Want to book brunch in Dubai, but don’t know where to start?
These Dubai brunches have all been tried and tested by the Time Out team (it’s a tough gig).
Time Out reviews are all conducted independently, anonymously and paid for by the brand. We care about where you spend those hard-earned dirhams and want to experience brunch as you do, no special treatment. Plus, we’ve been reviewing restaurants in Dubai for 20 years, so know what we are talking about.
That’s why our Dubai brunch reviews are reviews you can absolutely trust.
So why delay? Whether Saturday brunches, Sunday brunches or evening brunches, we’ve checked them all out. Now it’s your turn.
Here are the latest Dubai brunch reviews:
Al Qasr
There’s an art to creating the perfect buffet brunch. Beyond a spread of irresistible, can’t-help-but-pick-up dishes, it needs to master the magic formula. It goes a little something like this… A beautiful setting + ‘wow’ dishes + entertainment + perfect service + fabulous ambiance = an excellent buffet brunch, one that will bring you back again and again.
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Attiko Dubai
Great food, great views and great value, Attiko is the Dubai brunch that others in the city need to watch out for. The pan-Asian rooftop bar fits right in at the super trendy W Dubai – Mina Seyahi. It is not only a welcome addition to the Dubai Marina bar scene, but its brunch offers good food as well as a cool vibe. Upon arrival, whizz up in the swish elevator to the 31st level of the hotel, where you’ll be greeted by floor-to-ceiling windows revealing views of the Ain Dubai and the skyline.
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Aura Skypool
You’ll know it from Instagram, if you haven’t already been for a dip in its sky-high waters. Aura Skypool is one of the most photographed spots in town, and for good reason, the views from this 200m-high infinity pool in The Palm Tower truly are worthy of the hyperbole.
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Bā – Boldly Asian
It’s easy to be seduced by dishes presented with cascading dry ice and garnished with delicate edible flowers. However, proving it’s more than just its pretty plates, Friday night brunch at Fairmont The Palm’s Bā – Boldly Asian is on the whole a delicious experience.
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Babylon
The high-key queen of DIFC dinner and show destinations, Babylon is home to one of the most popular brunches in town and is the place for the city’s most seasoned of partiers to spend the afternoon.
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Bar du Port
A glam affair in a beautiful setting at Dubai Harbour Pier Club (expect to see British reality TV stars in attendance) the Saturday brunch at Bar du Port is a brilliant place for a party.
Bar du Port pulls in a picture-perfect crowd just as gorgeous as its interiors – think finessed boho vibes reminiscent of the beach clubs in St.Tropez, but it isn’t all style and no substance.
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Black Flamingo
A lively bash overlooking Palm West Beach, Saturday brunch at Black Flamingo is the place to be if you’re looking to party. A combination of Latin and Caribbean-leaning, Black Flamingo draws in a crowd as colourful as its setting – the place is decked out in botanical-themed wallpaper, neon lighting and millennial pink and emerald-green furniture.
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Bombay Borough
Idle globe-trotters, this one’s for you. The weekend market brunch at Bombay Borough allows you try all the treats you’d discover at an Indian street food market without any of the walking. While a few gentle beads of a spice sweat may make you feel as though you’ve been for a stroll, rest assured, this is one of those to-the-table brunches where you get to sit back and be served.
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Brunch by Chic Nonna
A charming Italian restaurant in DIFC, Chic Nonna has stamped its Florentine mark on the city since arriving on the Dubai dining scene in 2022. So much so, that it was named Time Out Dubai’s Best Italian Restaurant 2023. The food is stellar and the views of Burj Khalifa, twinkling through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, add to the grandeur.
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Bubbalicious
Three huge restaurants, hundreds of global foodie favourites, top-notch live entertainment and free-flowing bubbly – Bubbalicious is Dubai’s most famous brunch with good reason. Sprawling over three restaurants – all-day dining spot Mina’s Kitchen, Baba steakhouse and Asian restaurant Sui Mui – plus an enormous outdoor terrace, this brunch is massive.
