Decadent Brunch Is Back At ‘Vintage’ Venue As Sassy As It Ever Was

For many long-term residents the Buddha-Bar Dubai has become something of an institution. It has been bringing its classy culinary good times to the city for 20 years - during which several F&B names have arrived, and vanished.

But this enduring hospitality venue is not only still operating, it is entering an exuberant new era as a cherished player on the Dubai food scene. This includes applying its trademark eclectic ambience to a stylish new night and a vivacious revived Saturday brunch…adding up to fabulous feeds with vivacious vibes.

Admittedly, by Dubai restaurant standards the Buddha-Bar falls into the ‘vintage’ bracket. But with maturity comes wisdom and respect…even if this Marina maiden doesn’t show her age - or necessarily act it. 

An outpost of the Paris original established in 1996, there are good reasons why Buddha-Bar Dubai has stood the test of time. Or, rather, moved ahead of it by delivering a winning formula with swagger and panache.

May saw the venue launch Sakura’s Secret as “the first expression of Buddha-Bar Dubai’s dramatic brand evolution”.

Recent Saturdays have witnessed the return of the waterside venue’s renowned brunch fixture - a decadent meets playful blend of music, mixology, and culinary artistry.

With newly appointed Executive Chef Ted Shin in action, guests indulge in a picture-perfect sharing selection of Pan-Asian delights, beginning with cold starters befitting both setting and the weather. Zesty seafood ceviche is enlightened by jalapeño soy and shiso powder, while a Yasai kale salad with Stracciatella Yasi dressing scores as fresh and healthy.

They are the ideal opener for a sushi platter that majors on the salmon, but lands with steamy, theatrical presentation.  Spicy salmon maki gets a lift from a chilli dip, while salmon nigiri takes on fancier form thanks to yuzu kosho mayo. Truffle mayo could overpower the tuna nigiri, but instead empowers. Moreish salmon tacos with avocado butter and California maki with spicy peanut mayo arguably win the round, however. The temptation continues with hot starters. Generously filled juicy chicken gyoza with chilli ponzu are excelled by wagyu kushiyaki…perfect protein taken to another level by a splash of galbi sauce.

And that tees things up nicely for a quartet of ‘mains’ with grilled striploin picking up the beef baton, served with delicate ancho soy and broccolini for some greens relief. Main course sweetness comes via baked teriyaki salmon and a Sichuan honey glaze that embellishes decent slices of slow-cooked duck. Good wok-fried noodles complete the savoury set.

Vegetarians need not fear. An indulgent sharing opportunity includes yasai maki with tofu mayo, watermelon carpaccio with spicy ponzu, green papaya salad, truffle vegetable dumplings, sweet and sour mushroom, grilled Portobello with ancho chilli, plus wok-fried ramen.

What both menus have in common is the Seventh Heaven Buddha-Bar dessert platter. Delivered with more dramatic flourish comes a gorgeous - and sensibly portioned - mix that includes an apple-shaped mousse, churros, and a chocolate mousse cake.

There are four packages available for brunch, one of which draws on Buddha-Bar’s flair for eclectic mixology, inspired by Asia’s incredibly diverse flavours of Asia.  Those bartenders deliver a zesty Maha Bodi, an action-packed Far East Julep, a classic Espresso Noir Martini, and a tequila-fuelled Zen Paloma. There’s the ideally named Blooming Paradise for the mocktail inclined.

Adding to the ‘sensory adventures’, the elegant and enhanced surroundings are embellished with uplifting tunes via a resident DJ, and live entertainment from an accompanied violinist and percussionist.

Buddha-Bar Dubai is based at Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai.

From there, it has “enchanted residents and visitors with haute Asian-inspired gastronomy, world-class mixology, and an unparalleled ambience” for two decades, according to Pam Wilby, the hotel’s General Manager. 

Furthering that “renowned reputation” is the aforementioned Sakura’s Secret, an evening affair that arguably takes its cue from Dubai’s growing appetite for dinner experiences.

It weaves together an “immersive ambience and mesmerising music to captivating visuals and intriguing performances”, underpinned by Buddha-Bar’s signature cuisine. The evening “blossoms organically” around guests as they dine, says Buddha-Bar Dubai’s General Manager, Fabrizio Bosco. 

He adds: “As we celebrate our 20th anniversary in Dubai, we’re thrilled to give guests a greater taste of our signature creativity.”

// INFO:

BRUNCH is every Saturday, 1pm-4pm, priced AED450 per person including soft beverages, AED550 per person including hops and grape, AED650 per person including premium beverages, or AED750 including Champagne.

SAKURA’S Secret happens from Tuesdays to Sundays every week.

VISIT buddhabar-dubai.com for more.