EL CHIRINGUITO

An Ibizan import replacing Eden Beach Club, but is it worth the trek across The Palm?

s your ideal beach club more espadrilles, maxi dresses and chinos than stilettos or bikinis or speedos? Well, then we’ve found the place for you.

Spanish import El Chiringuito is perched on the furthest point of The Palm Jumeirah, so as the crow flies you’re mere metres from the shoreline, but to drive there means having to traverse 12 kilometres of Palm trunk and frond. Now that’s a commitment.

The journey pays off when you arrive at the whitewashed cabana-style open restaurant – you’ll feel like you could be on a Balearic island. It’s a genuinely gorgeous location.

A giant dream catcher sways in front of the entrance, cascades of white bougainvillea rustle in the wind (when there is any) and wooden shutters open out to a white-sand beach and palm trees. This is definitely somewhere for when the

Iweather is cool and you’re keen to dine alfresco. It does have a somewhat lived-in feel considering it used to be home to Eden Beach Club, but in a city like Dubai a few tatters here and there can be welcome.

As for the food, they specialise in hearty classics, and the simplest dishes stood out. Galician octopus (Dhs95) was poached perfectly, the plate of calamari was expensive at Dhs130 but soft to the bite, which is what we most require from a squid dish. Meanwhile, the crunchy breaded crust on the huge portion of Milanese veal (Dhs380 for two) contrasted perfectly with the tender meat.

We visited for dinner, and felt like we were on holiday while dining (always a plus), but the time to go to El Chiringuito is on Saturday afternoon for the family brunch. For Dhs495 you get to fill your sand shoes with food and drink and can then finish off with some sangria on a beach lounger. Dreamy.

Side note: something that ruined our post-dinner beachy bliss was the fact you have to pay Dhs35 for valet parking (and there’s nowhere else to park nearby).

This is a tough pill to take after you’ve just swallowed Dhs130 worth of calamari. But then, you pay more for sea views.

Rixos The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, Tue to Sat 11am to midnight, Sun and Mon 11am to 7pm. Tel: (054) 449 6464. Taxi: Rixos The Palm. thepalmdubai.rixos.com