Hidden Gems

Hidden Gems across every place and thing on Third Platz — 20 lists so far.

Lists Browse all

cuisineAll lebanese emirati indian pakistani turkish japanese italian chinese malaysian american french international

priceAll Budget ($)Moderate ($$)Upscale ($$$)Luxury ($$$$)

Al Fanar RestaurantDubai · On 1 list
Heritage-themed restaurant chain serving traditional Emirati dishes.
Al Malqa ParkAl Malqa · On 1 list
A green, tree-lined neighborhood park with walking paths, playgrounds, and open lawns tucked into a residential pocket of Al Malqa, offering a quiet break from the district's dense retail and dining strip.
Bandra FortBandra · On 1 list
Portuguese watchtower from the 1640s at Land's End, overlooking the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and Mahim Bay, with free entry and views that draw a steady stream of evening visitors.
Brothaus Bakery BistroBusiness Bay · On 1 list
A German bakery-bistro on the ground floor of Pullman Dubai Downtown by the Dubai Water Canal, known for fresh-baked pretzels, sourdough and pastries served in a homey space with a spacious outdoor terrace.
China Sea RestaurantDeira · On 1 list
Long-running Chinese-Filipino seafood restaurant with a loyal regular clientele.
Haw Par VillaSingapore · On 1 list
Eccentric 1937 cultural park built by the Tiger Balm founders, filled with folklore dioramas including the graphic 'Ten Courts of Hell' scenes; free admission.
IYKYKJumeirah · On 1 list
A cafe tucked inside a flower studio and concept store in Jumeirah 1, where guests can sip coffee poolside in a quiet garden setting mostly known to locals.
Karachi DarbarKarama · On 1 list
Pakistani restaurant chain serving karahi and biryani to a regular local crowd.
Karak HouseDowntown Dubai · On 1 list
Karak-focused tea chain serving the spiced, condensed-milk brew UAE commuters love.
Maisan15Al Barsha · On 1 list
A restaurant, gallery, garden and library rolled into one at the base of Maisan Tower, founded by Emirati artist Rami Farook. Originally opened as Cabin before rebranding, it centers on a courtyard with a fountain set inside a bathtub and rotating artwork on its walls.
Museum of InnocenceBeyoğlu · On 1 list
A small museum in the antiques neighborhood of Çukurcuma built around Orhan Pamuk's novel of the same name, displaying everyday objects arranged as a physical version of the book's story.
NightjarShoreditch · On 1 list
A prohibition-era-styled speakeasy on City Road near Old Street station, serving creative cocktails with live jazz most nights.
Please Don't Tell (PDT)East Village · On 1 list
A cocktail bar accessed through a hidden phone booth inside the Crif Dogs hot dog shop, credited with launching the modern speakeasy trend in 2007.
Ranwar VillageBandra · On 1 list
A roughly 300-year-old hamlet of Bandra's original 24 villages, with narrow lanes of Indo-Portuguese bungalows, wooden porches, and murals painted through local street-art initiatives.
The City ReliquaryBrooklyn · On 1 list
A small nonprofit museum of New York City artifacts and ephemera that grew out of a Williamsburg apartment window display.
Tiong Bahru MarketTiong Bahru · On 1 list
A two-storey wet market and hawker centre dating back to 1951 (rebuilt in 2006), where a ground-floor produce market sits below a food centre known for decades-old stalls.
Towpath CafeLondon · On 1 list
A small cafe strung along the Regent's Canal towpath in Haggerston, open seasonally with simple daytime food and coffee.
Trinity CommonKensington Market · On 1 list
An Augusta Avenue craft beer and cocktail bar with indoor and outdoor seating, serving pub food into the late evening.
Wadi Hanifah ParkRiyadh · On 1 list
A rehabilitated valley running through the city with walking trails, palm groves, stone bridges, and pooled water areas, developed as an environmental restoration project.
YeldeğirmeniKadıköy · On 1 list
A once-overlooked residential quarter near Haydarpaşa that has become an open-air street art district since a 2012 mural festival, with dozens of building-sized murals threaded through its old apartment blocks.
Green-Wood CemeteryBrooklyn · On 2 lists
A 478-acre historic rural cemetery from 1838 with Gothic Revival gates, sweeping hills, and notable 19th-century statuary.
Rochelle CanteenShoreditch · On 2 lists
A restaurant inside a former school on Arnold Circus, reached through an unmarked door in a brick wall, serving a short seasonal British menu.
