Dubai Mall is starting to become a Mall and destination I want to visit. Recent openings of the new cinema, Sega Republic, the Dubai Fountain and a host of new restaurants (Entrecote, California Pizza Kitchen) mark it as place you can easily spend a whole day in.
Though I was beaten to the punch by Umar the new confectionery store “Candylicious” really is worth blogging about. Like a lot of other things in Downtown Dubai it is the world’s biggest. Ten thousand square feet of Willy Wonka shaming sugary goodness.
A marketing genius has secured them the spot right in front of the Aquarium. I think on Friday afternoon once the kids have seen the sharks being fed I am almost certain there will be a feeding frenzy of another kind in Candylicious.
The first thing to greet you on entry is a Gourmet Popcorn stand from a company called Garrett Popcorn Shops. It is sensational and Caramel Crisp is really a treat for those with a sweet tooth. I don’t what it is with Cheese flavoured popcorn – it is so wrong but yet so right. The nice staff let me try the varying flavours. A top tip is to avoid the tins as this seems to triple the price and just go for popcorn in a bag which worked out to be a far more reasonable affair.
Once the popcorn excitement was out-of-the-way, I ambled around the store. It is literally eye popping. The decoration and merchandising that has gone into the shop design is awesome. It is almost mesmerizing and despite the fact I don’t have a particularly sweet tooth I found myself wanting to dive into one of the many pic”n”mix and totally over indulge. Seven deadly sins eh? Sign yourself up for Gluttony right here.
I was initially unaware of the very blatant “No Photography” signs posted around but they stood little chance to all the eye candy surrounding me and I subconsciously found myself reaching for my camera phone. Here is the first one I took:
I got politely told not to do it. I couldn’t help myself and took a photo of the lollipop tree:
I could see a member of staff heading over to me. So I made a prompt exit clinging onto my Cheezy gourmet popcorn muttering something about this place being the death of me.
You have been warned.
I want to go! I keep recommending to friends they try it for a short break…. But I wanna come! And I don’t even eat sweeties.
By: kathy on October 11, 2009
at 10:40 pm
Hi KB – thanks for popping by! I promise if you come over I will give you a personal tour of said sweetie store
By: Aaron on October 11, 2009
at 10:48 pm
Yes, that appears highly dangerous. And would someone please explain to me the “no photography” thing? It has been a burr in my blogging backside since day 1 in Dubai. I mean, it’s a mall for Pete’s sake!!! WHY can’t we take photos, again? I am all for not harassing the locals or making people uncomfortable, but there can’t possibly be a real reason for the prohibition of photography by so many stores. Time to find a really small camera…there are simply too many beautiful things in this city to not want to share. Bottom line, it just makes my little black pirate heart want to take photos even more, Arrrr.
By: Natalie on October 12, 2009
at 6:04 am
Hi Natalie – I couldn’t agree more. There are so many things begging to be photographed in Dubai and often as soon as you do someone magically appears and tells you to stop.
I couldn’t even take photos of JBR the other week!
By: Aaron on October 12, 2009
at 6:53 am
Hey thanks for the link. Dubai Mall has really come of age. I am still waiting for Kidzania to open though.
By: Umar in Dubai on October 12, 2009
at 10:06 am
Hi Umar – a pleasure. Kidzania looks pretty crazy. I am sure it will be fun for my tiny nephews next time they come to visit.
By: Aaron on October 12, 2009
at 6:22 pm