If Dubai birthday parties are as competitive as the local weddings, then best you organise a decent cake for your precious prince or princess's party. For original baking that is not processed or synthetic and, more importantly for the children, looks good, Manuri is the woman to get in touch with. Whether it's a fishy Finding Nemo, a flashy Fl car, a Lebanese pop diva, a cricket pitch, movie star, mermaid or even a mobile phone- shaped cake you are after, Manuri's creative hands can deliver the goods.

Open Daily 7am-10pm Credit Amex, MC, V.

It might not be the biggest supermarket in Dubai but Park 'n Shop still has a better selection of goods than most of its monolithic rivals. The bakery is great with an excellent selection of cakes for birthdays and other special occasions. You'll also be able to pick up a last minute birthday card here and, while you're at it, a drill for the DIY your hubby keeps putting off and a leg of lamb from the butcher's section -in damned near everything you'll ever need for survival.

Open daily 10.30am-10.30pm. Credit Amex, MC,V.

Umm Suquiem's Umm Al Sheif Street is quite simply brilliant.There's Maria Bonita's, Central Perk,and now The Chill Factory.This old-school ice cream emporium serves up unlikely flavours such as rice pudding,peanut butter,cinnamon and ginger,and espresso and dates.Weird,wonderful,and utterly original.