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Buddha-Bar
Think of a party brunch in Dubai and you’ll conjure up images of people in their 20s, in risqué outfits, ready to over-indulge, mingle and basically start clubbing come 3pm. From Secret Parties to Candypants, there are all sorts of brunches that cater specifically to this crowd. Seventh Heaven at Buddha-Bar does the same, but for the 40-plus group.
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Bushra by Buddha-Bar
It’s always interesting to see Middle Eastern cuisine given the fine-dining treatment, particularly in a city where many diners are well-versed in the food and have grandmothers who can outcook any chef. Bushra by Buddha-Bar is a great example of a high-end approach to the ancient and deeply varied cuisine from the region, and its ‘Good News Brunch’ is a great way to sample the Marina restaurant’s signature dishes.
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Café Belge
Get your Gatsby on at this lavish four-course Friday brunch, which is all about mixed drinks, dancing and twenties-inspired debauchery. Held in the Art Deco surroundings of the Ritz’s luxe Café Belge, dine on beloved Belgian cuisine (classic moules a la crème and pan seared seabass are particular highlights), while flapper girls twirl around the floor and the good times keep rolling.
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Canary Club
A weekend brunch at Canary Club blurs the lines of what ‘brunch’ means. In place of buffet food, a lively atmosphere and loud music, the casual dining outlet serves its brunch from a set menu alongside free-flowing drinks. However, the Sunday afternoon affair actually feels more like a typical weekend lunch as opposed to what you would expect from a Dubai brunch.
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Clay
Plenty of restaurants in Dubai have a view, after all it’s a beautiful city with stunning scenery – man-made or otherwise. What you might not have experienced before, however, is dining right underneath the towering, record-breaking wheel that is Ain Dubai.
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Casa del Tango
Whirling tango dancers, authentic Argentinean food and an upmarket atmosphere well-suited to DIFC, Casa del Tango’s brunch is a refined but lively experience. It’s not often you’ll find fresh flowers on each table, be swept away by expert tango dancers or be greeted by the owner of the restaurant (who is world-famous tango dancer Enrique Macana) you’re brunching at, but these are all possibilities when you attend the Barrio Brunch at Casa del Tango.
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Cirque Le Soir
We know the score, occasionally when you’re looking for a brunch, you’re not fussed on food. No, sometimes you’re looking for entertainment, flowing drinks and pumping music – a venue that’s going to bring the party to your party of friends. When these moments strike (say for your best friend’s hen do, or for your favourite colleague’s leaving do) Cirque Le Soir is a three-ring circus of a Saturday brunch.
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COYA Dubai
COYA brunch is a celebration. Of great food, of great service, of great vibes – of everything this popular Peruvian restaurant does so well. Book in advance, dress up (everyone does), arrive promptly…then just sit back and let the celebrations commence. The appetisers flow quickly to the table, a veritable display of colour. The COYA brunch platter of raw signature dishes, bowls of delicate morsels, comes served on ice, a definite one to snap for the grid.
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En Fuego
‘Wild’. That’s the word you’d use to describe brunch at En Fuego. Everything about the three hour experience is brilliantly bonkers. The perfect event if you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate, or let loose after a week behind your desk. En Fuego is the definition of a party brunch.
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Ernst
Turn the clock back a few years and you’d find a few German bars and pubs across Dubai, but in 2022, the only place that truly embodies the Bavarian biergarten vibe is Ernst. Found in the playful 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central, the first-floor venue is huge, with nooks and crannies that make traditional German pubs so inviting, long communal tables, bar seating and a spacious terrace.
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Hidden brunch at Cavo
Flower crowns, smoke machines and sparklers, Hidden Brunch at Cavo is the epitome of a modern party brunch. Yes, while brunch may have started as an excuse to pile your plate high with oysters and sip bubbly at midday as the ambience ramped up, in 2022, party brunches are a raucous affair. And Hidden Brunch at Cavo, is one of the city’s most popular for this reason.
