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 its 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. Barasti Beach Bar
The Dubai Marina nightspot’s annual beer bash is back inside their summer tent from September 21 to October 6. Festive buntings and long tables laid out with the best of Bavarian bites and hops will transform the venue. Once the food’s cleared, live music by Austrian band Trio Megamix will get you dancing on those tables. Speaking of food, a special Oktoberfest menu featuring currywursts, Käse Spätzle (egg noodles slathered in cheese sauce), pretzels, apfel strudels and more will be available along with special drinks deals. The official keg tapping takes place at 8pm on September 21.
Call 04 318 1313; from 9am till late
3. Wavehouse, Atlantis The Palm
Combining the best of entertainment and dining out, this fun family venue in Atlantis is upping the ante with its annual Oktoberfest blowout from October 4-20. Acoustic tunes by a live German band will set the mood. A scrummy menu of Bavarian-inspired dishes from AED 80 will let you load up on hotdogs with sauerkraut, roasted pork belly, meat platter of sausages. Wash it down with pints of AED 60.
From 12pm-1am; call 04 426 2626 or visit www.atlantis.com/dubai/restaurants/wavehouse
4. The Huddle
This sports bar chain’s Bur Dubai outlet at CityMax Hotel is bringing in Oktoberfest from October 1-31. How they’re doing it is by serving up ice-cold brews at reduced prices of AED 42 per pint.
From 12pm onwards; call 0501007065
5. Crafty Fox
Tucked away inside the Jumeirah Golf Estates, this gastropub is splitting up Oktoberfest celebrations into two weekends. From October 4-6 and then again from October 11-13, enjoy live traditional music, snack on Flammkuchen (German pizza), Bavarian sausages, BBQ baby rips and an array of classic German draughts and ciders. Dessert fans can indulge in German apfelstrudel and Black Forest cake!
From 12pm till closing; call 04 586 7767
6. Saffron
Instead of dancing on tables, if you’d rather sit down at one and fill your boots, Saffron’s Oktorberfest brunch checks all the boxes. On October 5, the special Oktoberfest brunch will feature German dishes such as currywurst, cured Ibérico ham leg, onion pie and 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. The Stables
This Equestrian-themed Sheikh Zayed Road institution isn’t horsing around when it comes to Oktoberfest celebrations from September 21 – October 6. The games will be afoot with a Stein-holding contest, take a swing at the hammer hilt and toss pretzels onto a wheel to win prizes. Dressing up for the occasion? Wear an XL dirndl or leiderhosen to make room for the beer belly you’ll end up with after guzzling down pints (AED 45) or steins (AED 80) of Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Erdinger and devouring delicious grilled bratwurst and chicken wiener schnitzel with trimmings.
Call 054 417 7028
8. Garden On 8
This Media City sports bar isn’t quite Bavarian meadows where Wiesn is held but its pretty rooftop garden is going all out to bring Munich vibes to DXB from October 25-29. An Oktoberfest quiz will test your beer knowledge on October 25, followed by an Oktoberfest brunch on October 26 and a screening of the Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen match at 7:30pm on October 28. On all days, a special German menu will feed hungry partygoers chicken schnitzel, lebarkase (German meatloaf) and sauerkraut, pork knuckle, bratwurst and more.
Individual dishes from AED 45 – AED 75; brunch packages from AED 299; call 052 144 7438
9. Frevo
Oktoberfest gets a feisty Brazilian makeover at this churrascaria outlet in Fairmont The Palm. From September 27 to October 6, they’re serving up sizzling grilled meats with crips beers blending the best of Brazil and Bavaria. Feast on German staples like sausages, schnitzels, and pretzels in the all-you-can-eat Churrascaria Experience for AED 345 per person. Or get fizzy with the AED 150 Bavarian Package of free-flowing German beers.
10. Grand Oktoberfest Tent, Grand Hyatt Dubai
This big Bavarian bash in a tent is back for a 16th time at the Grand Hyatt in Oud Metha. From October 10-27, dance the night away to the tunes of Die Kirchdorfer Oktoberfest band from Munich. After, fuel up on steins of Bavarian brews (AED 60) and an unlimited German buffet featuring frankfurters, pretzels, Wiesn Hendl salad and more for AED 199 per person.
From 7pm till 2am; call 043172222 or visit their website