Let someone else do the hard work for you and enjoy your Christmas brunch without the hassle. Here’s our pick of the best – whatever your budget
Silk Route
Enjoy Christmas brunch on 25th December from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. As well as a cold buffet, you can gobble roast turkey with cranberry sauce, chestnuts, stuffing, Cumberland beef and chicken sausages, roasties and gravy, along with mince pies and Christmas pud. Kids get their own buffet in a children’s area where they can have their faces painted, play with Lego or get crafty with paper. Child-friendly films will also be played. If they’re well behaved, Santa will drop in from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Kids under six eat for free, AED 149 with soft drinks, AED 189 with house beverages.
Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi, 31st /Dhafeer Street, between Muroor and Airport Road.
For more information contact: 02 657 4856 [email protected]
www.ihg.com
Qasr Al Sarab
On 25th December from 12.30pm to 3pm you can tuck into a buffet made up of foie gras, roasted meat from a carvery and Christmas pudding. AED 125 kids aged four-12, AED 200 with soft drinks, AED 250 with grape. Al Waha, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, 1 Qasr Al Sarab Road.
For more information contact: 02 886 2088 [email protected] www.qasralsarab.anantara.com
Cipriani
From 24th to 25th December from 6pm to 11.45pm Cipriani will have a four-course set menu with Italian and festive twists, or you can opt for a la carte. Highlights from the set menu include burrata, beetroot and white asparagus with goat cheese, baked tagliolini with smoked turkey and panettone, or sweet bread, with vanilla sauce. As well as a Christmas tree, a band will perform festive tunes and jazz to set the mood. Homemade Christmas cookies will be handed out as you leave. AED 175 kids, AED 350 adults. Yas Marina.
For more information contact:
02 657 5400 [email protected] www.cipriani.com
Zest
Tuck into a buffet at this all day dining restaurant from 12.30pm to 4pm on Christmas Day. Sing along with carolers then dance off your Christmas belly with a resident DJ. AED 99 kids under 12, AED 165 with soft drinks, AED 195 with grape and hops. Al Ain Rotana, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Ain.
For more information contact: 03 754 5111 ext. 1062 [email protected] www.rotana.com
Origins
Delve into a Christmas Day brunch of roast turkey with all the trimmings at this all day dining restaurant from 12.30pm to 4pm. DJ Mark will provide entertainment and Father Christmas will pop by to say hello to little ones. Children will also enjoy playing on a bouncy castle, getting their faces painted and interacting with balloon artists. Kids under four eat for free, AED 160 kids aged five-11, AED 320 with soft drinks, AED 450 with selected drinks and bubbly. The restaurant will also host a Boxing Day brunch from 12.30pm to 4pm with a children’s play area with kid’s films, boardgames, painting and drawing. AED 195 with soft drinks, AED 350 with grape, hops and bubbly, AED 450 unlimited drinks. Santa will be lurking on 24th December from 6pm to 10pm and on 25th December noon to 8pm. Photograph yourself with him and tweet it along with #WhereIsSanta and you’ll bag a prize. Yas Viceroy, Yas Island.
For more information contact: 02 656 0700 [email protected] www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
Kahraman
The contemporary Middle Eastern restaurant Kahraman is also hosting a Christmas Day brunch made up of Oriental dishes and an Arabic set menu from 12.30pm to 4pm. That pesky Santa will make another appearance. Be prepared to sing carols with fellow guests. AED 250 with soft drinks, AED 325 with house drinks. Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Al Mina Street.
For more information contact: 02 818 4888 [email protected] www.tsogosunhotels.com
InterContinental Abu Dhabi
On Christmas Eve, tuck into a three-course set dinner at Belgian Café. The AED 275 price includes a welcome drink and one house beverage. Live in the area? Then head back there on Christmas Day for brunch and you can also tuck into cuisine from Chamas and The Yacht Club while a choir sings carols. Little ones can enjoy a bouncy castle and cartoons as well as meet Santa. Noon to 4pm. AED 250 with soft drinks, AED 285 with mixed drinks and bubbly. King Street, Al Bateen.
For more information contact: 02 666 6888 www.ihg.com
Urban Kitchen
On Christmas Eve, enjoy a festive buffet with dishes such as roasted rack of lamb and Brussels sprouts finished with Christmas tree cupcakes from 7pm till late. Live music by a jazz duo will entertain grown ups while little ones will enjoy face painting, games, colouring and making Christmas cards in a kid’s play area. Santa Claus will make an appearance, handing out presents. Under sevens free, AED 130 kids aged seven-12, AED 260 with soft drinks, AED 410 with unlimited selected drinks, AED 580 with bubbly. On Christmas Day the restaurant will serve a lunch buffet with roast turkey with chestnut stuffing, roasted honey and ginger duck breast, wilted bok cho with saffron risotto and lobster tail with saffron and caviar cream from 12.30pm to 4pm. The same entertainment as the day before will be provided. Under sevens free, AED 117.50 kids aged seven-12, AED 235 with soft drinks, AED 310 with unlimited selected drinks, AED 495 with bubbly. Alternatively, visit on Boxing Day for a buffet 12.30pm to 4pm and your kids can play in a children’s area. Under sevens free, AED 107.50 kids seven-12, AED 215 with soft drinks, AED 310 with selected drinks. Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Muroor Road.
