As the weather gets hotter and hotter in Dubai, we’re now forced to take a step back, slow down, and stay in. While we won’t be partying at beach clubs until the early hours or working on a tan by the pool—iced matcha in hand—there are still ways to make the most out of socialising this summer.
In fact, during the cooler months, it often feels hectic running around trying to accommodate plan after plan, whereas in the summer, you can take the extra time to focus on fewer events and put all your creative energy behind them.
Hosting elaborate girls’ nights, themed events, and dinner parties can feel a bit overwhelming during the busy season, but now is the perfect time to pick a theme, invite the girlies, and make it magical. Romanticising the little details—straight out of a Pinterest board—is just the kind of thing we need to get out of bed and get excited for.
From at-home cafés to caviar and martini nights, the possibilities are endless. Personalised invitations, mini disco ball decorations, bows on everything, a signature cocktail—use these slower summer months to pour your creativity into something memorable and uplifting.
Need a little inspo? Here’s how to make staying in feel like the event of the season.
1. Kitchen Café
Who needs to leave the house and walk through the sweltering streets of Dubai to get an overpriced matcha when you can bring all the fun and girly vibes into the comfort of your own home? Have fun experimenting with flavours like strawberry, blueberry, salted caramel, or raspberry ripple.
Try cute décor like personalised coffee cups, colourful straws, and display stands. Write the names of drinks on fun signs—chalkboards or glass frames—to really bring the café vibes to life. What will your café be called? Something cute like “Chérie Beans” or a playful spin on your name?
And most importantly, don’t forget the best part—the pastries. From fresh almond croissants to mango-white chocolate parfaits, hunks of cinnamon coffee cake, and freshly smeared lox bagels, it’s five-star Google reviews all around.
2. Spill the Tea Party
For a day when you really need to bring the girls together and spill some tea, consider an at-home Spill the Tea party. Who says we outgrow tea parties after our teddy bears abandon us? And unlike childhood teatime, no one’s stopping you from incorporating a crisp glass of Veuve—or three.
Think long gauzy table runners, soft pink posies, hand-painted candlesticks, and lots of piping hot tea (gossip included). It’s the perfect excuse to hit up some vintage shops and hunt for antique china sets or dreamy tablescape inspiration.
From precisely cut cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches to delicate pastel pastries and a variety of teas—think jasmine or hibiscus—this theme is your invitation to dive deep into your feminine energy.
3. Hot Girls Eat Caviar Night
For the ultra-exuberant girls’ night in, caviar and martinis are the way to go. Whether you’re celebrating a promotion, a reunion, or just want to be in your Sex and the City main character energy, this theme is the ultimate indulgence.
Salty, briny dirty martinis with extra blue cheese-stuffed olives served in sleek, thin-stemmed martini glasses—now that takes the edge off a hot Dubai night. Not a martini fan? A crisp glass of bubbly works just as well.
Caviar and blinis are nothing new, but TikTok has been buzzing lately with chic twists on the classic. For example, Lay’s Original crisps are the new surprising base of choice, and caviar carts—complete with sterling silver trays, ice buckets, and sides like chives, olives, and pickled onions in little silver bowls—are now the presentation standard.
4. Butter Late Than Never Dinner Party
Butter yellow is the colour of the year. Maybe not officially, but this bright, charismatic shade has popped up everywhere—from clothing and nail polish to home décor and even KitchenAid’s Stand Mixer Color of the Year.
Like all trends, butter yellow has made its way into the kitchen too, with adorable butter-themed dinner parties. Think compound butters with warm crusty bread, spicy brown butter and sage pasta, and raspberry cake with lemon buttercream.
Invite your guests to dress in this energising hue, set the table with butter yellow linens and florals, and consider gifting personalised butter blends as party favours. Brighten the mood during the midsummer heat with a dinner party that leaves everyone in warm spirits.
