The St. Regis Downtown re-launches their award winning al fresco lunch with a blend of their signature flavours
The St. Regis Downtown Dubai is notorious for its epic proportions, sublime interiors, and seriously swanky restaurants. The Basta Terrance brunch on Saturdays is no exception to its unending style and quality. The entire hotel is lavishly decorated with floor to ceiling windows throughout, and a waltz through the lobby reveals plush lounge areas, an exorbitant amount of marble and coral-inspired wall sculptures.
Their award-winning brunch is located on a beautiful multi-layer terrace with unobstructed views across the Dubai canal. All of the venues on site contribute to their Saturday brunch, with Italian taste from Basta, delicate French pastries and desserts from The Library lobby lounge, and the essential drink stations from The St. Regis Bar. Their recently opened and highly rated Turkish dining option, Hayal, is throwing in their flavour with roasted meats skewers and carvery.
On arrival we were totally dazzled by the sunshine and the lovely surroundings – although the temperature was perfectly controlled by giant AC machines – as we entered through the opulent lobby lounge, past the tempting dessert stations and down to our waterfront table. We were immediately served by a traditional Levantine waiter in full costume who poured us a welcome drink, followed by still and sparkling San Pellegrino; the service from start to finish was consistent and friendly. The vibe was relaxed and not too busy, with sounds provided with tons of charisma by live singer Gari Deegan, who also roams around the tables, and who is supported by a live band which later alternates with a DJ.
We ventured up to the drink stations and were most excited to discover a dedicated Espresso Martini station, which proved dangerous as the afternoon wore on. There was also a beautiful Aperol Spritz cart covered with vines and flowers, with drinks made to order, plus lots of a la carte drink options, including an authentic Bloody Mary, and an unusually large array of mocktails with fresh juices. There was plenty of live cooking and food stations on offer with a huge seafood table with live paella at one end and giant prawns, sushi, sashimi, live oysters, and ceviche at the other. There were also tacos (yay), nachos and loads of salads to start with. When we moved on to the mains, we were pleasantly surprised at the vast array of juicy and tender meats on offer. They had a clay tandoor for spiced and Turkish meats, plus a BBQ, varied skewers, rotisserie, and a carvery with prime rib and a whole roasted sea bass. If that wasn’t enough, they had a live pizza and pasta station, and a totally unique hamburger with deliciously soft charcoal Bao bun.
We stayed so long ordering all the different drinks and mocktails that the sun began to set, which made the outdoor location even more appealing. For desserts, there was (yet another) dedicated station, though this one was for cookies and chocolate. We filled a plate with little delicacies including tiramisu, panacotta, and an edible lemon and apple made with painted chocolate and filled with cream and ice cream. We washed these down with the final Espresso Martini of the afternoon.
The St. Regis really is a beautiful spot to while away a sunny afternoon, and its chilled and civilized vibes are perfect for family visits and the whole family of all ages are welcome. It managed to perfectly blend a high vibe with sumptuous food and excellent service, for a truly magical afternoon.
For bookings please contact: +971 4512 5555. The brunch packages are AED 375 with soft drinks, AED 495 with house beverages, and AED 750 with champagne. Children between 6-12 dine for AED 187.50 with soft beverages, and kids under 5 eat free of charge. The St. Regis Downtown is located on Marasi Drive in Business Bay and the brunch is every Saturday between 1-4:30pm.
