If you ask me, the best way to spend the holidays in Dubai isn’t with snowflakes or sleigh bells, but it’s with sunshine, seafood, and a chilled pool overlooking the sea.

When we say fun dining, we mean it: elbows on the table, sauce on your shirt, and flavors so bold they should come with a warning. This year, our iconic Cioppino Platter just scooped up Best Seafood Dish at the BBC Pro Chef Awards, and we’re still celebrating.

After the overwhelming response to our first-ever Supper Club, we’re thrilled to announce it’s now a monthly event! Our launch evening was everything we hoped it would be - and more.

Where seafood buckets meet steins… and good vibes are served with a splash of mischief. A Golden Moment by the Sea. The sun sets over Palm Jumeirah. There’s a golden glow in the sky, a cold beer in hand, and the smell of sizzling seafood in the air.

Let’s face it - summer in Dubai doesn’t end in August. The heat lingers, and we’re all still searching for somewhere cool to unwind without hiding indoors all day. That’s why I’m so happy we’ve got the one thing that makes all the difference: a perfectly chilled pool with sea views.

Let’s be honest - Dubai summers are no joke. When the temperatures soar, we all start looking for the same thing: somewhere cool, fun, and relaxed where we can kick back with good food and great company.

Dubai’s restaurant scene? Slick, serious, and mostly hidden inside hotels. You’d walk in and be met with white tablecloths, whispering waiters, and a sense that dining was something to be observed - not enjoyed.

When I look back over the past 14 years - from a spontaneous conversation at DIMC about a wooden dhow to a homegrown seafood brand loved across Dubai - I feel a mix of deep gratitude and quiet pride.

It’s been over a decade since we opened our doors (and crab buckets) aboard that humble wooden dhow. Since then, Aprons and Hammers has become a staple among Dubai’s most beloved seafood restaurants—from a floating crab shack to three lively venues across the city.

You’re not just looking for a meal. You’re looking for something real - a moment to slow down, share a bucket of seafood with your friends, and laugh until you forget what time it is. 

After sharing all those unforgettable stories last week - first dates, birthdays, seafood feasts, and giggles around crab buckets - I found myself reflecting on that moment.

When we opened Aprons and Hammers aboard that wooden dhow back in 2011, we thought we were creating a seafood restaurant in Dubai. What we didn’t realise was - we were also creating a place where memories would be made.

When we launched Aprons and Hammers from a gently rocking dhow back in 2011, we knew the food had to be just as memorable as the setting.

In our last post, I shared how Aprons and Hammers began as a humble seafood restaurant on a wooden dhow, docked at the Dubai International Marine Club, in front of Le Méridien Mina Seyahi.

Where It All Began - On A Traditional Wooden Dhow Hi, I’m Nichola Fettis – (everyone calls me Nicci). I am one of the co-founders of...