Expo City Dubai is inviting you to embrace the joyful spirit of the season with a selection of eclectic menus and experiences for this year’s Winter City. Curated especially for the occasion, each F&B venue at Expo City Dubai will be offering limited edition signature festive dishes and special Christmas dinner menus, presenting sumptuous treats and fun seasonal games and activities.
Open now until January 7, families and friends can immerse themselves in the timeless traditions of the holiday season against a backdrop of unforgettable activities including reindeer rides and visits to Santa’s Sustainable house to meet the man in red himself. Santa’s friendly elves can also be found dotted across the city, waiting to direct guests and help them get the most out of their experience.
Creative Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus
Bringing an international twist to traditional Christmas cuisine, guests are invited to choose from festive set menus served by some of Expo City Dubai’s favourite venues.
Providing a Christmas gathering filled with the finest flavours of Arabia, the Christmas menu at Assembly Mezze & Skewers centres around the charcoal grill. Created by Chef Athanasios Kargatzidis, the mastermind behind Baron – Lebanon’s top-ranked restaurant in the MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants guide for both 2022 and 2023 – it offers delicious sharing starters such as creamy hummus and beetroot dip, followed by a choice of grills and decadent truffle cake.
Gup & Shup by Rohit Ghai brings an Indian twist to Christmas Day, with its set menu of flavoursome signature specialties such as Kerala Chicken, Samosa Chaat, Jackfruit Kofta and Chicken Tikka Masala, while Alkebulan dining hall will provide a vibrant African take on Christmas festivities with specials such as Roast Turkey and Duck with cranberry chutney, paired with three hours of free-flowing beverages.
PXB by vegan sustainability activist Loui Blake presents a plant-based Christmas feast with tasty dishes such as the Impossible Meat Wellington and Christmas Eton Mess, while gastro pub Reform Social & Grill serves up three courses of classic British favourites including Smoked Salmon with dill creamed cheese, Roast Turkey with all the trimmings, and a classic Christmas pudding.
Savour the artistry of Mediterranean heritage-infused cuisine at Safar. Offering a three-course menu guests will enjoy Garlic Prawns paired with couscous and lively lemon, Ribeye complemented by caponata and velvety potato puree, and Spaghetti Tre Colori with tomatoes, basil, red chili, and stracciatella.
Grand Beirut will take guests on a joyful journey through Lebanon with its set menu of colourful hot and cold mezze, mixed grills and traditional Lebanese desserts. Last but not least, the holiday high tea at Emirati-inspired Al Wasl Cafe offers a Christmas experience to remember. Spanning eclectic and creative specialties such as Coronation Smoked Turkey sandwiches and Terry’s Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate, to be enjoyed with a bird’s eye view of Wasl Plaza’s spectacular light show, it’s bound to have every guest fizzing with festive cheer.
Available on December 24 and 25 from 1200-2200. Please visit https://www.expocitydubai.com/en/eat-and-drink/ for complete information on pricing & reservations.
Global Christmas delicacies
From 15 December to 7 January, guests are invited to embark on a festive food tour and sample a tantalising array of international specialties that represent Christmas traditions across the globe.
With adorable Cream Cheese Snowmen and Reindeer Doughnuts from authentic Japanese bakery Yamanote Collective, and vegan Apple Grinch Cookies from Floozie Cookies, those with a sweet tooth will be spoilt for choice.
Q Coffee is straying away from the usual Pumpkin Spiced lattes and offering guests the chance to try exotic African beverages such as Forest Berry Cold Brew and the Noheli Nziza – meaning ‘Beautiful Christmas’ in Rwandan – which features a dreamy mix of espresso, vanilla ice cream, chocolate and candied nuts.
Guests are also invited to embrace the cosy spirit of the Swiss alps and enjoy a traditional cheese fondue at Lilly’s Cafe, while Safar‘s Roast Turkey and Meatball subs are perfect for a fuss-free meal.
For a truly global experience, other festive specials include the African-inspired Congo Madeleine and Shortbread Cookies from Alkebulan, and the Christmas Kerala Curry and Paneer Anarkali from Gup & Shup. Burger addicts can’t afford to miss the USA-style turkey Gobble Burger and Santa Fries from Philly Jawn by Ghostburger.
Magical festive food trucks
Other specialties from across the globe can be grabbed on the go from Expo City Dubai’s many food trucks with sweet delicacies from Emirati dessert specialist, Legaimat by Al Fanar, vegan ice cream from House of Pops, ice cream rolls from Sweets on Wheels, Belgian waffles from Maison Mathis by Creneau International and much more.
Prices for the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day set menus and festive specials vary. For more information about F&B at Winter City at Expo City Dubai, please visit https://www.expocitydubai.com/en/eat-and-drink/.
