City Walk and La Mer: Dubai's Open-Air Shopping Districts
City Walk and La Mer compared — Dubai's two walkable open-air shopping and dining districts near Jumeirah. Boutiques, restaurants, beach access.
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If you're tired of mall air-conditioning, Dubai has two open-air shopping districts that feel more like European old towns than UAE commerce — City Walk near Al Wasl Road and La Mer on Jumeirah Beach. Both are low-rise, walkable, and heavy on local dining.
City Walk
An eight-block open-air district with cafés, independent boutiques, a Roxy Cinemas and the Hub Zero gaming centre. Design is European-village: cobbles, trees, street art. Standout: Dubai Mall of Fun inside the complex, a dinosaur-themed indoor park. Dining ranges from Reem Al Bawadi (Lebanese) to Nando's and Bosporus Turkish. Metro: Business Bay station, 10-minute walk.
La Mer
A seafront strip in Jumeirah with its own beach, 100+ shops and restaurants, splash park, and a cinema. Design is beach-town — colourful cladding, bare bulb lighting, street-food vans. Entry is free, beach loungers 50–150 AED. Dining has stronger coastal focus: Shimmers (Mediterranean seafood), Masti (Indian), Nikki Beach next door.
Which to pick
La Mer is better if you want sand plus shopping. City Walk is better for a cooler evening with cinema and street-art photo spots. Both are 15–20 minutes from Dubai Mall by taxi.
FAQ
- Is there parking at La Mer and City Walk?
- Yes — paid underground garages, first hour usually free, then AED 10–20/hour.
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