Cucina The Palm Unveils a Sparkling New Era of Seasonal Magic, New Menus & More

The neighbourhood trattoria that keeps you coming back for “just one more bite.”

Palm West Beach’s beloved trattoria, Cucina The Palm, is stepping into its most seasonally fabulous chapter yet. With a brand-new menu, seasonal experiences, and the return of its open-air sister terrace Acquasale, this winter marks a bold and beautiful evolution of Italian dining on Dubai’s shoreline.

From Sardinian flavours and inventive cocktails to gingerbread workshops (for the kids, natch), Christmas feasts, and a signature Italian New Year’s Eve, here’s everything happening at Cucina The Palm this season that’s proof that carbs are a love language.

Christmas Day Brunch — The Italian Way

The tables are set, the pastas are rolled, and Cucina is turning up the Christmas magic. Settle in for a long, lazy Christmas Day brunch where Italian hospitality meets all the seasonal yum. As you wander between antipasti spreads, wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and the legendary live Pork Kitchen, you can raise a glass at the Spritz Bar while festive tunes fill the air.

Your little ones can dive into their own play zone as you all enjoy Christmas the Cucina way: warm and joyful, and yes, Santa will be making an appearance.

25th December from 1:30pm – 4:30 PM. AED 495 per person – festive buffet and soft beverages, AED 595 per person – festive buffet + soft, sparkling and house beverages, AED 795 per person – festive buffet + house beverages and champagne, AED 220 for kids 6-12 years old, AED 120 for kids 3-5 years old, 0-2 years dine free. Reservations: cucinadubai.com, call +971 4 666 1408 or email reservations@cucinadubai.com.

New Year’s Eve: A Signature Italian Celebration

Wave goodbye to 2025 the Cucina way with big flavours, bigger laughter and a table full of dishes made for sharing (and bragging about). The New Year’s Eve feast rolls out ten glorious courses, each crafted for passing, tasting and loudly declaring your favourites. Add live entertainment, a little Italian sparkle and Chef Marco’s festive flair and you’ve got yourself a molto magnifico send-off with your friends and family.

Weds 31st December from 8 PM – 12:30 AM 8 pm to 12:30 am, AED 1,500 per person – four-course dinner + house beverages, AED 1,700 per person – four-course dinner + house beverages and champagne, AED 1,200 for teenagers aged 12-20 years, AED 595 for kids 11 years and below. Reservations: cucinadubai.com, call +971 4 666 1408 or email reservations@cucinadubai.com.

A New Italian Expression: Chef Marco Deriu’s Refreshed Menu

This November, Cucina debuts its most ambitious culinary update since opening with a soulful and delicious new menu designed by Chef Marco Deriu alongside General Manager Emanuele Rizzo. The duo’s combined passion for authentic Italian hospitality forms the heart of this transformation.

Inspired by Chef Marco’s Sardinian heritage and enriched by regional influences from across Italy, the new dish up rustic warmth with a side of refined creativity. Expect family-style dining, nostalgic favourites, and modern interpretations designed to spark conversation and connection.

Highlights include:

• Battuto di Manzo – a Sardinian-style chopped beef with crisp herb-brushed pane carasau.
  
• Insalata Prosciutto e Melone – a sunlit reimagining of a timeless Italian summer pairing.
  
• Fregola Sarda – toasted pasta pearls simmered in aromatic broth.
  
• Filetto Cacio e Pepe – a decadent beef fillet served with handmade cacio e pepe–filled pasta.
  
• Polpette della Nonna – slow-cooked meatballs over parmesan fondue.
  

A Bold New Beverage Program

New Beverage Manager Rafael Coelho introduces a reinvented cocktail list inspired by Italy’s timeless drinking culture. Developed in the resort’s beverage lab, the menu features:

• Creative Negroni variations.
  
• Playful Spritz expressions.
  
• Signature cocktails like Viaggio in Italia, La Vita È Bella, and I Limoni d’Inverno.

Aperitivo? More like aperi-cheers.

Acquasale by Cucina: Terrace Season Returns

Reopened in the Autumn of 2025, Acquasale brings the charm of an Italian piazza back to Palm West Beach. Under olive trees and twinkling lights, guests can enjoy wood-fired pizzas, sunset spritzes, and panoramic views of the Dubai skyline.

Our recommended favourites include Margherita, Cacio e Pepe, Fico e Caprino, and the cheeky AED 1,000 Ananas Pizza, a playful ode to the eternal pineapple-on-pizza debate. With a dedicated Spritz Bar perfect for the breezy golden-hour, Acquasale is where the views are bellissimo and the vibes are molto bene.

