Abu Dhabi’s Best Brunches… with kids

Top 5  family-friendly Friday Brunch options in the capital (including the runners-up & best for adults only too!)

I always understood brunch to be a meal somewhere between breakfast and lunch. Something foot-loose-and-fancy-free people did on a Sunday because they’d slept in too late really to call it breakfast, but you could find a swish looking street cafe and have your eggs still done any which way you like until 3pm.

My outlook on brunch has been completely overturned since moving to the UAE(the sleeping into halfway through Sunday thing changed years ago …).

You see not only is Friday our weekend, brunch is really a fancy way of saying gastronomically amazing 4-hour lunch – at some of the most prestige hotels in the world. For some, it’s the highlight of the week’s social calendar.

Be it the dressing up or the endless free-pour drinks that get you excited, don’t be mistaken this is an adults-only game; with a little preparation and flexibility brunching can most definitely be a family occasion.

We are slowly but surely making our way around the best there is in Abu Dhabi, but if you are a novice to the brunching scene and want to get started – with kids – here are 5 that have been tried, tested and meet the Globetrotters tick of approval.

(This post was originally published in February 2015. We have done our best to update this listing for new openings and 2019 pricing. NOT updated post-COVID so some venues may no longer exist)

If you think there are any inaccuracies to things have changed, please write to us at keri@ourglobetrotters.com

---

Top 5 Abu Dhabi Brunches for Families

Chefs Brunch, Ritz-Carlton

If first impressions count, then this is the one for you.  What a grand entrance with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as your neighbour you can’t really go wrong for atmosphere. The views from the other side are equally stunning, overlooking the Abu Dhabi Grand Canal (the bit of water that separates Abu Dhabi island from ‘off-island’).

The welcome champagne while you wait for doors to open a fabulous welcoming touch.

The range of food and seating seems to go on forever, with over 30 live stations…. But wait there’s more! The most magnificent pastry room awaits at the end, ‘Dolce’ – far enough away and beyond the toilets to keep kids waiting and not jump straight to dessert but what a selection! The fairy floss is sure to be a winner.

Once the kids are suitably sweetened up, send them off to the free playroom beside the pool.  Now I had my reservations on booking here; some of our party were under 4-years- old and they have a strict ‘over 4’s policy’; somehow Mr Globetrotter sweet-talked our 2-year-old in so don’t dismiss it for this reason (but equally don’t be upset if you get knocked back!).  

The room is colourful, well supervised and full of activities for kids up to 12 though note, it’s quite far from the dining room.

The grown-ups were also well looked after with a humongous cheese room and chocolate martinis for dessert, yes you read that right! With generous serving and no rush to move you on post-brunch, always a winning formula.

They also offer an after-party at Sorso Bar for those that like to keep things going. Stay and Brunch packages also available.

Ritz-Carlton – Giornotte Restaurant, Khor Al Maqta’a, 1pm – 4pm Friday.

Food & Drink 299AED, House Drinks 399AED, Bubbles 599, Kids 6-11years 90AED

---

Yas Hotel Choices (Formerly Yas Viceroy Pit Stop Brunch at Origins)

The sleek, glossy image of the Yas Hotel is sure to impress. A very modern looking hotel that straddles the Yas Marina Grand Prix Circuit on Yas Island is certainly a novel experience. [NB We are currently awaiting the opening of the newly branded W Abu Dhabi – you will need to check back on their revamped brunch after the Grand Prix for 2019/20!]

The Choices Brunch is held every Friday from 12.30pm.  I’ll be honest, I don’t think it has the widest range of food but comes top of my list today for its kid’s room. Fully supervised with its own kid’s buffet, for those kids who’d rather be playing than sitting at a table for four hours while mum and dad let their hair down, this one is definitely for you.

Kids are set up with colouring, crafts, a giant TV and computer games.  Christmas day they also had a bouncy castle on the balcony and a resident Santa in a sports car doing laps. In the cooler months balcony dining is an option with a spectacular view over Yas Marina.

Yas Hotel – Origins Restaurant, Yas Island, 12.30 – 4pm Fridays. 

House drinks package 475AED inclusive {await 2019 packages)

 

---

Olea, St Regis Saadiyat Island

This is another one that wins points from the moment you enter with its wow factor! Incredibly modern and classy, a huge range of international cuisines with some of the most beautiful presentation.  

Live entertainment really kicks the afternoon off before the kids head into one of the most eloquently presented dessert bars!

