Where is the best place in Abu Dhabi for Friday brunch? A question dear to our hearts. So what are the current options?

For elegance, style and gourmet dining – how about Le Vendome at Emirates Palace? For a view, it’s hard to beat Al Fanar at Le Royal Meridien. The Sheraton is OK but noisy - but then again, kids are part of the essential brunch experience for many people. The Shangri La perhaps has the best value buffet selection of all; sitting outside facing the Mosque, it takes a lot of beating.

But now, there is a new kid on the block. Forget gold-plating, forget the marble and chandeliers, forget traditional Arab. Think big, glass, high ceilings, colourful, trendy – then think bigger and more modern. You have the lobby of The Fairmont.

We were on a special offer package that included Friday brunch with as much as you can drink; dinner, a night’s accommodation, and breakfast the next morning; and we had been upgraded to the Gold Package, which meant a separate check in on the 7th floor and rooms that were nothing short of luxurious. Floor to ceiling windows along the length of the room with a view of the Mosque across the water and a sunset to die for.
It included a private butler service, and the butler of course showed the way to brunch. The glass lift dropped to the lower ground floor.

Into Elements, the buffet restaurant. What to eat first? Seafood with oyster, prawns, lobster, salmon, salads, or traditional mezze or soup, foie gras. Little and often is my motto.

For the main course there’s traditional English roast or Indian, Chinese, Japanese. Little and often again, but save some room for dessert. Now, imagine being in a pudding heaven. And there is a truly great cheese selection, something you don’t get in many Abu Dhabi restaurants.

It’s four o’ clock. The beach or the room? The guests go to the beach. It’s been a busy week - maybe I’ll doze for a while before dinner. Dinner? It is not possible. But it is part of the package after, all. The hotel has a Marco Pierre White restaurant and a Frankie’s; maybe it would be rude not to try out a simple dish at MPW. One of the signature dishes is steak, and that is was we ate – cooked to perfection.

We could have stopped for an evening drink at Chameleon; we were told that it will be the fashionable and chic place to be seen.

Breakfast was a small but impressive buffet on the 7th floor. A chef takes orders for your eggs any way you want and attentive staff offer whatever teas and coffees you may wish. A reference to the staff is well merited: they are attentive yet discrete. Nothing is too much trouble.

We were offered a late checkout – 5pm. That meant a day on the beach. Shall we sit by the enormous infinity pool, a grassy area or the beach? It has to be said that this beach area is also one of the best spots in town to rest and sunbathe. It is quiet, the pool is great, it also has a hot tub, and there’s a swim-in bar too.

You probably gather that we were impressed with The Fairmont. We could go there every weekend.

 

 

 

What? Gold Package
Where? Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Between the Bridges
Cost: AED 1,799 – or AED 1,499 in a standard room. Includes brunch, dinner, accommodation for one night, breakfast
Why? The classiest brunch deal in town
Why not? Pain in the wallet muscle
We say: Expensive but still terrific value
Contact: 02 654 3333

Richard Hease