Sundays are a compelling feasting routine in the three days of a weekend’s brunching. The feasting is synonymous with Dubai’s culture as Bruch capital. Yes, with a capital B – feast and top up with champagne…till next Sunday! So what’s on offer on a Sunday in this super-rich metropolis?
Whether on Palm Jumeira Island, Downtown, or with the views of Burj Khalifa, this shopping and tourist mecca is attractive and a business destination par excellence in miles and miles of desert! Everyone loves brunch! Brunches are opulent, curated, and styled, with gourmet foods flown in over vast distances.
Visit my list of the best Sunday Brunches.
1. Sofitel – The World Eatery
Weekends and family fun knows no better time than this fiesta brunch on Palm Jumeirah at Sofitel’s The World Eatery. Brunch every Sunday is for kids too. There are magic shows and their own menu. Culinary chefs at The World Eatery are handpicked, and these chefs draw inspiration from a global menu. You can choose from hot and cold Arabic mezze, Scots salmon platters, chicken quesadillas, Boston beef, and Italian pizzas.
There’s a delectable Thai Shrimp Tom Yum Soup and a butter chicken masala. Meals are curated for sharing. To kick-start taste buds, there are carrots, cucumber, Thai parsley, scallions, mint, basil, Chinese cabbage, and beansprouts wrapped in rice paper. Or an Italian burrata served with locally grown heirloom tomatoes, stone fruits, plenty of olive oil, and a smoked balsamic dressing.
The signature dish is a fresh line-caught yellowfin tuna served in a poke bowl. The fish is on quinoa is topped with avocado, mango, radish, edamame, wakame (edible seaweed), and sweet corn. Added to this are toasted sesame seeds, umami yuzu ponzu sauce, and ginger soya or honey vinaigrette.
As an alternative, you should order the fried Vietnamese crab served on a bed of pomelo, topped with toasted peanuts and dressed in tamarind and Asian herbs. Ramen noodles with a fish cake, braised beef cheeks, bok choy, shiitake mushroom, shimeji mushroom, scallions, soft boil egg, and nori. And flatbread served with Italian burrata, a black summer truffle, rocket leaves, and cherry tomatoes.
Brunch is raised to a new level here – pan-seared Norwegian salmon served with raisin chimichurri and mashed cauliflower. There are homemade ricotta tortellini with parmesan, roasted tomato pepper coulis, and lime zest. And, the funkiest dessert – English rhubarb on a pizza base with generous scoops of vanilla custard and strawberries!
- Address: The Palm Jumeirah, East Crescent Road
- Opening Hours: Sun 1pm – 4pm
- Dress Code: Smart Elegant
- Website: https://www.sofitel-dubai-thepalm.com/
- Phone Number: +97144556677 for reservations
2. Brunch and Cake
The name says it all, Brunch And Cake. And this favorite restaurant has an Instagram following that makes other venues envious! The atmosphere is BoHo and emulates Brunch And Cake’s illustrious start in none other than Barcelona. The restaurant’s popularity in Spain has its patrons queueing down the narrow streets for a table! And in Dubai, the following is growing.
Brunch and Cake ‘by the Sea’ on Palm Jumeirah for anyone who has been one word: sensational! The restaurant’s history and reputation is over 10 years, with its inception in Spain as Cup & Cake – a coffee shop. You’ll want to be there every Sunday brunch – servings are not skimped on, and each dish is a treat. Everything on the menu states a promise, ‘Grandma’s Goodness.’
The menu is downright wholesome with authentic recipes. It’s no wonder the Dubai owners Jamal Wick and Amjad Barakatmjad were bowled over when they embarked on this Spanish concept for UAE’s Sunday brunch capital. Healthy dishes with quality ingredients and a good bakery is the signature aspect, and the clientele adds to the atmosphere. Brunch And cake is trendy!
It’s not serving eggs and avo on toast, but the art (even finesse) of serving thin slices of avo that have been given a floral shape. The eggs Benedict are poached to perfection and served on a charcoal sweetcorn waffle. There’s a breakfast calzone served with scrambled eggs and a caramelized mushroom sauce! And there’s truffle cream and mushroom pizza for breakfast brunch.