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Jaleo by José Andrés
Spain is known for its long, leisurely meals, tasty sharing plates and flowing grape, so Jaleo seems the perfect place for a brunch. And, judging by its recent launch, it’s hitting the mark so far. Jaleo, from renowned chef José Andrés, opened at Atlantis The Royal in 2023 – and at the end of January 2024 became home to the world-famous hotel’s first brunch.
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Josette
With marshmallow pink walls, green furnishings, pops of colour from vibrant artwork, shiny brass accents and a press-for-bubbly button on each table (kitsch, but we don’t hate it), Josette is a feast for the eyes. And come the weekend, the Saturday brunch offering provides plates that are equally worth eyeballing.
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Koko Bay
Sunny Sundays at the seaside. That’s what Dubai winters are all about. And when you’re not after a full-on beach club vibe or endless building sandcastles with the kids, Koko Bay’s Sunday brunch falls somewhere in between, and is a decent way to round off the weekend.
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La Cantine du Faubourg
Brunches in Dubai come and go, but none have stood the test of time quite like La Cantine du Faubourg. Yes, it’s had a few different names and themes over the years (remember the elegant pyjama party?), but three very crucial elements have remained. Excellent food with a wide variety of dishes than most brunches in Dubai, a good quality drinks package that caters to everyone, and an immaculate vibe, whether you’re sitting inside or alfresco, featuring classy live entertainment. And the best part is, it’s available both Saturday and Sunday.
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Laguna Beach Taverna
With the sounds of the waves gently lapping on the shore, wicker pendant lamps swaying in the sea breeze and neutral tones swathed in mellow light, the Dream Catcher’s evening brunch at Laguna Beach Taverna is like a little island escape.
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La Mar Pisco Brunch
Some brunches are all about the eye-popping selection of dishes, others are about a buzzing party vibe. Some are a laid-back afternoon in the sun kind of occasion. The Pisco Brunch at La Mar, while having stellar views, is fairly niche when it comes to Saturday brunches in Dubai. However, if raw fish and Peruvian drinks are what you’re after for your weekend treat, then you’re in exactly the right spot.
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La Mezcaleria
Booking a table at La Mezcaleria for a Saturday afternoon can almost be classified as an Olympic sport. It’s a very popular and really well-priced brunch (starting from just Dhs250 per person). So planning ahead is essential if you want your Saturday to be lit.
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Le Jardin
Le Jardin brunch at Raffles The Palm is all about families gathering outside in the garden (or here, on a terrace) on a sunny afternoon, and it’s a solid brunch effort from the world-famous hotel brand.
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London Social at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
It may be more than 4,000 miles from the rain-slicked cobbled alleyways of Covent Garden, the fast-flowing Thames and bustling neon-lit high streets of the UK capital, but at the London Social brunch at The Ritz-Carlton Dubai, the British theme is strong as the chimes from Big Ben.
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Maiden Shanghai
A party brunch from the get-go, if you’re celebrating a birthday, hen do, or just want an excuse to get dressed up, head to Naughty Noodles. Taking place at the super classy Maiden Shanghai in Dubai’s ultimate party hotel FIVE Palm Jumeirah, the menu draws inspiration from Cantonese, Szechuan, Shanghai, and Beijing-styles of cooking, with spring rolls, Chilean seabass, kung pao prawns and sweet and sour chicken all on the menu. Drinks keep coming, music is pumping and there’s even confetti cannons – need we say more?
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Masti Dubai
Known as a venue that pushes the boundaries of Indian cuisine, Masti is no stranger to praise from Time Out’s anonymous reviewers, both in its previous incarnation at La Mer and through its concession at Time Out Market Dubai.
