Wow! Wow, wow and wow! An evening brunch at Sola Jazz Lounge packs a punch with the showy entrance at Raffles, The Palm. This is an outstandingly spectacular hotel foyer in a city of impressive hotels with impressive foyers. The glitz, the glamour, the carpet, the chandelier! I take a moment to be a bit impressed, a bit overwhelmed at the grandness of it all. Even if it’s not entirely one’s style.
On from the foyer the entrance to the Jazz Lounge at Sola feels understated yet the entire venue oozes the elegance of an era long past if not forgotten. While Raffles is most certainly more is more, Sola has a decidedly classy updated art deco vibe.
Sola Jazz Lounge
On arrival I find my friend already seated at a low table for two. I briefly scan the beverage menu and nothing says jazz night like a Negroni. It is just after 8pm and only a couple of tables are filled. I settle in to the soft velvet swivel chair with only a fleeting thought about how I might extract myself from the embracing lowness of it later, and await my drink.
In the meantime, Charlotte catches me up about the progress of her new job. I also ask about her recent visit to Italy (to belatedly celebrate a milestone birthday with friends) and her husband’s travels and current whereabouts.
In turn I relay my most pressing news including a nerve wracking but ultimately funny taxi trip. In order to arrive here tonight my driver (blaming Google Maps) proceeded to the Kempinski Hotel, the next hotel along from Raffles. Due to Dubai’s many one way roads, it would have taken too long to loop back around to Raffles. Instead my driver promptly turned his hazard lights on and backed up the road between the two hotels. I held my breath, lowered my head a little and tried to be graceful. Graceful that is in the face of a few harsh car horns as they passed. Luckily that’s the worst of it and I arrive in one piece to tell the tale.
Soon our food arrives. Our Sola evening brunch with jazz tunes menu consists of: mushroom arancini; truffle cheese fries; vegetable fritto misto; shrimp tempura; crusted crispy chicken; and steak wagu tacos. Everything seems to be accompanied by aioli. There is a mochi selection for dessert.
The drinks portion of the menu offers five sprits, two wines, three cocktails and a beer. Charlotte has started with an Aperol spritz and moves on to a glass of the white, a Torres Vina Esmeralda. Almost tempted by the whiskey sour I order another Negroni.
It seems like an impressive spread as our food is presented with a flourish. However, as we start our meal of primarily fried food, it feels a bit heavy and definitely a bit ordinary. The fries are delicious and the mushroom arancini is flavorful. However on the whole the menu falls short. The wagu tacos are poorly executed steak tartare and the rest goes cold too quickly. This should be a meal designed to linger over and savor. Instead it feels like something far too typical for such delightful surroundings.
Jazzing It Up
Soon after 9pm the band starts. The Lady J Trio is touted as ‘pop’ jazz & blues. Lead vocalist Janelle (aka Lady J) is an incredible Canadian vocalist. Together the trio take us on a journey of jazz, blues and some pop reimagined with a jazz soul. They start out with some moody and understated numbers to get the atmosphere going including Maroon 5’s Sunday Morning. Later the beat goes up a notch with a toe tapping rendition of The Police’s Every Breath You Take.
Somewhere amidst the great music our dessert arrives. A mochi selection of strawberry, lemon and rose flavors. It is a light if not quite sweet finish to the shared selection of bites that we had for dinner. I order another Negroni.
After intermission the trio steps it up again and it’s not long before the dance floor picks up. It’s easy to tap along to jazzy version of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive and Lionel Richie’s All Night Long. Towards the end of the set a Prince song comes on. It’s too much and I can’t help myself, I’m up dancing too, along with half the room.
It must be nearly 1am before the music finishes. The Negronis and cigar smoke, might have gone to my head a little bit. These have certainly helped me get swept up in the music and dancing. We stop in at the fancy powder room on our way out through the ornate lobby. I am still humming a tune or two as I fall in to bed at nearly 2am. It’s not often I kick my heels up in this sort of style!
Good To Know
Sola Jazz Lounge is located at West Crescent, The Palm, Dubai, within the Raffles Hotel complex. Priced at AED449 Sola’s evening brunch is a hefty price tag for a few fried bites. However, they mix a decent Negroni and we concluded that the jazz was undoubtedly worth it. If you’re up for a few drinks and some great music then centre on the performance and you’re bound to enjoy the evening. If your Saturday night focus is more about the feast then pass on this brunch.
Would I Return?
Yes. For the jazz and the company.
