What it’s like: Dinner cruises seem to get a bit of a bad rap when it comes to food, where you typically end up paying for the experience rather than the culinary offerings. This is a rare exception. The only glass-windowed cruise boat on the Dubai creek, with contemporary wood and glass interiors, Bateaux Dubai gently floats up and down the waterway, with a talented duo performing live chamber music – all very civilised. The menu is surprisingly varied – considering the limitations of a mobile kitchen – and all the food is prepared fresh. After being welcomed with a fresh strawberry mocktail, a canapé platter and a mouthwatering mushroom soup, we settled down to order – I opted for a duck confit salad to start, while my partner chose a wild mushroom-filled deboned quail. Both dishes were beautifully presented and had exceptional flavours. For mains, I chose a baked seabass in a creamy, mushroom sauce with asparagus and gratinated mussels, which was delicious. But I ended up with some serious food envy with the homemade basil and potato gnocchi with slow braised shredded beef and smoked bone marrow jus on the other side of the table. With such generous portions, we barely had any room left for dessert, but couldn’t refuse the very more-ish hazelnut coated profiteroles with cognac and date ice cream on offer. I opted for a classic – chocolate fondant, accompanied by a roasted almond ice cream. Warm The warm pudding, with melting chocolate oozing out, set off perfectly by the ice cream, was one of the best versions of the chocolatey treat I have ever tried. As you wind down with tea and petit four chocolates, the boat eases its way back promptly at 11pm. While it may be seen as a touristy must-do, with the quality of food on offer, it is also a great option for a special-occasion meal.

If you want to go: From Dhs350 per head (with soft drinks), call 04- 8145553.

Best for: Celebrating with that special someone

– Sudeshna Ghosh