The new restaurants and retail stores we're most excited about in Dubai's Al Seef

From Egyptian fare at Khofo and Kim's Singapore Seafood, to Sheikh Hamdan-approved Caliente caps, here's where we’re most looking forward to eating and shopping in Al Seef

Khofo Egyptian resaurant at Al Seef has a pharaoh-inspired setting

Sitting pretty on the stretch of Dubai Creek between the Dubai Courts and Al Fahidi/Bastakiya, Al Seef has become a dining destination to be reckoned with.

In the seven-odd months since it’s officially opened, the area has welcomed scores of residents and tourists to its popular restaurants and cafes, most notably Dukkan Burger, Kava & Chai and Times of Arabia.

Now the waterfront promenade has introduced 11 new restaurants and 27 retail stores, bringing its total number of open outlets to 69.

Here are the ones we’re most looking forward to eating and shopping in:

Khofo

The Egyptian restaurant is the oldest of the newcomers, having soft-launched in June. It serves delicacies inspired by traditional Egyptian flavours and dishes, such as molokia (Jew's mallow soup), okra, oxtail soup, mahashi (stuffed vegetables) and hawawshi (pita bread with minced meat).

Click hear to read head chef Mostafa Mahmod's recipe for koshari balls.

Piadara

The Italian eatery allows you to make your own wheat pasta, and has an extensive range of light summer salads on its menu.

Kim's Singapore Seafood

A veritable Singapore institution, Kim's opened here in August, in partnership with Warner Brothers for the premiere of Crazy Rich Asians. Its menu is replete with authentic South East flavours, such as coconut pandan jam, galangal root, ginger sheet, basil and elder flower, explored in dishes including salted egg fried fish skin, fried prawn paste chicken wings, Singapore chilli and black pepper crab, steamed shell scallops with garlic, black pepper lobster, crispy cereal prawn and sambal kang kong.

Sirocco

A good place to visit with a group that has varied culinary tastes, Sirocco draws inspiration from wholesome cuisines around the world. The menu offers everything from shakshuka eggs and seaweed pad Thai salad, to linguini, barramundi and chicken schnitzel.

Al Fanar 

Here's where you need to be if you want to enjoy authentic Emirati cusine - think khabisah, araroot, bathith, luqaimat, ferni and the like - in a setting that recalls the Dubai of the 1960s.

Booba

For exotic beverages, head to Booba, where you can sample all manner of tea, smoothie and juice combinations, including Taiwanese bubble tea, as well as homemade gelato. Other new must-visits for desserts and coffee include Jelly Belly Ice Cream and Al Rayeh Cafe.

Yum Yum Tree restaurants 

If yo're in the mood for a quick and inexpensive meal, head to any of the three restaurants that are part of Yum Yum Tree: Al Mangal Express for Arabic street food, Vanellis for delicious pizza and pasta, and the self-explanatory Pad Thai.

Haleeb O Heil

The famed Kuwaiti restaurant does a delicious traditional breakfast and a mean lotus cake.

As for the shopping half of the destination, look out for:

Caliente 

The Emirati brand specialises in high-end trucker caps and eclectic clothes.

I Love Dubai

For souvenirs and gifts.

Jawhara

For diamond and gemstone jewellery, and watches.

Sneakers Paris

For trendy footwear.

Saray Perfumes

For traditional fragrances and ouds.

Zafarana

For aromatic homegrown and imported spices and herbs.

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