A blind experience: Noire, Dubai

Restaurant name and location: Noire, Fairmont Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

Cuisine: Expect anything!

Atmosphere: It’s quite an intimate experience. We had around 10 others with us in the room.

What they say: From a pitch-black dining room to waiters with night vision goggles, Noire brings you the thrill of dining in the dark at Fairmont Dubai. Here’s where your senses come to life as you explore an exotic gourmet menu full of sumptuous surprises and flavours like never before.

 

What to order:

The menu changes every week, so come in with an open mind – just make sure to mention your allergies when you book. We had interesting ingredients and textures in every dish from a saffron starter, shredded beef main and popping candy with a lemongrass cheesecake for dessert.

 

Service: You put your hand up, someone comes to you in around 20 seconds!

 

Notes:

-This is the first dining in the dark concept in the Middle East – Noire is quite famous in London, New York, and Toronto to name a few.

-The room fits 30 people, so make sure to book in advance.

-It’s quite an experience – a complete loss of vision for 1.5 hours and putting your trust in the hands of the chef!

-Usually at Noire, the waiters are blind but due to the UAE’s employee rights, the waiters use night goggles.

 

Bill for two: AED650

 

Contact details: http://www.fairmont.com/dubai/special-offers/other-offers/noire-at-fairmont-dubai/

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A 7 star brunch: Al Muntaha restaurant, Burj Al Arab

Ideal for… a Fancy Friday brunch

 

Restaurant name and location: Al Muntaha restaurant at the Burj Al Arab Hotel

Cuisine: A mix from European to Asian and Indian

Atmosphere: Compared to the brunches around the city, this has got to be one of the fanciest and classiest.

What they say: Al Muntaha which means ‘The Ultimate’ or ‘The Top’ in Arabic lives up to its name by offering unparalleled views of the Jumeirah beach, The Palm and World Islands while you enjoy ‘The Ultimate’ in Modern European cuisine. Dine 200 meters above sea level on Fridays at Al Muntaha and be spoilt with a variety of options on the buffet.

 

What to order:

It’s a buffet concept but my favourites were the mezze, prawn coconut curry & Arabic dishes. They really have everything from a scallop bar, an omelette bar, to a dim sum section. If you like drinking juices, they have a section with a variety of smoothies and juices – as well as the largest dessert section (they had bread butter pudding, an ice cream bar, a chocolate fountain to little desserts) We were there during Easter, so we got an adorable Alice in Wonderland theme with a sweet bar by the entrance.

 

Service: Everything was self service with the buffet, but our servers were incredibly helpful whenever we needed them.

 

Notes:

-This brunch is quite an early one starting at 10am and ends with the last order at 3 30pm.

-The brunch is very relaxing with some jazz music in the background, which was lovely.

-The 360 view of the restaurant was just incredible – from the city view to the beach view, we had it all.

-It’s quite a pricy brunch, but definitely an impressive place for an important occasion or special date.

 

Bill for two: Starting at AED765 per person

 

Contact details: BAArestaurants@jumeirah.com 

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Underwater tea time: Ossiano, Dubai

Ideal for… an underwater experience

 

Restaurant name and location: Ossiano, Atlantis Hotel, Dubai

Cuisine: Tea time, with a twist of seafood

Atmosphere: Even though the space was filled with locals and tourists, it still felt quite private and intimate.

What they say: The UK’s most loved British baker and television personality, Paul Hollywood will host a series of four spectacular underwater afternoon teas. The man behind the “Rolls Royce” of loaves will create special menus for the afternoon teas, bringing a sweet taste of the British Isles to Atlantis. In association with Pinctada.

 

What to order:

The tea time starts with caviar, followed by sandwiches & mini brioche (a lot of seafood is involved) before moving to cakes, scones with jam and clotted cream – and ending with praline chocolates and macarons.

 

Service: The staff were very sweet and took care of myself and my grandma.

 

Notes:

-It was all such a beautiful experience, getting to see the sea creatures (fish, sharks and sting rays) swimming right in front of you with the occasional divers.

-The tea time is accompanied with some lovely jazz music, which is soft and gives it a serene touch.

-The range of teas isn’t the largest I’ve seen, but definitely one of the most interesting – they had Oud tea and Geisha white tea to name a few.

 

Bill for two: AED450 per person

 

Contact details: https://www.atlantisthepalm.com/restaurants/ossiano