If there is one thing we can learn from the culinary scene in the United Arab Emirates, it’s that brunch is more than just an entrée + bottomless mimosas. It’s a gathering place of fashion, fine dining, champagne and an experience worth bragging about. There are not too many places in the world that take the event as seriously as the U.A.E. Friday Brunch is a countrywide event, and Dubai specifically has redefined the scene, and it keeps getting better and better.
So grab your crew, and dress to impress, because once you experience brunch in Dubai, you’ll never do a basic brunch again.
The Queen Elizabeth 2 – The Only Brunch That Requires a Passport
Location: QE2, Port Bin Rashid, Dubai
“I’m going to be so wasted/hungover after Brunch!” How many of us are guilty of this thought? What if there’s a brunch that offers unlimited food and champagne PLUS a complimentary overnight night stay allowing you to avoid the public walk of shame after one too many glasses of Moet?
Last July, The Queen Elizabeth 2 hosted their very first Brunch & Stay package to celebrate the soft opening of their new floating hotel. Guests were granted a boarding pass that entitled them to cruise ship access, a 1-night stay plus breakfast in a standard cabin, and of course, a great selection of international dishes. The only requirements are your passport, boarding ticket and an outfit that resembles the British Elite (or not).
St. Regis Abu Dhabi – Brunch in the Clouds
Location: St. Regis Abu Dhabi Nations Towers
Unique, unexpected and extremely posh! Once a month, the St. Regis Abu Dhabi escorts 50 Guests via a private elevator for an intimate brunch situated throughout the world’s highest suspended suite (priced at $40,000/night and usually reserved for royalty). Upon arrival, grab a glass of Pink Prosecco and begin making your way through each room. All Guests have the opportunity to dine in various elements. The main living room houses several buffet stations and an impressive selection of fresh dishes served right to the table.
There’s a private bar on the second floor just a few meters away from the spa where you can have a mani/pedi or massage while sipping on bubbly (my favorite room). For those with a sweet tooth or an appetite for film, there’s also a private cinema with tons of dessert and sweet snacks. These are just a few experiences within the suite. The St. Regis nailed this concept!
Pierchic – The Chic Brunch
Location: Al Qasr Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Known by many as Dubai’s most romantic restaurant that sits in the middle of the Arabian Gulf, Pierchic offers an over-the-water brunch experience for seafood lovers. Shortly after arriving at the entrance of the pier, hop into one of the stylish rickshaws and make your way to the ocean bar for an assortment of fresh oysters, bubbly and unobstructed views of the world’s only 7-star hotel, Burj Al Arab.
Chic attendees, as we like to call ourselves, can happily indulge in Canadian lobster, crevettes, mussels, crabs, clams, sea bream, yellowtail carpaccio, and the list goes on!
Hotel Cartagena – A Trip to Cartagena
Location: JW Marriot Marquis, Downtown Dubai
Colorful clashing prints, pineapples, a giant gold birdcage, greenery hanging from the ceiling and beautiful feathered dancers – Hotel Cartagena, the newcomer to the bunch scene, can easily become one of the brunches that you tend to frequent quite often.
The spread is a mix of South American and international favorites including empanadas, guacamole, braised ribs, grilled prawns, guava chicken, truffle cheese and more. Equally as great is the live entertainment courtesy of the in-house drummers and entertainers dancing in their feathered costumes. Hotel Cartagena is for sure one of the livelier brunches in Dubai.
Atlantis – Cirque De Cuisine
Location: Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
A brunch extravaganza complete with street performers, entertainers and, you guessed it, midgets! Known as Dubai’s Mega Brunch, this “dine-around” experience at Atlantis The Palm offers Brunch goers the opportunity to dine at some of the city’s most opulent restaurants – Ossiano, Nobu, Hakkasan and Seafire to name a few. The theme is “Brazilian Carnival.” It’s very likely that you will go into a food-induced coma within the hour. You’ve been warned.
STK – Dare to Brunch
Location: Rixos JBR, The Walk, Dubai
Currently hailed as Dubai’s “It” brunch, you come to eat and drink just as much as you come to be seen in your elaborate fashion ensemble. With a similar New York City edge as their Meatpacking District location, STK JBR brings urban chic vibes, high energy, the best selection of starters (creamy burrata, fresh oysters, spicy prawn cocktail and an amazing garlic bread) a fine 200g fillet paired with creamy mac ‘n’ cheese, green beans and parmesan fries followed by an assortment of desserts – NY cheesecake, crème brulee and the likes!
Whether you’re attending for the champagne, a moment to put on your best dress or simply an experience to remember, be sure to include brunch on your next trip to the U.A.E. Remember, come hungry and come thirsty – cheers!
