Housed inside the luxury Palazzo Versace Dubai hotel, Vanitas is a classic Italian restaurant that manages to be both romantic and sophisticated.
The restaurant’s dining room is an opulent affair, featuring double-height ceilings, a row of glittering diamond chandeliers and several accents that give the room a feel of being part of a historic Italian palace – think hand painted wallpaper, banqueting chairs and extravagant floral displays.
The elegant interiors are matched by a menu of classic Italian fare, which is available to guests at both lunch and dinner (a multi-course tasting menu is also available for those looking to add a sense of occasion to their meal). The menu is divided up into the traditional Italian sections of antipasti, pastas, seafood and meat. Start off with the likes of bruschetta or cured Black Angus beef carpaccio, before moving on to handmade pasta dishes such as linguini topped with clams and garlic, or perhaps roast veal ravioli with salsa verde and Parmigiano foam.
Main courses include the traditional likes of steamed seabass and slow cooked lamb loin, alongside the other dishes with luxury ingredients which remind you that you are in Dubai – think grilled Wagyu striploin with breaded Portobello mushroom, celeriac puree and black truffle shavings. Sweet treats to round off your meal might see freshly-baked pastries from a trolley, or you can leave it up to the chef’s discretion with a selection of his signature sweets.
While Vanitas is arguably best suited to romantic dinners, it’s also a great place to catch up with friends. Every Saturday, the restaurant hosts a special ladies dinner where you can catch up with your girl squad, while tucking into fine cuts of meat and fresh pasta dishes.
On Tuesday evenings, guests can enjoy a sharing-style menu which is inspired by classical Italian dishes.