Hit List: Catch the Yas Mall 5-day super sale, dine in the kitchen at Bord Eau, and more

Catch the fireworks and entertainment at a number of venues around the UAE this New Year's Eve. Sammy Dallal / The National

Shop until the new tax drops

If hitting the mall isn’t on your to-do list this weekend, you are doing something wrong. With the impending VAT tax just days away, Yas Mall is in the midst of a 5-day super sale. There are sales and offers including discounts of up to 90 per cent off at select stores and promotions across everything from jewellery to electronics and luxury accessories to homewares. So if you need a new pair of Nikes, or fancy some new accessories from Claire’s or bath products from Bath & Body Works, Yas Mall is the place to bag your tax-free bargains before the 5 per cent tax comes in to effect on January 1.

You won’t get Bord in this kitchen

If you fancy French food or have visitors in the emirate you're keen to impress, Bord Eau restaurant at the Shangri-La in the capital is offering foodies the opportunity to dine in the kitchen, where you can watch Chef Jimmy (pictured) and his team prepare a specially curated menu just for you. While not cheap – the five-course meal costs Dh750 per person – it is a unique experience worth trying at least once. From your table in the corner of the bustling kitchen, you'll enjoy seasonal dishes that include lobster bisque, snail croquettes, octopus, mushroom pies, scallops with truffle, Wagyu beef and foie gras. We can tell you the French butter and the crusty bread are to die for. But a word of warning: be sure to keep space for the latter dishes. It's a rookie error to go hard early and then not fit everything in. Go to www.shangri-la.com or email [e-mail]

Chef Jimmy uses truffle in his special five-course menu at Bord Eau, where guests are able to enjoy a meal while watching the team cook. Melinda Healy / The National

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Larte opens at Saadiyat

There's a new "display" worth checking out in the Abu Dhabi art precinct. Contemporary Italian restaurant Larte has just opened its doors, so if you're heading out to Saadiyat over the next few days and looking for somewhere new to dine, this could be it. The new venue is part of the Larte Project that is "aimed at showcasing modern, contemporary Italian hospitality and community experience, served alongside art, fashion and design".  There's a large outdoor terrace, cafe, and stylish marble bar area to complement the all-day dining space. For more on the new space go to www.larte.ae – it's open from 8am to 11pm daily.

Larte Abu Dhabi is a dining space that blends creativity with Italian food. Courtesy Manarat Al Saadiyat

Plenty of ways to see in 2018

New Year’s Eve is just a few days away, and for those not wanting to spend a fortune ringing in 2018, there are plenty of free and low-cost events worth making a beeline. As always, the biggest show in the Emirates will be the special light show – also a Guinness World Records attempt – at the Burj Khalifa. Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah is aiming for a record too, for the “largest aerial firework shell” display, while here in the capital, Countdown Village at the Corniche is the place to be each evening throughout the weekend. It’s a family-friendly option with dedicated retail and food zones, family entertainment, roaming performers and a fireworks show. Whatever you decide to do, we’re sure it will be fabulous. Enjoy and Happy New Year!