marina to Jumeirah Beach Residence (called JBR), which is on the gulf side. The Walk at JBR is the name of the outdoor shopping promenade strip of Jumeirah Beach Residence. For a tour of the area, start by walking the waterway in the Marina, where you can watch the yachts going by, and then cross over to JBR toward the beach, where you'll find some of the best people watching in Dubai—a real cross section of the city's residents and visitors. Stop to eat while you're in JBR.

Dubai's northern border is shared with the emirate of Sharjah, and right above Sharjah sits the emirate of Ajman—both within driving distance should you want to see more of the UAE. Visiting Sharjah is a really interesting contrast to staying in Dubai—known as a more conservative emirate, Sharjah is dry (meaning absolutely no alcohol) and calls for modest dress. It's really a place to go to discover and learn about authentic Islamic culture. The historic old town is captivating; there are markets and souks to browse (that feel less touristy than the Dubai variation), and where you can see traditional Bedouin jewelry. Sharjah has a number of quality museums, including the smartly curated Museum of Islamic Civilization, which is in a converted souk on the water. Sharjah is also known for its three lagoons, and Al Majaz amphitheater event venue. Sharjah's northern neighbor, Ajman, is the smallest of the seven emirates and very scenic; Dubai locals come here for a weekend beach getaway. Also here: Ajman Museum—the former ruler residence/late eighteenth-century fort now serves as a glimpse into the emirate's past, including the once predominating pearling trade of the region.

One thing that's striking about Dubai is how brand-new everything is nearly everywhere in the city. The exception is the tip of the city that points toward Sharjah, sometimes referred to as—yes, Old Dubai. Water (Dubai Creek) divides this section into two main neighborhoods: Bur Dubai and Deira. Plan to spend a morning/afternoon exploring both, starting with SMCCU in the historic Fahidi district of Bur Dubai. Here, you'll see the oldest architecture in Dubai (meaning a couple hundreds years, but still, you'll feel a world away from the sleek Burj Khalifa—a mix of stone, tent, and palm tree structures that were home to the area's fishermen and pearl divers. The cultural center offers tours of the neighborhood, including Diwan Mosque (probably the only time women visitors will cover their hair—so it's a good idea to bring a scarf with you, but you can borrow one if you forget). What's really cool about SMCCU is they host breakfasts and lunches where visitors are invited to ask any and all questions about Emirati and Muslim culture. It can be a pretty fascinating experience—both learning more about different customs and traditions and also hearing the perceptions of other travelers. From Bur Dubai, you can catch a boat ride across the creek in Deira to shop the souks.

Going skiing at the mall could only be a thing in Dubai. The first indoor ski resort/snow park in the Middle East, Ski Dubai as it's called, is located inside the Mall of the Emirates—which isn't even the biggest shopping center in Dubai. Stop mid-mountain for hot chocolate.

Located inside the grandiose Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel, this spa is more of a palace than anything. The interior is decorated with pristine marble walls, ornate mosaic tiles, and grandiose chandeliers hanging above the baths. It's also enormous: The complex includes 42 treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas, and two thalassotherapy pools for saltwater and seaweed treatments. In appropriately over-the-top Dubai style, both the men's and women's spa areas have "snow rooms" complete with ice fountains, which are maintained at four-degrees Celsius year-round.

A 4,000-square-foot loft group art space founded in 2005, thejamjar has an open painting studio that you can visit for two-, three-, and four-hour sessions. You choose your desired canvas size, and thejamjar provides all the other painting essentials, as well: easel, brushes, unlimited paint, coffee, tunes. Kid friendly, thejamjar can also be booked for parties, and they offer a series of educational events, including after-school courses via their Young Artist Programme (ages nine to fifteen), and the Art Academy for older students looking to build portfolios for art school. For adults, there are regular workshops taught by a variety of artists, including series like Abstract Acrylic Mondays.

With an interior covered in tagging and graffiti murals (and with house music blaring constantly), The Warehouse Gym is an old-school boxing gym on steroids. The facility houses over 20,000 square feet of exercise space, expansive circuit training areas, and a full-size MMA boxing ring. There's a full schedule of classes, including CrossFit, cycling, boot camp, fitbox, and TRX, and a ladies-only gym space, too. Everyone says good things about the dragonfruit bowl in their cafe, too.