Sunday brunch is best with Nutella French toast, avo smash, corn, zucchini, pancakes, and scrambled eggs served with orange and grapefruit, paradise cocktails, or lime mojito! Or the lobster shakshouka – a pizza bowl dough filled with garlic buttered lobster in a creamy tomato base topped with eggs and macadamia nuts! The eggs carbonara is a must.
- Address: Ground Floor, Wasl 51, Al Wasl Rd, Jumeirah 1
- Opening Hours: Sun 11.30 am – 4pm
- Dress Code: Smart Elegant
- Website: https://brunchandcake.com/
- Phone Number: +971 800 4726362 for reservations
3. Yalumba
A foodie ‘must’ whether you’re touring or a local. With more than a decade on the Sunday brunch scene, Yalumba’s reputation is synonymous with delectable breakfast dishes. The restaurant’s award-winning menu matches the best in the world. And Sunday brunch here has been touted as a five-star experience.
Don’t expect to order anything less than Bollinger champagne or French Rosé wines for Sunday brunch. This is if you’re not tasting vodka or gins at Sunday brunch! The whites are from top regions too in Napa County and New Zealand, and there are reds from Spain, France, and Piedmont in Italy.
Brunch here offers a choice of eggs with fresh salmon, condiments, cold cuts, and a cheese platter. Once you’ve chosen your beverages, you won’t be able to resist the selection of croissants, crepes, and waffles. There’s an Arabic selection too, hummus, mutable and labneh, and plenty of fresh fruit platters.
- Address: Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Airport Road
- Opening Hours: Sun 12.30 pm – 3.30 pm
- Dress Code: Smart Elegant
- Website: https://www.yalumbadubai.com/
- Phone Number: +971 4 702 2455
4. Basko Brunch
At the helm of the Basko’s Brunch is Chef Youssef Akiki, whose creativity surprises guests and his following of Instagrammers. His use of timeless Mediterranean influences comes with a twist. The restaurant has architectural prestige on the ground floor of one of Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid’s architectural feats. Brunching on a Sunday with the ‘fabulous’ crowd is enlivening.
An experience not to forego as there’s an oyster bar and a brunch bar with a ‘bloody maria,’ a ‘spritz me up,’ and ‘Tito’s vodka.’ There’s a range of tartines and brioches and delicious anchovy and sumac tartines. You can also have thinly sliced shrimp carpaccio! Fancy a crispy blue-fin tuna with spicy sauce?
Choose the mussels and shallots in white wine with crispy fries for brunch. Don’t forget to order the tomato, Indian onion (sliced raw onion with a sweetened and spicy (marsala) vinaigrette and mint or cilantro). The charred eggplant with piquillos pepper, almonds, and pomegranate molasses is a must too.
The Wagyu burger (with chimichurri sauce) and grilled sea bass are delectable. The bass is perfumed with wild branches, with a citrus sauce, and served with grilled artichoke. And to end brunch, there’s a cookie served on rose-flavored ice cream.
- Address: Ground Floor, Al A’amal St, Business Bay
- Opening Hours: Sun 9am – 1pm
- Dress Code: Smart Elegant
- Website: https://dscvr.ae/tag/sunday-brunch/
- Phone Number: +971 4 582 4242 for reservations
5. Masti
Yes, Masti means the ‘mischievous monkey,’ and what’s better than Sunday brunch here with chef Prashant Chipkar adding a playful note to Indian cooking? The Masti menu is densely packed with traditional cuisine and adds a twist. There’s avocado ceviche pani puri and slow-cooked lamb croquettes with tandoori spices. The chef serves these with English mashed peas.
Chef Chipkar’s vegan recipe is the truffle kichchadi khakra with wild mushrooms, truffle caviar, and sliced on top, fresh truffle! His modern take on Indian food is inspired by global food. You get Indian-style guacamole here. Chipkar says most of the menu is a challenge for Indian gastronomy but curated for the bold and adventurous palates of Dubai’s food and thrill-seekers.
The Tandoori Chicken Bao is most popular, followed by the Tuna Bhel Tartare, Truffle Khakra, and the Chilean sea bass. The restaurant’s ‘Mischievous Monkey Brunch’ has tastes for the adventurous – a pulled tandoori chicken bao, a pizza with burrata, truffle, and makhani sauce.
