13 amazing festive feasts in Dubai

Ossiano Set Menu
Atlantis The Palm isn’t short of options for a great Christmas lunch – Bread Street Kitchen, for instance, has a tempting offer for brunch with a live singer, Nobu is doing an a la carte sushi experience with a DJ and Ronda Locatelli has a special set menu starting at AED190. You can also check out Saffron for Asian specialities, Seafire for a traditional roast and Kaleidoscope for a massive festive buffet. Ossiano will be offering a set menu of seafood  with entertainment from Salha and the Million Dollar Band.
Cost: AED995 (Ossiano)
Where: Atlantis The Palm
Contact: +9714 426 2626, www.atlantisthepalm.com

Frankies’ Italian Bar & Grill
Wish your loved ones “Boun Natale” with Christmas, Italian style. The festive feast includes slow cooked duck breast with red onion strawberry and balsamic vinegar to start, followed by chick pea cream ravioli, and then a lamb ragout tagliatelle. That’s all just to start, before the turkey provides to main event along with all the trimmings. Dessert is Italian panettone sponge with cream cheese, truffle and chestnut ice cream. Add in a live jazz band playing classic tunes and you’ve got a Christmas dinner that your mamma would be proud of.
Cost: AED395 per person
Where: JA Oasis Beach Tower, JBR
Contact: +971 4 399 4311,

Nathan Outlaw at Al Mahara
A new arrival to Dubai’s dining scene, this refined establishment from Britain’s Michelin-star winner Nathan Outlaw is serving up two sittings on Christmas Day, neither of which require you to move very far. First up is the lunchtime four-course affair, between 12.30pm-3pm, and then for the evening, from 7pm, a six-course festive treat. On Christmas Eve, you can also enjoy a six-course tasting menu for AED950.
Cost: AED650 (lunch), AED950 (dinner)
Where: Burj Al Arab
Contact: +9714 301 7600,

Christmas at Ruth’s Chris Steak House
There’s a four-course Christmas feast at this popular steakhouse that is available as lunch on December 25 and as an evening meal on the nights preceding it. You don’t have to have turkey, either, with petite filet with foie gras and black winter truffle, spiced salmon and chicken stuffed with dried fruit all options.
Cost: AED395
Where: Address Dubai Marina
Contact: +9714 454 9538,

360°
Christmas Day at this circular island restaurant and bar is very much an all-day affair. Kick-off with a pan-Asian brunch between 1pm-4pm, accompanied by a DJ of course, and then stick around when the plates have been cleared – the party continues right the way through until 3am. One size fits all.
Cost: AED450 (house beverages)
Where: Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Contact: +9714 432 3232,

Imperium
There are buffets… and there are buffets at the Zabeel Saray. Imperium is perhaps the most lavish all-day dining venue in the city and its Versailles-like hall will be serving an opulent Christmas brunch with every imaginable festive treat on offer. One for the new jumper, we think.
Cost: AED455 (soft beverages), AED595 (house beverages)
Where: Zabeel Saray, The Palm
Contact: +9714 453 0444,

Moana
Moana’s Christmas Day Special Menu kicks off with the likes of shrimp cocktail, crab salad and salmon tartar and chef’s special sushi platter, and there is grilled Atlantic sea bass or pan-seared Norwegian salmon for mains. Need your turkey? Don’t worry, they have that covered, too.
Cost: AED480 (all inclusive)
Where: Sofitel Dubai The Palm
Contact: +9714 455 5656,

Lunch at Rhodes W1
Chef Gary Rhodes has been known to man the kitchen himself over Christmas at his signature Dubai restaurant in Grosvenor House, so you know that your festive lunch will have all the required attention to detail. It’s a set menu, too, so sit back and wait for the goodies.
Cost: AED580 (house beverages)
Where: Grosvenor House
Contact: +9714 317 6000,

Festive Day Brunch With a View at Boulevard Kitchen
Christmas was born in the Middle East so it’s fitting to celebrate with some cuisine from this part of the world, no? This two-storey Arabesque emporium with its open kitchen is offering a four-hour feast with excellent views of  Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard. Hummus and stuffing, anyone?
Cost: AED325 (including house beverages)
Where: Al Manzil Downtown
Contact: +9714 888 3444,

Ewaan
Christmas dinner in a palace sounds exactly the right indulgence at this time of year. Ewaan is laying on a suitably extravagant brunch from 1pm on Christmas Day with a live band for any post-dessert singalongs. There’s plenty for families, too, with gingerbread making and presents from Santa for children.
Cost: AED550 (soft beverages), AED700 (house beverages)
Where: Palace Downtown
Contact: +9714 888 3444,

Festive Brunch at Cabana
More alfresco fun at The Address Dubai Mall with this brunch by their rather lovely third-floor pool – and some of the best views of the Burj Khalifa going. You get cooking stations, “mulled” beverages, more roast turkey than you can shake a drumstick at and the option of hiring a private cabana for the afternoon. From 12.30pm.
Cost: AED395 (house beverages)
Where: The Address Dubai Mall
Contact: +9714 888 3444,

Festive Bench Brunch
There’s an argument that Christmas dinner should be relaxed and informal with a “dig-in” philosophy. Luckily, Chef Spencer agrees. Try his yule log and mince pies.
Cost: AED99 per person (soft drinks)
Where: Rove Downtown
Contact: +9714 561 9999,