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28 March 2024

Jingle all the way for hotels

Le Meridien Abu Dhabi promises both carol singers and a snowman. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Safura Rahimi

One of the perks of staying in Dubai over the holiday season is the assortment of festive dinners and brunches on offer at luxury hotels.

And although celebrating back home has plenty of comforts – it wouldn't be Christmas without home cooking and a family squabble – where else but Dubai could you get a vintage beverage in a crystal bowl brimming with strawberries next to your roast turkey and cranberry sauce?

This Christmas, Dubai residents are being urged to splash out like never before for their seasonal dinner, with every city hotel promoting a whole week of festive menus and special meals as well as meetings with Santa, choral ensembles and more.

And with some five-star packages priced around Dh200, clearly, hotels and restaurants are doing their best to raise consumer spending. Go on, the hotels seem to be saying, we're relying on you.

Hoteliers said last year they saw up to a 50 per cent jump in food and beverage revenues, thanks to special festive menus offered by almost every hotel in town. However, Dubaiites and their families celebrating in the emirate will have to dig a little deeper this year.

Whereas eating out at a Christmas brunch last year cost around Dh300 per head with beverages included, you can expect to pay up to Dh550 per person this year with free-flowing drinks. If a more exclusive buffet brunch is what you're looking for on Christmas day, expect to pay around Dh900 – not including beverages – at one of Dubai's high-end luxury eateries such as Pierchic at Madinat Jumeirah.

The Exchange Grill at The Fairmont Dubai offers a traditional six-course holiday menu, carved tableside, with unlimited bubbly and complimentary luxury car service to and from the hotel for a whopping Dh3,000 per head – or Dh650 for food only. But if Dh300 remains your budget, you can still tuck into some roast turkey with all the trimmings, minus the beverages. Most restaurants in the city, including Cascades at the Fairmont, offer only one drink at this price, while Sezzam at Kempinski Mall of the Emirates has a soft-drink brunch option for less than Dh200.

Despite concerns over the spending habits of tourists during this economic downturn in Western markets, Dubai hotels say holiday meal bookings are still high and insist prices this year have not escalated compared to 2007.

The Grand Hyatt said prices for festive menus in its award-winning restaurants have seen only a minimal increase compared to 2007. "At this early stage it is not possible to predict whether there is a change in the booking behaviour of guests," said a spokesperson for the hotel. "All wholesaler bookings are already in and we are looking forward to welcoming tourists from all over the world to Grand Hyatt Dubai for the festive season."

Park Hyatt's director of food & beverage, Michael Allegra, said, compared to 2007 things at the hotel are more or less the same. "In comparison to last year, we are seeing more restaurant bookings made earlier, but the increase is slight."

And despite an increase in its holiday meal prices, Fairmont said it couldn't compare last year's promotions given that its offers are significantly different this year. The hotel added that restaurant bookings so far have exceeded those of last year.


Fine festive fare: Keith J Fernandez previews what's on offer in Dubai

AFTERNOON TEA

For those working Christmas Day, the festive tea at Raffles is a lovely way to celebrate, particularly if you can get away early.

A sophisticated tradition like this is hard to find in this city, but the one served in the Salon, situated just off the hotel's massive nouveau-Egyptian-lobby, comes very close to perfection.

A four-deck confection of delight, it features five types of sandwiches, a variety of cakes, two different types of scones, and several tiny little treats, including coin-sized mince tartlets, a lovely vanilla mille feuille and all manner of cookies.

There's clearly too much to eat all at once, but do save space for the beautifully constructed apple tarts that manage to stay light and airy, and the raspberry and milk chocolate pyramid that is a novel reinterpretation of the traditional yule log. Also worth a try are the blueberry éclairs, as is the roast beef and raisin sandwiches.

At Dh200 including a glass of bubbly and unlimited amounts of tea and coffee, this celebration is also easy on the pocket.

Raffles Salon Raffles Dubai. Festive Tea, from Dh200. Call: 04 314 9888

BRUNCH

For a good family day out try brunch at Sezzam at the Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates.

The sprawling restaurant serves up various cuisines, including turkey and stuffing (you might need to ask for cranberry sauce, though). The plentiful array of everything from kebabs to pasta to Thai green curry, mean this is also a good option if you're in a multicultural group.

If you're simply out with the kids, you can always take them to see Santa in his grotto, or head into Ski Dubai for a true white Christmas. Plus the hotel's Christmas choir performs carols every afternoon at 5.30pm.

Sezzam Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates. Festive brunch from Dh175 Call: 04 409 5999

DINNER

For a traditional festive dinner out with turkey and trimmings, there's always The Fairmont.

But book a private room at its multi-cuisine restaurant, Spectrum, where you are tucked away from the bustle of service and the prying eyes of other diners.

We began with a creamy soup of butternut squash, charmingly laced with nutmeg.

The fish course was pan-seared sea bass, teamed with rocket risotto and parmesan crisps. Pleasant and light, it left us in keen anticipation of our turkey mains – which, after a citrus sorbet to cleanse the palate, thankfully did not disappoint.

You can order a whole bird to be carved tableside, or simply have it plated, which was the option we tried. While rather small on size, it was perfectly done. Moist and succulent, with the traditional onion and sage stuffing, plus the odd chestnut, it was good enough to want seconds. And from someone who isn't fond of this rather bland bird, that's saying something.

The desserts made a grand entry on a trolley, and with everything from Christmas pudding to a crème brulee, there was enough to please everyone.

In a season that can be rather heavy on the stomach, this is a light meal that digests easily and is festive enough to remember.

Spectrum on One The Fairmont Dubai. From Dh400 per person, inclusive of food, in a private dining room. Call: 04 314 9888


List

-HAVANA LOUNGE

Emirates Palace hotel is offering a fine festive tea at Dh220++ per head on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The festive tasting selection includes blini with Baltic salmon caviar.
Call: 02 690 9000

-PREGO'S

Enjoy an Italian-style Christmas at the newly opened Media Rotana. Christmas Eve dinner Dh199++.
Call: 04 435 0440

-ROSTANG

The French brasserie at Atlantis The Palm will feature classic Parisian dishes and aperitifs. An à la carte set menu will be available for lunch from December 24 to 26, with various special set menus. Christmas Eve will offer a selection of shellfish; Christmas Day will offer traditional turkey; and Boxing Day will have fresh seafood.
Call: 04 426 2626

-MERIDIEN VILLAGE ABU DHABI

The themed central garden at Le Meridien Abu Dhabi features a Christmas Eve buffet of delicacies from everywhere, including oysters, lobster terrine and turkey. Dh115++.
Call: 02 644 6666

-THE OBSERVATORY

This 52nd-floor gastro-lounge at the Harbour Hotel and Residence is the perfect way to take in the views of New Dubai.

Celebrate Christmas Day with a traditional English festive lunch of turkey and mince pies. Dh550 per head