The chef’s quirky culinary efforts are amusing. There’s a novel biriyani with creamy butter chicken and stracciatella! Yes, playful, with an Indian-meets-Middle Eastern edamame chaat and an Italian-inspired saag paneer lasagne.
- Address: La Mer, Jumeirah 1
- Opening Hours: 12pm – 4pm
- Dress Code: Smart
- Website: mastidubai.com
- Phone Number: +971 800 62784 for reservations
6. Bistro Des Arts
A bit of Paris in Dubai! The authentic French Bistro on the Marina is a must with its 70’s rustic décor and classic French home-style cuisine. The Parisian-style Sunday brunch draws patrons to the French-style raw seafood bar, freshly-baked bread, and pastries.
The laidback and casual style is like a small town in France. The Sunday brunch-style menu at Bistro Des Arts is a must. Take a seat with the view of the Marina! Sundays are bubbly days. You can sip on Prosecco between noon and right into the night…provided you order two food courses.
- Address: Dubai Marina
- Opening Hours: 10am – 2pm
- Dress Code: Smart Casual
- Website: http://www.bistrodesarts.ae/
- Phone Number: +971 4 55 11 576 for reservations
7. El Sur
At El Sur, the ambiance is mellow to the core. In typically Spanish fashion, the vibe is al fresco on the terrace. The Sunday Siesta Brunch emphasizes ‘siesta’ – the customary nap after a good meal in the afternoon!
Besides the selection of tapas, there are Spanish rice dishes. No visitor or local can resist ordering the authentic Andalusian paella – a well-known culinary delight here and most emblematic of the Spanish culinary tradition. The seafood is served in its shell. ‘Paella’ is simply the Catalan word for ‘pan.’
The sofregit, a tomato, onion, and olive oil sauce make this paella taste good. The memory of being at El Sur is rich, with a mixture of cuisine and live castanet shows.
The laid-back atmosphere makes this Sunday brunch venue the best – the Spanish way! The friendliness of many communal tables tucked together is inviting. Long views of the Gulf are a way of anchoring you. And patrons dipping into bowls of gambas al ajillo (Spanish garlic shrimps) and sharing tortilla de patatas (Spanish Omelette) is memorable.
The fried aubergines filled with honey, soy, and cream cheese – berejena a la miel – are decadent! Relax with friends and family and share this feast, especially the Andalusian paella. And then, don’t forget, it is siesta time!
- Address: The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Lobby level
- Opening Hours: 12:30pm – 3:30pm
- Dress Code: Smart Elegant
- Website: https://www.elsurdubai.com/
- Phone Number: +971 4 511 7373 / +971 56 501 0506 for reservations
8. Antika
A glamorous Levantine experience is an excellent way to describe Antika. The authentic Lebanese cooking is straight from the cuisine’s heart, Beirut. Sunday brunch is between 2pm and 6pm. To kick start your appetite, there are, as per tradition, dates. You can order heaped plates of lamb cutlets and a range of side dishes – tabbouleh, hummus, watermelon, and feta salad.
There’s freshly made tabbouleh and crispy fattoush and a range of mezze – fatteh eggplant, laban, hummus, soujouk, and crisp kibbeh. Zaatar and cheese kishik, fatayer, and pizza are all good starters.
Remember to have taouk (chicken), lamb cutlets, octopus, and even risottos for mains. And in Antika-style, the portions are generous. Keep in mind that you’ll want to leave space for the sweet dishes at the end of a brunch – rich ousmaliyeh, kunefeh, umm Ali, and the delectable flaky shaaybiyat.
- Address: Al Fattan Currency House, Podium Level, DIFC, Tower 2
- Opening Hours: 2pm – 6pm
- Dress Code: Smart Casual
- Website: http://www.antikabar.ae/home
- Phone Number: 050 735 9177 or 050 972 9177
9. Circle Café
At the Pointe in Palm Jumeirah, Sunday brunch at Circle Café simply means that you can eat to your heart’s content, and it is not expensive. The tone at Circle Café is relaxed – you can bring your kids and your dog(s) too. It’s a family space for a Sunday brunch, and Circle Café wants you to try as many dishes and share these.