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McGettigan’s JLT brunch
The OG McGettigan’s in Dubai still packs a punch. Thirteen years after its grand opening in 2010, it has truly established itself as one of the city’s go-to party destinations. And the Grafton Street brunch taking place every Saturday is a testament to just that – showing that this Irish pub’s charm is here to stay.
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Mezzerie
Tiaras, sparkles, puffy pastel dresses and saccharine songs that are played on repeat – if you have a little one obsessed with all things fairy tale princess, you know the drill. And if that’s the case, Once Upon A Brunch is one family-friendly bash to add to your weekend line-up.
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Mimi Kakushi
Mimi Kakushi is so authentically chic it’s hard to believe it hasn’t been hoisted straight out of 1920s Osaka. It’s effortlessly cool, and a Western-influenced Japanese lounge-style décor is punctuated with enough head-swivelling modern art pieces to keep peepers pinging this way and that for much of the afternoon.
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Mina Brasserie
Glitz, glamour and delicious food are generally a perfect recipe for brunch in Dubai. But sometimes even that may not be enough to fill up a dining room. With fierce competition in DIFC on Saturday afternoon, Mina Brasserie can more than keep up with its neighbours when it comes to the food offering, but falls slightly short on drawing in a crowd.
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Ongaku
Any good brunch in Dubai starts with sushi. And it certainly helps to set the tone of the Buranchi Brunch at Ongaku. Entering through the red door at the back of CLAP into the secret room, Ongaku’s brunch is quick to make an impression. With loud and poppy music, brightly coloured umbrellas and drinks that are handed out on arrival, the party kicks off from the get-go.
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Playa
One of the newest venues to nestle in at The Club, Playa offers an eclectic blend of Peruvian and Japanese fare. Overlooking the beach, it combines the beauty of Dubai’s landscape with bold interior décor. As for the La Reunion brunch itself, it’s very good value for what you get and (happily, for the geography) there’s a casual beach-dress vibe.
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Reform Social & Grill
Ask any parent for a recommendation for a family-friendly restaurant to visit with the kids come the weekend and chances are the name Reform will pop up. With a massive grassy lawn that sprawls down to the lake, it’s a picturesque setting. Meanwhile there’s a kids’ play area with climbing frames and slides that’s compact enough to be used by littler ones and large enough to keep slightly bigger ones active and occupied.
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Saffron 2.0, Atlantis The Palm
An oldie but a goodie, Saffron’s reputation as Dubai’s biggest party brunch is for very good reason. And 2021 saw it make a huge return. Going all out at every turn, there are more than 220 dishes at 20 live cooking stations rustling up international cuisine from all four corners of the globe, DJs and live performances, and if you manage to make your way around all the drinks stations, you’re a hero. Come 3pm and the party really kicks off, so don’t be surprised to be pulled into a spontaneous Macarena routine.
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Soon Nobby X Izakaya
In a city where brunch prices have been gradually creeping up for some time now, it’s rare to find a sushi-focused brunch including house drinks for under Dhs400. It’s not much of a surprise then that Soon Nobby X Izakaya’s brunch, which opened its doors in the summer of 2023, has been a hit with residents living in JLT and beyond ever since.
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Sucre
There’s something oddly calm about DIFC on a weekend afternoon. No traffic getting there, the valet experience is smooth and it’s a quiet walk through Gate Village. That is, until you set foot into Sucre. It’s not a party brunch per se, but the vibe is unmistakably cool and buzzy. People are dressed up, large groups are chatting, and there’s a nice hum in the air that progressively gets louder with time.
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Sumosan Dubai
Sumosan’s party brunch isn’t for the faint of heart. From the fashionable dress code to the banging entertainment, it’s one of those whole-nine-yard situations. Located on the first floor of The Dubai EDITION in Downtown Dubai, the party brunch kicks off every Saturday at 3pm and runs until 7pm. Perfect for party animals who want to sleep in. Music is a mix of early 2000s R&B with injections of popular EDM songs (think Avicii, Calvin Harris) to get the people going.
