Dubai Spice Souk

"The Spice Souk is home to a collection of narrow alleyways filled with a selection of shops selling colourful, fragrant spices. Be prepared to find a variety of spices, herbs, household items, and cheesy souvenirs for swarming tourists. If you look hard enough, you might find some interesting shops selling historical artefacts from the region that you won't find anywhere else in town. Remember, never go ahead with the initial sale price. Haggle your way down until you're satisfied." - Khalid Mezaina

"Dubai's sprawling spice market is arguably the most entertaining of all the city's souks. It's bustling, with intoxicating sights and smells. Many of the vendors sell the same ingredients—Persian dried limes, saffron, barberries, rose hips, and traditional Middle Eastern spice mixes. Saffron, while still pricey, is more affordable here than elsewhere in Dubai. Part of a complex that features three Jumeirah hotels and an adjoining waterway, the souk has stalls selling everything from the spices, to handmade lanterns, clothes, souvenirs, and everything in between. There are also two-dozen restaurants, indoor and out, not to mention some of the most spectacular views of the world-famous Burj Al Arab hotel. It’s free to enter, but parking and abra-style water taxis cost extra." - Melinda Healy

"2nd December Street (previously Al Diyafah Street) wasn’t originally designed as a food market, but as soon as the sun sets each day, the street fills with outdoor tables and a night market springs to life. The old block of the Al Satwa neighborhood is home to a community of immigrants who arrived from various nations in the 1990s. Over time, local food shops catering to these residents began to open. Most of the restaurants on the street are Indian, Irani, and Turkish, but the food that spills into the street each evening is a variety of Arabic, East Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines. [$]" - Rahma Khan

"Dubai's sprawling spice market is arguably the most entertaining of all the city's souks. It's bustling, with intoxicating sights and smells. Many of the vendors sell the same ingredients—Persian dried limes, saffron, barberries, rose hips, and traditional Middle Eastern spice mixes. Saffron, while still pricey, is more affordable here than elsewhere in Dubai. Part of a complex that features three Jumeirah hotels and an adjoining waterway, the souk has stalls selling everything from the spices, to handmade lanterns, clothes, souvenirs, and everything in between. There are also two-dozen restaurants, indoor and out, not to mention some of the most spectacular views of the world-famous Burj Al Arab hotel. It’s free to enter, but parking and abra-style water taxis cost extra." - Laura Ratliff, Maresa Manara

"Dubai's sprawling spice market is arguably the most entertaining of all the city's souks. It's bustling, with intoxicating sights and smells. Many of the vendors sell the same ingredients—Persian dried limes, saffron, barberries, rose hips, and traditional Middle Eastern spice mixes. Saffron, while still pricey, is more affordable here than elsewhere in Dubai. Part of a complex that features three Jumeirah hotels and an adjoining waterway, the souk has stalls selling everything from the spices, to handmade lanterns, clothes, souvenirs, and everything in between. There are also two-dozen restaurants, indoor and out, not to mention some of the most spectacular views of the world-famous Burj Al Arab hotel. It’s free to enter, but parking and abra-style water taxis cost extra." - Dylan Essertier, Laura Ratliff