Brunch in Dubai

The Best Brunch in Dubai

If you are holidaying in Dubai and visiting on a Friday, you must experience the traditonal 'Friday Brunch' which has now become a standard feature across Dubai.  Friday is the first day of the weekend and a religious day, therefore you'll find most places of interest shut during the morning to allow for Friday prayers.  In the past, major shopping malls would only open from 1pm, but now laws are more relaxed and the malls do open earlier.  You will find many expats choose to stay up late on a Thursday and relish the lie-in and slow Friday start with a trip to one of the Brunch haunts in the majority of Dubai hotels.  Brunch normally starts at 12.30 and it is advised not to eat anything before you arrive.  You will be greeted with a feast of food - that will be hard to absorb, even with just your eyes!  If its your first time, go for one of the mid range options where you know the food is of good quality and variety and if with children, there are deals and ofcourse activities to keep them happy.  If you really want to splash out, go for one of the top five star hotels that offer a champagne brunch with all the trimmings (non- alcoholic package will be available and cheaper), this will really be the icing of your holiday and will leave you so full, you'll be on salad and soup the next day! Be sure to make a reservation beforehand for any Friday Brunch venue.  Enjoy.

High End: 

Al Qasr $$$$
Madinat Jumeirah Dubai, +971 4 366 6730

Cuisine: Mixed/ International.

Best for: The widest choice of international food you've ever seen, the live music, the kiddies activities and ofcourse the unlimited champers.

Winner of several ‘best brunch in Dubai’ awards, we had to see what all the commotion was about and boy, were we impressed.  Firstly, as with any brunch its advisable to go belly empty, seriously, with the amount of food consumed, you will feel utterly regretful for even attempting cereal in the morning.  The moment you step into the grandeur of the Madinat Jumeirah, you will feel like royalty and no doubt be ready to feast like a King as your eyes gaze in amazement at the artwork of food displayed before you.  No joke, it is like a gallery of art, a food masterpiece.  As well as creating nearly every dish imaginable, the presentation is out of this world even almost having you think the staff were up the night before creating mini wine glasses of condiments and puddings.  The Al Qasr brunch doesn’t lend itself to just one massive room but three.  Yes three large rooms of a lavish feast like you’ve seen nowhere.  We didn’t know where to begin but we paced ourselves, having mini portions of sushi, lobster, tapas, mezzes, trying to go really easy on the accompaniments like fresh breads and rice. Every thai and Indian curry was available and cooked with so much depth and flavour, the food honestly didn’t fault in anyway despite it being a ‘buffet’ and many items were being cooked from fresh according to customer’s liking such as the steaks. Items are replenished regularly and didn’t look tired at all.  Seating is available indoors amongst the opulent plush sofas or outside overlooking the canals and abras.  Soak in the atmosphere and walk off your mains before attempting dessert – now that’s a whole different experience.  Brunching like a King doesn’t come cheap, and the Al Qasr brunch is probably one of the most expensive brunches in Dubai, but for 495 AED you will get free flowing bubbly and alcohol.  There is a non alcoholic option too and kids from 5-12 pay half price, under 4 years are free and there is a fun kids corner with face painting and crafts. Brunch is served form 12.30-4pm every Friday.

The Meydan Brunch $$$-$$$$
Cuisine: International

The Meydan Hotel, Meydan Racecourse, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +971 4 381 3333 

Brunching at The Meydan Hotel is a different experience from the standard hotels in the city.  Set amongst lushes of green landscape and the famous Meydan Racecourse, the views are beautiful.  You have the option of sitting indoors in the vast stylish restaurant building or on the large balcony overlooking the racetrack and desert.  Ambience is perfect, the place is always busy but because of the huge space it doesn't feel crowded at all, there is a live band playing soft jazz to help ease those dietary decisions, and yes the can be real dilemas!  The food choice is huge and just as impressive as Al Qasr or some of the top five star restaurants brunch hangouts.  Food is presented so elegantly and many items are made fresh on demand.  The food that is out, we've been told, is changed frequently so not to compromise on quality and temperature. Food is international and themed upon all the horseracing destinations of the world, so if you crave it, it should be here!  The Meydan is probably the best place for kids as they are dubbed to have the largest kids area then any restaurant with a bouncy castle, indoor games, arts and crafts and live clowns, all in their own room with their own buffet - what peace! Prices start at 295 AED for adults including non- alcoholic beverages and 495 AED for adults with sparkling and selected beverages.  Kids between 6- 15 years are 200 AED, under 6 years are free.  Brunch is served from 12.30-4pm every Friday.

Mid Range:

Market Cafe $$-$$$
Grand Hyatt Dubai, +971 4 317 2222

Cuisine: Mixed

Best for: Kid Friendly, great all rounder for families and those who don't require an alcoholic package as this is paid for separately on consumption.