Al Barsha Pond ParkAl Barsha · On 1 list
A roughly 20-hectare green space built around a central artificial pond, with jogging tracks, paddle boats, Smart Palm solar-powered WiFi points, and courts tucked away from Al Barsha's busier commercial streets.
Arabian Tea HouseDubai · On 1 list
Heritage courtyard cafe serving Emirati breakfasts and karak in a restored house.
Baristas' CornerBusiness Bay · On 1 list
A specialty coffee house inside the Canal Central Hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Marasi Drive, pouring made-to-order brews including a 12-hour cold drip alongside a small dessert menu.
Callooh CallayShoreditch · On 1 list
A whimsical cocktail bar on Rivington Street with a secret entrance through the back of a wardrobe, serving inventive drinks in a playful, storybook-styled room.
Chapati & KarakKarama · On 1 list
Small chain serving flatbread and karak chai to a regular Karama crowd.
Chimbai VillageBandra · On 1 list
A centuries-old Koli fishing settlement near Bandstand where Hindu and Christian fisherfolk communities still live side by side, with daily life set by tides and early-morning boat departures.
David Sassoon LibraryFort · On 1 list
Victorian-era library and reading room on M.G. Road facing Kala Ghoda, established in 1847 and still an active lending library and members' space after a recent building restoration.
Economy CandyLower East Side · On 1 list
A family-run candy shop on Rivington Street operating since 1937, stocked with hard-to-find and nostalgic candy brands.
HandlebarKensington Market · On 1 list
A small Augusta Avenue bar and music venue that opens in the evening, hosting DJs and live sets on a compact dance floor.
Jorn Coffee RoastersAl Malqa · On 1 list
A Nordic-styled roastery-cafe that started in Al Malqa in 2021, roasting its own single-origin beans on site rather than just serving them.
Jumeirah Fishing HarbourJumeirah · On 1 list
A restored working harbour in Jumeirah 1 where fishing boats still dock, offering a low-key waterfront walk and a glimpse of Dubai's pre-tourism fishing heritage.
Kampong Lorong BuangkokHougang · On 1 list
Singapore's last surviving traditional kampong (village), a cluster of wooden houses on land purchased in 1956, still standing amid the surrounding housing estates.
Karachi DarbarDeira · On 1 list
Pakistani restaurant chain serving karahi and biryani to a regular local crowd.
LogmaDowntown Dubai · On 1 list
Casual Emirati eatery serving comfort dishes like machboos and luqaimat.
Müze GazhaneKadıköy · On 1 list
A 19th-century gasworks in the Hasanpaşa neighborhood converted into a free cultural complex with exhibition halls, two theaters, a library, and workshop spaces.
Şerefiye CisternSultanahmet · On 1 list
A 5th-century Byzantine cistern rediscovered in 2010 and reopened after restoration with 360-degree projection mapping, drawing far fewer visitors than the nearby Basilica Cistern.
Souq Al ZalRiyadh · On 1 list
One of Riyadh's oldest marketplaces, located near Al Masmak Fortress in the old city, selling antiques, traditional clothing, perfumes, and handicrafts.
Tiong Bahru Qi Tian Gong (Monkey God Temple)Tiong Bahru · On 1 list
Founded in 1920, this is Singapore's first temple dedicated to the Monkey God Sun Wu Kong from Journey to the West, housing over ten statues of the deity in a shophouse renovated in the early 1990s.
Akmar PasajıKadıköy · On 1 list
A two-story indoor book arcade off Mühürdar Caddesi packed with secondhand bookshops selling Turkish and English titles alongside vinyl records and old posters.
Al SafadiKarama · On 1 list
Lebanese restaurant chain known for mezze platters and fresh-pressed juices.
BambahJumeirah · On 1 list
The UAE's first vintage boutique, set in a villa on Jumeirah Beach Road, selling curated clothing, bags, and accessories sourced from the 1930s through the 1980s.
CahootsSoho · On 1 list
A subterranean Soho cocktail bar styled as a disused 1920s Underground carriage depot, serving retro-themed drinks and small plates.
Chapel RoadBandra · On 1 list
A once-quiet lane near Mount Mary that has become an open-air street-art gallery, with colonial-era walls repainted as large murals blending history, art, and local activism.
Circle CafeBusiness Bay · On 1 list
A homey New York-bagel-inspired cafe in Bay Square founded by two Dubai moms, with indoor and outdoor seating, books on the shelves, and a menu that has grown from bagels into salads, shawarma and salmon bowls.