This is one where the kids dine in with the adults, no separate buffet but there is access only a short distance away to the hotel’s kids playroom where kids can be signed in.  The room is not huge but cosy and the staff are caring, they will see children back to their table when they miss mum and dad and engage them in activities like colouring and face painting.

Don’t forget to walk out to the beach front here and catch a glimpse of the spectacular azure waters of the Gulf. Views aren’t from the dining room as we expected.

St Regis Saadiyat Island, Olea, 1pm-4pm Fridays

Food & Drink 380AED, House Drinks 495AED, Bubbles 695AED

---

Crust, Four Seasons

A newbie to our favourites list in 2018.  This recent newcomer to the Abu Dhabi brunch scene is targetted at those who really enjoy a relaxed sophisticated setting but want to know the kids are happy too.

With a playroom that adjoins the main dining room, they are not far away but fully supervised and entertained.  The kids have the option of eating in the kid’s room with a separate kids buffet or they are welcome to join you in the main dining room. 

The speciality here is the chef’s trolleys.  Gone are the days of constantly jumping up and down from your seat for the buffet, many of the dishes and drinks are brought to you. You can read our full review of Crust here.

Four Season – Crust, Al Maryah Island, 12.30 – 4pm Friday.

Prices from 330AED

---

Aqua, Rosewood

A firmly established family-favourite on the Abu Dhabi brunching scene we couldn’t leave off is Aqua, Level 3 at the Rosewood Al Maryah Island. 

Again, probably not as extensive a food range as some, but the setting and the room are the real selling point. From almost everywhere in the restaurant, you have spectacular views over Al Maryah Island and back to Abu Dhabi city centre.  The restaurant is really bright, sleek and inviting with the kitchen itself taking centre stage.

For the kids, this one can be a real treat. Rather than dining with the parents, Aqua have a separate kids room and kids program with their “Rosewood Explorers“.  Kids can sign up to their additional activities such as gardening and performing making in timed slots, or simply enjoy the kids club facilities ranging from Duplo for the juniors through to computer gaming, and a great outdoor space for more physical challenges on the lawn.

The only real pain we found here is the kids’ room is quite far away. We found ourselves constantly up and down the corridor as the kids still wanted to visit us but couldn’t leave unless with a member of staff once signed in – good for safety but not excellent with small ones. As ours are older now its less of an issue. Perhaps save this one for when you know they’ll happily stay put!

Aqua used to advertise free for kids under 10, but sadly it seems this policy has changed and they are back to charging from 6 year old to 12-year-olds. Under 6’s remain free. Aqua is another brunch that casually spills on to an after-party on the terrace by the pool.  From here there are spectacular sunset views to be had over the Abu Dhabi city skyline, a perfect way to roll into Saturday  

Rosewood Hotel – Aqua, Al Maryah Island, 1pm – 4.30pm Friday

Food & Drink 395AED, House Beverages 495AED, Bubbles 595AED, Rosewood Explorers 165AED

They also run a Saturday Rock & Roast 12:00 noon and 10:30pm, Food& Drink 235AED, House Drinks 275AED 

---

Best of the Rest with Kids

To be honest narrowing it to a top 5 is tough. Even over the five years we have lived here, extensive effort has clearly gone into catering for the family market and there is a plentiful supply of brunching options to suit those with junior dinners in their group.  So special mention also needs to go to this bunch;

• Shangri La Sofra Bld –  A previous inclusion in our top 5 but bumped only because better contenders have emerged, in our opinion.  The family offering at Shangri-La extends to having a special area of the room set aside for the littles with some activities and video games. This one may be preferable for those who like to dine together as a family experience, but enjoy that there is a little entertainment for the kids if needed.  They offer some great ‘cook to order’ meals as well as one of the best selections of icecreams I have seen and some superbly talented face-painting!    A warning though, the grand staircase can be a great temptation for the little ones, watch your toddler! There is also a Saturday brunch option which not many do not offer, and they have updated their offering to include complimentary beach and pool access.

 Shangri-La Hotel – Sofra Bld Restaurant, Qaryat Al Beri (Between the Bridges) 1pm – 4pm Friday & Saturday. House beverages 365AED++++ 

• Safina at Saadiyat Beach Club

– the brunch itself isn’t extensive but the kid’s room was one of the better ones and the views, wow!! A really great mix of ambience and class, but kids absolutely welcome. Another one you can groove from afternoon into evening when the resident DJ kicks off, or also enjoy the extensive pool & spa facilities as part of a brunch package and enjoy the entire day. You can see our full review of Safina here.

