With less than 40 days until Christmas, it’s time to book your festive feast, mamas!
Whether you’re really not that sure if your oven can cope with cooking a whopping turkey or you’d just like to leave the cooking and everything that goes with it to someone else this year – we’ve come up with some of the best family friendly places to enjoy Christmas lunch out this year. From traditional roasts to gorgeous venues plus visits from Mr. Claus too, all you have to do is book (soon – tables are filling up fast!) and then prepare to relax and enjoy.
Click through the slides to book your festive feast!
Camel rides and gorgeous desert views on Christmas Day? It’s all possible if you book the Festive Brunch at Bab Al Shams, mamas! From a festive feast fit for kings (and queens!) to carol singing and kids activities including pony rides and face-painting plus performances from jugglers, kite-flyers and magicians – there’s plenty for everyone in the family to enjoy (and isn’t that just what Christmas is all about?!).
psst… Santa will also be making a special appearance and distributing gifts, ho-ho-hoooray!
1pm-4pm. Al Forsan, Bab Al Shams. (+971) (0)4 809 6194
Adults: 495 AED (soft drinks), 665 AED (house beverages), 795 AED (bubbles). Kids: 250 AED (aged between 5-12 years old), under 4’s free of charge www.meydanhotels.com
Fancy Gordon Ramsay’s twist on the traditional Christmas lunch, mamas? Bread Street Kitchen at Atlantis, The Palm will be offering a scrummy menu with all kinds of cool additions including an ice-cream bar where the kids can go nuts (literally) with unlimited toppings. And as for activities? In addition to free access to The Lost Chambers Aquarium, your little ones can get stuck into a festive themed cooking class and enjoy fun and games on the lawn too. Oh and there’ll be a special visit from the big man himself (that’s Santa, not Gordon…).
12pm-4pm. Bread Street Kitchen, Atlantis The Palm. (+971) (0)4 426 2626
Adults: 495 AED (soft drinks), 665 AED (house beverages), 795 AED (bubbles). Kids: 250 AED (aged between 5-12 years old), under 4’s free of charge www.atlantisthepalm.com
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With a reputation as one of the biggest and most lively brunches in town, if it’s a big ol’ family party you’re after on Christmas Day then Bubbalicious at The Westin, Mina Seyahi, is where you’ll find it! With Father Christmas making an appearance plus tonnes of kids entertainment including acrobatic performances, arts and crafts plus a petting zoo – your little elves are guaranteed a great time. And as for the food? Expect a vat brunch spread across three of the hotel’s restaurants and covering everything from the traditional turkey and trimmings to Asian and more. Yum!!
1pm-4pm. Al Forsan, Bab Al Shams. (+971) (0)4 511 7373
Adults: 595 AED (soft drinks), 750 AED (including house beverages and free flowing champagne)
Kids: 350 AED (aged between 6-11 years old), under 6’s free of charge
www.westinminaseyahi.com
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Finished unwrapping the presents, mama? It’s time to head over to Palermo at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club to enjoy a fabulously festive afternoon with the family! From live cooking stations from which to create your perfect Christmas lunch (does anyone else love gallons of gravy?!) to magical activities for the kiddos including pony rides, a bouncy castle, and plenty of festive entertainment to keep them smiling – plus gorgeous views over the lush green polo fields – it’s a winner, mamas!
1pm-4pm. Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club. (+971) (0)4 362 7880
Price: Adults: 375 AED (soft drinks), 475 AED (house beverages).
Kids: 110 AED (6-11 years old), Complimentary (up to 5 years).
www.poloclubdubai.com
Santa’s team of helpers have been busy creating The Nutcracker Brunch at Flow Kitchen, Fairmont The Palm this year. Including multiple food stations, traditional turkey carving, roasts with all the trimmings and to-die-for desserts (make sure to save some room!), the food will be fabulous and the entertainment festive – from free access to the kids club for all little diners to face-painting, the chance to explore Santa’s grotto and even a special appearance from Mr. Claus too, this Christmas brunch ticks all the boxes.
12.30pm-3.30pm. Flow Kitchen, Fairmont The Palm, Palm Jumeirah. (+971) (0)4 457 3457
Adults: 395 AED (soft drinks), 495 AED (house beverages).
