Review: Above Eleven, the newest rooftop bar on The Palm
Dreamy sunsets, drinks and dishes await…
With much of the Palm Jumeirah low-lying, finding a lofty perch to admire the sunset in this area of the city isn’t easy. So when Bangkok-born Above Eleven opened on the 14th floor rooftop of Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, we were eager to check it out.
We strut through a black-tiled entrance into a chic dimly lit restaurant out onto the open-air terrace, which boats a swoon-worthy, 180-degree view of the Dubai Marina and West Beach. Purple-hued lights and an illuminated bar heighten the dreamy vibe, accentuating the pastel pink hues in the setting sun.
Vibrant plush lounge seating welcomes us, but we answer the calls of the bar stools that lay close to the balcony, ensuring the best views of the setting sun.
Totally mesmerised by the scene, we manage to peel our eyes away and glance at the menu, kicking the party into motion with some drinks. The Sapa (Dhs49) and Inca’s Gold (Dhs65) are the tipples we select.
The Sapa is Above Elevens’ twist on the classic pisco sour, is nice, but the Inca Gold really steals the show. Fusing tequila, pisco, lychee, toasted pineapple syrup and gold, it’s topped with edible glitter swirling and shimmering in the setting sunlight.
To pair with the drinks, we start with two Anticuchos skewers, opting for chicken (Dhs69) and portobello (Dhs45), served with a trio of sauces. The chicken was charred and tender, with the portobello living up to its reputation of being the meat of the vegetable kingdom; succulent and juicy. We happily lather both in zesty chimichurri.
Tuna tartare (Dhs69) follows. An elegant circle of fresh buttery tuna and avocado is drizzled with nutty aromatic sesame oil and drops of heated wasabi. The dish is cradled by black tapioca crackers which we eagerly use as vessels to bring the symphony of flavours into our mouths, creating a unity of fresh and crunchy textures.
We can’t avoid the array of sushi available and opt for a trio of maki rolls: manguro karai (Dhs86), wagyu saltado (Dhs96) and hamachi anticucho (Dhs85). Each roll melodically fuses its encased ingredients, but the Manguro karai is our favourite. Tuna, crab and cucumber are elegantly rolled in rice with a dainty sliver of tuna and crunchy crab resting on top, completed with a drizzle of la-yu sauce which transports us straight to Japan.
To end things on a sweet note, we dive into a matcha cheesecake with black sesame ice cream (Dhs48). The earthy and nutty nodes of matcha and sesame create a graceful unity with the creamy freshness of the cheesecake and ice cream. Bliss.
The Verdict: If you want to show your guests the picture-perfect skylines of Dubai, this is the place to go. Above Eleven is an all box-ticking spot for spectacular views, cocktails, vibes, and flawless service.
Above Eleven Dubai, Rooftop, West Palm Beach, Jumeirah Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, 4pm to 2am daily, Tel: (0)4 666 1420, aboveeleven.com
Images: provided
