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Monica Bonalto on Muck Rack

Monica Bonalto

(She/Her)
Dubai
Covers:  Nightlife, Restaurants, Going out, Entertainment
Doesn't Cover: Politics

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Monica Bonalto’s Biography

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I am a go-to voice for nightlife, dining, and everything fabulous after dark. Born in Monaco and now based in the UAE, I bring European flair and insider access to the city’s most talked-about events. With a background as a features writer for a couple of magazines in Europe, I have a knack for spotting the scene before it trends — from Broadway-calibre shows to secret supper clubs.

Monica Bonalto’s Journalist Portfolio

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The Coolest coffee shops in Dubai: A caffeinated culture guide to the city's most aesthetic brews

The Coolest coffee shops in Dubai: A caffeinated culture guide to the city's most aesthetic brews

Discover the coolest coffee shops in Dubai. Explore the city's top independent cafés where design, community …

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Amazonico Dubai: DIFC's Immersive Jungle of Flavour, Sound, and Style

Amazonico Dubai: DIFC's Immersive Jungle of Flavour, Sound, and Style

Dive into the jungle of Amazonico Dubai - a fusion of Latin cuisine, rooftop rhythms, and rainforest-inspired…

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Honeycomb HiFi: Dubai's Sonic Sanctuary for Vinyl, Flavour, and Art

Honeycomb HiFi: Dubai's Sonic Sanctuary for Vinyl, Flavour, and Art

Discover Honeycomb HiFi in Dubai - a Tokyo-style listening bar with Izakaya dining, Ojas speakers, curated vi…

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Coca-Cola Arena: A World-Class Entertainment Marvel

Coca-Cola Arena: A World-Class Entertainment Marvel

Discover why Coca-Cola Arena is the UAE's premier entertainment venue-hosting concerts, sports, family shows,…

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F1 Abu Dhabi Concerts Line Up 2025: Your Ultimate Guide to This Year's Yasalam After-Race Shows

F1 Abu Dhabi Concerts Line Up 2025: Your Ultimate Guide to This Year's Yasalam After-Race Shows

F1 Abu Dhabi concerts return bigger than ever. Discover which artists are performing during race weekend in Y…

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How Boiler Room Became the World's TV Nightclub

How Boiler Room Became the World's TV Nightclub

Uncover the story of Boiler Room's rise from a simple webcam stream to a global phenomenon in the music scene.

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Articles

UAE Nightlife: The Ultimate Guide to the Region's After-Dark Culture

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By Monica Bonalto
| whatshotinuae.com
I’ve walked into clubs in Ibiza, wandered through neon-lit backstreets in Tokyo, and danced until sunrise on beaches in Goa — but there’s nothing quite like UAE Nightlife. The Emirates doesn’t just follow global nightlife trends; it rewrites them. From rooftop bars overlooking skyscraper horizons to intimate, candlelit lounges where vinyl spins until the early hours, it’s a scene that’s constantly surprising me, even after years of living it.
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The Coolest coffee shops in Dubai: A caffeinated culture guide to the city’s most aesthetic brews

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By Monica Bonalto
| whatshotinuae.com
Dubai doesn’t merely serve coffee. It stages it. From warehouse-roasted single-origin brews to lattes served in terracotta cups under arches made of Spanish concrete, the coolest coffee shops Dubai has to offer don’t just caffeinate—they curate. In 2026, the coffee scene in Dubai is an intersection of art, architecture, ritual, and taste. These cafés aren’t an afterthought.
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Amazonico Dubai: DIFC’s Immersive Jungle of Flavour, Sound, and Style

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By Monica Bonalto
| whatshotinuae.com
In the heart of DIFC’s high-rise glamour lies a restaurant unlike any other — Amazonico Dubai. Here, every sense is engaged in a journey through the depths of Latin America, refracted through the lens of Dubai’s elite culinary and nightlife scene. This isn’t just another fancy dinner spot — it’s an ecosystem of rhythm, fire, flavour, and spectacle. Originally launched in Madrid, Amazonico rapidly expanded its reach with branches in London, Monaco, and now Dubai.
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Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

Assisting other established writers

Have you ever used a typewriter?

yes

How is social media changing news?

Social Media is the news now