From a lovely view of the Ibn Buttuta Gate Hotel to a waterside view of the Dubai Marina, here are the seven best new brunches to try in Dubai.
• Friday BBQ Brunch at the Mövenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel
If you haven’t taken advantage of the Friday BBQ Brunch at the Mövenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, you should. In the shadow of the hotel’s iconic “gate” arch and soundtracked by a chilled-house DJ, this classy terrace brunch is full of fun facets, from its grandiose salad bar to the availability of shisha, plus a cute chef’s-choice dessert board straight from the kitchen. The real centrepiece, however, is freshly cooked barbecue food — you select from a raw buffet of meat and seafood, hand your choices to the chefs and pick up the grilled delights piping hot a short while later. The stellar range of sauces will have you filling a separate side plate, too.
Fridays from 12.30pm to 4pm, Dh130+. Moroc Lounge & Bar, Mövenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel. For reservations, call 04 444 5613
• The Onshore Social at Skydive Dubai’s Zero Gravity
This brunch is remarkable for two reasons. Chiefly, that it’s a day/night brunch with lie-in-enabling timings (3pm to 6pm); secondly, the bulk of your three-course food is delivered to your table on waiter-worryingly large platters (there’s bread, cheese and additional desserts inside, too). The high-end dishes are exquisitely presented, from tuna tartare to mini black forest gateaux. The top-level premium package is an eye-watering Dh666, but it does get you VIP access to a classy balcony overlooking the beach, the Gulf and Zero Gravity’s gardens below, where DJs keep things lively. You also get free access to the Friday night Aurora event afterwards, which features different international-name DJs each week.
Fridays from 3pm to 6pm, Dh395+. Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone, Al Sufouh/Dubai Marina. For reservations, call 055 500 9111
• Iris Dubai, Oberoi Hotel
Launching in the last week of 2014, Iris Dubai’s brunch is one of the newest offerings in town. Diners might be surprised to hear the notorious Beirut party spot offers a brunch and the minute you step out of the lift to take in the 27th floor terrace, it’s clear this is about more than the food. A DJ drops eclectic beats from the corner. Behind the bar a row of waiters stand to attention in pilot outfits and shades (not matching), Reservoir Dogs-style. “Le Brunch” boasts a late start time at 1pm, but you can expect most guests to roll up much later, dolled up ready for the night ahead. Compared with your average brunch package, the range of food is small, and oddly, neither of the only two dishes promised on its website — “fluffy pancakes” and “the perfect omelette” — were on offer. Instead there’s a buffet spread inside offering fare selection of salads, cheeses and cold bites. The neighbouring, heavily manned sushi counter is sadly for show, with no sashimi, just pre-prepared maki rolls in the buffet. Outside on the terrace there’s a live risotto and pasta station (both strong), and a busy barbecue — the baby burgers by far the most popular dish with diners. Best of all is the late finish time. At 3.45pm, when most brunches are wrapping up, the music is suddenly pumped up ahead of sundown. The package runs until a party-friendly 6pm. Fridays from 1pm to 6pm, Dh360+. Iris Dubai, Oberoi Hotel, Business Bay, Dubai.
For reservations, call 056 951 1442.
• Sass Café, Al Fattan Currency House, DIFC
A brand imported direct from the tax-free paradise of Monaco, Sass Café has a distinctly moneyed, Mediterranean feel that suits Dubai’s DIFC like a custom-made velvet glove — think looming chandeliers, European waiters and white tablecloths. The venue’s Saturday brunch package breaks one of the golden rules — it’s all à la carte, so not a UAE “brunch” package as we know it — but the way Sass transforms from daytime dining to early evening revelry means this new concept more than earns the brunch moniker. Expect a steady stream of glamorous folk to arrive at the venue from early afternoon, munching on the special brunch menu which starts with upmarket breakfast items (scrambled egg with truffle — yum) and works through salads, pasta dishes and grills. The food is worth a visit alone — but the real reason the venue is so busy only becomes clear when, at 4pm, blackout curtains are subtly drawn. Then, about half an hour later, the room explodes into a haze of light, sound and colour. The DJ ramps the volume, the ceiling lights flash, the wall lamps flash, and the table cloths are ripped off to reveal that even the tables flash, in different colours. Most beguiling, out of nowhere appears a man (or possibly woman) dressed in a huge bear costume, handing out sparklers to all the guests. Before 5pm hits, the venue resembles a nightclub — and a decidedly intent one at that, too. Perfect, then, if you want to continue the weekend revelry but have an early start on Sunday morning. Saturdays from 1pm to 6pm, à la carte pricing. Sass Café, Al Fattan Currency House, DIFC, Dubai.
