What’s On loves brunch in Dubai and we do our best to try every cheap brunch in Dubai and expensive brunch in Dubai, so here is a list of new brunches in Dubai.

BA

When: Saturday, Noon to 3pm, post-brunch party 3pm to 6pm
Price: Dhs225 with soft drinks; Dhs395 with house beverages; Dhs550 for cabana on the beach and a bottle of bubbly.
Food: Chinese dumplings (fried and steamed), soups, cold starters, BBQ dishes and dishes from the wok.
Atmosphere: One for the young folk, the DJ plays a nice set of beach tunes and the vibe is a little clubby. Wear your best sunglasses.
Best bit: The inclusive access to the Fairmont’s fab pool and beach.
Worst bit: The service is a bit chaotic, with several dishes brought out at once, then nothing for 20 minutes.
Rating: 7/10
Contact details: Fairmont The Palm, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4573338. Taxi: Fairmont The Palm. dineatba.com

Ba

TOKO

When: Friday, Noon to 4pm
Price: Dhs265 with soft drinks; Dhs385 with house beverages and sake; Dhs525 with bubbly.
Food: Contemporary Japanese sharing concept called izakaya. A substantial maki and nigiri platter for the table, plus four courses – including a grill option – are chosen per person.
Atmosphere: Toko has been the hot restaurant in town since it opened in February, and there remains a real buzz about the place.
Best bit: An interesting explanation of sake is offered at this brunch.
Worst bit: The interior of the restaurant still feels like an afterthought compared to the stunning terrace. Those eating inside might feel they’re missing out.
Rating: 7/10
Contact details: Vida Downtown Hotel, Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai. Tel: (04) 4428383. Taxi: Vida Downtown Hotel. toko-dubai.com 

Toko

CAFE BELGE

When: Saturday, 12.30 to 4.30
Price: Dhs265 with soft drinks (Prohibition); Dhs365 with Belgian beers, wine & sparkling (Jazz Hands).
Food: Seafood by the bucket-load, including lobster, welk, moule and plenty more. Steak keeps carnivores happy, too, while the truffle scrambled egg steals the show among the side orders.
Atmosphere: This is a high-end brunch at a very reasonable price, so expect a complete cross-section. It’s a special occasion kind of place as much as it is a good fun Saturday session.
Best bit:  A side order of entertainment in the form of three enthusiastic 1920s flapper dancers hopping, skipping and jumping between tables.
Worst bit: There were no menus provided prior to the rush of food; cue lots of awkward pointing when it came to asking for more of a certain dish.
Rating: 8/10
Contact details: The Ritz-Carlton DIFC, daily 12pm to 2.30pm, 6.30pm-11pm (bar 6pm to 2am). Tel: (04) 372 2323. Metro: Financial Centre

Cafe Belge, Ritz Carlton, DIFC

MELIA

When: Friday, 12.30pm to 4pm, party on the terrace till 5pm
Price: Dhs149 with soft drinks; Dhs249 with house beverages.
Food: A buffet with live cooking stations featuring the hotel’s main restaurants. The food is international: sushi, Spanish and Indian cuisine from Signature By Sanjeev Kapoor.
Atmosphere: Live music and singing warms you up for the party that awaits on the roof terrace later.
Best bit: Free pool access to Estrellas, the rooftop lounge with a glorious view of Downtown, where you can enjoy your food in picnic form.
Worst bit: The restaurant decor is quite bland and there is a sense everyone is just waiting to get upstairs.
Rating: 7/10
Contact details: Melia Hotel, Kuwait Street, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3868111. Taxi: Port Rashid. melia.com

Best swimming pools Melia

LA PORTE DES INDES

When: Friday, 12.30pm to 3.30pm
Price: Dhs295 with soft drinks; Dhs395 with house beverages; Dhs495 with bubbly.
Food: Eight taster portions of French-influenced Indian food kick things off, before six main courses arrive.
Atmosphere: This wants to be a cocktail bar as much as it does a restaurant, with great care taken over the drinks menu.
Best bit: The quantity of food and diversity in both flavour and spice.
Worst bit: It’s a vast space that can appear empty and cold if it isn’t busy.
Rating: 6/10
Contact details: The Address Dubai Mall, Downtown, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4388610. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. laportedesindes.ae 

