La Mer, Dubai Overview

La Mer is a spectacular beach destination situated in the Jumeirah 1 region of Dubai. Developed by Meeras, it is a beautiful area for families to unwind and have fun by the sea. Indeed the name ‘La Mer’ can be translated literally as ‘the sea.’ Formerly known as the “Jumeirah Public Beach,” almost 13.4 million square feet of the area has now been transformed into a magnificent locale for entertainment with shops, promenades, restaurants and cafes galore.

Children are enthralled to participate in several activities at the ‘Laguna Water Park’ that has enlivened the La Mer beach even more with its spectacular artificial waves apt for surfing. La Mer is a visual treat with tasteful graffiti and murals dotting the entire area. Wooden walkways and palm tree-lined streets also add to the charm of the location. The architecture of La Mer has converted the public beach of yesteryears into a vibrant and colourful destination, thus turning it into one of the best tourist attractions of Dubai.

La Mer Beach

La Mer Beach is the place to be at during the hot summer months. It serves as a laidback spot for the travel-weary tourists and harried residents of Dubai who find it to be a welcome relief. The promenade is the main attraction at the La Mer beach that showcases nautical décor with wooden logs, rusted metal parts, ropes, a boat with wooden paddles lying just about everywhere. The children are particularly interested in finding rusted pirate chests with the ubiquitous skull and bones painted on them also present at specific corners of the promenade.

The Northern part of La Mer Beach is reserved for motorised water sports while the southern end offers kayaking and paddling. A water park is found on the pier where the entire family can indulge in a host of thrilling water activities with the adventure-seeking visitors opting for the rides at the park. Nature lovers find it restful to gaze out at the Dubai Skyline across the Arabic Gulf, a refreshing drink or ice cream in hand.

La Mer Restaurants

There are more than 150 different cafes and restaurants lining the waterfront with a fantastic variety of cuisines representing different parts of the world available at La Mer. With Middle Eastern delicacies and American fast foods being sold by various stalls, the French gourmet dishes and spicy Indian food are found here as well along with authentic Japanese fare and Mediterranean delights. The best of the lot include:-

1. Aprons & Hammers- This is one of the top places for trying seafood in its diverse forms. However, the fact that each eater is handed out a hammer to crack open the shells adds to the excitement, making it a top draw at the beach.

Price for two: AED 280

Timings: 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM

2. Cupagahwa- Whether one wants to taste the authentic Arabian coffee or settle for the Western-style beverage, this café has it all plus several delicious desserts such as the saffron milk cake.

Price for two: AED 125

Timings: 7:30 AM - 1:00 AM

3. Motomachi- Ones wishing to get a taste of Japan while enjoying the beach at Dubai cannot go wrong by trying the sumptuous Kobachis (small eats) for lunch, sitting outdoors to enjoy the brilliant view of the Gulf.

Price for two: AED 260

Timings: 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM

4. Parker’s- Tourists who wish to stick to the traditional breakfast and Western cuisine can do so by enjoying the age-old classics here. Tacos, pasta, eggs on toast and hot chocolate are served throughout the day, making it convenient for the visitors to drop in at unexpected hours.

Price for two: AED 170

Timings: 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM

5. Roti Rollers- Indian food is highly prevalent in Dubai that boasts of a sizable expat population. This quaint eatery hands out the common Indian Roti with kebabs rolled inside it. The diners can choose to build their rollers, thereby having an opportunity of experimenting with the ingredients.

Price for two: AED 150

Timings: 10:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Shopping

Buying beachwear or getting a makeover in accordance with the latest trends is a breeze at La Mer. Moreover, there are several pharmacies to cater to the health needs of the visitors along with significant stores providing sunglasses and other optical necessities to the people looking for a respite from the harsh glare of the sun. Some of the most visited shops along the waterfront happen to include:-

Sephora- It is an excellent place to shop for beauty products with friendly staff eager to assist their customers who get to try out a variety of products.
Via Rodeo- This is a boutique store and a must-visit store for the ones eager to try out funky clothes and trendy fashion wear.
Sun Eye- This is literally a stop shop when it comes to eyeglasses, goggles and other visual aids with a number of sporty and snazzy frames being offered at decent prices.
Pain De Sucre-Women looking for chic swimwear will definitely find the perfect designer swimsuits, sarongs and wraps from this international brand that is sure to bring French Rivera to La Mer.
98 Coast Av. – Men are not left behind at La Mer either for this particular shop stocks all sorts of swim and beach wear for the men folk including kids. The designs are eye-catching with the branded clothes being comfortable and easily affordable

Laguna Water Park

Apart from frolicking in the shallow waters and building sand castles on La Mer beach, the children head out to their special zone created within the Laguna Water Park. Toddlers can have a field day using the Splash Pad and spending time at the AquaPlay Rainfortress. The WaveOz 180 FloRider produces artificial surf that has both the older children and adults participating enthusiastically. The Manta Family Raft ride is also a must for children of all ages.

Hawa Hawa is an inflatable playground where the children can have fun bouncing up and down on a couple of strong yet tensile dunes along with seven lofty peaks created for individual of all ages to jump up and down enabling them to experience trampoline like jumps in a risk free environment. Youngsters can also indulge in water biking, taking a boat cruise as well as donut rides along with family members.

How to Reach La Mer

La Mer is situated on the coast and in the upscale region of Jumeirah 1 positioned in between Jumeirah Bay & Pearl Jumeirah. It can be reached easily from all parts of Dubai with RTA Buses (Nos 8,9, 88) stopping at the beach road. Most visitors and International tourists prefer to drive down to the destination.

Services Provided at La Mer

Vehicle Locator- La Mer offers the use of a vehicle locator machine for finding out the cars parked in the basement parking lot.
Smart Police Station- Visitors requiring any sort of help can contact the local police via the smart police station.
Wi-Fi- It is possible to remain connected 24X7 thanks to the free Wi-Fi available across the destination.
ATM- No visitor can feel lost due to lack of cash as there are several ATM machines installed across the area.
Al Ansari Exchange- Multiple financial services are available to the visitors at La Mer including currency exchange, bill payments and credit card services.
EZ Train & EZ Taxi- Touring the entire beach front and entertainment area becomes easy by using EZ Taxis and trains.
Car Wash- Visitors can also have their vehicles washed at specific times by paying a service fee of AED 30.

Tips

1. It is important to wear loose, light clothing during the day
2. Shielding the head and eyes is vital while walking in the sun
3. Wearing swimwear is allowed during water activities but one must remain respectful of the nation’s dress codes
4. Drinking alcohol on the beach is not permitted