WINNER
Nahaam
You’ll find food from across the impressive restaurants at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers all laid out for you to try at this truly excellent brunch. Inside the dining room is light and airy and full of sushi, salads and a super spread of desserts, but you really can’t beat the amazing vibes out on the terrace. Here you can dance to tunes from the live band, relax on the beach and take a dip in the infinity pool. Service is quick and friendly, and you’ll also find live stations serving barbecued meats, curries, burgers, grilled seafood and much more. It’s one of the best days out you’ll ever have.
Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, West Corniche (02 811 5666).
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Las Brisas
Set out in the grounds of one of Abu Dhabi’s most iconic and luxurious hotels, Brunch at the Palace is designed to look like a gourmet street food market. Offering dishes from all over the globe, chefs are on hand to serve up an amazing selection of meats, seafood, salads, mezze, sushi and more. The live band is guaranteed to get everyone dancing and it’s a great afternoon spent out in the sunshine.
Emirates Palace, West Corniche (02 690 9000).
Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas
The Market Brunch offers a huge buffet of multiple live stations, taking over the whole of the all-day-dining restaurant and spilling out onto the terrace. From here you can admire the huge pool with the private beach and shining waters of the Gulf beyond, and there are also countless stations serving mixed drinks plus a cool live band and DJ to set the mood. The seafood stand is one of the best bits, with lobsters, swordfish, sea bass, crabs and more. Simply choose your catch and wait for it to be grilled to order and delivered to your table, and in the meantime there’s sushi, a special room dedicated to traditional meats, curries and more to keep you busy. It’s an experience that few can rival.
Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island (02 697 0000).
NOMINEES
Fairways
Bubbalicious is a popular party brunch and for good reason but there’s more to it than just a great atmosphere. Dishes from all over the world are on offer for you to take your pick including some from live cooking stations and a host of beverages that can be enjoyed between tapping your toes to music from the live band and DJ.
The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, Khalifa City A (02 616 9999).
Elements
It’s a real family friendly affair at the Elements brunch with lots of entertainment for kids and plenty for adults to enjoy too. When it comes to food all the bases are covered from sushi, Italian, Indian and Chinese dishes to DIY tacos, fresh seafood and more served from cool food trucks and stalls outside in the sun.
Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Street (0800 101 101).
Essence
Offering dishes from the hotel’s top restaurants you can get a taste of everything at this popular weekend brunch. With the likes of steak, seafood, Italian, Indian, barbecue, sushi, and more on offer as well as a designated children’s area the Best of Beach Brunch ticks a lot of boxes and is a proven crowd-pleaser.
Beach Rotana, Al Zahiya (02 697 9000).
The Foundry
As a popular steakhouse it comes as no surprise that you can enjoy some great cuts of meat at the Raising the Steaks brunch. Away from the beef there’s loads more to sink your teeth into including fresh seafood, a poke station, a vegan corner (no, really) and indulgent desserts all served in a chilled atmosphere.
Southern Sun Abu Dhabi Hotel, Mina Street (02 818 4888).
Giornotte
The Chef’s Brunch is new but is already proving a real hit with great food, a brilliant atmosphere and a huge selection of dishes on offer. With everything from Wagyu beef and steamed dim sum to vegan burgers and pizza, there’s loads to like about this top brunch and we’ve not even mentioned to roaming beverage carts yet.
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal (02 818 8888).
InterContinental Abu Dhabi
Bringing the best of both world together in a chilled but energetic atmosphere, you can enjoy dishes from Cho Gao and Chamas at this vast brunch. The range food on offer is staggering from vibrant Asian delicacies and seafood to churrascaria-style meat, salads and so much more. We guarantee you that you won’t be able to try it all.
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street (02 666 6888).
The Terrace on the Corniche
With brilliant service, a top atmosphere and a rich buffet offering a huge range of dishes, the Family Friday Brunch is a top destination on a weekend. Take your pick from fresh pasta, sushi, salads, cold seafood, grilled fish, carved meats, cheese, fish and chips and everything in-between. You definitely don’t leave hungry from this one.
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Nation Towers, Corniche Road West (02 694 4553)