La Portes des Indes

EL SUR

When: Saturday, 12.30pm to 3.30pm
Price: Dhs390 with soft drinks; Dhs490 with sparkling wine; Dhs650 with champagne
Food: Authentic Spanish tapas. The sharing concept keeps things social, while the paella is, as you would expect, top drawer.
Atmosphere: A flamenco soundtrack and gorgeous plant-covered terrace transports you to the Mediterranean coast.
Best bit: The cold meat platter, complete with lots of pickled sides, is fantastic.
Worst bit: No cheese at a tapas brunch? Disappointing.
Rating: 8/10
Contact details: Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Al Sufouh Road, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3997700. Taxi: Westin, Dubai Marina. Taxi: The Westin. elsurdubai.com

El Sur

POSITANO

When: Sunday, 6pm to midnight
Price: Dhs180 with soft drinks; Dhs290 with house beverages
Food: Italian, specifically from the Amalfi Coast.
Atmosphere: Stylish white brick interiors within the world’s tallest hotel. The chirpy manager Claudio will give you a warm welcome.
Best bit: Fresh pasta cooked to order. Don’t miss the pyramid-shaped cappellacci with pumpkin, and the tortellini with braised veal and porcini mushrooms.
Worst bit: Desserts are pleasing to the eye – macaroons displayed like fruit in trees – but a little bland to taste.
Rating: 7/10
Contact details: JW Marriott Marquis, Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4143000. Taxi: JW Marriott Marquis. jwmarriottmarquis dubailife.com

Positano

NA3NA3

When: Friday, 12.30pm to 4pm
Price: Dhs295 with soft drinks; Dhs380 with house beverages.
Food: All sorts of international dishes such as beef stroganoff, seafood lasagna, chicken tagine, sushi, Arabic mezze, fried chicken and waffles, fresh juices and lots of cheese.
Atmosphere: Quiet and casual, not a brunch where you need to dress up.
Best bit: You can brunch till your heart – and stomach – is content but the emphasis on healthy, organic food means you won’t go overboard and feel bloated.
Worst bit: Where’s the buzz? There isn’t much sense of a special afternoon feast.
Rating: 6/10
Contact details: The Address Dubai Mall, Downtown, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4388610. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. theaddress.com

Na3 Na3

THE IVY

When: Saturday, 11am to 9pm
Price: Dhs199 with soft drinks; Dhs399 with house beverages; Dhs599 with champagne and fine wine.
Food: A round-the-clock mixture of classics from The Ivy menu, from eggs Florentine to fish and chips to artisanal cheese.
Atmosphere: A civilised one. You can arrive for a three-hour sitting any time between 11am and 9pm.
Best bit: Less overwhelming than a buffet, there are still enough choices on the menu – and enough courses – to ensure you’re in for a decadent day out.
Worst bit: There are pros and cons to the flexible timings. The Ivy may be elegant, but this lacks the sense of occasion that comes with a classic Friday brunch.
Rating: 8/10
Contact details: The Ivy, The Boulevard, Emirates Towers, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3198767. Metro: Emirates Towers. theivy.ae

The Ivy

GIRDERS GARDEN

When: Friday, Noon to 4pm
Price: Dhs199 with house beverages
Food: Try an English breakfast, roast dinner, salad bar or Indian food. A row of big buffet trays lets you grab a plate and dig in.
Atmosphere: Chilled out beer garden with a fun, down-to-earth crowd.
Best bit: The breezy rooftop lends a laidback atmosphere so you don’t have to make too much of an effort – just go with the flow.
Worst bit: The presentation of the food looks a bit like a school canteen.
Rating: 7/10
Contact details: JA Ocean View Hotel, JBR, Dubai. Tel: (04) 8145590. Metro: Jumeirah Lakes Towers. jaresortshotels.com

Girders Garden