A huge big rainforest style layout awaits you at the Market Cafe and kids will love the space available to get away from the parents but not be too far for the worry!  Let them enjoy activities such as facepainting and colouring while you get down to the nitty gritty of stuffing yourselves!  The food here is all freshly laden and most of it is made to order at one of five live cooking stations.  Buffet style meals are also available too and are consistently of good quality.  The speciality at Market Cafe are their juicy grills selection and rotisseries aswell as the usual Italian, Arabic and Indian offerings.  There is plenty to choose from but if you are used to the high end brunches and frills you may look down at the Market Cafe, but we loved it for its genuinely good quality food, good variety of dishes and reasonable price.  Current brunch rates are 190 AED person including unlimited soft drinks.  Alcohol is paid for separately.  Children under 6 years are free and between 6 and 12 years will be half price.  Brunch is between 12.30-4pm every Friday .  Outdoor seating is available but reserve beforehand as not many tables.  

Budget:

MORE Cafe $-$$. Unlicensed
Branches offering brunch deal:

Gold and Diamond Park: +971 4 323 4350
Festival City: +971 4 232 6299
Al Murooj: +971 4 343 3779
Mirdif City Centre: +971 4 284 3805

Cuisine: Mixed Deli Favourites

Best for: A healthy (and filling!) alternative to the excessive Friday brunches that are the norm in Dubai! 

It's so nice to try a place that offers super food that satisfies the belly and doesn't leave you burping silly or needing a 2 hour siesta post gorge.  MORE Cafe is a UAE born concept created by a Dutch partnership focusing on tasty healthy eating habits in surroundings which are comfortable yet trendy and sleek.  Aswell as serving a great menu during the week and offering a detailed takeout service, their Friday Brunch package is an amazing alternative and one that should be tried if you are fed up of the usual overpriced hotel fanfare.  MORE Cafe take pride in the freshly prepared salads and offer many variations. Their eggs benedict are yum and the variety of main courses such as hotpots and curries as well as battered fish and chips are all tasty and not heavily laden with grease.  Highly recommended if you are calorie counting!  Brunch package 95 AED adults and 45 AED children under 12 years. Brunch is served from 11am - 4pm Fridays.  

Almaz by Momo $-$$. Unlicensed
Mall of the Emirates, 2nd Level (back of Harvey Nichols), +971 4 409 8877
Cuisine: North African Grills and Eggs Brunch

Best for: Middle Eastern vibe and style, super value and great portions. Items are made fresh to order.

We loved Almaz by Momo.  Ok, it's not your typical brunch offering mountains of international food variety, but the simple choices are great and great for vegetarians who like eggs. Surroundings are so chilled and trendy, you can easily while away a good few hours and smoke on some shisha to digest the excess! You will be offered three different brunch choices: Almaz, North African, or Berber which include a range of fried eggs, chips combo, mixed skewers of meat and potatoes and omelette with pancakes and all entrees include a tasty salad.  Leave space for dessert which is a selection of moroccan pastries, brownies and cakes, ice cream, and fruit salad.  Be good to yourself and do a couple of laps around the Mall of the Emirates after your feast.  All this and unlimited fruit juice, soft drinks and teas for 90 AED per person.  Note there is no discount offered for children and this place is unlicensed.  This brunch deal at Almaz is available 11am-4pm every Friday and Saturday except during Ramadan.  

Grapeshisha Choice:

Spectrum on One $$$-$$$$
The Fairmont Dubai, +971 4 311 8316

Cuisine: Mixed/International.  Brunch served from 12 – 3pm

Best for: The stylish brunch you'll ever experience.  Don't come here in your Friday trackies, this place is class and you will enjoy the full on 'food pampering' for a few hours.  As well as favourite international dishes, Spectrum focuses on seafood delights and spectacular roast carvings.  

This is the ‘Moet on Tap’ brunch everyone raves about.  Service here is fantastic and starts as soon as you walk through the door, where you are presented with your first glass of bottomless bubbly.  Spectrum are the pioneers of the Friday brunch and have since then held onto their fine reputation consistently listening to feedback and providing as much variety and fresh food that you can imagine.  There are live cooking stations in all the main cuisine types, the Japanese corner will also prepare made to order dim sum and sushi, the Indian corner will flip fresh chapattis in front of your eyes and lure you with their lush curries, the carvery will serve up the juiciest roasts including turkey with all the trimmings and there are a whole host of other international corners we could go on about.  Make space for the famous cheese and port room which is huge and dedicated to dairy fans.  The desserts are simply to die for – best tip is to head there first and observe the amount of belly space required after you tackle your mains.  There are different brunch prices, the all out package is the Premium Bubbly Brunch at 550 AED with unlimited Moet and Chandon.  Everything but alcohol is 295 AED.  Kids under 5 years are free, between 6-12 years 150 AED and quite useful is the teen package at 197 AED.