7 Dubai brunches to try in 2016

Throwback Friday Brunch
There’s always room for one more gastro pub in our view, whether that’s British, American or from Mars. As frequent visitors to Reform, The Gramercy, The Black Lion and others, the combination of cuisine and conviviality is one we like, and it’s good to see The Eloquent Elephant in the Taj go from strength to strength. Their Throwback Friday Brunch demonstrates chef Nigel understands that the simplicity of well-cooked ingredients will outshine any “concept”.
Price: AED 350 with house beverages
When: Fridays, 12:30pm to4pm
Where: The Eloquent Elephant, Taj Dubai, Business Bay, +971 4 438 3131, tajhotels.com

Waldorf Astoria Brunch
The revamped brunch at the Mezzerie restaurant in the palatial Waldorf Astoria on The Palm claims it has been inspired by New York. The accuracy of the comparison might depend on where you’ve eaten in the Big Apple – the pizzas don’t come on paper plates, sadly – but what they do serve is of outstanding quality. The oysters are straight-from-the-ocean fresh, the Asian salads light and spicy, the braised lamb shank exploding with flavour, the roast beef pink and soft and, if you have room, the desserts imaginative. This is a grown-up brunch for serious belt-stretching.
Price: AED 345-465
When: Fridays, 1pm to 4pm
Where: Waldorf Astoria The Palm Jumeirah, +971 4 818 2222, waldorfastoria3.hilton.com

Beijing Duck Brunch
Delicious Chinese establishment Zheng He’s has added to Dubai’s ever blossoming brunch scene with a distinctly different offering – centred on China’s famed signature export, the roast BBQ duck. Resident duck master (yes, that is an actual job) Andy Yin will bamboozle guests with a specialist mix of gourmet tasting plates, from classic fodder like duck wraps, to exotic “neo oriental” additions like duck liver, and clever new dumpling interpretations.
Price: From AED385 per person
When: Fridays, 12pm to 4pm
Where: Zheng He’s, Jumeirah Mina A’ Salam, Madinat Jumeirah, +971 4 432 3232, jumeirah.com

Forty Four
Pretty new on the Dubai brunch scene, the recently opened Forty Four is one for discerning diners. The set menu serves up 20 dishes on free flow, with as much bubbly as you like, all with the backdrop of a live band. Starting at 4pm, it’s perfect for those who like their weekends to get off to a slower start. The bistro and lounge will no doubt become renowned for its authentic French dishes.
Price: AED344 with soft drinks, AED495 with bubbly
When: Fridays from 4pm to 10pm
Where: Warwick hotel, +971 4 506 9890, 

Toko’s Garden Brunch
Toko, the Japanese restaurant on the ground floor of Vida Hotel, might not seem the most natural home for a brunch. But what they have managed to achieve in their new Garden Brunch is both a boutique experience and a great value sampler of on what’s on offer the rest of the week. Located on the veranda beneath a canopy of paper parasols, it’s a gentle and genteel experience. There are two places to grab your food: inside for starters and salads, such as sharp seafood ceviche, sushi, crispy duck salad and dim sum; outside for the live grilling station that serves up black cod, salmon, beef tataki and rib-eye. It’s very much a family affair too, with a children’s play area and special menu.
Price: From AED195 per person
When: Fridays, 12pm to 4pm
Where: Toko, Vida Downtown Dubai, +971 4 442 8383, toko-dubai.com

The JG Kitchen Brunch
A brunch that actually starts at an internationally accepted “brunch hour” is about as rare as rainfall here in the UAE, but at JG Kitchen in the Four Seasons we appear to have a most welcome exception. Beginning at 11am on both Fridays and Saturdays the “New York Style” weekend brunch represents Chef Jean-Georges’ relaxed take on global dining, peppered with his various innovative takes on American favourites such as smoked salmon with toasted Swedish rye and Maine lobster grilled cheese on brioche.
When: Fridays & Saturdays 11am to 4pm,
Where: JG Kitchen, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, +971 4 343 6118, fourseasons.com

Brunch En Blanc
Already one of the most picturesque locales in the city, Pierchic has given us another good reason to visit its elegant environs, with the relaunch of its Friday brunch concept. Crafted by head chef Rosalind Parsk, the Brunch en Blanc menu will see a heavy seafood focus, with a flagship offering coming in the form of its internationally sourced Seafood Platter – comprised of fresh lobster caught off the coast of Oman, Norwegian prawns and smoked salmon straight out the rivers of the UK’s Severn and Wye Valleys.
Price: AED 450-595
When: Fridays, 12pm to 4pm
Where: Pierchic, Jumeirah Al Qasr Hotel, +9714 432 3232, jumeirah.com