Common GroundsDubai · On 1 list
UAE cafe chain built around single-origin coffee and all-day brunch plates.
Common GroundsDowntown Dubai · On 1 list
UAE cafe chain built around single-origin coffee and all-day brunch plates.
Dr. Bhau Daji Lad MuseumByculla · On 1 list
Mumbai's oldest museum, set inside the Byculla zoo grounds, with restored 19th-century galleries covering the city's decorative arts and social history; closed Wednesdays.
Edge of the WorldRiyadh · On 1 list
A dramatic escarpment roughly 90 kilometers from the city with sheer cliffs overlooking the desert plain below, typically reached by 4x4 and popular at sunset.
El TrompoKensington Market · On 1 list
One of the market's earliest taquerias, serving tacos and tortas from a small counter that helped establish the neighborhood's Latin American food scene.
Gillman BarracksSingapore · On 1 list
Former British military camp off Alexandra Road converted into a contemporary art cluster, with international galleries, the NTU Centre for Contemporary Art, and free entry to the grounds.
Kings County DistilleryBrooklyn · On 1 list
A whiskey distillery inside the historic Paymaster Building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, offering distillery tours and a tasting room in the Navy Yard's 1896 gatehouse.
Kılıç Ali Paşa HamamıBeyoğlu · On 1 list
A working 16th-century Ottoman bathhouse in Tophane, restored and still operating on a daily schedule, offering a quieter alternative to the more tourist-heavy hamams near Sultanahmet.
Mark Street GardensShoreditch · On 1 list
One of the more secret green spaces in Shoreditch, laid out in the early 1980s after a demolished postwar housing block, with a former church on site now home to an antiques shop.
PLOPAl Malqa · On 1 list
A tiny, minimalist espresso bar with a short, tightly-edited menu and late hours, well-loved by locals for its focused, no-frills approach to coffee.
Shakeism MilkshakesAl Barsha · On 1 list
A cozy, easy-to-miss counter in Al Barsha 1 turning out scooped-ice-cream milkshakes in playful, pun-heavy flavors alongside waffles and sandwiches, with generous portions that keep a small but loyal following coming back.
SidewayTiong Bahru · On 1 list
A tiny stall inside Tiong Bahru Market selling handmade pottery, zines, and jewellery from independent local makers, run by two potters.
Sind Punjab RestaurantDeira · On 1 list
Modest South Asian eatery favored for its inexpensive thalis and curries.
The City ReliquaryWilliamsburg · On 1 list
A small nonprofit museum of New York City artifacts and ephemera that grew out of a Williamsburg apartment window display.
Al Fanar RestaurantDeira · On 1 list
Heritage-themed restaurant chain serving traditional Emirati dishes.
Allo BeirutAl Barsha · On 1 list
A casual, 24-hour Lebanese street-food joint on Hessa Street with vintage-telephone decor, serving budget shawarma with garlic sauce on fresh saj bread alongside vegan options like warak enab and manakeesh.
Armani RistoranteDowntown Dubai · On 1 list
Italian restaurant inside Armani Hotel Dubai at the base of the Burj Khalifa.
At-Turaif DistrictDiriyah · On 1 list
A UNESCO World Heritage site of mud-brick ruins that formed the birthplace of the first Saudi state, now an open-air museum overlooking Wadi Hanifah.
Birdsong — The Organic CafeBandra · On 1 list
A tucked-away organic cafe on a quiet lane off Hill Road, set among heritage cottages, serving mostly plant-based and health-focused dishes in a plant-filled, low-key space.
Boxpark ShoreditchShoreditch · On 1 list
A pop-up mall built from stacked shipping containers near Shoreditch High Street station, housing independent food stalls and small retail brands.
CadetLondon · On 1 list
A neighbourhood wine bar on Newington Green with a small-producer wine list and relaxed atmosphere.
Cat SocratesTiong Bahru · On 1 list
A small, cat-themed gift and stationery shop on Yong Siak Street stocking books, cards, and quirky knick-knacks, staffed on occasion by its own resident shop cats.
Chess ForumGreenwich Village · On 1 list
A Thompson Street chess shop and parlor open since 1995, one of the last of its kind in the city.
Gloria ChurchByculla · On 1 list
Neo-Gothic Catholic church around a century old, tucked into a quiet Byculla side street with stained glass and a vaulted interior, still holding regular services.
NASJAl Malqa · On 1 list
A design-forward cafe and tea spot on a quieter Al Malqa side street, known among regulars for its passion-fruit drink and lactose-free options.