Kids: 195 (6-12 years old), Under 6’s free of charge. Kids aged between 3-12 years will have 2 hour complimentary access to Falcons Kids’ Club and can then pay AED 60 for each additional hour (pre-booking required).
www.fairmont.com
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When stockings have been opened and presents unwrapped, it’ll be time to get stuck into a huge lunch that’ll keep the festive cheer going! Christmas at The Hide, Al Qasr, will offer a winter wonderland to delight the kids – and food/drinks to delight the grown-ups! With classics including roast turkey plus prime-cuts and American Christmas faves plus incredible live stations too across all 3 of the participating Christmas brunch restaurants (The Hide, Arboretum & Al Hambra) you’ll be absolutely spoilt for choice (remember, this is not the time to diet!). A two-piece band will rocking around the Christmas tree while a visit from Santa (bearing gifts, of course!) will conclude the perfect day!
12.30pm-4pm. The Hide, Jumeirah Al Qasr. (+971) (0)4 432 3232,
Adults: 750 AED (soft drinks), 850 AED (house beverages).
Kids: 375 AED (4-11 years), Under 4’s free of charge
www.jumeirah.com
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Christmas jumpers at the ready, mamas (because there’s a competition for the best/worst one!) – the Maison Mathis Wonderland Christmas Brunch is a firm fave amongst many families, particularly because of it’s brilliantly relaxed vibe and beautiful setting on the edge of the Arabian Ranches Golf Course. While grown-ups enjoy festive cocktails and live music, the kiddos will be entertained with heaps of activities including magicians and games. And there’ll be a feast of epic proportions spread out across live and interactive food stations (plus lots of outdoor space to walk it all off if you overindulge!).
Maison Mathis, Arabian Ranches, (+971) (0)4 450 1313
Adults: 299 AED (soft drinks), 385 AED (house beverages), 495 (sparkling)
Kids: 150 AED (5-12 years), Under 5’s free of charge
www.mm-argc.com
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If you’ve been lucky enough to sample the family-friendly brunch at Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate in the past, you will know that it’s one of the best in town for kiddos – and it gets even better on Christmas Day! Expect all of the festive faves including turkey and trimmings plus heaps of other choices if that’s not your thing. Excited littlies can expect tonnes of fun, including face painters, a movie theatre, a bouncy castle, Christmas carols, and a jolly visit from Santa too! It’s a cracker.
12.30pm-4.00pm, Al Bahou, Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate (+971) (04) 444 5613
Adults: 449 AED (soft beverages), 599 AED (house beverages) and 799 AED (champagne package).
Kids: 225 AED (7-12 years), 99 AED (3-6 years), Under 3’s free of charge
www.movenpick.com
We’re huge fans of this British gastropub in The Lakes, not least because of the oodles of space for kids to run around in and outdoor playground for them to enjoy! There’s also the laid-back vibe and good ol’ British food – particularly at Christmas time when a four-course brunch menu (including roast turkey with all the trimmings, pork loin with sage and onion stuffing, mince pies, Yule log and Christmassy cheese board). There’ll also be a special children’s menu plus plenty of festive entertainment and a special appearance from Santa (bearing gifts for all the good girls and boys…).
12pm – 3pm, Reform Social & Grill, The Lakes, (+971) (0) 4 454 2638
Adults: 400 AED (soft drinks), 530 AED (beer, wine, house spirits), 660 AED (prosecco).
Kids: 195 AED (8-14 years old), 55 AED (under 8’s)
www.reformsocialgrill.ae
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Eat, drink and be merry at BQ French Kitchen & Bar, The St. Regis Dubai, where a decadent feast with tonnes of choice plus a live band to get you into the festive spirit awaits! With everything from traditional favourites to fresh seafood and an oyster bar, carving stations and an exquisite dessert section, prepare to indulge!
12.30pm – 3.30pm, St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor City (+971) (0) 435 5555
Adults: AED 495 (soft drinks), AED 595 (house beverages), AED 695 (bubbly)
Kids: Under 12 years enjoy 50% off the soft drinks package and under 5’s free of charge
www.stregisdubai.com
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One of the best things about staying in Dubai over Christmas, Mamas? The weather, of course! So why not embrace soak up the winter sun and head to a festive beach BBQ on Christmas Day? When it comes to fabulous food in a truly stunning setting, West 14th is just the place for festive family fun. Tuck into plates of BBQ Christmas Turkey, Turkey & Stuffing Skewers, and Lamb Roast (there’s nothing like Christmas lunch cooked on a BBQ, right Mamas?). And for those with a sweet tooth, there will be a tempting selection of festive desserts to finish your meal in style, while the kids enjoy live entertainment throughout the day and a magical visit from Santa Claus.
2pm-6pm. West 14th, Oceana Beach Club, Palm Jumeirah (+971) (0) 4 44 77601
Adults: 175 AED (soft drinks), 525 AED (house beverages), 625 (champagne)
Kids: Half price of soft drinks package (6-12 years old), Under 6’s free of charge
www.west14th.ae
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