For more information contact:
02 698 8888 [email protected] www.dusit.com
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr
If you opt for the monumental brunch on Christmas Day from 12.30pm to 4pm, you’ll get to sample cuisine from three of Fairmont Bab Al Bahr’s restaurants: its all day dining venue CuiScene, Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill, Frankie’s Italian Restaurant & Bar and its bar, Chameleon. Scoff your way through seafood, steak and a roast turkey carvery – just leave space for dessert. Santa will drop by while a resident DJ will provide beats. Guests will also receive a one-day voucher for the pool and beach, which can be used within one month of issue. Kids under five eat free, AED 199 for kids aged six-12, AED 399 with soft drinks, AED 599 with hops, mixed drinks and bubbly. Boxing Day is the same drill; kids under five eat for free, AED 149 for kids aged six-12, AED 299 with soft drinks, AED 399 with hops, mixed drinks and bubbly, AED 549 with bubbly.
For more information contact: 02 654 3333 www.fairmont.com
The Hawksbill Restaurant
Tired of tough turkey and soggy sprouts? Take a break from the kitchen and go for brunch on 25th December from 11am to 4pm. AED 75 kids under 12, AED 195 with soft drinks, AED 250 with hops and grape. Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Saadiyat Island.
For more information contact: 02 499 8107 [email protected] www.sbgolfclub.ae
The Foundry
Treat yourself on Christmas Eve from 7pm until 11.30pm with a five-course dinner at The Foundry steakhouse. Along with carol singers, Santa will make a ‘surprise’ visit – just don’t let on you’re expecting him. AED 275 with soft drinks, AED 375 with grape pairing and a glass of bubbly on arrival. Alternatively, save yourself for the restaurant’s Christmas Day brunch, which is 12.30pm to 4pm. Santa’s confirmed he’s free to say hello and has promised to hand out presents to well-behaved children. AED 275 with soft drinks, AED 350 with selected drinks, AED 475 with bubbly. Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Al Mina Street.
For more information contact: 02 818 4888 [email protected] www.tsogosunhotels.com
Le Méridien Abu Dhabi
Le Méridien Abu Dhabi’s courtyard will be transformed into an enchanted village Christmas Day from 1pm to 4pm. Guests can sample a buffet from three of its restaurants: Italian outlet Pappagallo, Greek tavern Acropolis and the new all day dining restaurant Latest Recipe will be offering a seafood buffet, Greek and Arabic dishes and steaks grilled on a barbeque. Santa will pop by with presents. AED 130 kids five-12, AED 260 with soft drinks, AED 380 with grape and hops, AED 465 with bubbly.
For more information contact: 02 644 6666 www.lemeridienabudhabi.com
Amalfi
On Christmas Eve, enjoy a four-course set menu with a glass of bubbly from 7pm to 11pm and you’ll receive panettone as a gift. The menu includes veal cappuccino soup, ravioli with guinea fowl mousse and lobster jus and 48-hour braised Wagyu with truffle, parmesan, sautéed spinach chard, orange zest and potato lemon mousseline. Save space for dessert; we like the sound of the trilogy of Valrhona chocolate and amaretto jelly flavoured with spearmint and hazelnut crumble. If you’re part of a group of up to ten, book the restaurant’s private dining area (from AED 299 per person). The kids’ menu is half the price of an adult’s. AED 299 with a glass of bubbly. On Christmas Day, if you go for brunch from 1pm to 4pm your little ones can mingle with Disney characters in a kids’ play area, where they can have their faces painted, meet Santa or play on a bouncy castle. AED 98 kids aged four-12, AED 299 with soft drinks, AED 399 with grape and hops, AED 449 with French bubbly. Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Street.
For more information contact: 800 101 101 [email protected]
www.leroyalmeridienabudhabi.com
City Cafe
Delve into a five-course buffet with roast turkey from 7pm to 11pm 24th December at this casual eatery, which is decorated with a gingerbread house. Meanwhile its Christmas Day brunch is from noon to 4pm and comes with roast turkey and cranberry sauce, yule log and Christmas pudding. Kids under five eat for free, AED 55 kids aged six-12, AED 110 with soft drinks. Al Maha Arjaan by Rotana, Hamdan Street.
For more information contact:
02 610 6666 [email protected] www.rotana.com
Sarah Riches
