What’s the concept?

The hotel’s Friday brunch is based in Giardino restaurant on the ground floor. During the week, it doubles as the hotel’s all day dining venue – for which there are some tell tale signs – there’s self-serve counters and luminescent bright lighting. The wallpaper has a Florida café feel about it – although it’s actually based on a Versace dress worn by Jennifer Lopez at the Grammy Awards in 2000.

What were the food highlights?

The brunch aims to cater to all, offering an ‘international’ mix of buffet and live cooking stations – to varying degrees of success. The standout food can be found at the Italian station where there’s freshly made pasta, as well as the seafood station where there’s lobster, prawns and other tasty crustaceans. Other highlights are the foie gras, cheese and dessert stations. The drinks package includes a list of high-end red and white, and the sparkling package includes a vintage French bubbly (which considering its retail price, the sparkling package is actually a bargain at AED 650).

How was the service?

The serving staff were all friendly, and well versed on the drinks menu. The chefs at the live cooking stations were equally charismatic and on hand to explain the different techniques and flavours used in the various dishes.

What was the atmosphere like?

When BBC Good Food Middle East visited there was a live jazz singer, and a sophisticated crowd. During the winter months it’s worth taking advantage of the beautiful outdoor seating area overlooking the pool. The hotel also offers brunch-goers the opportunity to make a day of the trip, with free access to the hotel’s pool facilities pre and post brunch and half price drinks at its La Vita bar after the brunch.

Details: AED 350 soft beverages, AED 550 grape beverages. AED 650 French bubbly. Every Friday, 1pm-4pm, Giardino, Palazzo Versace, Culture Village, Dubai, UAE. For more information, click here