For reservations, call 04 352 7722. www.sasscafe-dubai.ae
• Moana, Sofitel The Palm Jumeirah
Located on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, Sofitel’s brunch Moana offers Polynesia on a plate to diners looking for a romantic, well-paced meal. Set in the lush surroundings of the resort, terraced tables with sea views bask in sunlight beneath a thatched pagoda. The brunch is a sit-down affair, with an overwhelming array of South East Asian dishes — and some Mediterranean ones — to sample. Most striking about all plates served is their stunning presentation, with micro herbs, edible flowers and vibrant garnishes making for culinary works of art. Bursting equally in colour and taste, the octopus carpaccio with roe-topped quail eggs, ever indulgent oysters Rockefeller and a zingy Thai green curry. Also looking good enough to eat, the selection of four mini-desserts, served with giant chocolate-dipped strawberries. While the brunch offers more food than you could possibly finish, the friendly staff are happy to let you linger and, if you fancy a break between courses, beach access is included in the very reasonable price.
Fridays from 12.30-pm to 3.45pm, Dh300+. Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. For reservations, call 04 455 6677. www.sofitel-dubai-thepalm.com
• Jumeirah Zabeel Saray’s Rib Room
The brunch at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray's Rib Room is one of the best and Dubai foodies would do well to add the restaurant's telephone number to their speed-dial. There are three Friday packages to choose from; a tasting menu comprising six courses, a sharing menu with five signature dishes designed to be shared between two and four diners, and an a la carte option. Delicious dishes include John Stone smoked short ribs, steak tartare, pan-seared sea bass and a Best of British cheese trolley. Executive chef Neil Foster is passionate about sustainable, classic British fare and it shows; the proof is in his sticky toffee pudding one might say. What also distinguishes The Rib Room's brunch from others in the UAE is that you're getting luxury for a little less than you might expect, with prices starting from just Dh350 per person. The ambience is a huge draw too, with patrons able to choose from romantic, low-lit tables or large sociable seating in a restaurant swathed in leather and dark wood. Other nice touches include the live jazz music and the invitation to post-brunch sundowners on the venue's al fresco terrace.
Fridays from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, terrace sundowners from 4pm to 6pm, Dh350+. Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. 04 453 0444 Courtesy Jumeirah Zabeel Saray's Rib Room
• Roberto’s brunch, DIFC
Fans of seafood and Italian fare might want to try Roberto’s brunch in Dubai’s International Financial Centre. The meal gets off to a generous start with a frutti di mare platter comprising oysters, shrimp, crab and lobster tails. This is followed by a selection of starters to share, the best of which were the Burratina cheese with tomato and fresh basil, braised veal with tuna and capers and a beef carpaccio with Parmesan shavings. From the choice of pasta courses, the homemade ravioli stuffed with artichokes, served in a butter and sage sauce with truffle shavings, was a standout. The mains of oven-baked rock salt seabream with roast vegetables and dry aged cuberoll beef with wedge potatoes came out on top. For those with a sweet tooth, the coffee flavoured creme brûlée; expertly cooked chocolate fondant and a modern Italian take on profiteroles were a hit. Fridays from 12:30pm to 4:30pm, Dh350+.
Roberto's is in Building 1, Gate Village, DIFC, Dubai. For reservations, call 04 386 0055. www.robertos.ae Courtesy Roberto's