Saadiyat Beach Club, Safina, Saadiyat Island East, Friday’s 1pm – 4pm . House bubbly package 399AED+++ (VAT incl.) or add beach club 599AED+++

 

• Bubbalicious at The Westin – this one might be very close actually to bumping into the top 5.  We have only brunched here for Christmas which was another experience in itself, truly spectacular and I’d argue to say the best one we have spent overseas. We would need to return on a ‘usual Friday’ to see how it stacks up against the competition but with a string of kids entertainment organised by  Kidz Factory and free-flowing drinks stations you can’t go wrong with something for everyone, followed by Be on the Grass afterparty 4pm-8pm.  They also offer the Big Bubbles Brunch for tweens.

The Westin,  Bubbalicious at Fairways, Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, Sas al Nakhl, Fridays 12.30pm – 4pm.  House Beverages 426AED inclusive

• Ginger at Park Rotana –  Another one that puts some sweet extra touches on for the kids. Colouring and fairy floss aplenty were the highlights for our little ones with a jumping castle outside, pool access included. Missed out on our top-ranking because we felt we spent half the meal up and down supervising the kids outside, not just sitting and table service was slow. Compared to others the range of foods for adults wasn’t extensive – but it is also one of the better value picks coming in < 250AED. It is not a completely dry restaurant, you can order drinks a la carte but the main boozy brunch here happens at Coopers down the corridor, which I wouldn’t suggest as child-friendly, you can bring children there until 6pm though.  You can see our full review of dining facilities for families at Park Rotana here – NB Gingers Brunch has moved to a Saturday in 2019.

Park Rotana, Family Brunch Fiesta at Ginger All Day Dining, Saturday’s 12pm-4pm. Selected house beverages 225AED inclusive

---

And our Favourites Sans Kids brunches in Abu Dhabi

I will confess as much as we love a great brunch with the kiddies, it’s wonderful to have a grown-up event without them too where the focus is on the food & drink selection.

Our long-standing favourite would have to be CuiScene at the Fairmont (they do have a kids corner put aside in Frankies but it’s not extensive and can be difficult if you are based in another room, last we went NOT formally supervised).  

They’re Friday Brunch is now inclusive of Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill and Cedar Lounge.   We have not revisited since this Friday Brunch extension but to this day it remains our most vivid favourite for food and service we have received.  The views from the terrace over to the Grand Mosque are spectacular. Read more about our “adults only” staycation at the Fairmont.

Fairmont Bab al Bahr (Between the Bridges), Friday’s 12pm – 4pm.  Glamourous Grapes (Hops & Vines) 459 AED inclusive

And the latest brunch to get a huge tick of approval from the Globetrotters for their extensive culinary spread and service is The Terrace on the Corniche at St Regis Abu Dhabi.  

The live cooking stations seem to go on forever! The extensive dessert room is to die for and if that’s not enough, there’s a hidden chocolate and cigar lounge, as well as sabering of the champagne for some light crowd entertainment.

Yes, kids will love the extensive desert and lemonades selection here particularly; however, unlikely many of their counterparts in this 5-star market, you do not have immediate access to a kids room or similar facilities with the hotel.

We want to make sure it’s on your radar though parents because the food and service were brilliant! You can see our full weekend Staycation review here, including our thoughts on Brunch and the Saturday New York-style breakfast and late checkout – this is the real luxury indulgence package!

St Regis Abu Dhabi, The Terrace on the Corniche,   Selected cocktail, Wine & Beer 490 inclusive

And the best bit about brunch on a Friday, you’re all done and dusted by about 6pm and can stack the kids off to bed full and exhausted, then get a good kip in before Saturday awaits! T

here are still plenty more Abu Dhabi brunch reviews to come. I am happy to take your contributions and suggestions as well to make this a comprehensive list for families to choose from for all ages and occasions – email me keri@ourglobetrotters.com or comment below.

Do you have an Abu Dhabi brunch…with kids favourite?

---

Disclosure & Disclaimer: Please note all reviews and pricing correct at time of initial publishing in February 2015. Last revised and updated in September 2019. Always contact the hotel directly for latest pricing.  Some brunches on this listing have been provided to us on a complimentary basis in exchange for our honest review, most have been paid for personally and all opinions, as always, are our own.   

© Our Globetrotters

Like it? Share it!