The view from your table on the terrace, incredibly, is not even the best feature of the Soiree Brunch at Barfly by Buddha Bar!
And neither is catching the golden rays of the setting sun from your vantage point overlooking West Palm Beach…
Although, to be fair, one must admit these are probably the best views in Dubai!
The fact is Barfly by Buddha Bar is so multi-dimensional, and so amazingly targetted towards excellence of experience in all facets of an evening brunch, that it is very difficult to nail down just what was the best part of the Soiree Brunch!
Obviously, the location and views are second to none!
But…
But then you sip a cocktail at the bar, and it is just so good – including the whole coherent experience, from admiring the creativity in the drinks menu, from the interaction with the friendly yet professional bartender, to the live preparation right in front of you – with flair! – and then noting the special ingredients that are combined, to the mixing and shaking, and to the attractive presentation, and finally to the aroma that tickles the palate and the crowning hit of complex, magical flavors…
Definitely, you think, the drinks are the best feature at Barfly!
And you would be right – they are!
In fact, I would not hesitate to declare Barfly by Buddha Bar as the best bar I’ve had the good fortune of visiting in Dubai this year – with no doubt whatsoever.
Take the Rodeo, for example, one of their signature cocktails – the good people behind the bottles actually infuse their own peanut butter overnight into rye whisky… confused? Well, try it and see the result!
Super-smooth, caramel notes, and almost creamy on the palate – and with a touch of genius it is garnished with a bouquet of sweet and salty caramel popcorn, which is genius in terms of matching and enhancing the pleasure of the peaty whisky taste.
A supremely delicious drink!
But try also the Lucky Cat Negroni – another of their signature cocktails, and a intensely pleasing version of the well-known Negroni – believe it or not also exceptional, and creative, with a bitter Shoso leaf, and enhanced with the umami background aroma of Miso!
And so you are certain that the fruits of the bar are actually the top feature at Barfly by Buddha Bar – but then you return to your table on the terrace, and…
…gosh! Is this not the best view from a dining terrace ever?
And yet, the interior decor is just as marvelous…
And then as you start to chillax, your weekday worries melting away, and you find yourself grooving to the music, you realize that “Wow! This music is really good!”
In fact, the Barfly by Buddha Bar playlist is perfectly suited to the ambience, and delivered through an impressive sound system – dare I say that the music choice may be one of the best features of an evening out at this hopping joint!
Fans of deep house will in fact readily recognize the famed tracks released by Buddha Bar across the world – yet also in a balance of sophistication, with a refinement of tones and beats that matched the elegant venue and dining experience.
And then – surprise! – a trio of dancers rampage through the venue, with contagious energy and an engaging Michael Jackson loop that has people on their feet dancing in the aisles!
And then, as suddenly as they appeared they are gone!
Dramatic, exciting, and one of those very clever talking-points and instagrammable-moments that bring an evening of leisure up a notch.
And then the sun flares up and prepares to turn the view golden, and Soiree Brunch really hits high gear!
And I haven’t even started describing the food!
Let it be known, that most certainly, again, we are facing another “best” feature of a night dining out on the weekend in Dubai…
The good folk in the Barfly by Buddha Bar kitchens have to compete with billion-dirham views, a terrace that is unique and exceptional, a bar with an expertise and professionalism that is truly outstanding, and an ambience cunningly set on fire by a tip-top music and entertainment program… if it were me I’d just throw my Chef hat down and give up!
But not so at Barfly by Buddha Bar, and the Chef’s team seemingly gladly accepts the challenge, and delivers an exceptional evening brunch – one to remember and tell your friends about.
I will leave it for you to discover the many dishes during your visit, as words and photos cannot fairly represent the excellence of the dining experience at Barfly by Buddha Bar, but here is a little tease…
Delicate and flavorsome – all prepared at a very high standard, and within the realm of fine-dining.
And making formidable use of luscious, sexy sauces throughout, that elevated and enhanced the variety of dishes arriving at our table, and instantly being devoured in good cheer!
Overall, for a weekend evening brunch at the top of what Dubai’s best can offer, Barfly by Buddha Bar presents an exceptional Soiree Brunch with talk-of-the-town views from the terrace, including the sunset; a professional music and entertainment program; a formidable mixology performance from the smoking-hot bar; and ultimately a fantastic multi-course dining experience second to none at Palm West Beach on the top floor of the Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah.
This is the stuff Dubai dreams are made of.