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STK JBR
If you’ve had your finger firmly on Dubai’s beating party scene, chances are you’ll have visited STK. Its Double Dare to Brunch Friday night brunch takes things to a whole new level though, complete with disco balls, live music, aerial acrobatics and more sequin-clad dancers than you can shake a stick at. Known for rustling up some of the best steaks in the city, you’ll get a starter, main and dessert with free-flowing drinks, and they’ve recently slashed their prices too, so you can enjoy it all for just Dhs375 with house beverages.
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TABŪ
Located on the 23rd floor of the St Regis Hotel Downtown Dubai, TABŪ has an air of the forbidden – a venue not meant to be found. Yet, when you head upstairs and the lift doors open, you’ll hear the ever-louder bass pulsating from the Japanese restaurant’s enigmatic interior.
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The Nice Guy Dubai
With pumping beats, a dark, moody vibe and elaborate mixed drinks, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in a nightclub in the wee hours. As it happens, it’s not yet 1pm and you’re at brunch at one of DIFC’s most-hyped spots – The Nice Guy Dubai.
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The Social Brunch at City Social
Brunches can be many things – lively or low-key, food-focused or drinks-orientated. But when it comes to a fine-dining restaurant there is one thing that they very much should be – a showcase of what the kitchen can do and an exhibition of the most-loved dishes on the menu.
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The Stage Brunch by Love Parties
If you can think of a better way to start your weekend than with a pizza party, we’d love to hear it. Until then, you’ll find us down at JLT’s Jazz@PizzaExpress, where for just Dhs299, or Dhs199 with soft drinks, you’ll get free-flowing beverages, sharing starters and as many slices of pizza as you can manage (ours is 15) from 8-11pm. Things get pretty wild at its after party too, with live music and DJs that will have you burning off those calories in no time.
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The Roast by Bubbalicious
When you say Bubbalicious, you think massive buffet, larger-than-life entertainment and heaps of drinks stations. What you have at the Sunday version of this famed Dubai brunch is a pared back, but equally enjoyable afternoon out at The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina.
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The Vintage Brunch, Jumeirah Al Qasr
Dubai is known for a grand relaunch. Normally in these cases, version two is bigger, bolder, brighter than before. Not so in the case of The Magical Vintage Brunch at Jumeirah Al Qasr. And thank goodness for that. We’ve loved the legendary Al Qasr brunch since its heyday in the noughties. Spread across three restaurants with buffets that defined lavish, it was the leader of its time. You’d leave sated, pockets filled with bags of sweaty pick ‘n’ mix.
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Traiteur
A grown-up, chic Saturday afternoon that’s focused on quality food and drinks, Traiteur brunch is a wonderful one for special occasions, visiting families or that day date you’ve been meaning to plan for months.
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Wanderlust Brunch
When you think of a good ol’ Dubai brunch one word comes to mind: excess. One Saturday brunch affair that pours no half measures is the Wanderlust Brunch at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Business Bay.
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Via Toledo
When Italian eatery Via Toledo opened its doors in June 2022, we couldn’t wait to try pizza made by a champion pizzaiolo. But getting to the Address Beach Resort in JBR proves to be a task. Although one expects a Saturday afternoon to be smooth sailing, it proves a lengthy wait on the exit 29 bridge (you know which one).
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XU
Dubai is no stranger to a party brunch. But less than a handful of those succeed at keeping it a sophisticated affair. XU’s recently launched karaoke brunch is one that strikes the perfect balance between fun and elegance. It’s easy for a karaoke-themed brunch to end up being too gimmicky. But this Chinese restaurant has the ingredients to bring a refreshing balance, with great food and a vibey atmosphere rounding out the experience.
Read Dubai brunch reviews in full here.
Zuma
Launched in London in 2002, German-born chef Rainer Becker’s brand Zuma has gone from strength-to-strength around the globe. And as the first fine dining restaurant to set up in DIFC, Zuma set the tone for the city’s booming dining scene. Brunch is no exception.
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