What’s the difference between Dubai and Munich? Not much during Oktoberfest season! You can celebrate the German festival, which is the world’s largest folk festival, right here in Dubai. An array of new and returning Oktoberfest events in Dubai will get the party started and recreate the 213-year-old Bavarian celebration with bratwursts, beer, oompah bands, and beer tents. You’ve just got to show up with your appetite and a willingness to dance on tables!
1. Ernst
Dubai’s only Bavarian pub goes all out every year with their Oktoberfest festivities in Dubai. A special Oktoberfest menu, ales flown in from Germany, traditional German bands and a host of fun fairground games all keep the festivities in full swing at this month-long event. Find more details here.
2. Spartan Sports Cafe
This sports bar inspired by Spartan princess Kyniska – the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in ancient Greece – has some medal-worthy Oktoberfest deals. Until October 3 you can enjoy veal schnitzel and roasted baby potatoes with a pint of Franziskaner beer for AED 68. You can also knockback Bavarian beers such as Dr. Loosen Riesling at AED 42 for a glass and AED 199 for a bottle and more.
📍Sheraton Hotel MOE Call 04 377 2356
3. Barasti Beach Bar
The Dubai Marina nightspot’s annual beer bash is back from September 21 to October 1 inside their summer tent. The venue will be transformed with festive buntings and long tables laid out with the best of Bavarian bites and hops. Live music by Austrian band Trio Megamix will get you dancing on the tables once the food’s cleared. Speaking of food, a special Oktoberfest menu featuring bratwrursts, weinwursts, pretzels, apfel strudels and more will be available during the festivities along with special drinks deals. The official kep tapping takes place at 7pm on September 22.
Call 04 318 1313; from 9pm till late
4. Wavehouse, Atlantis The Palm
Combining the best of entertainment and dining out, this fun family venue in Atlantis is upping the ante with its Oktoberfest blowout. The games will be afoot with fun stein holding and pretzel-eating challenges while acoustic tunes by a live German oompah band will set the mood. A scrummy meny of Bavarian-inspired dishes from AED 55 will let you load up on pretzels, German potato salad, schweinshaxe and schweineschnitzel. Until October 2.
From 12pm-1am; call 04 426 2626 or visit www.atlantis.com/dubai/restaurants/wavehouse
5. Caddy Shack
The open-air burger and ice cream spot at Trump International Golf Club is throwing a Munich-inspired Oktoberfest with a BBQ platter for AED 199 from Thursday to Saturday and live German music on Fridays from 5pm-8pm. Special happy hour deals on German beers will get you draughts of Hofbrau Original, Lowenbrau, and Becks from AED 37.
Call 054 417 0399 or email reservations@skelmorehospitalitypartners.com
6. Saffron
Instead of dancing on tables, if you’d rather sit down at one and fill your boots, Saffron’s Oktorbest brunch checks all the boxes. On October 7, the special Oktoberfest brunch will feature German dishes such as sauerbraten, tarte flambée, onion pie, hähnchenschnitzel with sunny-side up. Beverage stations too will channel Bavaria with German hops on tap, frozen drinks, and more. A live DJ and Bavarian-inspired dancers and performers will have you clinking steins and yelling ‘Prost!’
From 1pm-4pm; AED 595 per person. Call 04 426 2626 or visit www.atlantis.com/dubai/restaurants/saffron
7. 71 Sports Bar
Damac Hills isn’t quite the Wiesn or Bavarian meadows where Oktoberfest is held but this sports bar and its pretty surroundings are doing the best to bring those Munich vibes to DXB. A special German menu will feed hungry partgoers half-grilled chicken with bratkartoffeln (German fries) and sauerkraut, schnitzels, currywurst and more. You can order the dishes individually or pair them with a pint for AED 119. German main course paired with a pint, all for an unbeatable AED 119.
From 12pm-10pm; call 04 245 3988 or email reservations@skelmorehospitalitypartners.com