Friday brunch is a Dubai institution that has been around seemingly forever and it shows no sign of slowing down. The city’s weekend brunching scene is jam-packed with many exciting and novel concepts, from fine-dining Japanese-Peruvian imports to rustic Southern French ones. But sometimes, it can seem a bit overwhelming with all of that choice. Luckily for you, we’ve done all the hard work researching the best and most exciting restaurants, to give you the lowdown on the best Friday brunches Dubai has to offer.
Fancy tucking into a feast at the luxury designer Versace Palace? Or perhaps exciting cocktails are more your thing? Whether you’re a party enthusiast or prefer to chill out with a cool drink on the terrace, we’ve got something for everyone. Some are steak-based concepts while others are all about the seafood, and others have vegan options, and there’s absolutely no judgement from us about how many times you go back to the cheese table.
Friday brunch is all about relaxing after a hard week’s work, getting together with your friends or catching up with loved ones, over a smorgasbord of amazing food. Plus with stunning Dubai as the backdrop, you don’t really need any excuses to justify going all out on the brunch front.
The Dubai brunch scene truly is like no other, offering ultra-luxury dining experiences surrounded by dazzling views of the Arabian Gulf and a rich wealth of cuisines to choose from. It is the perfect opportunity for punters to kick back and relax under the Middle Eastern sun, surrounded by tables laden with food from around the world. Stretching from the Marina to Deira, we’ve covered everything in between to create the ultimate list of Friday brunch Dubai restaurants. So what are you waiting for? Read all about these Friday brunch Dubai restaurants and get going.
Toro Toro
Why: Toro Toro celebrates the best of South American food with three-hour long brunching sessions where the booze flows freely and the food tantalises taste buds. The menu features an exciting list of ceviches, ranging from sea bass to Peruvian tuna, dressed with flavours such as tiger milk, tamarind, and lemon soy. There are heartier plates of tacos and steaks, as well as more niche regional delicacies among the likes of cachapas and empanadas.
Where: Grosvenor House, Al Emreef Street
Nobu
Why: The Japanese-Peruvian brand is a popular hit with Dubai locals, and the brunch scene is equally as enamoured with Nobu’s offerings of sushi and sashimi, and the signature black cod with miso. The cocktails start pouring and the music starts pumping, and you know you’re in for a good time as you dine on some amazing fusion food, while taking in the incredible views from the Atlantis resort.
Where: Ground Level, The Avenues, Atlantis
Zuma
Why: Get your brunch on at Zuma, a fine-dining Japanese restaurant that offers up one of the most indulgent weekend dining experiences in the city. Located in the impressive Burj Khalifa, you can soak up some stunning views while you tuck into a feast of fresh fish and robata-grilled dishes. If you’re drinking, the restaurant has a smashing selection of sake; otherwise the non-alcoholic drinks go down nicely with a sashimi platter.
Where: Gate Village 06, DIFC
Giardano at Palazzo Versace
Why: Brunch in style at the Versace Palace where you can feast on a smorgasbord of internationally inspired dishes within a stylish setting. The décor is just as extravagant as you’d expect from a high-end brand, with designer crockery, and beautiful views from the terrace. The Friday brunch is well-known for serving up splendid seafood dishes and Arabic specialities.
Where: Dubai Culture Village, Dubai Fountain Street
Traiteur
Why: Traiteur has won several awards over the years for its grand brunch offering, which celebrates fine cuisines from an enviable position on a waterfront terrace with skyline views. The brunch hotspot seems to tick all the right boxes: great ambience, live music, and smashing food from around the world. The seafood selection is a real highlight and the cheese platters are laden with high-quality imports.
Where: Park Hyatt
Coya
Why: Coya is an internationally renowned brand, frequently praised for the fusion of Peruvian and Japanese food served with a high-class flourish, and the brunch menu continues on the theme of fine dining. Expect excellent renditions of tiraditos and ceviches, and hearty platters of luxurious Wagyu and beef fillet. Plus you’ll want to try the signature Pisco Sour and other innovative cocktails.
Where: Restaurant Village, Four Seasons Resort Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 2
All’onda
Why: All’onda is a chic Venetian eatery that takes inspiration from Japanese and Indian cuisines to offer a truly unique menu. Punters can dine on courses of rigatoni and carbonara, as platters of fresh sushi make the rounds. The desserts are excitingly innovative, featuring the likes of green tea tiramisu and cherry meringue. The moodily lit and glitzy interiors are stunning too.