Nightjar CoffeeDubai · On 1 list
Al Quoz roastery and cafe favored by Dubai's specialty coffee crowd.
Pulau UbinSingapore · On 1 list
Undeveloped offshore island reached by bumboat from Changi Point, preserving a kampong landscape of wooden houses, dirt paths and rustic wildlife largely gone from the mainland.
Rahmi M. Koç MuseumBeyoğlu · On 1 list
An industrial and transport museum set along the Golden Horn in Hasköy, covering everything from vintage cars and aircraft to ship engines, open daily except Monday.
Risen Café & Artisanal BakeryBusiness Bay · On 1 list
A ground-floor bakery-cafe at The First Collection Business Bay serving espresso and pour-over coffee alongside handmade pastries and its signature croffles, in a relaxed space built around locally sourced ingredients.
S*uceJumeirah · On 1 list
A concept boutique in the Village Mall on Jumeirah Beach Road mixing independent designer fashion with quirky lifestyle and home items.
The Organic PressKensington Market · On 1 list
A small juice bar on Augusta Avenue pressing cold juices and smoothies to order from a walk-up counter.
Weeksville Heritage CenterBrooklyn · On 1 list
A cultural center on Buffalo Avenue preserving the history of Weeksville, one of the first free Black communities in the United States, through reconstructed homes and community programming.
Yoğurtçu ParkıKadıköy · On 1 list
A green neighborhood park in Moda with sports courts, a playground, and canal-side views of the Marmara Sea, popular with early-morning walkers and local families.
ZaroobKarama · On 1 list
Levantine street-food chain plating shawarma and manakish late into the night.
Ashwaq CafeteriaDeira · On 1 list
Old-school cafeteria known for cheap shawarma and fresh juice.
Automatic RestaurantKarama · On 1 list
Long-running Lebanese chain known for mezze and grilled meats.
BarbarAl Barsha · On 1 list
The Dubai outpost of a Beirut street-food restaurant dating to 1979, serving mana'eesh, shawarma and falafel around the clock in the Hessa Street cluster of Lebanese eateries near Saudi German Hospital.
Barış Manço EviKadıköy · On 1 list
The Moda house of a beloved Turkish musician, preserved by the local municipality as a small museum with his original furniture, instruments, and personal belongings, tucked into a quiet residential street.
Blackbird Baking CoKensington Market · On 1 list
An artisanal bakery on Baldwin Street selling naturally leavened bread and pastries, which took over the space from a former chain bakery.
Bu QtairDubai · On 1 list
Beachside shack near Al Sufouh serving fried and grilled catch of the day.
Bujairi TerraceDiriyah · On 1 list
A dining and heritage terrace built into the Al-Bujairi Heritage Park, facing the At-Turaif ruins across the valley, with restaurants and cafes housed in traditional Najdi-style architecture.
CandiesBandra · On 1 list
A bohemian, multi-terrace cafe tucked in Pali Village's bylanes, known for mismatched decor, baked goods, and a casual all-day hangout vibe away from the main commercial strips.
Chye Seng Huat HardwareSingapore · On 1 list
Coffee bar and roastery in a converted 1930s Art Deco hardware shophouse on Tyrwhitt Road, a Jalan Besar-area destination for specialty coffee since 2012.
Cielo Sky LoungeDowntown Dubai · On 1 list
Rooftop lounge with panoramic Downtown views from Address Sky View.
ItadakuJumeirah · On 1 list
A small, family-run Japanese restaurant on Al Wasl Road built around an open kitchen, serving sushi, robata, and seasonal seafood in an understated setting.
Kadıköy Fish MarketKadıköy · On 1 list
A dense produce and seafood market spreading out from near the Osman Ağa Mosque, mixing fishmongers, spice stalls, and small eateries used daily by neighborhood residents.
KhotachiwadiMumbai · On 1 list
Heritage village of Portuguese-style wooden bungalows in Girgaon, founded in the late 18th century and now reduced to a few dozen surviving houses amid redevelopment, with several still lived in by East Indian families.
Nora Smash BurgerAl Malqa · On 1 list
A takeaway-only smash burger counter with no seating and a short menu, built entirely around a wagyu smash burger seared and served fast.
Raaka Chocolate FactoryBrooklyn · On 1 list
A bean-to-bar chocolate maker's factory shop in Red Hook, offering bars and drinking chocolate made on site.
