Pocket List: 5 ways to experience the Middle East by Tatler Best co-jury head Hershey Gargash
In this instalment of Pocket List, we turn to Hershey Gargash, Tatler Best co-jury head for the Middle East. With over two decades in luxury media, Gargash is known for uncovering the story behind the sparkle and a perspective that bridges cultures and disciplines, blending global sophistication with a distinctly Middle Eastern sense of place.
Her list is a journey through the region’s most evocative spaces. From Dubai’s courtyards and beaches to the mountains of Oman and the cosmopolitan waterfront of Jeddah. Each stop offers a reminder that true luxury lies in connection, calm, and a sense of place.
In case you missed it: 5 ways to experience Japan by Tatler Best co-jury head Kyoko Nakayama
Tatler Best co-jury head for the Middle East, Hershey Gargash
Find calm at XVA Café, Al Fahidi, Dubai
A courtyard café filled with art, heritage and quiet charm (Photo: XVA Café)
Tucked into the narrow lanes of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, XVA Café is one of Dubai’s most soulful hideaways. Set within a restored courtyard house that doubles as an art gallery and boutique hotel, it serves vibrant vegetarian and vegan plates surrounded by contemporary art and carved wooden arches. It’s Gargash’s go-to for quiet moments, where the essence of old Dubai lingers amid the hum of the modern city.
XVA CaféAddress: Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sip coffee in the mountains at Anat Café, Nizwa, Oman
Coffee and mountain air at Anat Café in Nizwa, Oman’s historic cultural capital (Photo: Anat Café)
In the ancient Omani city of Nizwa—once the capital and still the country’s cultural heart—Anat Café sits between mountain ridges and old souks. With clean lines, sun-washed interiors and panoramic views, it’s a destination for coffee purists and travellers seeking stillness. The menu is light and thoughtful, the air crisp, and the setting quietly spectacular—the kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer.
Anat CaféAddress: Hay Al Ain, Nizwa, Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate, Oman
Unwind at Hapi, Al Khazzan Park, Dubai
Moments of calm at Hapi in Al Khazzan Park, Dubai, surrounded by greenery and family-friendly charm (Photo: Hapi)
Inside Al Khazzan Park, just steps from City Walk, Hapi offers an oasis of calm in the heart of Dubai. Known for its fresh, wholesome food and minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic, it’s the kind of café that invites you to slow down. Families picnic under the trees, friends linger over matcha lattes, and time seems to stretch just enough for everything to taste better.
HapiAddress: Al Khazzan Park, Al Safa Street, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dine at Kuuru, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Nikkei cuisine, Japanese precision meets Peruvian vibrancy, at Kuuru, Jeddah (Photo: Kuuru)
On Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, Kuuru brings Nikkei cuisine, the fusion of Japanese technique and Peruvian flair, to Jeddah’s Corniche. The setting is sleek and intimate, with golden light, sculptural textures and a cosmopolitan crowd. Every plate is a dialogue between continents, and every detail, from the design to the service, reflects the city’s new spirit of modern sophistication.
KuuruAddress: Prince Saud Al Faisal Street, Al Rawdah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Watch the sunset at Bungalow 34, Pearl Jumeira, Dubai
At Bungalow 34, Dubai’s beachside dining gets a dose of effortless sophistication (Photo: Bungalow 34)
Beachside bliss meets understated glamour at Bungalow 34 on Pearl Jumeira. Overlooking turquoise waters, it captures the relaxed elegance of Mediterranean coastal dining. Guests linger over seafood and sundowners as waves roll in, a reminder that, in Dubai, the good life often begins with sea breeze, sand and a cocktail in hand.
Bungalow 34Address: Pearl Jumeira Island, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
See also: Thinking of moving to Dubai? 10 Tatler community members weigh in on the allure of the UAE
NOW READ
Tatler Best of Asia: Best 100 Hotels 2024