“The most beautiful thing in the world, is of course, the world itself.” I am a self-confessed travel junkie and foodie. But the life of a professional swimmer is gruelling and involves a lot of sacrifices in the interest of training. For the better part of my 20 year career in competitive swimming, holidays and travel were determined by locations that had a pool I could train in through the vacation, or destinations around the world where swim meets happened. Now that I’ve switched to Golf, my travel is as often guided by locations with the best golf courses to play on. Dubai has always been very special to me; I've raced swum big meets here with memorable performances. Today I train with coach Justin Parsons at the Butch Harmon School of Golf, in Dubai, and get to the city quite often. And Atlantis the Palm, in Dubai, where I stayed on my most recent visit, is a jewel that really must be discovered by everyone who visits this city. 

WHERE TO EAT:

Yuan:  Atlantis, The Palm’s hottest, new restaurant and bar promises to deliver contemporary Chinese with a traditional twist.  We had a drink at the bar and lounge at Yuan that blends traditional Chinese ingredients, such as ginger root, sesame seeds and fresh fruit with top shelf spirits. At AED 50 it’s not bad value. With a DJ console set at the end of the large granite bar that churns out minimalist house music and chilled, funky beats, Yuan’s lounge and bar feels like a nightspot in its own right. With its deep woods, rich velvets, granite and clean, contemporary lines, interspersed with traditionally Chinese nature themes, Yuan is subtly cool.

Rehan at Yuan.

Executive Chef Jeff Tan, has a reputation for enticing dishes with a variety of flavours designed to entice the senses and dynamic presentation. We tried the Steamed Dim Sum Platter with shrimp and steamed chicken dumplings infused with mushroom and tobiko, which was perfect for sharing, and the presentation was inviting. A preparation of Szechuan chicken and Pepper Beef along with sides of traditional fried rice and noodles completed our meal.

If you’re planning to visit during the day, Yuan also offers a weekly Friday Yum Cha brunch - the traditional drinking of tea in the morning or afternoon while eating dim sum starting at AED 188 per head.