Soon Guan HardwareTiong Bahru · On 1 list
An old-school hardware store operating out of Tiong Bahru Market since 2018, stocking everyday tools, paint, and household hardware for the surrounding estate.
The Fat BadgerNotting Hill · On 1 list
A pub and cocktail bar on Golborne Road in north Notting Hill, known for its drinks list and relaxed neighbourhood feel.
TreehouseBusiness Bay · On 1 list
A two-deck rooftop lounge atop Taj Dubai with a botanical, greenery-heavy design and 360-degree views toward the Burj Khalifa, mixing cocktails with live DJ sets and a lower deck built for quieter conversation.
Al Masmak FortressRiyadh · On 1 list
A 19th-century clay and mudbrick fort in the old Qasr al-Hukm district, historically significant to the founding of modern Saudi Arabia and now a museum of the kingdom's heritage.
Automatic RestaurantDubai · On 1 list
Long-running Lebanese chain known for mezze and grilled meats.
Bandra GomantakBandra · On 1 list
A modest, longstanding Malwani and Goan-style seafood restaurant near Reclamation, known among locals for thalis built around fresh fish like surmai and bombil rather than for atmosphere.
Banganga TankMumbai · On 1 list
Spring-fed temple water tank behind Malabar Hill, part of the Walkeshwar Temple complex, surrounded by ghats and old havelis and still used for religious rituals and an annual music festival.
BargemusicBrooklyn · On 1 list
A chamber-music venue near the Brooklyn Bridge that spent over 50 years aboard a floating barge before relocating to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, now offering free classical concerts.
Comptoir 102Jumeirah · On 1 list
A garden cafe and concept store on Beach Road, serving a daily-changing sugar- and dairy-free menu alongside an organic grocery and lifestyle shop.
Hotel CartagenaBusiness Bay · On 1 list
A Latin American restaurant and bar on the 72nd floor of JW Marriott Marquis Tower B, despite its name not actually a hotel, decked out in neon and faux forestry with Cuban, Puerto Rican and Colombian dishes and 360-degree skyline views.
Japanese Cemetery ParkHougang · On 1 list
Quiet 133-year-old cemetery turned memorial park tucked into a Hougang housing estate, the largest Japanese cemetery in Southeast Asia with over 900 tombstones.
Jian Bo Tiong Bahru Shui KuehTiong Bahru · On 1 list
A hawker stall inside Tiong Bahru Market that has sold chwee kueh (steamed rice cakes with preserved radish) since 1958, now a Michelin Guide-recommended fixture that grew from a single pushcart into a multi-outlet local chain.
Jumbo EmpanadasKensington Market · On 1 list
A long-standing Augusta Avenue counter selling Chilean-style empanadas, part of the wave of Latin American food businesses that shaped the market.
Luna and CuriousShoreditch · On 1 list
A concept shop on Calvert Avenue collecting independent British designers' homeware, toys, and small goods under one roof.
Namq CafeAl Malqa · On 1 list
A round-the-clock cafe on Anas Ibn Malik Road known locally for its signature cake and long, airy seating area that fills with laptop workers by day and groups by night.
Qalat BaalbakAl Barsha · On 1 list
One of three Dubai branches of a charcoal-grill-focused Lebanese restaurant, set among the Hessa Street strip of home-style Lebanese kitchens, decorated with photos of Beirut and the Baalbek Roman ruins.
Tellalzade SokakKadıköy · On 1 list
A narrow lane near the fish market lined with small antique shops and old booksellers, good for browsing vintage curios, prints, and secondhand books away from the main pedestrian crowds.
The Churchill ArmsLondon · On 1 list
A flower-covered historic pub on Kensington Church Street combining a traditional bar with a long-running Thai kitchen.
Yıldız ParkBeşiktaş · On 1 list
A wooded former imperial garden between Yıldız and Çırağan palaces, with Ottoman-era pavilions now serving as café-restaurants set among sloped, landscaped grounds.
Ann Siang HillChinatown · On 1 list
Small hill of restored pre-war shophouses on the edge of Chinatown, now home to a concentration of quieter bars, cafes and boutiques away from the main tourist strip.
Chor BazaarMumbai · On 1 list
Sprawling flea market on and around Mutton Street near Grant Road, trading in second-hand furniture, vintage film posters and antiques for well over a century.
Tiong Bahru Heritage TrailTiong Bahru · On 1 list
A self-guided walking trail past 1936-1954 walk-up flats designed in Streamline Moderne style, with rounded corners, porthole windows, and horizontal banding, including blocks granted conservation status in 2003.