The savory and sweet breakfast choices offer something different, and most of these have Middle Eastern flavors.
- Address: The Pointe, Social Distrikt, Palm Jumeirah
- Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm
- Dress Code: Smart
- Website: https://www.circle-cafe.com/
- Phone Number: 056 689 3575
10. Liwan
Liwan restaurant is a family-centered Sunday brunch spot where you can order from an Arabic brunch menu mixed with English offerings. The Arabic breakfast menu has freshly squeezed juices – orange, pineapple, watermelon, apple, and vegetables. You can order Foul Medammas (a fava bean stew) or Escandarani (fried beef liver with spicy cumin, garlic, cardamom, and chili peppers) served in sandwiches with tahini dip.
The classic brunch menu has eggs of your choice, also Benedict and Florentine eggs. There are omelets with grilled tomato, hash brown, and sautéed mushroom, and the cheese board has honey, fig jam, and fruit. The pancakes and waffles are served with mascarpone cheese and a berry compote.
- Address: Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair, Omar Bin Al Khattab St, Deira
- Opening Hours: 12 – 3pm
- Dress Code: Smart
- Website: https://www.swissotel.com/hotels/dubai-al-ghurair-living/dining/liwan-restaurant/
- Phone Number: +971 4 293 3270
11. HQ’S 459
HQ’S 459’s name is nothing other than the first letters of the trio who started it – Huzaifa, Quaid, and Shabbir! And 459 is the address. The owners have designed relaxed brunches in La Mer, close to the beach. This is where families come for Sunday brunch.
HQ’S offers a Big brunch with two tiers of foods served per table (for 2 sharing): 4 x eggs of your choice, bacon, sausages, and halloumi cheese. In addition, there are foul mudammas (Egyptian fava beans), roasted tomatoes and black olives, crudites, and slices of avo. Do order the eggs Benedict.
The Mediterranean menu is primarily influenced by Italian and Spanish foods. And to complete your brunch, there are waffles and pancakes, or definitely have the French toast!
- Address: La Mer South S15, Unit 459, Jumeirah 1
- Dress Code: Smart
- Website: https://www.hqs459.com/
- Phone Number: +971 4 3459000
12. Mimi Kakushi
Mimi Kakushi is a fashionable Sunday brunch joint for Japanese cuisine with a twist. Yes, at Mimi Kakushi, the brunch is three hours long! And enjoyable with a choice of sushi, gyoza, and tempura to make your mouth water! Cold starters include salmon tataki with jalapeno relish, crispy onion & shiso leaves, or a beef tataki with yuzu daikon & truffle ponzu.
The Kaiso Sarada seaweed salad is a vegan option. The salad is served with yuzu apple chips and a sesame seed dressing. You can also order wild seasonal mushrooms that are braised in seaweed butter! You can tuck into black cod and prawns with citrus miso sauce, yakitori chicken thigh with sweet soy dressing, and order the grilled salmon with a green chili sauce.
The corn-fed roasted baby chicken with a delectable Kochujang glaze is a favorite. The menu options are for sharing. That is where the fun begins – and endless chatting and deliberation on the meaning of umami!
- Address: Four Seasons Resort, Jumeira Beach
- Opening Hours: Noon till 4pm
- Dress Code: Smart
- Website: mimikakushi.ae
- Phone Number: +971 4 379 4811
13. Zheng He
Are you a fan of Chinese cuisine? Well, there’s Zheng He’s Yum Cha Brunch on a Sunday. This is where you taste and enjoy dim sum at its best! It’s a venue that welcomes family brunches. And if you wondered who Zheng He was, he was a Chinese mariner and explorer who lived between 1371 and 1433. He was also a diplomat, fleet admiral, and court eunuch in China’s early Ming dynasty.
The illustrious name associated with this restaurant lends awe. The brunch follows the Cantonese tradition of Yum Cha with plenty of tea drinking and dim sum. You might even learn that dim sum is a traditional brunch in China.
- Address: Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, Souk Madinat Jumeirah
- Opening Hours: 1 – 4pm
- Dress Code: Smart
- Website: https://www.jumeirah.com/en/dine/dubai/mina-a-salam-zheng-hes
- Phone Number: 04 432 3232