The party is in full swing when we arrive at Nahaam on a Friday afternoon.
Pretty much every table is full, the live band have already got people up dancing and kids are playing in the infinity pool and on the beach (access is included in every package).
We take a welcome drink of sparkling and feel glad we requested to sit outside. Because although the dining room is very pretty and packed with fresh seafood, sushi and the most incredible selection of desserts anyone has ever seen (more on that later), the terrace has a much livelier vibe.
Everyone around us seems to be in a super mood and it’s not hard to see why – the weather is perfect, the staff are friendly and efficient at handling the constant onslaught of drinks orders and the food options are absolutely tremendous.
It’s one of those brunches where you need to do a quick lap of the place first before committing to where you’ll start.
And that’s why Nahaam’s brunch is the winner of our Best International Brunch award for 2019. This scene unfolds every single time you visit, and it’s quite simply perfect.
Outside there are barbecues serving freshly grilled fish, meats like lamb, beef brisket and chicken (cooked in a quirky fashion and wrapped around cans of hops), plus all the roasted vegetables and sides you could wish for. In the same area you’ll also find freshly baked pizzas, burgers made to order and a selection of curry.
We start off with some of the fish, and the friendly chef takes our order of prawns, sardines and sole and tells us he’ll bring it right over to our table. We also help ourselves to some excellent fresh salads, and we love the vibrant and tasty spicy prawn papaya salad and chicken quinoa with beans. We also get some creamy guac that’s come straight from VaKaVa, one of the latest restaurants to open up at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.
It’s all exceptionally high quality and we also can’t resist taking a few chunks of bread from the enormous spread of baked goods.
But the food is so brilliant we can’t possibly stop there, so we move on and try some of the sushi, sashimi and tempura. It’s some of the freshest we’ve ever tasted, and the tempura is light and delicious with a mix of vegetables and seafood.
If you love curry you also can’t miss the Indian section, and it’s impossible to say which is the best out of the lamb, chicken and prawn varieties. Each one is superb.
Finally it’s time for dessert, and it’s so easy to get carried away. The display is absolutely immaculate and includes chocolate, churros, doughnuts, cupcakes, cheesecakes, hot puddings, cake pops and load more.
Like everything else about this great brunch, it’s a winner.
Dhs390 (soft drinks), Dhs450 (house beverages), Dhs575 (bubbly), Dhs185 (kids aged nine to 14). Fri 12.30pm-4pm. Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, West Corniche (02 811 5666).