Festive Season at Cucina: Italian Charm Meets Holiday Cheer

Cucina has crafted a full calendar of experiences for December, from hands-on workshops to lavish festive dining. Here’s what to expect:

Gingerbread Creations & Festive Gatherings

Perfect for families, friends, and corporate groups, Cucina’s private dining rooms transform into festive workshops by day and sharing-feast havens by night.

Choose from:

• Gingerbread house workshops with real hot chocolate.
  
• Italian festive sharing menus served by Head Chef Marco (proving that Italian cooking is an art, not just a tart.)
  
• Or a combination of both, bringing dining and foodie arts and crafts together.

Available daily upon request from 12pm – 3pm or 6pm – 11pm. AED 145 per person – Gingerbread house making activity with hot chocolate, AED 245 per person – Festive-themed Italian sharing menu, AED 340 per person – Sharing menu + gingerbread house making, AED 140 per person – Optional 2-hour free flow craft beverages with any package. Minimum 4 guests for a family and 8 guests minimum for corporate bookings, 48-hour advance booking required. Visit cucinadubai.com, call +971 4 666 1408 or email reservations@cucinadubai.com.

Year-End Feasting, Cucina Style

Ring in the season alla Cucina, where the festivities are deliciously easy and impossibly charming. This dining option is perfect whether you’re rounding up the work crew, corralling classmates, or gathering your favourite amici for an end-of-year feast in Cucina’s cosy private dining rooms.

Take your pick from three curated three-course menus starring the holiday heavy-hitters: golden roast turkey, melt-in-your-mouth porchetta, or a sea salt–crusted seabass that would make any Italian nonna proud. Add in the trattoria’s signature warmth, attentive service, and that “everyone’s family here” energy, and you’ve got yourself the most relaxed, joy-filled festive feast on the Palm.

Throughout December 2025 for lunch or dinner. Classico Menu – AED 180 per person, Tradizionale Menu – AED 240 per person, Prezioso Menu – AED 320 per person. Reservations visit: cucinadubai.com, call +971 4 6661408 or email reservations@cucinadubai.com.

Porchetta Takeaway

Bring a little Cucina Christmas magic home with a porchetta so perfect, it practically sings “Feliz Navì-ta.” Slow-roasted to golden, crackling glory on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth tender inside, this dish brings unique flavours for your festive dinner. It also comes loaded with all the good stuff: crispy roast potatoes, heritage carrots, roasted chestnuts, and every trimming you desire. Whether it’s a cosy lunch, a lively dinner, or a full house of hungry amici, this is the centrepiece that guarantees flavour steals the spotlight. If there are any leftovers they make for a delicious snack the following day.

From November 2025 to 31st January 2026. AED 350 for 3kg – serves 3 to 4 people, AED 650 for 6kg – serves up to 6 people. Reservations: 24-hour advance booking required. Visit cucinadubai.com, call +971 4 666 1408 or email reservations@cucinadubai.com.

A Jazzy Little Christmas, Bublé Style

Every Friday and Saturday in December, Cucina transforms into a festive jazz lounge with smooth holiday classics and Italian comfort food. Guests can enjoy à la carte dining with steaming bowls of pasta, carve their own meats, or tuck into classic Tiramisu for dessert. There’s also a generous two-hour free-flow of beverages including Negroni, Spritz and house wine.

Every Friday and Saturday in December from 8pm – 12am. A la carte: AED 195 per person – includes 2 hours of unlimited drinks and grazing board. Reservations: cucinadubai.com, call +971 4 666 1408 or email reservations@cucinadubai.com.

Festive Settimana at Cucina

From 19th–26th December, Cucina turns the whole week into a festive flavour fest with their à la carte holiday menu adding cheeky twists to Italian classics. Dine on pillowy spinach-ricotta ravioli, seasonal roasts, and nostalgic favourites served hot, cold, and always molto delizioso. With dishes starting at just AED 65, it’s a daily invitation to taste the season… with a side of holiday cheer-o.

19th December to 26th December. À la carte festive specials from AED 80. Reservations: cucinadubai.com, call +971 4 666 1408 or email reservations@cucinadubai.com.

From its expressive new menu to its festive programming and the return of Acquasale, Cucina The Palm is offering one of Dubai’s most vibrant and heartfelt Italian experiences this season. Follow them for more via @cucinathepalm and @acquasalebycucina.