Where: Crescent West, Palm Jumeirah island
Bleu Blanc
Why: Bleu Blanc is Michelin-starred chef David Byers’ take on Provence cuisine. The brunch is an elaborate occasion, and you can choose between three styles: The Innocent, The Not-So-Innocent and the Make it Champagne. The weekend feast may see you dining on steaks, eggs on sourdough, and satisfying your sweet tooth with a vanilla pot and poached pear while sipping on a Moscato Passito.
Where: Renaissance Downtown Hotel
Flavours on Two
Why: Head to Flavours on Two for a gorgeous brunch experience inspired by dishes from around the world, with a nod to the bricks and mortar location from dishes such as shish tawook and grilled hammour. The restaurant features an open kitchen and counter top seating for punters eager for some ringside action, as the chefs put on a show. Don’t skimp on dessert either, the ‘final flavours’ of ricotta brulee cheesecake and caramel baked apples are delightful.
Where: Rotana Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road
Fogo de Chao
Why: Fogo de Chao is all about authentic churrasco and is run by Brazilians passionate about grilling meat. For brunch, you can treat yourself to the full experience and feast your eyes on the Market Table laden with seasonal ingredients. The menu also offers seafood dishes such as Chilean seabass slathered in mango, or more meats among the likes of beef croquettes with a tangy chimichurri aioli.
Where: P3 level, Central Park Towers
Grand Grill
Why: Grand Grill is a South African steakhouse that serves up traditional dishes such as booerewors, bunny chow, and a hearty selection of steaks of all cuts and weights. There are plenty of sauces to choose from too, from a spicy peri peri to a more traditional hollandaise. The restaurant makes a decadent option for Friday brunch, and if you want something a bit lighter than steak, there is plenty of seafood to choose from.
Where: Grand Habtoor Beach Resort and spa, Al Sufouh Road, Dubai Marina
Marina Social
Why: Marina Social is the brainchild of Michelin-starred British chef Jason Atherton who wanted to offer a Mediterranean concept to the Dubai crowd. The chic restaurant encourages patrons to engage with the chefs over the food. The aptly named Social Brunch takes this idea further, with sharing plates of tiger prawns, josper-grilled chicken thighs, beef sliders, and more.
Where: InterContinental Dubai Marina, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Street
MasterChef, the TV Experience
Why: This restaurant is perfect for the MasterChef obsessives in your life, or maybe that’s you. The restaurant recreates the excitement and passion for food so prevalent on the show, and best of all, you get to taste all of the finalists’ best recipes. The Showtime! Brunch is an experience to be had, which may see you dining on stunning plates of asparagus and gochujang pancakes or lemongrass ginger meatball skewers. For the more adventurous, go for the Mystery Box experience.
Where: Ground Floor, Millennium Place Marina, Dubai Marina
Nineteen
Why: Host your next brunch gathering with friends at Nineteen for a Mediterranean take on the popular weekend trend. The interior is sleek and pretty, with large floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views, or you can dine outside on the terrace. The pastas are handmade and feature the likes of burrata tortelloni and pumpkin gnocchi. The wine list is a bit classier than your usual brunch fare too.
Where: Address Montgomerie, Emirates Hills
Ramusake
Why: Ramusake hosts a casual brunch set up where you can sling back Japanese sangrias and sake, as you tuck into food inspired by the street markets of Tokyo. The brunching crowd will also be treated to music sets from the resident DJ, and views from the terrace overlooking JBR beach and the islands will take your breath away. The food is a contemporary take on typical Japanese dishes and you can expect the likes of fish tempura tacos and miso seabass.
Where: Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Jumeirah Beach Residence
Ruya
Why: If you love Turkish food, then the Grand Bazaar brunch at Ruya is a must-try dining experience. The restaurant offers a real party vibe with drinks galore as plates of the famous two-cheese pide and sharing platters of borek, squid, lahmacun, and more float around the tables. The atmosphere is relaxed and chilled out, until the party picks up with dancing after brunch.
Where: 1st Floor, Lobby Level Grosvenor House, Al Emreef Street
Spice Island
Why: Spice Island is a great all-rounder with a truly international offering for brunch. There are live cooking stations offering freshly-made sushi, grilled to order tandoor chicken, butter-lemon lobster, and much more – the restaurant caters to all tastes. This one is great for treating the kids and the restaurants also helps host birthday parties.
Why: Crowne Plaza, Salahuddin Road, Deira
Taikun
Why: Taikun means respect in Japanese, and this restaurant certainly holds the concept of brunch in high esteem. The pan-Asian restaurant takes brunch to a whole new level with resplendent dishes of sashimi, bao buns, gyoza, dim sum, plus more substantial mains of black cod and Peking duck tacos. Taikun promises a weekend dining experience to remember.
Where: Vid Downtown, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard
More of a Saturday person? Check out our list of Dubai's best Saturday brunches.