The location
Based at the poolside restaurant Nahaam, Brunch at The Towers is a light and airy enough experience indoors. The classiest spot from which to soak it all up, however, is the terrace, which not only directly overlooks the pool, but is also shaded by the hotel building, with a nice breeze when we visited to keep your Friday afternoon get-up from turning into a sweaty mess. About two-thirds of the buffet is inside, with the remainder out-back, around the corner from the pool, where there’s a variety of live cooking areas (from curries to grills), mini shacks serving drinks and a beanbag-based lounge area.
The atmosphere
A full live band on the terrace attempt to raise energy levels from early on, but inside, the piped-in sounds of their pop/rock classics are turned up unnecessarily loud (at higher volume than outside, oddly). As far as brunches go, it appeared to be a veritable date spot, with plenty of couples present. There were also a few families and the occasional large tables of 30-something friends – the latter groups were getting a little loud by the time last orders were called and mobbing a fun photo booth presumably aimed at children, but it was all relatively sophisticated.
The food
The smart thing about this brunch is the inclusion of food stations from all of the hotel’s specialist restaurants, which are collectively arguably the best in any Abu Dhabi hotel, in terms of range and quality. So that means meats from Ray’s Grill, the Lebanese delights of Li Beirut, Italian outlet Bice cooking up pasta as required and a Tori No Su sushi spot, plus a special room from the French restaurant Brasserie Angélique. We can particularly recommend the jerk-sauce-marinated prawns, cooked to order, and my dining partner couldn’t get enough of the chicken broth. Every major international culinary preference is pretty much catered for and the dessert spread is positively massive.
Who’s it best for?
Couples and, for special occasions, groups. The top package’s price and premium location guarantee a certain percentage of cash-splashers, but everybody seems more intent on having a classy afternoon than showing off how very lucky they are to be dropping the best part of up to Dh600 per head on their brunch.
The verdict
Providing you’re not on a budget, this is one of the most all-encompassing and easily enjoyed brunches in the capital, and the atmosphere mostly matches the top-notch location.
• Fridays 12.30pm to 3.30pm. From Dh342 to Dh594 per person, including taxes. Nahaam, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi. Reservations 02 811 5666.
The National was a guest of the restaurant.
aworkman@thenational.ae
