Two Dubai brunches to try

Every year, Vida Downtown announces a special theme for its Urban Picnic brunch that takes place at their contemporary dining spot, 3in1. For their third edition, they returned with all things Latin American and we can tell you from first-hand experience that it’s a fiesta worth splurging your money on.

Located snugly in Downtown Dubai, 3in1 is a modern space that combines indoor and al fresco seating, with a gorgeous view of the Burj Khalifa. We’d suggest you opt for the outdoor seating, set around a shallow, blue pool, where you can kick

back and relax in luxurious cabanas as you feast on a spread that includes an abnormally large salad selection, nachos and tacos of all kinds, a pizza station

and dishes like platanos fritos (fried ripe plantain) and frijoles negros (a black bean dish).

When you arrive, you’re first presented with a quirky looking passport, festively embossed with the head of a man wearing a sombrero. This passport gives you the lay of the land, explaining where all the various stations are located, and comes in especially handy when brunch is about to close and you’re desperately looking for the churro stand.

The folks at Vida want you on your feet for the most part of the brunch. Guests are encouraged to pick a picnic basket and roam around the restaurant, adding goodies as they walk along to take back to their respective tables. While this is not especially conducive to the open-plate dishes you may want to try, it’s certainly Instagram-worthy.

One station we found ourselves returning to over and over again was the open barbecue by the pool. The beef brisket and the lamb chops were drool-worthy additions to the already overflowing menu and the meat was extremely flavourful and cooked just right.

Make sure you also find the pinata at some point, where you can try your hand at winning yourself free brunch vouchers.

If you’re looking to spend some time outdoors and make the most of what’s left of Dubai spring before summer hits, make your way to Vida Downtown, and prepare to have some serious fun.