Tiny Bites: Epicure Gourmet Market at Desert Palm

Desert Palm Hotel and Resort ticks all the food, fun and adventure boxes and is the perfect place to spend a few family hours. With sophisticated dining options in the main hotel (save those for date night mama!) and the relaxed poolside Epicure Gourmet Market, ideal for lunch with little people in tow. I first discovered Epicure as part of a day trip to take my 2 small boys to see the horses and go for a cheeky pony ride at the stables. It was love at first sight and an expensive habit was born (or at least it will be if the boys keep up the equine addiction.)

Epicure is a gem in the desert, only 20 minutes from the heart of Dubai it has something to offer adults and children. During the week you can combine a pony ride with a visit to this tranquil eatery and if you’re lucky you can even watch polo being played on the lawn in front (how jolly lovely!). Inspired by a New York deli, the interiors display shelves of jars and baskets of dried ingredients while the outside is a little slice of paradise overlooking a sparkling blue infinity pool and verdant green polo fields.

Thumbs up:
The lush green surroundings. Positioned right in front of the polo field Epicure offers plenty of space for the mini monsters to run around in the cooler months and the next door stables offer short pony rides for kids of all ages or lessons for over 5’s up to late May (or mid-June if you’re brave and don’t feel the heat!) The menu includes lots of delicious fresh juices that are definitely worth trying plus hot and cold mezze, pizzas, salads and some specials including grilled tandoori prawns last time we visited.

Thumbs down:
It is a bit out of the way and therefore can often feel quite empty (although residents at Desert Palm villas use Epicure as an extension of their villas – this mama is very envious!) I would also like to see them turn it into more of an experience to take a pony ride to the cafe for kids supper and back to the stables again, this is Dubai after all! This eatery also overlooks a gorgeous infinity pool – might be too much of a temptation for the kiddos, would be great if a swim was included with lunch.

Kids menu:
Yes. Mine had the standard spaghetti bolognese and chicken nuggets, polished off with a scoop of ice cream. For the more adventurous eaters, they do also have caesar salad (one of the best we’ve tasted in Dubai) and grilled chicken with greens and mash. All inclusive juice, main course and ice cream is AED 65 so not cheap but I often get the kiddos to share as the portions are pretty big.

Highchairs:
Yes (smart stokke ones of course!)

Stroller access:
Not brilliant even if you come through the hotel there are steps in awkward places but the staff are helpful and we have definitely wielded buggys across the polo field before.  You can park at the main entrance to the hotel, the walk through to epicure is really lovely (and will definitely leave you wanting to return to enjoy the bar and restaurant one night with hubby).

How Much:
For a light meal prices range from AED 50 to AED 85.

Address:
Epicure at Desert Palm
On Al Awir Road in the direction of Hatta / Oman. Second turning on the right after Dragonmart.
Telephone: (+971) (0) 4 323 8888
www.desertpalm.peraquum.com

Open:
Breakfast: Daily 07:00 – 11:30
Lunch: Daily 12:00 – 17:00
Dinner:Daily 17:00 – 22:30